Ministries: United Methodist Women

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UMW Purpose

 

“I now remind you to stir into flame the gift of God which is within you.” 2 Timothy 1:6

“The organized unit of 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”.

United Methodist Women is open to any women who chooses to belong and commits herself to our Purpose. At St Andrew we have quarterly General Meetings for our entire membership, and various small groups that meet on a regular basis. Childcare is available with one week’s notice to the Childcare Coordinator at 303-794-2683, ext 126.

 

All About United Methodist Women

United Methodist Women is one of the largest women’s organizations in the world. 2009 marks the 140th Anniversary of women organized for mission in the Methodist Church. Today, there are over 800,000 members in the US and many more in over 60 countries around the world. Our purpose is mission; primarily to women, children and youth. We have women of all ages and life stages involved in education, spiritual growth, fellowship, and mission outreach.

United Methodist Women is an official organization of the United Methodist Church. It is open to any woman who chooses to belong and commits herself to our Purpose. You do not need to be a member of St Andrew to participate.

At St Andrew we have quarterly General Meetings for our entire membership, and various small groups (Circles) that meet regularly. Childcare is available for most of our events with one week’s notice to the Childcare Coordinator at 303-794-2683, ext 126. For more information contact President, Donna Parisi at jdparisi2@comcast.net or Membership Coordinator, Sharyn Landis at shalateach@aol.com. Information about meetings and events is also available in the Sunday bulletin or on the UMW bulletin board in the Adult Education hallway.

UMW coordinates receptions for Weddings, Funerals, and special events at the church. Please contact the church office for more information.

We are over 170 women strong and growing. We invite you to join us and be a part of this exciting women’s ministry.

Find the current news for the United Methodist Women (UMW) at St. Andrew on their new blog.  St Andrew UMW Blog

QUILTS FOR BAPTISMS

Our Piecemakers Circle makes quilts for baptisms of children 36 months and younger. Older children receive pillow cases made by Piecemakers. The quilts and pillow cases are offered as a reminder that as they grow in Christ, children are wrapped in God’s love and the love of their church family.

This group is open to anyone with an interest in quilting. We receive donated material and have sewing machines available at the church for use. There are knowledgeable crafters to help with learning skills. We learn, laugh, and share love as we piece these quilts together. If you have contacts, please contact Marilyn Heinle at mmheinle@juno.com.

MISSION OUTREACH

United Methodist Women are women organized for mission.Our Circles have various outreach projects with local agencies. Some of the agencies that we support are:  

Beacon Center, Bridgeway, DenUm, Habitat for Humanity, House of Hope, Interfaith Community Services, Interfaith Hospitality Network, Street Reach, The Women’s Crisis and Family Outreach Center, Warren Village.

An ongoing project is the collection of Campbell’s Labels for Education and Boxtops for Education. There are collection containers in the food pantry in the church foyer. Instructions for collection are available at BaseCamp. The labels and Boxtops can be used to purchase many items. Our labels and Boxtops are donated to Cherrlynn Elementary School in Englewood.

St Andrew UMW participate in the support of UMCOR, the official relief agency of the United Methodist Church. In August 2009 we are collecting funds to be used to supply cleaning buckets for those affected by hurricanes and flooding. In previous years we have made school kits and hygiene kits. Our kits have been sent to the Sager-Brown emergencey supply depot in Baldwin, LA. We hope to support the new supply depot located in Salt Lake City, UT. The Women’s Division supports nearly one third of the budget for UMCOR.

We also support the St Andrew Youth Ministries, Children’s Ministries, and LIFEspot.

FUNDRAISING

United Methodist Women is governed by the Women’s Division of the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church. We raise funds to support mission outreach in our local community and for the support of Domestic and International projects of the Church. Our annual fundraisers are:

  • Cherry Cobblers – this sweet treat is available one Sunday in February
  • Afternoon Tea – new in 2009, a delightful afternoon of tea, desserts, music, and fellowship; it is sure to become an annual event
  • Unbake sale – a Mother’s Day tradition; each woman receives a flyer with a tea bag and an envelope, she can relax, sip her tea, and donate the funds that she would have used baking
  • Pumpkin Desserts – a Thanksgiving favorite, available the Sunday prior to Thanksgiving
  • Mrs Claus’ Closet – part of St Andrew’s annual Advent Festival; a room filled with low-priced treasures, holiday shopping that includes gift wrapping

There are two annual offerings specific to UMW:

  • The Call to Prayer and Self-Denial is usually observed during Lent. The Call collects funds for a designated purpose which is announced each year. All funds collected are sent directly to Women’s Division to be dispersed in the form of grants.
  • The World Thank Offering is collected throughout the year. Each member has a small container in her home. She adds coins to her container to thank God for the many blessings in her life. The coins are collected in a special service at our November General Meeting or in the Circles. The funds are sent to Women’s Division as undesignated mission giving.

In 2008 St Andrew UMW donated more than $8300 to mission outreach through local agencies, St Andrew UMC, and Women’s Division.

CONNECTIONS

St Andrew UMW are part of the Mile High/Pikes Peak District, the Rocky Mountain Conference, and Women’s Division. We currently have three women serving on the District Mission Team and one on the Conference Mission Team. We are privileged to have Kumja Lim, a Director of Women’s Division, as one of our members.

