United Methodist Women

UMW Calendar

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UMW - United Methodist Women

All women at FUMCPA are invited to join the United Methodist Women.

Purpose of United Methodist Women
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.

What Does It Mean To Be A United Methodist Women
A member of United Methodist Women is one who commits herself to our PURPOSE and chooses to participate in meetings, prayer, giving, study, action, and/or service. The organization celebrates an inclusive membership and welcomes all women who want to be members.

One becomes a member by committing to be a part of this supportive community of women and by accepting the challenge to grow in mission and to participate in life-changing experiences. Membership can be expressed in many ways. Some examples are:

          * Intercessory prayer;
          * Attendance at meetings;
          * Undesignated Mission Giving to support global mission;
          * Accepting leadership responsibility;
          * Participation in various events, projects, issues, and concerns of the Women's Division
          * Participation in the Reading Program;
          * Reading Response;
          * Attending Schools of Christian Mission.

CIRCLE AND INTEREST GROUPS

Clara Swain Circle
Meets on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 1:30 pm in the Church Patio Room

Judy Newton Circle
Meets on the 4th Monday of each month at 1:00 pm in the Patio Room or in a member’s home

The D’vora Circle (Women range in age from 20-60)
Meets one a month at a member’s home

Fijian Circle
Meets at times and locations to be announced

Needleworkers
Meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 9:30 am in a member’s home

Reading Program
Meets on the 3rd Monday of January, March, May, September, and November at 11:30 am at a restaurant to be announced

UMW Walking Group
Meets on the second Thursday of each month

For more information, please contact Lois Hammar, 327-9120

For information on the California-Nevada Conference United Methodist Women, visit their website at www.cnumw.org

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D'vora Deeds

On Saturday, July 23, the D'vora United Methodist Women's circle volunteered at the Second Harvest Food Bank in San Carlos. Afterwards, we headed downtown to enjoy a delicious brunch together.

Second Harvest is one of the largest food banks in the nation, feeding an average of nearly one quarter of a million people each month. Volunteers are an integral part of the success of Second Harvest's ability to help provide food to people in need in our community. Individual and group volunteer opportunities are available for those who are 14 years of age or older. If you would like to learn more about ways you can support Second Harvest or volunteer your time, please visit their website at www.shfb.org.

D’vora is a United Methodist Women’s cicle that meets once a month for dinner, fellowship and to plan activities that will enrich our church and community. D'vora's next gathering will be on Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at 6:30 pm. If you would like more details about our September meeting or would like to be added to our D'vora e-mail list, please contact Valorie at valorie@hamachek.com.

We hope to see you there!

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UMW Green

The Women's Division of the United Methodist Women has made Green our favorite color.

Unfortunately there are toxins inside our homes. But when we receive so many different warnings about environmental threats, it is difficult to know how, or where, to begin to fix potential problems.

Some ideas from the Palo Alto Medical Foundation might be helpful:
1. OPEN UP WINDOWS, OR USE AN AIR FILTER - Without good ventilation, harmful particles, like those from fresh paint or new carpet, can quickly build up in the air.

2. MINIMIZE CHEMICAL "OFF GASSING" - If you notice a strong chemical odor from fresh dry cleaning, plastic products or new shoes, leave the items outside until the smell dissipates.

3. AVOID COMMERCIAL AIR FRESHENERS - Many air fresheners contain harmful chemicals. To freshen the air naturally, use natural citrus oil spray or baking soda.

4. wASH FRUIS AND VEGEABLES - Rinse produce with soap and water before consuming, and peel non-organic produce. Buy organic fruits and vegetables when possible to avoid pesticides.

5. DRINK FILTERED TAP WATER - Research shows that some plastic bottles and containers, including water coolers, can leech chemicals back into the water.

6. ELIMINATE SECOND-HAND SMOKE - If you smoke, quit or smoke outside only.

7. CLEAN REGULARLY - to decrease dust that can trigger allergies and asthma attacks.

8. USE NATURAL CLEANSERS - Commercial cleaning products may contain toxic ingredients that can irritate the lungs and skin. Homemade cleaning remedies using baking soda, white vinegar and lemon juice are safer and cheaper, and work just as well.

Let's work on having a happy and healthy New Year.

Nancy Olson

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World Thank Offering

Each year United Methodist Women across the United States celebrate a World Thank Offering in November. This is an opportunity for individuals to respond to God’s abundance and grace with spontaneous gifts of gratitude.

Through Thank Offering contributions, mission projects are supported in all 50 states and in almost 100 countries. These projects vary from support to schools, hospitals and clinics, day care centers and homes for senior citizens to educational training courses to prevent soil erosion, leadership development, sewing and nutritional courses, and medical training.

