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 – Room G/H
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.
January– Kaleo: Equipping, Giving and Serving. (Julie Allen)
Julie works with premature babies and their families from underprivileged homes in the city. She will tell us about a local giving circle that strives to serve Christ through guided lectures on urban poverty, as well as hands-on involvement with the families.
February – West Africa – Liberia, Sierra Leone – Healing and Rebuilding (Rev. Jackie Chandler)
Operation Classroom is not just about schools. It is about hospitals, trauma, healing and building relationships. Join me to hear about my experiences in mission with West Africa and with hosting people from Sierra Leone and Liberia in my own home.
March – Living in Saudi Arabia, a Culturally Different Country (Carol Blackwell)
Our family of four, lived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for one year for my husband’s work. He sold pumps, engines and agricultural equipment while working with the Saudi company. I will share the beauty of the desert country, with photos, and talk about our experiences.
April – Chaplaincy in Daily Life (Missi Koenig)
God calls us to love our neighbors. Missi Koenig will share lessons she has learned as a chaplain that can help each of us be in relationship with our neighbors.
BOOKWORMS
Gail Lee, Facilitator
Bookworms discusses both fiction and non-fiction works from a faith-based perspective. This group meets in the Library.
February: “The Reading List” by Sara Adams
March: “The Personal Librarian” by Marie Benedict
April: “Tell No One” by Harlan Coben
SPIRITUAL GROWTH
Pastor Karla Elliott, Facilitator
AM and PM HELPING HANDS group
Steph Mabe, Facilitator
This new group will meet in Room J/K in the morning and G/H in the evening.
Our missions and educations departments will provide us with projects that need to be made or assembled for the church. We will also help assemble the Ribbons of Hope bags whenever possible.
Each month, we will be provided with a bin of projects that have been selected according to priority of urgency from those departments. Things like making flannel blankets for the homeless, assembling supplies for the Sunday school rooms or even making PBJ sandwiches for E. 16th street might be among projects needed to be done.
This will be a time to gather with UWF friends ( old and new) while doing good for others. We are excited by the possibilities it brings!
Evening Interest Groups
HELPING HANDS group
Holly Moore, Facilitator
This new group will meet in Room J/K in the morning and G/H in the evening.
Our missions and educations departments will provide us with projects that need to be made or assembled for the church. We will also help assemble the Ribbons of Hope bags whenever possible.
Each month, we will be provided with a bin of projects that have been selected according to priority of urgency from those departments. Things like making flannel blankets for the homeless, assembling supplies for the Sunday school rooms or even making PBJ sandwiches for E. 16th street might be among projects needed to be done.
This will be a time to gather with UWF friends ( old and new) while doing good for others. We are excited by the possibilities it brings!
BOOKMARKERS
Deb Skinner, Facilitator
This group reads a variety of subjects. Haven’t read the book, then come for the discussion and fellowship.
January – Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
February – How to Read a Book by Monica Woods
March – The Memory Library by Kate Stoney
April – The Edge of the Orchard by Tracy Chevalier
May – The Berrypickers by Amanda Peters
August – The Briar Club by Kate Quinn
All are welcome to join any interest group on any meeting time.
Upcoming Events
UWF Assembly – May 15-17, 2026 at Indianapolis
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.
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.
UWF National Reading Program 2026 meeting dates.
Each discussion is focused on one of the Reading Categories. All meeting dates are on a Monday. The group meets in the church library from 7pm-8:30pm
- February 23, 2026 – EM * Education for Mission
- April 27, 2026 – LD * Leadership Development
- June 29, 2026 – NC * Nurturing for Community
- August 24, 2026 – SA * Social Action
- October 26, 2026 – SG * Spiritual Growth
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
Dessert Extravaganza – February 2026
Trinkets & Treasures – NEW DATE AUGUST 2026
Pecan Sales – November 2026
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. Just 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.