We participate in the following District and Conference events:

  • District training – Officers and lay women are encouraged to attend this January event to learn more about UMW and the Mile High/Pikes Peak District
  • District Spiritual Day Apart – held each year in March, a time to refresh our spiritual lives
  • Conference Annual Spiritual Life Retreat – a weekend at the YMCA Camp of the Rockies in Estes Park; over 400 women from around the conference gather for fun, fellowship, and a time for spiritual renewal
  • School of Christian Mission – a cooperative event with the Rocky Mtn Conference Council of Ministries; the School of Christian Mission is a national event that presents three mission studies each year to 25,000 – 30,000 participants, the School is appropriate for women, men, and youth. There is a three day School held in July and one-day events held in the Fall. UMW members are encouraged to conduct the mission studies in their local units as well. The studies pertain to Spiritual Growth, a Geographic interest, and a Social Issue.

Mission Study topics:

  • 2009 – Food and Faith, Sudan, Native American Survival
  • 2010 – For the Love of God: John’s Letters, Sudan, Mission and Evangelism
  • 2011 – Coming Out on the Side of Grace: Reconciliation, Haiti, Mission and Evangelism
  • 2012 – Living Sacramentally and Walking Justly, Haiti, Global Warming

UMW Online is an interactive internet community. Women from around the country can ask questions, get advice, share information, participate in book studies, chat with persons involved in various social issues, and find out about UMW. It can be accessed at www.umwonline.org. The community is open to everyone and you do not have to be a member of UMW to participate.

Women’s Division is the parent of United Methodist Women. Every four years Women’s Division holds an Assembly of United Methodist Women. The next Assembly will be held in St Louis, MO, April 30 – May 2, 2010. Approximately 8000 women from around the world are expected to participate. Five St Andrew members attended the previous Assembly in Anaheim, CA in 2006. We hope to have at least that many attend in 2010.

Information about UMW is available on the Women’s Division website, www.umwmission.org.

CIRCLES

Our Circles provide an opportunity to learn, laugh, and share God’s love with other women on a regular basis. We nurture and support each other as we grow in our understanding of Christ. You do not need to be a member of a Circle to participate in UMW.

Daytime Circles

Agape Circle, meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 10:00am at church, followed by an opportunty to lunch at a local restaurant. A diverse group searching for connection and willing to serve. Contact Karen Hurst at karen80112@comcast.net

Circle of Life, meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month, 9:30am, at church. This group is for stay-at-home Moms with young children. Sheri Isdale and Amy Wade lead this group. isdales@comcast.net or amyrwade@hotmail.com

Coffee and Conversation, meets the 2nd  Wednesday, 1pm, at church. This group enjoys fellowship, dessert, and various programs. Contact Pat Barraza at jorgebarraza@msn.com

Piecemakers, meets the 2nd Sunday, noon, at church. This is our quilting Circle. They make quilts given at infant bapisms and other projects. No experience is required. Marilyn Heinle leads this group mmheinle@juno.com

Evening Circles

Circle of Joy, meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month, 7pm, at church. A variety of programs and projects for women of all ages. Jill Henton and Linda Lloyd coordinate this circle. jillmhenton@q.com or lnslloyd@comcast.net

Friendship Circle, meets the 2nd Monday, 7:30pm, in member’s homes. This is St Andrew’s longest running circle and it offers programs, speakers and projects. Jean Norris leads this group. Email contact is Ardis Rankin at ardrankin@aol.com

Women of Purpose Circle, meets the 2nd Thursday, 7pm, at the church. A group of employed women of all ages, enjoying fellowship and various programs. Contact Elizabeth Seawalt at eseawalt@liveberkeley.com

United Methodist Women Roles and Responsibilities

Ministry Team/Standing Committee:          United Methodist Women 

Mission/Purpose Statement:

“The organized unit of 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”.

This is the official Purpose statement for all UMW through Women’s Division.

Primary Responsibilities/Activities:

  1. Mission outreach to women, children and youth.
  2. Spiritual growth: School of Christian Mission studies, Prayer calendar for daily    devotions, Response magazine, other book studies individually or in a group, Circle programs, special events.
  3. Supportive Community: We currently have eight (8) small groups, or Circles, that meet at various times during the month. We also have many “at large” members who do not attend Circle but participate in and support our activities.
  4. We currently have four (4) fund-raisers each year: Cherry Dessert sale, Un-bake Sale, Pumpkin Dessert sale, and Mrs Claus’ Closet. We also collect funds through individual Pledge to Mission. The funds raised are used to support our efforts in local mission outreach, or are sent to Women’s Division to support the global mission outreach of the Church.

Members on Ministry Team or Standing Committee:

Current total membership is approximately 140 women.

The Mission Team consists of:

President                     Vice President                         Secretary
Treasurer                     Nominations Chair                  Communications Coordinator

Four Mission Coordinators:  Education & Interpretation, Membership - Nurture and Outreach, Social Action, Spiritual Growth

Members of the Nominating Committee (3-5)

Leaders of each Circle (8)

Reception Coordinator

The representative to Leadership Council is usually the President, with Vice President as an alternate.     

 August 2007

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