United Women in Faith 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 global ministries of the church.
Monthly Meetings
2nd Tuesday of each month at 9:30 AM & 7:00 PM, from September to May.
Each month, we gather on the second Tuesday of the month at 9:30 AM and 7 PM. Brunch refreshments will be in the Cafe Area and then we will meet in the Chapel. Interest Groups will be in their regular rooms. The evening Gathering will meet in the Chapel. Hope you can be with us.
HELP NEEDED after the meetings: In an attempt to be more environmentally friendly, we will be using glassware and china for our meetings. Please let us know if you can help run the dishwasher. Training provided! Cleanup should take less than 30 minutes.
Childcare is provided for AM meetings! Please register by the Thursday prior to the meeting to allow time to obtain staffing. Click here to register for childcare.
If you are new to United Women in Faith, Welcome! Below are the groups available.
Interest Groups meet after the general meeting, with the exception of September, December and May.
Morning Interest Groups
SPIRITUAL GROWTH
Led by Pastor Karla Elliott
Check back for more information on what this group will be reading. This group will be gathering in room B/C .
CULTURAL and LIFE INSIGHTS
Various Facilitators
Each month Oct.~Nov. and Jan.~ April, a different travel location or extremely unusual career or life experience will be shared during the monthly AM Interest Group. This group will meet in room G/H.
October – “How United Women in Faith Serve & Advocate to Make a Difference” with Donna Schwartz
The United Methodist Church proclaims the value of each person as a unique child of God and commits itself to the healing and wholeness of all persons. How can we move forward?
November – “Walking as a Spiritual Practice” with Mary Ann Moman
We will talk about how walking/movement helps us challenge our assumptions about life and our connections with God. Step by step we learn more about ourselves and God.
January – “Visiting our Neighbors in Southeast Asia” with Debbie Uhl
Welcome to Vietnam and Cambodia.
February – “Listen Up!” with Jonene McDermid
Jonene’s mom, Marguerite, began losing her hearing in 1958. Her eventual deafness led Jonene to a career teaching deaf children at the Indiana School for the Deaf and as an Itinerant teacher in Hamilton county. We are blessed to be able to LISTEN to her story and learn about the challenges of deafness.
March – “Living in China” with Brenda Erickson
Brenda, her husband Kent and daughter, Chrissy, moved to Shanghai, China in 2007, for Ken’s corporate job. Chrissy was 15 and soon to be a sophomore when they moved to their primary home there in 2016. Hear about the joys, adventures, trials and tribulations of living in China!
April – “Finding God in Other Places and People” with Mary Hayes
Mary will talk about the value of getting out of your comfort zone in service to others.
BOOKWORMS
Gail Lee, Facilitator
Bookworms discusses both fiction and non-fiction works from a faith-based perspective. This group meets in the Library.
Evening Interest Groups
Spiritual Formation
Michelle White, Facilitator
Check back to learn more about what this group will be studying! There is no preparation needed to participate. All are welcome.
BOOKMARKERS
Deb Skinner, Facilitator
This group reads a variety of subjects. Haven’t read the book, then come for the discussion and fellowship.
All are welcome to join any interest group on any meeting time.
Ribbons of Hope~ Secure in God’s Love
Many “Ribbons of Hope Bags” have been shared with others to lift spirits, encourage hearts during difficult times and illnesses, and to reach out with scriptures and caring expressions of love. Prepared bags are available at the monthly UWF gatherings. Please take a bag or two to share with those who God has placed on your heart. Many hands and hearts are the messengers of God’s Love and His Hope through Scriptures and Loving Kindness.
How can you help? Continue by providing any of these supplies. Items may be placed at any time in the “Ribbons of Hope” plastic bin in the entry way, or brought to the monthly UWF Meetings.
Envelopes~ Hot Chocolate, Oatmeal, Soups
Tea Bags, Granola & Health Bars
Individual Cracker and Cookie Packets
Hostess Cupcake Treats
Wrapped Candies & Sweet Treats
Small Hand Soaps, Small containers of Hand and Body Lotions
Lip Balms, Small Kleenex Packets
Small Stuffed Animals
Tissue Paper, Ribbons
Inspirational & Blank Cards, Seasonal Stickers
10” x 8” bags with handles
Ways to Support Our Missions
One of the ways you can help support our UWF mission projects locally and around the world for women, children and youth is through your annual pledge. For questions, contact Mary Etta Yoho, Treasurer, at maryetta.yoho@gmail.com.
The St. Mark’s United Women in Faith donates to the following
Indiana United Methodist Children’s Home: www.iumch.org Click here for a list of current needs.
