Minutes of July 11th,
2010 UMW Meeting of the Sabbath Circle
Present
Sally Love Betty
Parker Diane
Rixner
Lori Goodwin Wendy
Eisenhauer Bonnie
Carney
Minutes
No one read the article Disorderly
Disciplines in its entirety so that discussion will continue next month. One
member did want to discuss the quiet time for devotions that we all admit we
struggle to find, and suggestions were shared.
Bonnie brought some
questions as well as some information to the group from the last church council
meeting.
1.
The re-initiation of the Nursery and its staffing;
2.
Members of the staff are presenting concerns of a separation of the congregants
of the two services. Asking for input to a resolve.
3.
The desire of this church council to evaluate needs that exist within our
family as well as those that plague our neighbors, and our responsibility as
Christians.
The next meeting is
scheduled for August 8th at 8:45.
Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted
Bonnie Carney
Hawley United Methodist Women
Sabbath Circle Prayer
Loving God, we are women who are often overwhelmed with the demands placed on us. Still, we are here because you call us to do your will as best we can. Amidst our busy lives, we ask that you help us to keep our priorities in order. Help us to smile more and complain less. Make us more mindful of our blessings and less mindful of the burdens that threaten to weigh us down. Help us to be more sensitive to the needs of others and less indulgent of our own. Give us the energy, the strength, the compassion and the love that we need for our journey – and help us to remember that you are always present with us – guiding our steps. We thank you for our church and our fellowship together. Direct our conversation, and help us conduct ourselves in a way that is pleasing to you. Amen
Regular meetings are scheduled on the second Sunday of the month at 8:45 a.m. There are lively discussions of various topics of concern – often generated by the Christian Woman magazine to which many of our members subscribe.
OUR MISSIONS
The focus is always on mission –locally and beyond. In addition to supporting the Conference UMW through our ministry shares, our local unit also contributes to local agencies – including Victims Intervention, Children & Youth, Dyberry Day Camp, the Hawley Community Pantry, the Hawley Ambulance, the American Red Cross, Hawley Parks & Recreation, and Compassionate Friends. More recently, Campus Ministry has become one of our important missions; and we also lend financial support to the local church for various needs that arise throughout the year.
Funeral Luncheons
Beyond our financial giving, the HUMW considers this project to be an important part of our mission to our Church Family and members of the community. When the need arises, members are called upon to prepare various food items to combine with that which is purchased. Volunteers set up the luncheon and clean up afterward which alleviates the grieving family of that responsibility. This is not a fund-raiser. The cost to the family is basically enough to cover our expenses.
Prayer Shawl Ministry
There is a core group of women from HUMC who use their talents to knit or crochet lovely prayer shawls to be presented to those folks who are in special need of support and encouragement.
The care and the love of knitting and/or crocheting are combined into a prayerful ministry that has reached out to those in need of comfort and solace since 1998 when it was implemented by Janet Bristow and Victoria Galo. Many blessings are knitted into every shawl. The knitter begins each shawl with prayers for the recipient and continues intentions throughout its creation. When the shawl is completed it is offered a final ritual before being sent along its way. As this gift has been sent along, some recipients have continued the kindness by making one themselves and passing it onto someone in need. Thus, the blessing is rippled from person to person, with both the giver and receiver feeling the unconditional embrace of a loving and God!
Our fund-raising efforts include a Welsh Cookie Bake and a Mother’s Day Booklet. Members pay dues on an annual basis which also provides the means to meet our goals
Attention iPod users
Check out the free religious podcasts on iTunes. You can listen to Bible readings and more. A few of the free podcasts are:
The Yearly Audio Bible
The Bible Podcast
Walk in the Word
What a wonderful way to spend more time with God's word.
