MANSFIELD - About 100 women got a chance to just relax recently in the midst of the busy holiday season during the First United Methodist Church's annual Christmas Tea.
The theme was "Hang Your Hope on Jesus," and each participant received a special ornament with those words printed on it.
The women were served by the men of the church in the fellowship hall.
Linda Staudt said she came over from the East Troy United Methodist Church when she heard Joy Cooke, of Bentley Creek Wesleyan Church, Bradford County, would be ministering in music.
"I missed her last year and I wanted to be sure I got here to see her this year," she said.
Jan Pinkney came from Covington Baptist Church.
Organized for the second year by Jane Montague, of Mansfield, the event featured a scarf, mitten and hat Christmas tree, on which participants could pin donations for needy children.
Montague was quick to share credit around for the success of the event by saying that "everyone pitches in with cooking, making sandwiches and setting up the tables and cleaning up."
"One lady came over from the senior center by herself even though she didn't know anyone here because she thought it might be a nice event," Montague said.
Montague also read a poem called "The Apron" about the old fashioned custom of women wearing aprons the multiple uses they served before she presented a Christmas apron to the youngest attendee, Lydia Howe, 7, who attended with her grandmother Sue Howe, of Mansfield.
Cooke, a breast cancer survivor, spoke about the Lord's goodness and mercy in helping her through the illness.
"I had radiation on my hip two years ago, but I am doing good," she said.
Then a month ago, she said she underwent more radiation, this time on her rib but, again, she said she is "doing good."
"The Lord has carried me through this," she said.
Cooke said she recently had another MRI on her hip, but had not heard the results yet, but as of her last doctor's appointment, she was "cancer free."
Cooke said when she first was diagnosed she didn't say "why me" she said, "well, why not me?"
"It's not about me, it's about what I do with it (the cancer)," she added.
