UNITED METHODIST WOMEN
Our Purpose:
The organized unit of the United Methodist Women shall be a community of women whose purpose is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ: to develop a creative, supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the Church.
Our History:
United Methodist Women (UMW) is one of the largest and oldest women’s organizations in the world. Founded in 1869 by a group of women determined to send missionaries to India, it has grown to 800,000 concerned Christian women who work together to support ministries to women, children and youth in thousands of communities in the United States and more than 80 countries around the world.
From the days when the founders raised funds to send a nurse and a teacher to India to the present, UMW has been a vital part of the mission work of the United Methodist Church, providing nearly one-third of the financial support for community centers and missionaries. For those with a heart for mission, UMW is an effective way to channel your energy. Each unit has a separate charter within the larger church, including a pledge to mission similar to the apportionment of every United Methodist Church.
Who are we and What do we do at First Church?
Our activities are guided by our purpose:
A community of women whose purpose is to know God and experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ… Spiritual growth is an important element of our organization. We attend District and Conference Spiritual Life Retreats, and grow in our spiritual walk through small groups called “Circles.” We use the Prayer Calendar to support those missions and missionaries and employees of the Board of Global Ministries.
To develop a creative, supportive fellowship; In the circles, women develop creative, supportive relationships that nurture, encourage and support. Circles come in a variety of shapes and forms, so that the interests and preferences of any woman can be accommodated. Check out the list of circles below!
To expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church. The FUMC unit of UMW has a pledge to mission of nearly $7,000. We support the ministry of Connie DiLeo, our missionary in the Dominican Republic. We are active with our community ministry, United Methodist Cooperative Ministries, which supports a pre-school for immigrant children, Ditty Bags for the homeless and farm workers, a program for providing nutritious snacks through the Pack-A-Sack 4 Kids program, English as a second language classes, tutoring, etc. These are a few examples of the ways United Methodist Women identify issues such as hunger, abuse, and homelessness. We become knowledgeable about these issues and then we respond to help provide solutions.
How can I get involved?
The best way is to identify a small group, roll up your sleeves and dive in! The small groups are listed below, with contact information included. You will be surprised by the variety of ways women can serve the Lord.
CIRCLES (SMALL GROUPS) OF UMW
Abigail: The Abigail group is a daytime Bible study for women of all ages. They meet on the second and fourth Thursdays from 2 pm – 3:30 pm in the Genesian Room at the church. The current Book of study is Women of the Bible. Contact Cindy Ripley: 823-5671
Bad Girls of the Bible Study Club: This study group meets the third Tuesday of every month at the home of Joyce Lagor in Feather Sound. A light dinner is served at 6 pm, and the study follows at 6:30. The current study book is Bad Girls of the Bible. They also participate in community outreach projects. Contact Barbara DeFoe: 492-5455.
Deborah Circle: The Deborah’s meet on the second Wednesday of the month from September through June at 12:15. This circle supports local, church and global mission projects. Contact Mary Jane Dameron: 867-3873.
Eve Circle: The Eve study group meets on the second and fourth Monday nights from 6:30 pm – 8 pm for study and supportive fellowship. This is a “get-connected” group for women new to the church who seek study, friendship sharing and support. Contact Sally Gurba: 488-2006.
F.A.S.T. Crowd (Fellowship And Service Together): The Fast Crowd meets on the third Monday of the month from September through May. They support a variety of enjoyable as well as charitable projects, including field trips. Contact: Nancy Fallis: 341-0130.
Lydia Circle: The Lydia Circle meets the first and third Mondays at 7 pm year-round for Bible study at the home of Jean Payne. The fourth Monday is a social meeting and varies in event and location. Contact Fran McCanney: 522-6953, Colette Moorefield: 576-2702.
Rebecca Circle: The Rebecca Circle meets on the second Tuesday of the month at the church at 10:30 am, from September through May. This circle has educational programs with missions emphasis locally and around the world. Contact: Dot Salley: 254-4243.
Merry Marthas & Happy Heralds: This loose-knit group of men and women under the direction of our pastor of visitation offer support of various kinds to homebound and disabled members of our church and community. No meeting structure, as we respond to requests that have been channeled through the church staff. Contact: Elaine Martin: 867-7211.
