New Bra? Yes, please!

CGgirl...you can't pull one over on me.  Summer is winding down.  One trip to Target and I see school supplies are out in abundance,  kids back-to-school clothing sales are everywhere -- I know a wind down when I see it.

In so many ways, it feels like summer never even started this year.

Looking at the calendar I see a special date coming our way.  October 17th  will be our next CommonGround event.   This one really touches our hearts.

Why?  Because we want all women to win.  We see so many women living in defeat through bad choices and broken hearts.   I bet one or two popped into your mind as you read that -- maybe it's even you.

If we can help girls change lanes; we want to help! 

In October our outreach spotlight will be Alternatives for Girls.

This wonderful organization helps homeless and high-risk girls and young women avoid violence, teen pregnancy and exploitation, and helps them to grow strong and make positive choices.

We're collecting the following items:  Construction Paper, Crayons, Colored Pencils, new bras (all sizes) and new socks (all sizes). 

Recently, a woman contacted me and shared with me some good insight.    She grew up very poor most of her young  life and when she would get bras they would always be used, worn out of shape.

She said she never forgot what it was like when she finally got a new bra.    It made her feel like a million dollars.

A good reminder, huh?

What do you say?  Let's go find the prettiest bras for these young ladies and let's make them feel like a million dollars!

CG events are open to all women (ages 13+) and if you've never experienced a cross denominational event before where women from over 30 Detroit-area churches
gather together to worship the Living God you are missing something....really special.   Spread the word and join the party on October 17th, 7pm at Connection Church in Canton.

Roll Call: WOWZA 37 Churches!

CGgirl, are you ready for this?   Final Roll Call from our May Event!  

Allen Park Church of Nazarene
Calvary Baptist Church
Church of Jesus Christ
Community Baptist
Connection Church
Crosswalk Church of the Nazarene
Fairhaven Church
First Baptist Wyandotte
Forest City Destiny Church
Free Will Baptist Church
Gilead Baptist Church
Grace Bible Church
Harvest Bible
Kensington Church
Life Church
Massachusetts Church
Merriman Road
Metro City Church
Morningstar Church
Northline Baptist
Northridge Church
Oak Pointe
Oakwood Church
Parkside Community Church
Praise Baptist Church
Redeemer Community Church
Rivers Worship Center
Solid Rock Bible Church
St Clement Orthodox
St Joseph Catholic
St Mary Parish in Wayne
St Raphael
St Simon & Jude
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Lakes
Vineyard Church of Ann Arbor
Ward Presbyterian

 

Come As You Are ... This Friday Night ... Really.

Five years ago (May 1, 2009)  we hosted our first CommonGround event.  Doesn't seem possible does it?   

We've seen God do UNBELIEVABLE things during the last NINETEEN events.    Remember...

• when God unleashed a spirit of generosity on CGgirls and you donated 1,120 Christmas gifts for 14 girls in foster care?


• when God provided an offering that supernaturally paid off all of our start-up costs?
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• when God nudged CGgirls to donate enough camp items for Royal Kids Camp to cover years of camps?
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• when God directed CGgirls to fill a church van (literally!)  with donated blankets and socks to help homeless men stay warm?
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• when God asked CGgirls to lay down our preconceived notions about women far from God who dance in strip clubs to collect items to fill gift bags for them?
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• when God knew CGgirls would meet the immediate need of a family whose Mom was diagnosed with cancer by collecting $2,000 in gift cards in two weeks?
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• when God knew a women who miscarried her baby two days before would come to a CG event (not knowing  our guest speaker would be a woman who delivered a still-born baby) and a time of intense healing began within her.
• 
  
• when God asked us to start a 60 day prayer challenge called Brave Girl Boots and 150 of you committed to doing it.  Drawing closer to God in the process.
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• and so, so, so much more.

Because of God's kindness and grace we're celebrating our TWENTIETH event this Friday night.  There will be live worship,  Heather Costa will be sharing her story,  we'll be collecting items (see below) for homeless Veterans,  20 prizes and a fantastic after party with women from 30 Detroit Metro Area churches.

