May 2025 Craft: Book Knife Block

/in /by

By Lt. Colonel Noelle Nelson
Director of Special Services
Adult Rehabilitation Centers Command

Instead of throwing out your old hardback books, rescue them from the trash heap and make a knife block! It’s easy, unusual, and sure to be a conversation starter. Maybe springboard the conversation into how God rescued you and gave you a new purpose in life, just like these old books!

As you are crafting, enjoy Jordan St. Cyr’s song, “Rescue.”

Supplies:

  • 3 or 4 hardback books, of similar size/height. It looks best if the colors match or coordinate. If you don’t have books that match or coordinate, you can opt to spray paint the books in the color of your choice.
  • Hot glue gun
  • Popsicle stick, chopstick, or a pencil . Use this to press down on your ribbon after applying hot glue. Blisters are no fun!
  • Ribbon (I used Burlap) – choose different colors, widths, or textures that will play off the color of your books
  • Lace or twine
  • Scissors
  • Knives

Directions:

  • Make sure books are clean, dry, and dusted off.
  • Line up books in the order you’d like them to be.
  • Hot glue the books together. Some glue on each corner and a bit in the middle should do the trick.
  • Stand one book on its end and press it against the next one.
  • Repeat until all books are glued together. Press the stack together to make sure the glue is secure.
  • Wrap your ribbon around the stack of books and hot glue ends of ribbon together, on the back side of the books. (this is where the popsicle stick, chopstick, or pencil comes in handy!) You may want to measure your ribbon first to make sure it won’t be too short.
  • Wrap Your lace or twine over the ribbon, and secure with hot glue on the back side. (use the popsicle stick or chopstick or pencil)
  • You can also add any fun or seasonal embellishments for extra flair.
  • You are now ready to store knives in your new knife block!

Download printable instructions of this craft:

Book Knife BlockDownload

May 2025 Newsletter

/in /by

You are Priceless! You are Rescued! That is the theme of this month’s newsletter.

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14

Included in this month’s newsletter is a devotion, prayer idea, conversation starters, and a Bible reading plan that focuses on our rescue story from the Gospel of Mark. Also included are “Identity Statements,” verses that proclaim who you are in Christ for you to memorize, meditate on, and claim in your life.

Download this month’s newsletter:

May 2025 NewsletterDownload

When Jesus rescued you, it was a “Glorious Day.”

April 2025 Newsletter

/in /by

You are Priceless! You are Redeemed! That is the theme of this month’s newsletter.

Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. Luke 1:68

Included in this month’s newsletter is a devotion, prayer idea, conversation starters, and a Bible reading plan that focuses on our redemption story from the Gospel of Luke. Also included are “Identity Statements,” verses that proclaim who you are in Christ for you to memorize, meditate on, and claim in your life.

Also included in this month’s issue are highlights from our Second Annual “Women Preach Sunday” which was held on March 2nd of this year.

Download this month’s newsletter:

April 2025 NewsletterDownload

Let this song by Influence Music remind you that you are “Redeemed”

April 2025 Craft: Resurrection Easter Craft

/in /by

By Major Lynn Stewart
Kapolei Kroc, HI – Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division

This Easter craft is not only a beautiful centerpiece, but it’s also a perfect visual for devotional purposes. It’s great to know that you don’t necessarily need a Cricut machine, as lantern templates can be found online. To make the enchanting Easter Lantern, you’ll need to gather the following supplies:

Supplies List

  • You will need a Cricut Explore or Cricut Maker machine to cut the intricate designs.
  • Use a 12×24 Cricut mat with a Standard Grip to secure the materials in place during cutting.
  • It’s best to use high-quality 12×24 Olive paper, available on Amazon for the best results.
  • Purchase 12×12 Vellum sheets to create a delicate, translucent effect. (Amazon)
  • You will need a scoring tool and fine-cut blade for precise and clean cuts.

Instructions

  1. Open Cricut Design Space online and search for the “Easter Lantern” project.
  2. Gather all the necessary materials and prepare the cutting mats.
  3. Use the scoring tool to mark the designated lines on the paper. Cricut Design Space will prompt you to insert the scoring tool at the right time.
  4. Assemble the lantern by gluing the sides together and adding the optional bottom to complete the project.
    For easy and secure attachment of the pieces, I recommend having a glue gun or clear glue dots on hand. It’s also a good idea to pre-cut all lanterns prior to your women’s ministries program so that the ladies can simply assemble them.

