Presbyterian Women
Our 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 (U.S.A.) and witness to the promise of God's kingdom.
Our Gathering
We meet quarterly for fellowship, to learn of opportunities to serve, and to address problems within our capabilities. Most meetings are on the third Thursday of the month. We also are entertained with music, drama and dance groups on occasion.
Christmas Gathering
Fellowship Hall is brightly decorated every December for the annual Presbyterian Women's Christmas Gathering. Our own in-house caterer, Jane, provided a delicious festive lunch. Children from A Child's Garden pre-school sang for the Gathering and the White Chapel Bell Choir under the direction of Sheldon Kalberg, gave a beautiful pre-luncheon concert. During the luncheon the Sunbonnet Shop was open for the purchase of handmade Christmas items.
Our Circles
Our nine circles meet each month either at the church or in members' homes. These circles consist of:
- Christian History and Biblical Archeology -- a study of the church through it's history. This circle meets the first Thursday of the month, at Nona Brown's home at 10:00 a.m.
- Bible Study Church -- Uses Presbyterian Women's Horizon Bible Study book . This circle meets at the church on the first Thursday of the month, in the Kerygma room at 9:30 a.m.
- Kerygma -- this group meets for a light supper and uses Presbyterian Women's Horizon Bible Study. This circle meets in CE Room 220 at 12:30 p.m., Bring a sack lunch.
- Women Studying Women -- The group starts with a brief Horizons Bible Study and then features a study of a Christian Woman. This circle meets in members homes on the First Thursday of the month at 10:00 a.m.
- Sunbonnet Shop -- This circle meets every Tuesday at the Church in C E Room 220 to do crafts and sew items for sale in their shop. They also maintain this gift shop which is open every Sunday morning.
- Sarah Circle - meets every third Sunday August through May [excluding December] at 12:30 pm in CE Room 220. We use the Horizons Bible Study.
Our Celebration of Creative Ministries:
THANK OFFERING
Recognition of God's blessings to us. The Thank Offering originated with Mrs. Elizabeth Clokey of Springfield, Ohio. Her plan was to have each woman give $1.00 over and above her usual contribution to the Women's General Missionary Society of the Presbyterian Church of North America as a "thank offering to her Lord." In 1888, a day was set aside as a day of prayer and thanksgiving. The meetings were to be a "concert of prayer and praise and the gathering of the Thank Offering." The gifts were presented at the annual convention and it was decided that this should be an annual feature of the convention. It is certain that these gifts represented much soul-searching and self- sacrificing on the part of many women. It has been said the women's giving saved the worldwide missionary movement at that time. The thrust of how and where the money should be used has changed over the years, but a "Thank Offering to her Lord" has continued to be an important part of women's giving by Presbyterian Women. This expression of Thanksgiving will be an important part of Presbyterian Women. The offering will be received in the fall.
BIRTHDAY OFFERING
Recognition of our heritage. In 1922 ten years after the Women's Auxiliary of the Presbyterian Church in the United States (PCUS) was formed, the women sought an appropriate way to celebrate what the Auxiliary had meant to them. Mrs. Hallit Paxson, Winsborough, Superintendent of Women's Work, touring mission stations in the Orient, visited Miss Dowd's School for Girls in Kochi, Japan. She saw inadequate facilities and crowded rooms and recognized a need which could be met by Presbyterian women in the United States. Returning home she challenged all women of the church to give one penny for each year of their lives (or a dollar) as a "Birthday Gift" to those school girls in Japan. Thus began a tradition of annual Women of the Church Birthday Celebrations. The offerings have enabled a long succession of new and often innovative mission projects to be accomplished both overseas and in the United States. PW will continue this tradition.
BLESSINGS BOX
We all have little blessings every day. This is one way of saying "thank you" and also a way to help others. The money turned into the Treasurer from each circle is given to the church for the "In As Much Fund."
FELLOWSHIP OF THE LEAST COIN
The world bank represents our oneness with women around the world. We each give a least coin (in our case one penny.) A devotion and prayer is given at each circle meeting from the yearbook of prayer. This money is dedicated at the February Gathering.
SUNBONNET MISSION SHOP
Our unique gift shop of hand-crafted items is located in the Commons Area by the north entrance of the church. We are open on Sunday mornings from 9:45 am - 11:00 am and 12:00pm- 12:30 pm and during regular church office hours by appointment. Everyone is welcome to join us on Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. in the Christian Education building for sewing, knitting, crocheting, scrap booking, origami, tatting, needlepoint, beading, etc. plus fun, food and fellowship. The Sunbonnet Mission Shop is sponsored by the Presbyterian Women of FPC and all proceeds go to missions.
MENAUL SCHOOL
Located at Menaul School. Young people from all over the world receive a good education in a Christian atmosphere. Formerly supported by the Mission Board of the Presbyterian Church, now partially dependent on friends for support. Menual is a day school for Middle and High School students.