Come As You Are.   It'll be a night you won't forget.  

We'll leave you with the same thing we wrote five years ago before our first event.

"The vision of commonground is one that we can’t claim as our own.  We feel very strongly that we are following His direction.   Jesus.  Period.  By Him, For Him, With Him.   Great efforts to serve our communities really don’t mean much if they aren't done for the Lord.   Only what is done for the Lord will last.  "

Ask God to prepare your heart for CommonGround.   If you are coming just for the music, the message, the prizes, the afterparty...you might miss Him.   Ask Him to prepare your heart.
He is extending the invitation.  We're just planning the party.

Giirrrlll, are you coming?

(Photo Credit: Lisa Hildebrandt) 

May 2, 2014 Outreach Spotlight

We are announcing the outreach focus for our May 2, 2014 event!   

Really, really excited about this!   One in seven homeless people have served in the military. We are going to do our part to help. CGgirls is setting a goal of 1,020 snack kits to fill that evening. Invite, Invite, and Invite some more! We're also in need for someone to donate  1, 020 gallon size ziplock bags for that evening. If you have any contacts that would be able to help with this, let us know!

Hope Clinic : Thank YOU!

At our last event, 80 women from 8 different churches came out in subzero temps to give Hope Clinic 657 items!  We received this THANK YOU today from them. This will warm anyone up on a cold day -- way to go CGgirls! 

WOW, you make miracles happen!  Thank you so much for your very generous donation of personal care items.  Our shelves are well-stocked with these very important items that are often forgotten by donors but so important to the recipients.

On a personal note, I had a great time at your event.  The women were so welcoming and warm.

Thank you again, and God Bless you and your mission.

Peace,

Mia Moyad, LLMSW

Patient Advocate
The Hope Clinic

Grace. Me?

"O what love
No greater love
Grace, how can it be
That in my sin
Yes, even then
He shed His blood for me."

Sitting in my office listening to Kari Jobe singing...

...such stinging words of grace.

It's the day before our 19th CG event.  Unbelievable to me.

We weren't sure we'd get through one let alone nineteen!

What a privilege it has been to serve God through the gathering of women (CGgirls) who love Him, who are unsure of Him, who are disappointed in Him, maybe even disappointed in the women you see in the mirror.  No matter what you think, the seats of CG are filled with women who fit all of these.        You are ALL welcome to CommonGround tomorrow night.

Is that you today?  Even if you go to church every Sunday but you know church has turned into a club.   Are you wondering how did I get here?  Is the path you are now walking heavy with compromise, shame and guilt?

How did a once surrendered heart get so stinkin far from God?

If that's you, please come tomorrow night?.   Let the One who knows you (not just the you others see, but the real you) be your Healer.  Will you let Him close enough to caress the hair from your eyes,  lift your tear stained cheeks upward, and remind you: It's you,  It's always been you.

"Yes, even then He shed his blood for me."

July CG event: Worship Leader Announced

CGgirl, Summer is in full swing.   We hope you are enjoying the sunshine and your hair is winning the battle against the humidity.  :)

We have some really great news... Liz Webb will be our worship leader for the next CG Event,  Friday, July 26th at 7pm!

Liz may look familiar to you ... she is a part of our CG Worship Band and has been singing for the majority of her life.

" I've been married for 6 1/2 years to Patrick. Mom of 3 mini CG girls Emma, Ellie and Clara. I have been attending Connection Church (and Tri-City) for nearly 24 years. I have serving on our worship team for 14 years!"

Need a worship night?  Yes.   Want to gather with women from 30 different area churches?  Yes.

Want to Take God's love from the pews to the pavement by bringing: Lip Gloss, Stickers, Composition Notebook, Flip-Flops, and Dove Bar Soap?  Yes, we're going to bless 146 girls currently at Vista Maria!

Let's gather together at 7pm on Friday, July 26th - - Join us!

Extraordinary life? Yes, please! Pick me!

Hello CGgirls!

We have some catching up to do...so grab a seat and let's do what girlfriends do...

