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.
December 12th we all gather at 6 PM for our Christmas gathering! It will be a special evening filled with good food, fellowship and fun! Bring a dessert, appetizer or salad to share!
Our next regular meeting will be January 9 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
Spiritual Growth will read Nevertheless: American Methodists and Women’s Rights
2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. While some things have changed, others haven’t. This book tells the story of American Methodist women’s efforts fight for women’s rights, beginning with the Women’s Christian Temperance Union and ending with the #MeToo movement. Each chapter documents particular Methodist women and provides the reader with a basic historic context of the time or situation at hand as it shows how Methodist women engaged and fought for women’s equality or women’s rights in American society and American Methodism. This group will be gathering in room B/C .
BOOKWORMS
Gail Lee, Facilitator
Bookworms discusses both fiction and non-fiction works from a faith-based perspective. This group meets in the Library.
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.
Our schedule for this year includes:
Jan. 9th ~ Opportunity to Vacation & Visit India
Feb. 13th ~ Fulfilling Career as a Pilot
March 12th ~ Visiting London, England
April 9th ~ Unique Experience Teaching Multicultural First Graders
Evening Interest Groups
Spiritual Formation
Michelle White, Facilitator
Feel free to join our exploration of spiritual formation featuring a unique visio divina to help guide and focus prayer and share the wisdom of spiritual guide Henri Nouwen’s writings. Following the book Spiritual Formation: Following the Movements of the Spirit, we will consider the sculpting work God is doing in your own life. Come, bring a notepad or blank journal, no need to read the book, no homework. Spiritual formation is best done in a community of support.
In our world of many words, sitting in silent reflection with an image may aid in the descent of your mind into the heart.
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
02/26/2014 Education for Mission
03/25 2024 Leadership Development
05/20/2024 Nurturing for Community
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 patronizing the UWF fundraisers
Dessert Extravaganza – February 11, 2024
Trinkets and Treasures -The Indoor Garage Sale – May 24 & 25, 2024
Arts and Crafts MarketPlace – November 2024
Pecan Sales – November 2024
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.