Parkwood United Methodist Women – May News
Parkwood UMW met on Saturday, April 20, 2013, at PUMC. President Susan Oglesby called the meeting to order. She asked that we “Think Green,” and place any unused agendas and other handouts in a pile to be shredded for recycling or perhaps used in hamster cages. Our business session opened with Florine’s short recap of the March meeting. Charlotte presented the treasurer’s report. The minutes and treasurer’s report were accepted as printed and distributed by email. Continuing with old business Jan reported that the committee on receptions is in the process of gathering information concerning the cost of the items generally served. Jan also bought a prayer bracelet and we decided to use the June 27 meeting as the workshop for making the bracelets. Completed bracelets will also contain a printed guide to explain the meaning of each bead and how to use them in prayer. Jan also shared some information on items needed at UMD that are not on the regular food list. There is, however, a continuing need for food, and the members voted to send a donation designated for the purchase of food. The next item of business was a discussion of our participation in the May 11 Parkwood Flea Market. We adopted suggested price and packaging guidelines. Work schedules and a sheet listing items donated were passed around. They are posted on the UMW bulletin board and there is room to volunteer to work as well as donate baked goods.
At this point we took a short break to enjoy the refreshments provided by Hollis and Judy.
Susan began our program with prayer. In addition to those in our church family with needs, we remembered the victims and families and all those whose lives were changed by the events at the Boston Marathon. Our special guest for this meeting was Susan Rayles, President of the Corridor District. She shared some background on her journey to becoming Corridor District president. She presented some information on the upcoming mission studies, the Sister to Sister event, and the District Day apart. Flyers on these events can be found on the UMW board or on the corridor District Website, http://corridorumw.org/ She also shared information about the “For all the Saints” that will be a part of the annual conference meeting of UMW. Our treasurer will have more information about this. There is also a mission trip to the Wesley Community Center in Savannah, GA in September. Spaces are limited because there is very little housing available. Anyone interested must register by August 15. Susan Rayles announced that our Susan Oglesby has accepted the position of Sub District Leader for south Corridor District. Congratulations and thanks for your service! The remainder of Susan’s remarks related to how we can help include and encourage younger women in their UMW journey.
Parkwood United Methodist Women – March News
The Parkwood UMW met on February 28 in the Fellowship Hall at PUMC. President Susan Oglesby welcomed the twenty-one women attending. She opened our meeting with a prayer. As always, the members took a few minutes to share joys and to report on health concerns as well as improving conditions. Correspondence from our youth, the Methodist Home for Children, and Edna Walker was circulated. Minutes and treasurer’s reports from the January meeting were presented and accepted.
Natalie presented the Response moment using an article from a recent Response magazine. The article was about Albemarle County in Virginia. This county is the location of Charlottesville and is one of the wealthiest counties in Virginia. At the same time 21% of its resident live below the poverty level. There are United Methodist women and Methodist congregations at work trying to help feed and shelter their neighbors in need. Among the programs in place are shelters that rotate among the churches, a
back pack food program, and weekly distribution of groceries. The food box program began twenty-five years ago as a monthly distribution and has grown to weekly distribution. All the projects Natalie reported were started as UMW efforts to help their local community.
The program this month was the annual “Call to Prayer and Self Denial.” Pam Skidmore led the program on financial literacy. Included in the program were facts about today’s cost of living and the debt that quickly builds through use of credit cards, home mortgages, auto loans, and educational expenses.
We were reminded of John Wesley’s “earn all you can, save all you can, and give all you can.” The offering collected during the program will be forwarded as designated funds to support financial literacy training programs of the UMW.
During the business portion of our meeting, Jan presented an update on the reception/dinner policy for PUMW. Betty and Pam are also working on this committee. Members agreed to help with the coordination and preparation of upcoming receptions. The receptions are not fundraisers, but a reception ministry.
Plans were made for the Irish dinner to be served on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17 following the worship service. This will be a fundraiser to support PUMW projects this year. Our March meeting will be held on the third Thursday, March 21, because the fourth Thursday is Maundy Thursday. The meeting will be at 7:00 pm at PUMC.
United Methodist Women – June Update
The Parkwood UMW met at the home of Charlotte Thompson on Thursday, May 24. Our special guest and speaker was Lisa Bachman, a resident of Durham and a commissioned Deaconess in the UMC. We first learned about Lisa when her name appeared in the Prayer Calendar. Charlotte gave us what information was there, and Vice President Florine Layman arranged for her to be at this meeting. Lisa shared with us church history focusing on John Wesley and his recognition and encouragement of women in the church. The office of deaconess has been a part of Methodist churches since 1888. In the beginning the women who served were much like nuns wearing long black dresses and living apart from families as they serves their communities. Today they are called for “full-time ministries of love, justice and service.” Their motto is: I serve neither for gratitude nor reward but from gratitude and love; my reward is that I may serve. Lisa left brochures and articles giving more details of the position and the work they do.
When the program was completed, we enjoyed a time of fellowship and the refreshments prepared by Charlotte and co-hostess Pat Nestler.
May was a busy month for UMW. We polished silver so that it will sparkle whenever we need to use it. Bev Whitmore’s blanket making workshop has produced seven blankets with a few more to be completed soon. Treasurer Pat Nestler reported that we made $196 on the bake sale. In other treasury related business, we selected this year’s honorees for our Candle burning donation. After a brief discussion about school kits, we decided to send a donation to Robeson County Church and Community Center in lieu of making and delivering school kits.
As always we shared our joys and concerns, and we ask for continued prayer for those families that are still in health related treatment.
Our next meeting will be on June 28th at the home of Betty Byrd. Our speaker will be Martha Caves, District UMW President. She will answer our questions relating to the new district alignment. We hope to see some new faces there! All women are invited and encouraged to become a part of UMW.