How are you?   I hope you are reminded today what a wonderfully made woman you are.   Even if you don't "feel" it... you are.    Who says?  He does.   In fact, God says that you are fearfully and wonderfully made.    Maybe you needed that reminder today.   I know I did.

You know what I've been thinking lately?   I've been thinking about how God invites us into a story (His by the way) that is so stinkin' more exciting then the one we would have created for ourselves.   I saw this and thought... yeah.. that's perfect!

I'm so thankful  God calls us to do things that are "other focused" and  "out of our comfort zones"  it makes life so much more of an adventure.    Who needs normal?  :)

Here are some highlights of what's going on in and through CGgirls:

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  I had the tremendous honor to serve and speak at a Women's Retreat for the wonderful ladies of  Allen Park Nazarene.  What a fantastic group of women!    I've never seen such an atmosphere of bonding and great community.  It was so great to share God's Word with them.  Upon arrival I was told, "These ladies won't run from Truth, so if you bring Truth, you'll do just fine."  WOW - they were not lying.   I love this group of ladies -- and to top it off - they are coming to the next CG on Friday, July 27th!   They said their goal is to bring 27 ladies on the 27th!    Meet my new friends:  
  Speaking of our next CG event (can you believe, its our 13th!!!)  So excited to be partnering with Hope 4 Western Wayne County.   CGgirls are walking by faith and have committed to bringing 1000, (yes, you read correctly - don't rub your eyes you'll ruin your makeup) O N E T H O U S A N D school supply kits.  We've got a big God and we believe very strongly that where you find unity, you find power.   Women from all over Metro Detroit will be coming to the next CG event (Friday, July 27th 7pm)  and bringing with them the following:  Glue sticks, No. 2 pencil packs, 24 pk of crayons, pack of washable markers and 2 pocket folders.    Wanta join the fun?  Who doesn't!  :)    Apparently we aren't alone in this:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  A big shout out to the fine folks at Ask-Services for collecting school supplies for our outreach!

A box of school supplies mysteriously showed up in my office last night.  CGgirls are wildly generous!  Love, Love, Love seeing God's activity in your lives!

If you are available on Saturday, August 18th and would love to serve during this crazy good day of outreach called HOPE 4 Western Wayne County - they could use your tender hearts that day.  Or maybe your heart could us some tendering?
Over 5000 families are being invited to participate in a day (in Westland, MI) that includes: groceries, health fair, Kids Zone, a BBQ Lunch, family portraits, hair cuts, school supply kits, and live entertainment.  

Sign Up to serve that day!

• 
  
  Remember our PCL girls?  Project Crazy Love?   We adopted 14 girls in foster care for Christmas last year and God absolutely blew our minds with providing over 1,100 gifts for them.   Well, we're continuing the conversation with our monthly PCL Birthday Club.  We go to their home bringing birthday love each month:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  We would love for you to get involved with this monthly outreach!  You can stop by the CGgirls: Serve! table at the afterparty to find out more info!
  
  
  
  
  Who wants a normal life?  Not us!   
  
  
  
  
  We're excited about Friday Night.  I hope you call a girlfriend or two and bring them along with you.  We'll have dynamic live worship, giveaways, an afterparty with great appetizers, coffee/cocoa bar - all free!     We call it a Girl's Night with a God Focus.  Be there?
  
  
  
  
  With deep appreciation & affection,
  
  
  
  
  Tami
  
  

April Spotlight: Royal Family Kids Camp

Ideas usually start as an answer to a question.

In 2009, we asked this question:

What would happen if women left their generational and denominational differences at the door and just became girls who love God?   We would find our common ground. On our common ground, we could harness that unity and take God's love from the pews to the pavement and change our world!

No longer just an idea, it's happening.  See how God is doing remarkable things through CGgirls. Up for an adventure?

Our next event will be on Friday, April 20th 7pm at Connection Church in Canton, MI.   Our outreach spotlight will be Royal Family Kids Camp!  We are collecting the following items that night for children attending this year's camp!

