September Luncheon, YOU'RE INVITED!

April Luncheon - You're Invited!

Haiti Relief Organizations

Stephanie Bosse, of Diocese of Orlando, our Service Project/Advocacy Chairman, compiled a list of reputable agencies working to provide relief in Haiti. If you would like to help these organizations, Stephanie has listed their information in her report. Haiti Relief Organizations Report

February 2010 Luncheon with Guest Speaker Lou Frey

The first Common Threads luncheon for the new year will be held on February 25 at noon. Former U.S. Congressman Lou Frey will be the featured speaker and will address the lack of Civic understanding in our country. Florida ranks as the 47th worst state in Civics knowledge. Mr. Frey will suggest some solutions. Frey, now an Orlando attorney and Republican party leader, served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1969 until 1979. He is the founder of The Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government at the University of Central Florida. The meeting will also include a kick off of Women of Liberty, a U.S. Constitution reading and study group, which will conduct its activities via blog. Service project and advocacy opportunities will also be available.

The meeting will be hosted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints located at 45 East Par Street, Orlando, 32804. Lunch costs $6. RSVP to CommonThreads09@aol.com. Click February Luncheon Invitation to download or view an invitation.

October 2009 Luncheon "Celebrating the Power of Women in the Community"

Occasionally, we are aware enough to take an hour out of our day to do something that gives life meaning. October 1 was one of those days. The women of Common Threads gathered to hear Liz Shropshire relay her experiences in bringing music and hope to children in Kosovo, Uganda & Ireland. What we came away with was the reality of how we, in this country, are blessed and the remarkable reach one woman’s influence can have in this world.

Liz took leave of a music career in Los Angeles to go work in the refugee camps of Kosovo helping children who had seen the unspeakable. She gave them the gift of music which allowed them to speak without words—to focus on the beauty of sound rather than the ugliness of their world. Liz has given these children the vision that their lives can be more than their surroundings and that music (a gift from God) can heal the soul. The Shropshire Music Foundation has been able to touch the lives of more than 10,000 children and has grown to include programs in Uganda and Northern Ireland.

What we must ask ourselves is what am I doing to make a difference in my world, my community, and what impact can we make as women of faith if we work together through Common Threads. We must see that with God’s help all things are possible

April 2009 Luncheon "Celebrating the Power of a Woman Within Her Family"

Becky Hunter, author of Being Good to Your Husband On Purpose, and former President of the Global Pastors’ Wives Network spoke at the April Common Threads Luncheon which was held on April 30 at the Home Builder’s Association in Maitland, Florida.

Mrs. Hunter stressed the great influence women have in setting the tone of the home and also encouraged women to adapt to the changing needs of children in various stages. She gave an example from her own family life with teenagers when she and her husband Joel, Pastor of Northland Church, converted their dining room into a weight room to encourage their sons to bring friends home rather than weight train elsewhere.

Over one hundred women attended the Common Threads luncheon and served the community by contributing an estimated $2000 worth of personal hygiene items which were donated to The Orlando Rescue Mission (which serves the poor and homeless in Central Florida).

February 2009 Luncheon "Celebrating the Power of Women"

February's Luncheon held on the 19th at the Maitland Civic Center in Maitland, featured guest speaker Suzy Toronto, a nationally recognized artist, author and motivational speaker. Her best-selling book,
The Sacred Sisterhood of Wonderful Wacky Women, is now in its fourth printing and Book II of the same title is being released in April.