There has never been a greater need for women to be able to connect with each other for support, to learn to know God and to participate in the missions and ministries of the church.
UMW is the church’s advocacy group for womens’ and childrens’ issues. You’ll have access to Action Alerts on urgent social issues, and will be eligible to receive Response Magazine, the voice of women in mission. As a member of UMW, you will also have the opportunity to attend the School of Christian Mission. Most importantly, you will be part of a fellowship of women whose purpose is to know and work for the glory of God.
UMW’s Organized Unit is the larger body of women into which other groups are incorporated. The Organized Unit gathers for lunch and a formal meeting once a month, and circles and subgroups meet on their own schedules.
UMW participates in these and other ministries:
- Prayer chain
- Meal preparation
- First Kids
- Y’s Kids
- Meals on Wheels
- Ingathering
- Sewing and quilting
- Districe, conference and global missions
- Management of church kitchen
- Ensuring that women’s issues are represented in church decision making
May UMW News
The UMW board will meet Monday, May 10, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 157.
Unit Meeting—The Unit meeting will be held May 13 at 1:00 p.m. in Scott Hall. Our speakers will be Pierre-Damien Mvuyekure and his wife Natalie Sugira. They are Padma and Blair Templeton’s neighbors. They were both born and educated in Rwanda. After completing his Master’s degree. Pierre received a Fulbright scholarship to complete his Ph.D. at State University of New York at Buffalo. After completing his Ph.D. they then moved to Pocatello, Idaho, where he began to teach in 1993. In 1994, as their visas were about to expire, the unthinkable happened—civil war broke out in Rwanda and genocide commenced. They were able to receive a temporary protective visa to remain in the U.S., and after a few years in Idaho, they moved to Cedar Falls, where Pierre teaches at U.N.I.. During the genocide both Pierre and Natalie lost several members of their family and had siblings who were imprisoned for a number of years. They have not returned to Rwanda since first coming to New York as it would be dangerous—especially for Pierre-Damien. They are both very involved with the International Students Association at U.N.I. and offer whatever help they can to fellow Africans. They have worked to bring family members to the U.S. to offer them the opportunity of a better education. Natalie has worked with IRIS (Iowa Resource for International Service), a state agency which works to bring exchange students to our high schools. It is through Natalie and Pierre, Blair and Pastor Chad Lierman that our church has been able to form an alliance and move forward with our Rwanda mission. They will speak at 1:00, followed by a brief business meeting where we will collect Thank offering, and an African dessert served by Deborah Circle, our hostesses for the day. All members of our church are encouraged to attend this program provided by our Rwandan friends.
May Circle meetings
Miriam—Tuesday, May 18, at 9:30 a.m., at the home of Susan McGee.
Deborah—Monday, May 24, at 7:00 p.m. in LaFavre Parlor.
Mary—Thursday, May 27, at 9:30 a.m. in LaFavre Parlor.
Martha—Thursday, May 27, at 1:30 p.m. Windermere #13(home of B. Goettsch).
Naomi—Thursday, May 27, at 1:30 p.m., in LaFavre Parlor.