• Barbies & Clothes (all ethnicities)


• Sports Balls (footballs, basketballs, and nerf sets)


• Craft Kits (Jewelry making, art kits, play doh)


• Building Toys (Legos or Kinex sets)

Here is a quick video showing a glimpse into Royal Family Kids Camp!

Heart 2 Heart

Yesterday, we surprised our PCL girls with some special love on Valentine's Day!    Our hope is that these precious young ladies would stay connected to CGgirls and this is just one way to remind them they are loved!

Each bag was filled with some valentine goodness for each PCL girl!   Big Pink High FIVES go out to the CGgirls who donated the items!   We think the staff at GirlsTown is pretty special too, the tray of heart cookies went to them!

Each PCL girl got a special note to remind them how much they are loved.

We love what God is doing in and through CGgirls.    Don't you??!!

CGGirls: Roll Call!

 

Rollllll Callll.... on Friday Night, women from 29 different churches gathered together for a Girl's Night with a God Focus!

1. Detroit First Church
2. Pineview Church
3. Connection Church, Canton MI
4. Allen Park Nazarene Church,  Allen Park MI
5. Life Church, Canton MI
6. Metro South Church
7. Northridge Church, Plymouth MI
8. Rivers of Living Water, Taylor MI
9. St. Paul's Lutheran, Livonia MI
10. His House Christian Fellowship, Eastern Michigan University
11. WFM - Westland, MI
12. Huron Hills Church
13. Garden City Presbyterian, Garden City MI
14. Westland Free Methodist, Westland MI
15. Elevate/Frenchtown Missionary Baptist
16. Faith Baptist
17.  Downriver Christian Church
18. Northwest Christian Church
19. Calvary Baptist Church
20. Faith Baptist Church, Adrian MI
21. NCA
22. Parkside Church of Christ
23. Faith Assembly, Belleville MI
24. The Crossing, Farmington MI
25.  Downriver Church of God
26. Harvest Bible Chapel
27. Southpointe Church
28. Beacon Baptist
29.Cornerstone Christian Church,  Jackson MI

My coffee isn't the only thing brewin'!

The week before a CG event...something starts to shift in the air.

My team feels it.   I feel it.  It's coming.  We know its coming!

Anndddd...its not every day (like never) you would find this in my office:



A CGgirl dropped this off and so it begins...  :)

Excited?  YEAH!

We're supporting our troops in Afghanistan and think it would be wildly fantastic if you would join us!

Details?  CommonGround is happening on Friday, January 27th at 7pm at Connection Church in Canton, MI!

It’s our first event of 2012 and we can’t wait!  CGGirls will be partnering with Care Packages for Troops Michigan Chapter and collecting the following items for troops in Afghanistan:

• Individual powdered drink mixes (kool-aid, crystal light,etc.)


• Socks for men/women: white or green crew socks


• Puzzle Books


• Healthy snacks (protein bars, nuts, beef jerky, crackers, etc.)


• Ramen Noodle Cups, Microwaveable Mac & Cheese Cups

 

CG Girls, are you in it to win it?

Oh.....this is exciting!

Did you know that at each CG event, we have giveaways during the fantastic after party!  Please check out one of the giveaways that has been donated for the next commonground event on January 27, 2012:




Is that cool or what?  I am so excited to see which one of you wins this PINK camera and case!

I know you are yelling at the screen saying, "PICK ME! PICK ME!"  and I hear ya, I really hear ya.  :)

This is how you can really be in it to win it...

1.  Come to the event. (Yep, you need to be present to win your present!)

2.  Head straight to the giveaway table. (no pushing or shoving, please!) :)

3.  Fill out your form and place in the pink bucket. (Saying "HELLO" to Nora who runs that table is an okay thing, too!)

The greatest thing about doing CG is that all of you are in it to win it.   Finishing your race of faith -- strong!

Have an amazing weekend!

I saw the snow and immediately missed my flip flops.
Only a few more months until we are reunited!   :)

Project Crazy Love: Success!

The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD.  Proverbs 21:31

I've been wondering how to capture what happened on Saturday at the Project Crazy Love (PCL) luncheon in such a way that those who weren't there would "get it"... I'm not sure its possible, but let's try.