An offering will be collected at the November Circle meetings and this year the focus will be on encouraging Congress to raise the minimum wage to a just living wage.

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Feminist Christian Reading Group

Through conversations about books and our lives, we practice a Christianity that supports the flourishing of women and all people in mutual respect and joyful celebration of the uniqueness and variety of God's gifts.

We seek to understand how our Christian tradition has marginalized women and made it difficult to see women as truly made in God's image. Through lively and heartfelt dialogue we are revitalizing and transforming our tradition, including expanded images of the Divine, inclusive language, and female spiritual role models. As we explore these themes we support each other in discovering how they influence and inform our lives and our worship. We have been meeting since 2002.

We meet the first and third Mondays each month at 7:30pm in the Wesley Room. Consider joining us

Newcomers are very welcome.

For more information contact Mo Olson or Sandra Florstedt.

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Peace Pole

"Blessed are the Peacemakers" Matthew 5:9

The Peace Pole is a reminder to members and to visitors to First United Methodist Church that God's house is a place of Peace and that we are called to inner peace and to be peacemakers.

"My peace I leave you, My peace I give you, trouble not your hearts…." John 14:27

The multiple languages on the pole signify our prayers for world peace and recognizes the inclusiveness of all peoples. Each language proclaims "May Peace be in Our Homes and Communities".

The UMW and Outreach Committee presented a grant application to the Centennial Endowment Fund committee for the purchase of our Peace Pole.

While the Peace Pole is located in the narthex, it is moveable so that it can be incorporated into some worship services, and also be available for use in various Sunday School classes, committee meetings, and special occasions.

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UMW 101 - Part 4

The Mission Program of the United Methodist Women works to build a supportive community among women, through -

Social Action/Advocacy
The Women's Division interprets the biblical passage from Luke 4:18 as both a model and a mandate for Christian social action and advocacy: "The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." In this quadrennium, the Division will continue its advocacy work on peace and justice, education, racial justice and immigrant civil rights, the environment, economic justice, women's health, the rights of children, media monitoring, human rights, and farm workers' rights.

In all advocacy efforts, the Division supports its work with a scriptural basis and adheres to the denominational mandates in the BOOK OF DISCIPLINE and the BOOK OF RESOLUTIONS of the United Methodist Church. The Division works in partnership with coalitions on many justice issues to extend its reach and not duplicate work.

The July/August issue of RESPONSE magazine features many articles and background information on actions for immigrant civil and human rights. Check it out in our church library.

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Old Medicine Disposal

JUST WHAT MEDICATION CAN I DISPOSE OF AT CHURCH ?????????

Are old and outdated medicines gathering dust in your medicine cabinet? Safely dispose of them at church.

Gather your unwanted medications. Leave items in the original container. Mark out any personal information, if you wish.

Bring items to church and deposit into the locked medication barrel in the Education Building lobby.

THINGS TO BRING
• Prescription medications
• Over the Counter medications
• Medical samples
• Medications for pets
• Vitamins
• Medicated ointments/lotions
• Inhalers
• Liquid medications in glass or leakproof containers

PLEASE DO NOT BRING
• Needles/sharps
• Thermometers
• Controlled substances/narcotics
• IV bags
• Bloody or infectious waste
• Personal care products
• Business waste
• Empty containers
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Aerosol cans

Your participation in this program helps keep toxic and cumulative substances out of our water supply and prevents land pollution.

And remember to also bring your used batteries and computer ink cartridges to recycle in the containers in the church office.

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Globalization

"The United Methodist Church, as a covenant community committed to God's justice, must work toward a just global economy."
General Conference Resolution 206.
"Economic Justice for a New Millennium," The Book of Resolutions, 2004

"It is time that we manifest gospel values in the economic order. It is after all, our calling."
General Conference Resolution 208.
"Pathways to Economic Justice," The Book of Resolutions, 2004

The goal of the UMW study is to explore the places where globalization touches the lives of ordinary people. If we are to "manifest the gospel values in the economic order," we need to understand better where contemporary issues of economic justice touch our lives and where we are faced with decisions about how to act responsibly on behalf of economic justice.

Issues to examine: free trade policies; outsourcing and offshoring into many countries throughout the world; how global media and communications technologies are altering economic and human relationships.

We hope to understand more fully the impact of globalization on human rights and the social, economic, and political development of various cultures and nations.

Read Luke 10 - The Parable of the Good Samaritan

For more information contact Nancy Olson, 327-8009

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