The September meeting of the Grace United Methodist Women (UMW) was held on Wednesday, Sept. 2 at the Commission on Aging at 11:30 a.m. After lunch, members convened in the meeting room.
President Karen Bernard opened the meeting with prayer and a welcome to the 25 women attending. Linda Highfield asked all present to remember missionaries with birthday cards. She handed out names and cards for us to mail to them. Brenda Warner then welcomed Jane Foster and Jane Dill, who have given so many years of faithful service to UMW. Brenda has sent $40 (total of $80) in honor of each lady from our UMW to the Shawnee Valley District UMW. Jane F. and Jane D. each received a certificate of service. Everyone then enjoyed delicious cake and punch to honor them.
President Karen then called the business meeting to order. Everyone was thanked who brought donations for the Fayette County Pantry. She stated that it was wonderful to get back into routines after our summer break which unfortunately was very busy with funeral meals at our church. Sandy Flach then read the summer correspondence received by UMW. Sandy will place a monthly meeting notice for all women who are interested in UMW in the Local Briefs of the Record-Herald newspaper approximately two weeks before each upcoming meeting. Meeting and announcements can be found for UMW in the church bulletins and Grace Notes sent out monthly.
The May and June, 2015 secretary’s report was given as a printed copy to each member. Treasurer, Brenda Warner, gave a printed copy of the treasurer report to each member and explained the report verbally.
Announcements: Shawnee Valley District meeting will be Oct. 17. If you plan to attend, please give your $12 reservation to Brenda Warner by Oct. 10. Pat Gall gave a motion to donate $50 with a second by Ann Blake for the Loaves and Fishes program. This was passed by those present. Also announced was a Festival of Sharing, Journey to Forgiveness, Cooking and Breakfast Teams for UMW. President Karen passed out information to all working on teams. She also made known that a new refrigerator has been purchased for our church kitchens by using money donated to the Patti Briggs memorial fund for this project. This was supplemented by very generous donations from other church members. Please look at the bulletin board in the narthex of the church for UMW related news. We were also reminded that information will be forthcoming about Habitat for Humanity on Oct. 10.
Committee Reports:
Well – This is Grace United Methodist Church Month at the Well. Please sign up to help with meals, sorting, etc. this month.
Cooking teams – Retired Teachers will meet at our church on Oct. 1 and Dec. 3. The cooking team taking care of these dates is Robin Dolphin’s team.
Breakfast Teams are assigned, but anyone else can help out!
New Business: Vicki Cardenas and Sandy Flach attended the Worship in Pink meeting at Fayette County Memorial Hospital along with Pastor Mick Whistler in August. A representative from Susan G. Komen organization in Columbus presented an intensive program about implementing breast cancer information to the churches to help celebrate Breast Cancer Survivor Month in October. More information will be coming from the church about this program if our church decides to be part of this program.
Pat Gall gave information about the UMW Reading program. Joyce Lott and Anne Blake gave wonderful reports on UMW chosen books they have read through this program. Pat encouraged everyone to come into the Christian Resource Center in our church to enjoy all of the books UMW has purchased.
The next meeting of Grace UMW with be Oct. 7 at the COA with lunch at 11:30 a.m. and meeting to follow. President Karen dismissed everyone after a lovely and informative meeting.