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb."  Psalm 139:13

Our prayer all along has been that our PCL girls would walk away from this lunch with a deeper understanding that there is a God who knows them and loves them.   We believe, wholeheartedly,  God answered that prayer. 

CGGIRLS adopted 14 foster care girls for Christmas with a staggering 1, 120 gifts donated.

For those keeping score at home:  Thats approximately 80 gifts each.   Honestly,  the sight stopped us in our tracks when we would go into the "Reindeer Room"  gift holding tank.



The luncheon was amazing!   All of the CG Teams: Wrapping, Decorating, Food Prep, Drama/Worship Team, The Mighty ELF teams were absolutely amazing!   On site that day, we had women from Connection,  Life Church,  Open Arms,  Metro South Church, Rivers of Living Water, and Westland FMC!  Working side-by-side together...that in itself is a beautiful thing.  :)

"You mean I can have as much chocolate as I want??"   -  PCL Girl!

Oh and did they ever!  Cotton Candy was even dunked in that fountain!  :)

For me personally,  I was not prepared for how deeply the "encouragement tree" would affect our PCL girls.   Looking back now we see it was the Lord's hand leading us to put that tree up.   Those notes of encouragement (168 in total) that several of you wrote during the last CG event deeply ministered to our PCL girls.    When I say deeply...I mean... DEEPLY.   Tears.  Lots of them.   The PCL girls could not believe that women who did not know them would care enough to write them.  They were sincerely touched.  Watching that unfold has profoundly changed so many of us who witnessed it.

"I never got a card before in my life."

"I feel like they know me."

"How could they know thats how I feel?"

"I'm keeping every single one of these cards and hanging them in my room"

All of the girls opened up the one gift under the tree with their name on it.  Thrilled to receive their "one" gift.  They jumped up and down and screamed!  :)   Some of the girls, never took their robes off the entire time!  We loved how God worked it out for the PCL girl who loves Tinkerbell to receive the Tinkerbell robe and the two roommates and best friends got matching robes.  :)

And then the gift explosion happened!  One by one each ELF came in calling out a PCL girl's name and all of their gifts came in like a flowing river.  It was amazing!  A few of the PCL girls were so overwhelmed they sat and cried before opening any gifts.  It was almost too much for them.   We aren't able to post any of those pictures publicly (a complete recap video will be shown at the next CG on January 27, 2012)  but hopefully you'll get the picture painted for you just by these comments:

"All of this is for me?"
" One would have been enough."
"This is my favorite movie!"
"I get a bible with both the New and Old Testament?"
"Someone wrote me a note in the journal...see!"
"SpongeBob is my husband ... I love this movie"

All of the girls received the book Redeeming Love and they would yell out, "BOOKCLUB!" when one would open it.

"How did you know I loved the color Pink?"
"This is my birthstone!"

CGGirls, remember those Old Navy Hoodies?

"Is this new? I can't believe I got something new!"

"I love this smell.  It's the store smell."

God showed them in a very personal way they are not forgotten.  Not only are they not forgotten -- they are loved and a treasure of great value.

I can't thank you enough for all of your generous donations,  the tireless hours spent shopping, wrapping and preparing.

We wanted God to be honored with putting our very best effort forth and I believe that happened.   We believe PCL was completely authored by God.

So thankful that He chooses to use us when writing someone else's story, aren't you? 

The PCL girls came back to the Christmas Play at Connection Church that evening and gave me this beautiful thank you note:

"Dear CG Girls,  Thank you so much for the lunch and all the presents!  We appreciated it alot and it meant so much to us. I don't think words can explain.  It really brightened our day and showed alot of us that there is a God.  And there are people who care about us.  Thank you so much!" 

That's a wrap!

The last present was wrapped today for Project Crazy Love.

CGgirls donated 1,120 gifts.   Amazed?  Speechless?  Touched?  Yep...us too!

I can't tell you how many times I've sat and looked at all of these wrapped gifts thinking... only God.   I've said it before and I think the statement is still true:

Project Crazy Love has unleashed a powerful move of generosity that could only be authored by God.