Download printable directions:

Resurrection Easter LanternDownload

As you craft, enjoy this song by North Point Worship, “Death was Arrested”

June 2025 Craft: Kintsugi

/in /by

By Major Tammy Ray, Sara Ray and Carol World
Redding, CA Corps – Del Oro Division

Kintsugi is an artistic technique of repairing broken pottery in a way that enhances imperfections in a beautiful way. This traditional Japanese artform uses a precious metal, such as liquid gold or silver to bring together the broken pieces and fill in the gaps of a damaged piece of pottery. It strengthens and adds value and beauty, but it doesn’t take away the original purpose or look of the piece. The art of Kintsugi is often referred to as “The Art of Embracing Brokenness” or “The Art of Precious Scars.” This is the perfect way to illustrate how God takes our imperfections, our brokenness, our scars and makes them into artistic expressions of His grace in our lives, while keeping the best part of our beauty intact.

Supplies:

  • Pottery
  • Hammer
  • Hot Glue Gun
  • Gold or silver paint pen
  • Clear Coat Spray or Modge Podge

Process:

  1. Check out Thrift Stores for pottery pieces. This could be a fun outing for your group in preparation of this craft.
  2. Place the pottery piece in a shoe box size plastic tub. This keeps all of the broken pieces together and doesn’t get mixed with someone else’s project.
  3. Use the hammer to break the pottery.
  4. Use the hot glue gun (the high heat setting, so be careful!) to piece the pottery back together.
  5. When set, use the paint pens to cover the glued cracks.
  6. Use a clear coat spray or Modge Podge to seal and protect your project.
  7. Place your finished Kintsugi art project in a place that will remind you that YOU are forgiven, redeemed, and reconciled into a beautiful piece of art.

Download printable instructions for this craft:

Kintsugi Craft -JuneDownload

Women Preach Sunday 2025

/in /by

In honor of International Women’s Day (which was March 8, 2025), the USA Western Territory held its second annual “Woman Preach Day” on Sunday, March 2.

The goal was to have as many pulpits as possible filled by women on that specific Sunday. This year, the event went National, as all four USA Territories celebrated Women Preach Sunday. Doing this nationally is a great opportunity to bring emphasis on women preachers and The Salvation Army’s special mandate and prophetic voice to women’s roles in ministries.

In our territory, 141 Corps and 3 Adult Rehabilitation Centers participated in this event. Both active and retired officers as well as lay leaders spoke throughout the Territory. Lt. Kristin Boyd from the Chico, CA Corps stated, “Women covered all elements of the holiness meeting. Our Home league Secretary of many years, Linda Valdez, preached for the first time! It was a beautiful day celebrating our freedom to preach as women!”

Several corps included women and girls in all aspects of the worship service, besides the preaching. In Federal Way, WA teen girls led worship for the first time. Sophia Reed, daughter of Lt. Emily Reed (Prescott, AZ Corps) was featured in a video promotion the sermon for the week.

Ivy Swain, daughter of Captain Jennifer Swain, helped her mom preach at the San Diego Adult Rehabilitation Center, and then Captain Jennifer preached a second sermon at the El Cajon, CA Corps.

Captain Belle Green, from the Wrangell, AK Corps said this regarding Women Preach Sunday, “I don’t preach regularly. My heart desires to and I know that God has given me a voice He wants heard…This Sunday pushed me to preach and brought to the forefront of my mind the importance of me preaching more. Especially as I looked out at the teenage girls in the congregation. We are blessed to be in an egalitarian movement, and I think days like this helps remind us of that blessing, and encourage us not to take it for granted. I know after this Sunday I plan on being behind the pulpit much more.”

Next year, Women Preach Sunday will be on Sunday, March 1, 2026.

March 2025 Newsletter

/in /by

You are Priceless! You are a Masterpiece! That is the theme of this month’s newsletter.

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 NLT

Included in this month’s newsletter is a devotion, prayer idea, conversation starters, and a Bible reading plan that focuses on our Creator God. Also included are “Identity Statements,” verses that proclaim who you are in Christ for you to memorize, meditate on, and claim in your life.

Download this month’s newsletter:

March 2025 NewsletterDownload

Be reminded today that God doesn’t make mistakes:

March 2025 Craft: Creating a Masterpiece

/in /by

By Captain Aimee Docherty
Intermountain Division

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10

Goal: Using Alcohol inks you will create a beautiful work of art. then you can take your artwork and turn it into a card that you can give to someone that you would like to remind that they are a masterpiece created by God.

