United Methodist Women

Purpose

The organized unit of the 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.

History

Predecessor organizations of the UMW are the Ladies Aid Society, the Women’s Society of Christian Service, and the Wesleyan Service Guild. In 1972 we became United Methodist Women when the Methodist Church joined with the Evangelical United Brethren Church.

Who We Are

All women are invited to join one of the three circles that meet monthly usually in a member’s home. The Susannah Wesley circle meets during the day for lunch on the first Tuesday. The Mary-Martha circle meets at 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday. The Kinser-Kern circle meets on the first Monday at 7 p.m. The FULL circle meets on the first Monday of every month. There are four whole unit meetings a year in February, May, October, and December.

One does not have to be a member of the United Methodist Church to be a member of the UMW. If you are a member of the UMC, you are not automatically a member of UMW. Membership is open to any woman who indicates a desire to belong. The pastor is also a member.

The local unit receives funds from pledges of individual members and other fundraising activities such as a yard sale, a bake sale, and serving lunches and dinners. Last year we sent $4,587 through district and conference channels for mission which included contributions to the Call to Prayer and Self-Denial, candle burning, and World Thank Offerings as well as the Virginia United Methodist Assembly Center at Blackstone.

Over $1,000 was also sent to local mission projects such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters, CCAP, the Evans Home, the Free Medical Clinic, Fremont Street Nursery, Amor y Paz (Hispanic ministries for children), Northwestern Works, Salvation Army, Laurel Center (Shelter for Abused Women), Winchester Day Nursery, Lord Fairfax Area Food Bank; our own local church and its Kitchen of Hope and Relay for Life; and conference projects such as Camp Overlook, Redbird Mission, Kingsway Prison Ministries, and Henry Fork Service Center.

We are active in the district where we receive recognition as a Six Star unit and a Gold Mission Today unit and participate in the reading program. We remember shut-ins of the church, collect stamps and labels for the conference, send health and school kits to conference, and fill stockings for the Salvation Army at Christmas. Please call the church office at (540) 662-6709 or visit the Virginia conference UMW website at www.vaumw.org to learn more.