Thank you for your support of pledges and volunteerism. With God’s help and our faithful workers and supporters we were able to raise $20,230 for local, district and national mission projects thru our pledges and fundraising events.
Window to the World: A United Women in Faith Reading Program
All women of the church are invited to participate in the United Women in Faith National Reading Program “Your Window to the World”. Book Discussions take place 5 times a year in the church library.
The UWFaith Reading Program meeting dates for 2024 are:
Mondays from 7:00pm-8:30pm in the church library
09/23/2024 Social Action
10/28/2024 Spiritual Growth
Congratulations to the six United Women in Faith who completed the National Reading Program in 2023 by reading at least one book from each of the 5 reading categories. Lydia Fourman, Fran Hageboeck, Kathy Lentz, Barbie Schmenner, Emily Stahl, and Jane VanDyne
Visit the Reading Program website https://uwfaith.org/resources/reading-program/ for a list of eligible books. The UWF magazine response is also available as a physical and digital magazine. Click here to find out more.
For more information or to be added to the reading program email distribution list contact Kathy Lentz at kathylentz@gmail.com
The next question you may be asking yourself is how do I get these books? Answers:
- Some of them may be available in the St. Mark’s UMC library.
- Some of them may be available in your public library.
- Purchase them from online booksellers, i.e. Amazon, Cokesbury, Barnes & Noble, etc.
- Purchase them from a local bookstore.
- Share with other readers.
If you do order books through Amazon, please remember to visit smile.amazon.com, Amazon’s charitable giving page, and select “United Methodist Women” as your charitable organization. For all eligible purchases made on smile.amazon.com, Amazon will donate 0.5% to United Methodist Women.
Mission u 2024
July 12 – July 14 or August 3 (1 day sampler)
The theme is “The Kin-dom is Among You: Drawing Closer to God and One Another”. Jesus told his followers the kin-dom was among them (Luke 17:21). How do we transform ourselves and our communities in ways that brings us closer to the kin-dom and the kin-dom closer to us? Dive into these questions and more at Mission u 2024 as we examine Scripture together and join in worship, fellowship, and action.
July 12 – 14
Interested in depening your faith in community? Gaining experience interpreting Scripture? Working toward healing for yourself, your community and all of creation? Mission u is for you!
United Women in Faith of Indiana will be joining together for an educational experience at Mission u which is designed to motivate, inform, and enrich our commitment to global ministry. This summer Mission u will be held at Franklin College July 12-14.
The IN Conference of UWF offers a full scholarship to “first-time attendees”. St Mark’s UWF also have scholarship monies available. There is a program for children ages 4-11 and a program for ages 12-17. It’s a wonderful experience for mothers and gradmothers to shrae with their children and grandchildren.
The same adult study will be present as a “sampler” within a one-day Mission u Express event on Saturday, Aug. 3, at University UMC in Indianapolis. Free childcare is available on-site.
For more information, contact Linda Schenk (lschenk@att.net).
August 3 Mission u Express
A one-day event to experience the Mission u Study and fellowship with your sisters in United Women in Faith!
There will be a carpool leaving St. Mark’s parking lot on August 3. For more information, contact Linda Schenk (lschenk@att.net).
Register for 1 Session (Deadline July 27)
$20 per person – Includes lunch | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm EST
United Women in Faith Fundraisers
Many hands are need to help with organizing, planning, working and attending the UWF fundraisers
2024-25 Fundraisers start in the fall
Arts & Crafts Marketplace
Pecan Sales
Dessert Extravaganza
Trinkets & Treasures
Thank you, thank you , thank you. It can’t be said enough. To all who donated, helped set up or take down, sorted, priced or shopped at UWF’s biggest fundraiser of the year, this event would not happen without you! This event takes a whole week just to be put together and dozens of people to make it happen. So many people and missions will benefit from all your hard work. Now take a bow, put your feet up and enjoy the summer. You deserve it!
Faith Talks – A United Women in Faith Podcast
Faith Talks are monthly conversations with United Methodist Women hosted by Jennifer R Farmer, Spotlight PR. Each conversation explores themes and resources that empower us to put faith, hope and love into action. To access Faith Talks podcasts, go to uwfaith.org/resources/podcasts/
All women of St. Mark’s UMC are invited to sign up for the
Closed Facebook Group.
click the FaceBook icon below
United Women in Faith Interest Survey
1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (NIRV) 4 There are different kinds of gifts. But they are all given to believers by the same Spirit. 5 There are different ways to serve. But they all come from the same Lord. 6 There are different ways the Spirit works. But the same God is working in all these ways and in all people.
Thank you for taking the time to let us know what you are interested in being a part of St. Mark’s United Women in Faith. We appreciate your input and service. If you would prefer completing a hard copy of the survey, click here to download.