United Methodist Women
What is the PURPOSE of the United Methodist Women (UMW)?
"The organized unit of UMW 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."
Basically, we are a bunch of women who enjoy getting together once a month to try to make a difference in the lives of women, children, and youth at St. Andrews, in the community, and globally.
Any woman who chooses to worship at St. Andrews is automatically a member of United Methodist Women and is invited to join a Circle! We have two circles that give our women opportunities to get involved. One meets during the day and the other at night. Pick a Circle Meeting and get involved. There is so much good to be done within our church and the area. Your involvement can really change a life.
THE FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE
- Meetings: 10AM on the third Wednesday of each month
- Membership: ladies who do not work outside the home or are retired
- Main mission focus: the needs within our church, such as the Compassion Fund to help church members in need, and the Building Fund
- Hands-on projects:
- Preparation and serving of food at our church-wide Wednesday Night Fellowship Suppers
- Reading to the children enrolled at St. Andrews UMC Preschool
- Preparation and serving of food at HOPE Ministries - a program for the homeless at Garner United Methodist Church
- Community involvement:
- Financial contribution monthly to Garner Area Ministries
- Sponsor of a Food-of-the-Month drive for Garner Area Ministries within our church
- Collect travel-size soap, shampoo, and lotion for HOPE Ministries - a program for the homeless at Garner United Methodist Church
THE EVENING CIRCLE
- Meetings: 7PM on the second Tuesday of each month
- Membership: a great mixture of ladies: retired ladies, working ladies, ladies with children, ladies without children, and grandmothers!
- Main mission focus: Each month is different! Sometimes, we have a speaker from a local non-profit organization. Sometimes, we have a mission project to complete. The Evening Circle supports mission projects within the community, globally, and also within St. Andrews.
- Examples of Mission Projects from 2011
- Made "Thank You" cards for patients at local cancer treatment centers
- Held knitting/crocheting workshop to make hats for babies at local NICUs
- Sewed fun/colorful pillowcases for local children's hospitals
- Prepared and served meals at Hope Ministries, VBS, and Wednesday Night Dinners
- Collected stuffed animals for Wake County Sheriff's Department
- Speaker from Wake County Sheriff's Department on ways to be safe
- Prepared "Goodie Boxes" for college students and military personnel
- Childcare and refreshments are served at each meeting.
If you have any questions or would like more information about the Evening Circle, please contact Deb Johnston at saumcumw@gmail.com.