Regardless of status or station in life, the Oasis Women's Ministry can be of assistance, director Jennifer Hatch said.

Oasis will hold a nine-week nondenominational Bible study program for women of all ages on Wednesday mornings that will begin on Sept. 24 and run through Nov. 19 at Providence Church, 269 Cinder Road, New Providence.

"Our Bible study is for women who are really looking for connection, to have a break during the busyness of life to come together as women who want to know more about Jesus," Hatch said.

Every woman is welcome. "We aren't all from the southern end of Lancaster County," said Hatch. "We have women coming from Maryland and Chester County and York County, even, so we have a broad reach of women from different churches and all ages who like to come together just to study the Bible."

The program is for both Bible beginners and longtime readers. "We try to make the Bible study something that women who have never done in the Bible study before can also feel comfortable and fit in here, along with women who may have studied the Bible their whole lives," said Hatch. "There's a place for everyone to participate."

Breakfast will be served at 9 a.m., and the group will meet from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

"It's for women who want to come in and have breakfast and just spend time together, sharing and catching up with each other and building friendships," said Hatch. "That's where we start our morning, and then we come together as a big group in the sanctuary to have worship in music. Then we branch off into the small study groups."

Go to http://www.oasiswomen.org or call 717-799-8583 to register. Walk-ins will be accepted. A freewill offering will be received each week to "bless the child care workers," Hatch said. Child care will be provided for youngsters of all ages. "They're also learning about Jesus and Bible stories, doing crafts, singing songs, having snacks. The children also enjoy coming here, as well."

There will be two tracks of study - "The Gospel of John: Savoring the Peace of Jesus in a Chaotic World" by Melissa Spoelstra and "The Gospel of John - Digging Deeper With Your Bible."

"I think everybody can relate to the subtitle "Savoring the Peace of Jesus in a Chaotic World," Hatch said. "That is what we want to create here, that this is a place where women can feel replenished, that they can find a place of peace just in the middle of a busy life, whatever that is for them, and have time to experience peace within whatever life is bringing."

Hatch stated that the goal is to make a difference in the lives of participants. "We were talking about this as a leadership group," she said. "Our hopes for this session are for women to have their lives transformed, that they will not leave here the same way that they came, and that we would also be unified though we're all very different people. Our hope is that we come together, and our focus is on Jesus and that is what unifies us."

Past participant Jan Bewley said, "One of the biggest blessings was we went through a family tragedy a few years ago, and the group prayed for us and supported us through the entire process, and that meant a lot to us."

Barb Musser stated that there are many benefits to the Bible study program. "There's fellowship with other women, and there's also very good food," she said. "There's great worship as well, and the teaching is exceptional. We choose Bible studies that are going to minister to the hearts and lives of women in whatever area they're in, whether it's work or raising children or being married or being single. We try to meet people's needs, and the discussion times are really beneficial. We also have a great prayer ministry for women."