Today's UMW gathering

Trudy presents Marcia with an UMW past-president's pinB

Belinda shares with the gathering

Hazel shares the social action report

The UMW in mission around the USA and around the world

Lisa speaks about her experience on the medical mission

The United Methodist Women (UMW) gathered in force today with nearly forty women and guests in attendance.

In the business portion of the gathering, elections were conducted for the officers for 2016. The slate is: Trudy Freeman (president), Bonita Ziegler (vice-president), (nurse) Linda Kauffman (secretary), and Mary Lyon (treasurer).

Hazel Smith presented the social action report, an appeal for support for the Blackfeet UM Parish (BUMP) shoe box Christmas drive.

Hazel was also on tap for this month's devotions. Her text, Matthew 25:31-46, which spoke to the missions that are at the heart of the United Methodist Church and the UMW.  The UMW is supporting hundreds of ministries around the United States and around the world. We took up an offering for the UMW Thank Offering and we concluded the devotional by sharing:

"We are the witness for God's great miracles,through encouraging others to make sure their voices are heard. We must always be encouraging to our sisters as we seek to live out the vision the Lord sets on our hearts. A loving spirit and kindness to strangers is what God seeks in the kingdom of righteousness. The compassionate person will strive to invite those left on the outside. Our overwhelming obligation is to make a seat at the table for others. This will energize our spirit of goodness and will provide the inspirational atmosphere for lettings others know how the Lord works in our lives. We must provide comfort for strangers to understand how necessary they are to us. We are grateful that you choose to be with us as we turn faith, hope, and love into action in welcoming all to receive God's grace and mercy."

The program was presented today by Mary Costello, Lisa Menery, and Marcia Prather. These three had been on a medical mission trip to Tanzania earlier this year and shared with the gathering a most informative and inspirational program about their African experience. This presentation is on our YouTube channel.