Supplies:

Note: All items can be found on Amazon, at a craft store such as Michaels or Hobby Lobby, while some items can be found at Dollar Tree. The alcohol inks can be a messy project so do this in a space that you don’t mind getting a bit messy.

Time frame expected: 1 – 2 hours.

  1. Alcohol Inks
  2. Rubbing Alcohol
  3. Smaller Squirting bottles
  4. Alcohol Ink paper
  5. Straws
  6. Scissors
  7. Typed up and cut out Bible Verse
  8. Gloves
  9. Table Coverings
  10. Paper towels
  11. Glue sticks

       Step 1

Prepare the space

  1. Cover all the tables with a plastic tablecloth.
  2. Put down paper towels as a place mat for each person with some extra paper towels for each person to absorb any extra mess.
  3. Put plastic gloves out for each person.
  4. Open all bottles of alcohol inks in advance if they are brand new.
  5. Place alcohol inks in center and place one piece of alcohol ink paper on top of their paper towel place mat.
  6. Put one small squirt bottle, filled with alcohol ink at each place.
  7. Place one straw at each place.

Step 2

a. Put a few drops of alcohol ink on the paper.

b. Add a few drops of rubbing alcohol on top of the drops of ink.

c. Use straw to blow the liquid about until you are satisfied with the art.

d. Repeat, as desired, using different colors.

e. Put sheet of artwork aside to draw and create another one. Artwork will dry by itself in approximately 20 minutes. If you would like to move it along more quickly use a hairdryer on low.

Step 3:

a. After the artwork has dried, take the sheet that you like the most and fold in half to create a card shape.

b. Cut sheet in half so that you can make two cards.

c. Open up and glue the printed-up Bible verse into the card

d. Write a message to a friend to remind them that they are God’s masterpiece.
(Be aware that the more you handle the ink the more it spreads to your hands and all over the white paper. Also, it will leak around the edges when you are initially doing the ink work).

Other ideas: Take a cookie cutter and cut out a shape from your alcohol ink masterpiece. Then glue it to a white piece of construction paper folded in half to make a card. Finally glue your masterpiece note inside and write a personal note to a friend.

Download printable directions for this craft:

Masterpiece CraftDownload

As you are creating your masterpiece, enjoy this inspiring song, Masterpiece, by Danny Gokey

February 2025 Newsletter

/in /by

You are Priceless! You are Loved! That is the theme of this month’s newsletter.

And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. Ephesians 3:18 NLT

Included in this month’s newsletter is a devotion, prayer idea, conversation starters, and a Bible reading plan that focuses on the immeasurably great love God has for us. Also included are “Identity Statements,” verses that proclaim who you are in Christ for you to memorize, meditate on, and claim in your life.

Download this month’s newsletter:

February 2025 NewsletterDownload

You are Priceless! You are Loved! And as Micah Tyler reminds us, there’s never been a moment that we haven’t been loved by God

February 2025 Craft: You Are Loved Heart

/in /by

By Captain Serina Woods
Haines, AK Corps – Alaska Division

Supplies Needed:

  • Cardboard for each person 8 x 11 (recycled cardboard)
  • Puzzle Pieces (500 is what I used)
  • 1 Big heart and 1 small heart (patterns included in the downloadable instructions)
  • Glue
  • Scissors
  • X-Acto Knife
  • Red Spray Paint – fast drying
  • Cutting board or large cardboard piece
  • Cardstock for banner

Directions:

Before craft preparation

Step 1: Print out hearts – one large and one small for each person (Pattern included in the downloadable instructions below).

Step 2: Print Banners using cardstock (I used Baguet Script – 48)

Working on craft

Step 3: Glue big hear to cardboard, cut out big heart around out edge.

Step 4: Cut out small heart and glut to big heart, center it. Then using X-Acto knife to cut out small heart. This will create a frame heart.

Step 5: Glue puzzle pieces to frame heart making sure some pieces are a little off the frame on both the outer frame and inside frame as as close to each other as possible.

Step 6: Place more puzzle pieces on top of the first layer to make it a double layer. Put glue directly on to puzzle pieces. Let glue dry for 10 minutes.

Step 7: Take fast drying spray paint outside in a shallow cardboard box. Spray heart piece two times. Allow time for first layer to dry. (Optional spray some pieces a different color for a top color).

Step 8: Turn over to glue banner on to back of frame

Download printable directions and templates:

You are Loved craftDownload

As you craft enjoy this song by Riley Clemmons, Loved By You: