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
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 – “Social Action Connection + Love = Change” 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.
SPIRITUAL GROWTH
Led by Pastor Karla Elliott
for purchase at the UWF September Kickoff and in the church entrance (Door #2) for $13.
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
Welcome ladies to the evening UWF spiritual formation interest group for a study of the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah “saw the glory of Christ and spoke of him.“ (John 12: 41), linking the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Each month we will watch and then discuss a video.
Copies of the study book Isaiah: Striving Less and Trusting God More by Melissa Spoelstra will be available for any who would like to read further about learning to rely on the Lord.
Please feel free to drop in and share your thoughts and prayers with our small group.
BOOKMARKERS
Deb Skinner, Facilitator
This group reads a variety of subjects. Haven’t read the book, then come for the discussion and fellowship.
Contact Deb Skinner with questions. 317-574-1997.
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 – “Social Action Connection + Love = Change” 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.
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 Peggy-Anne Hoy, Treasurer, at pahat664@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.
UWF Visit to REACH Early Learning at Fletcher Place – October 21 @ 9:15 AM
The mission of REACH Early Learning is to build a safe, high quality preschool environment as diverse as the community surrounding the Fletcher Place Community Center. The UWF is planning a visit to the center on Monday, October 21. We’ll meet in the church parking lot at 9:15 am and carpool to the center. We should return to church between noon and 1 pm. If you would like to sign up for the trip or have any questions, please contact Linda Schenk at lschenk@att.net or 812-454-0661. A sign up sheet will be available at the October meetings.
We will also be collecting items for the center during the month of October. Donations can be brought to the October UWF meetings or placed in the red tote inside the main entrance to the church. Requested items include: baby wipes (unscented/sensitive), play dough, washable paints, and stickers.
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.
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 – November 2
Pecan Sales – Starting November 3
Dessert Extravaganza – February 2025
Trinkets & Treasures – May 2025
Arts and Crafts Marketplace – November 2
St. Mark’s Crafters please start working on your handcrafted items to donate to the UWF craft table. Popular items in the past have included matching knit scarves and hats, aprons, ornaments, American Girl doll clothes and jewelry.
CALLING ALL BAKERS & CANDY MAKERS!
Please sign up to donate your homemade baked goods or candies for the Arts & Crafts Marketplace Bake Sale. Items can be left on the cart by the church office on Friday, Nov.1st from 9AM-Noon and in Wesley Hall from 5 PM-7PM. Please label items and note if they contain nuts. Items should be individually wrapped or in small amounts (e.g. 6 pretzel rods, 6 cookies, etc.). Decoratively wrapped treats for the Christmas holidays are especially appreciated. Thank you!
The Pecans are coming! The Pecans are coming!!
If Halloween is just around the corner can the pecan sales be far behind? The UWF will be selling these delicious Georgia nuts starting Sunday, Nov. 3. between and after services.
Besides the bags of mammoth pecans halves and the pecan pieces the old favorites will be back: Milk Chocolate, and Dark Chocolate; Chocolate Pecan Clusters and Cinnamon Glazed Pecans. Plus a new offering is Southern Praline Pecans. Halves and Pieces will be $13 and all other bags will be $15.
These special pecans are packaged in attractive foil bags, suitable for gift giving. Perfect for teachers, co-workers, neighbors or as stocking stuffers. Order forms will be available in the gathering area to assure you get the selection you want. All proceeds will be distributed to the missions the women support.
Questions? Email uwf@stmarkscarmel.org
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.