Upcoming United Methodist Women Events
Pack-A-Sack 4 Kids St. Patrick's Day Benefit: March 17, 6 pm
Friends and members of First Church UMW will be gathering at the home of Ray and Joyce Lagor to celebrate the wearing of the green with traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage. In addition to Irish fun, those who attend will have an opportunity to contribute to the Pack-A-Sack 4 Kids program, which provides close to a dozen snacks to 40 children every Friday at Woodlawn Elementary School. (See details on Pack-A-Sack below.) The Lagor's live in Feather Sound at 2834 Sandpiper and the festivities begin at 6 pm. Everyone is welcome to attend. Call the Lagor's to let them know you will be there: 556-0193.
Easter Baskets for our home-bound church members: March 31
The Deborah Circle will be gathering Wednesday, March 31 to assemble Easter Baskets for the home-bound and elderly in our congregation. Participants bring cookies (home-baked or from the market,) including sugar-free cookies, assemble them in cheery Easter baskets, and deliver them. It is one of outreach projects of this circle. Would you like to join in? Contact Mary Jane Dameron time and location: 867-3873.
Health Fair Invitation by Bon Secours Maria Manor: April 5
Members of UMW and ANY member of the First Church congregation have been invited to attend an all-encompassing Health Fair Monday April 5 from 10 am – 3 pm. Included in the event are blood pressure checks, exercise stations for aerobics, yoga, etc., information on a wide variety of health issues such as diabetes and weight control, and much, much more. Enjoy a delicious lunch at a modest price. Bon Secours is located at 10401 Roosevelt Blvd. N, at the intersection of MLK Blvd N. Call Judy Coughlin for more information: 561-797-5144.
PROJECTS AND FOCUS FOR 2010
The theme for 2010 lines up with our overall church emphasis to Invite! Invite! Invite! We plan to grow our membership by identifying women with a heart for mission who would like to participate in the purpose listed above. United Methodist Women play a key role in supporting missionaries and deaconesses in the mission field. We plan to aggressively pursue efforts to include all women in our projects and programs.
Following are major projects of UMW:
• Raise $7,000 to meet our pledge to the district and conference UMW. We do this through personal pledges and fund-raisers, especially our annual Rummage Sale the first week in August. SAVE YOUR STUFF FOR US! (See information below)
• PACK-A-SACK 4 KIDS: First Church is one of 9 churches in the St. Pete/Clearwater area that is participating in this program to provide weekend snacks for grade school children. We have been assigned Woodlawn Elementary, and United Methodist Women is spearheading this project within the church. Forty children receive 10-12 snack items to take home over the weekend. These are children whose families are unable to provide adequate food for them. You can help by bring snack items to the church and depositing them in the Pack-A-Sack box near the Fellowship Hall. Lists of food items can be found at the box location. Contributions are also welcomed. It costs approximately $5 per child. How about adopting one child a week for a month or more? Checks can be made out to United Methodist Women, with “Pack-A-Sack” on the “For____” space on the check. You can use a pew envelope as well, with “UMW – Pack-A-Sack” on the envelope. It will take the help of the congregation to keep this program afloat. This program is directed by the United Methodist Cooperative Ministries, a local mission center for the Methodist Church. Contact Peggy Canada for more information: 823-2094.
• DITTY BAG PROJECT: Each year local Methodist Churches provide “Ditty Bags” with toiletry items for farm workers (especially the children) and homeless. Last year UMW assembled 320 of these ditty bags, which were gathered in October by the United Methodist Cooperative Ministries. You can help by saving hotel shampoos, conditioners and lotions, men's tube socks, 4-ounce toothpastes and tooth brushes, wash cloths, and new or used copies of The Upper Room or other devotional materials. Contact Nancy Fallis for more information: 341-0130 (P.S. If you like to sew, we need help making cloth ditty bags.)
• RUMMAGE SALE: The first week in August (the 2nd through the 7th) finds the women and friends of UMW sifting and sorting through piles of clothes, kitchen items, books, home furnishings, holiday décor, etc., etc., and some things difficult to identify! The sale is Friday and Saturday, August 6 and 7 from 8 am – 2 pm. A special early-shopping event will be held Thursday from 4:30 to 6 pm for those participating in Celebrate Recovery and for church members. The sale will be held in the Bishop Building on the southwest corner of our property. Items can be brought to the church beginning August 2, or contact Elaine Martin (867-7211) to make other arrangements.
