It has been a summer of weddings for the Dotson family, as two of our children were married in the past few months! Weddings come with lots of trappings - the special clothes, the invitations, the food and drink, and yes, for one of the celebrations, the wine did run out, and sadly we did not experience the miracle of Jesus turning water into wine. Ultimately though, it all comes down to sharing vows in the presence of our Lord, family and friends. These weddings were made all the sweeter by gathering and connecting with a community that was united in celebration. I was reminded of Isaiah 49:18, “Lift up your eyes and look around; All of them gather together, they come to you. As I live, declares the Lord, you shall surely put on all of them as jewels, and bind them on as a bride.”
In that spirit, I am excited and humbled to walk alongside the women of Apostles for another year of ministry! There will be many opportunities for us to grow together.
As we kick off a new year, you don’t want to miss the upcoming Evening of Fun and Fellowship – next Friday, October 1st! We will hear powerful personal stories, enjoy a scrumptious meal and wonderful worship. Please join us! You may already be connecting with women through a FLOURISH Bible study, where small groups of women read, study, and pray through Scripture. Or consider Meet and Treat, a monthly opportunity to be paired with another woman for coffee, lunch, a walk, whatever works!
I'm also looking forward to our next Women's Retreat. Mark your calendars for February 25-27, 2022, and get ready for an incredible weekend in Wrightsville Beach!
All of these events are designed to facilitate connections among women in the church so that we each feel a sense of belonging and are drawn closer to the Lord as a result. I hope that we will share joys and sorrows, laugh, and reflect with one another, be willing to tell our stories and learn from the testimonies of others. It is a rich fellowship that God intends for us in His church - I hope to see every woman at Apostles be a part of that!
-Ann Dotson {Director of Women's Ministry} with Kelsey Martin
