PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN
Purpose:
Forgiven and freed by God in Jesus Christ
and empowered by the Holy Spirit,
we commit ourselves:
to nurture our faith through prayer and Bible study,
to support the mission of the church worldwide
to work for justice and peace,
and to build an inclusive, caring community of women
that strengthens the Presbyterian Church (USA)
and witnesses to the promise of God's kingdom.
Presbyterian Women continues to carry out its purpose of being an inclusive, caring community of women nurturing our faith through prayer and Bible study and supporting the mission of the church worldwide. Presbyterian Women offers many programs and service opportunities throughout the year.
Our Circles serve as the center of activity for Presbyterian Women. Circles are small groups of women that meet monthly either in members' homes or at the Parish House for a time of sharing, study and service work. Circles also spearhead our involvement, providing volunteer support to various local mission programs. In addition to the Circles, we offer a book club that meets monthly to discuss recent works and a Lenten Bible study.
Presbyterian Women Officers through June 2008:
| Moderator |
|
Sherry Guthrie |
| Membership/Programs |
|
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| Secretary |
|
Nancy Behrendt |
| Treasurer |
|
Marilynn Hummer |
| Mission |
|
Amanda Boyadis |
| Study |
|
Mikey Knotts |
| Church Aid |
|
Jane Nast |
| Clothing Bank/Publicity |
|
Jan Harris |
| Bazaar |
|
|
| |
|
|
PW Pledge
As a member of PW, you will be asked each year to pledge. You will be sent a letter, along with a pledge card to complete and an envelope in which to return your pledge. The amount you pledge is a totally personal decision. Our pledges minister directly to those in need in our community and beyond.
The Calico Bazaar
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"Forgiven and freed by God in Jesus Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we
commit ourselves
- to nurture our faith through prayer and Bible study,
- to support the mission of the church worldwide,
- to work for justice and peace, and
- to build an inclusive, caring community of women that strengthens the
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and witnesses to the promise of God's kingdom."
What a wonderful purpose to live by and Presbyterian Women has spent the past year
finding new and wonderful ways to bring this purpose to life.
Our circles have prayed together, laughed together, cried together, supported one another
and watched each other grow in faith and friendship. We have learned about our
community and how we can respond to the needs around us, and we have committed
ourselves to being the hands of Christ in this world. We have knitted blankets and
shawls, studied the Bible, cooked for the Soup Kitchen, collected items for the Food
Pantry and Jail, brought food and clothes to help Newark families, baked for the tea
parties held monthly at Morris View Nursing Home and written birthday cards for the
patients there.
Mary Walker led a wonderful Bible study on "In the Beginning: Perspectives on
Genesis" on Saturday mornings during Lent.
The Presbyterian Women Memorial Scholarship was given to Martha Fenske, who has
been an active participant with the Barnabas Team, helping the children of our church
know Christ's love.
Our program in June centered on herbs, with a program given by Cheryl Wiley, showing
us how to make our homes a place of beauty, using a little creativity and imagination,
seeing God's world with new eyes. We also installed new officers, thanking God for
their gifts of leadership, and saying goodbye to those stepping down. The outgoing
officers were Linda McCachren (Secretary), Mary Walker (Studies), Mikey Knotts
(Membership and Programs) and Linda Gaden (Moderator). Jan Harris received the
Presbyterian Women's Honorary Lifetime Membership Award for all the ways she
embodies the ideals of a Presbyterian Woman: gentle, kind, loving, nurturing, supportive, faithful... She offers a very special ministry to everyone she touches.
Financially we have supported the mission of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A., offering
scholarships to Kenyan students, support for the health care clinic in Kenya, funding for
Girl Scout Camperships, Market Street Mission, the Clothing Bank, the Community Soup
Kitchen, Church World Service Tools of Hope and Blanket Fund and Mrs. Wilson's
House. We have also provided Horizon Magazine subscriptions for the Eastleigh PW, Church World Service School Supply Kits and Maania Kits (basic sterile items used to
reduce deaths of a mother or infant during birth). Presbyterian Women also contributed
to the Fellowship of the Least Coin, the Birthday Offering and the Thank Offering.
Our bazaar was a tremendous success with everyone working very bard and having a lot
of fun. Food was served, treasures were purchased and another year of mission funding
was assured. Thank you to everyone who donated, priced, parked cars, set up, cleaned
up, organized, cooked and purchased. It was a wonderful day.
The year ended with a fun program by Roy Justice who entertained us with stories of
Christmas carols and traditions and favorite songs of the season.
Presbyterian Women is a wonderfully inclusive, caring community of women. If you
would like to know more about this group, please feel free to call me or the church office.
It is a real privilege to serve God alongside this "cloud of witnesses."
Sherry Guthrie
Moderator |