As I was trying to quiet my mind last night so sleep would come -- this reality hit me:

We've said from the beginning we wanted these 14 girls to be so overwhelmed by the goodness of God that when they are 60 years old they would still be talking about Project Crazy Love.  "There was a group of women who didn't know me but they loved God and blew my mind for Christmas when I was a teenager."  Can you picture it?

The reality hit me last night that its going to be US talking about this decades from now.  How we watched a group of women who loved God, gather in unity and strength with a giving spirit.  And how we watched God move on behalf of the broken hearted,  lost  and forgotten.

Girls, it's us that have been marked by this.  It's us.   I haven't talked to one person who has been involved with PCL who hasn't been deeply moved by the generous spirit in CGgirls.

Two more sleeps!  :)

CaSandra Maynard, CG Photographer,  wraps gift number 1, 120.    The final gift for Project Crazy Love 2011.

It's beginning to look alot like...

This will be at each place setting for Project Crazy Love!

It's starting to come together...

The "Wonder"

Girls, I hope this doesn't ever get old.

The outpouring of generosity towards these young ladies in fostercare that we are adopting for Christmas has really blown us away.

I really hope we don't ever lose the wonder of seeing the activity of God move in and through CG Girls.

won·der : to be filled with admiration, amazement, or awe; marvel

Some of our Project Crazy Love stories that have added to the wonder:

• CGGirl's coworker made scarves for all of the PCL girls and her husband decided they needed gloves too and bought 14!


• CGGirl decided we shouldn't have to buy anymore shirtboxes and got Kohls in Canton to donate 100 of them.


• When our CGGirl shopping for hoodies at Old Navy with our donated giftcards could only get 12 of them, her Mom stepped in and purchased two more to make it a beautiful 14!


• Our gift total so far: 1,004.

I once read this quote and I've never forgotten it, "Mercy saves us but grace throws the party" --  and in a few weeks we are going to throw an amazing party for 14 young women.

14 young women who have no idea:

• They have been planned for and thought about for 17 months.


• We teared up when we finally got their first names.


• They have captivated the generous hearts of women all over Metro Detroit.


• Their names are going before the Creator of all life in prayers daily.Aren't you so glad you are a part of a movement of women who are taking God's love from the pews to the pavement?

Me, too!

PS - There is still time to contribute to this outpouring of love...contact  Tami (at) Connectionchurch (dot) info or leave a comment below!   We would like to get all fourteen girls pedicures or manicures and are collecting toward making that happen!

CG Appreciation Dinner

We celebrated last night.

Celebrated the wonderful, fantastic awesome people who served in 2011 at a CommonGround Event.  

We can't do this without them is a true statement.  We wouldn't do it without them is a truer statement.   

We showed this recap video last night and wanted to share it with all of you, too.

Last night wasn't just about an enormous Mexican Buffet,  Pie Table, Brittany Ball leaving us speechless with a song, or the gameshow, "Deal or No Deal, CG Style" where we gave away a bunch and I mean a bunch of gifts.    Ok...yes, it was all those things...but it was the laughter and the conversations that people who are united with a common purpose can only understand.

Wanta get involved with our January event?  We've got openings on our Set Up Team (Friday 9am - 12noon day of event),  Inventory Specialist Team (helps count and pack up the items that are donated),  or the Clean Up Team (Friday, 930pm -11pm night of the event.)

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CG Girls are generous.

Yes.  Yes, you are!

In the last 24 hrs alone,  CG Girls donated to Project Crazy Love:

•  Bunch (and by bunch I mean a WHOLE LOT!) of wrapping paper, boxes and scotch tape!


•  Lipgloss, Kohls, Target, and McDonald's gift cards!


•  Money!

I just opened a note with a Target gift card in it from a dear CG Girl whose husband is out of work,  they are living with her parents and they just had a baby!    Is that not one of the most tender reflections of  God's love through giving that you've seen in a while?  We are blown away by God's provision for these young women in foster care.   God is stirring us up!