It was a wonderful afternoon with the UMW Friday Circle

Happy May!

Hazel shares about the UMCOR health kits

What we've gathered for UMCOR already!

Judy Inslee shares a moment

Symbols of Easter abounded!

The Friday UMW Circle met this afternoon with more than twenty in attendance.

Today's hostess, Carol Gragg, Denise Meeks, and Betty Shorten, provided a delightful cheesecake and fruit for refreshments and Easter-themed decorations on each table.

The devotional was shared by Belinda Alkula (on behalf of Carol Gragg). Reading "Telling Hands" from Reflecting the Beauty of the Lord, we learned of the roll hands have in telling our faith story what the hands of Jesus taught Thomas in the Upper Room.

Pastor Charles led the program, "A Call to Prayer & Self-denial" with the theme, Abundant Health for Women and Children. Using the scripture text, Exodus 1:6 - 2:5 and the Wesleyan model for a balanced spiritual life, we considered how we can become employ Works of Mercy (compassion & justice) and Works of Piety (devotion & worship) in bringing the kingdom of God closer to our sisters around the world.

Coordinator reports:
+Prayer shawls: Carole Koval reported that three shawls were presented last month. To date we have shared 220 prayer shawls.
+Reading Program: Marcia Prather mentioned that the next rading program gathering will be on May 2 @ 6:00 pm. There is a good selection from the reading list available in the church library.
+Social Action: Hazel Smith shared that the UMCOR kits will be assembled following the Saturday UMW Circle meeting on May 20 (about 10:00 am).
+Receptions: There will be a funeral service on April 22 @ noon for Jim Campbell and a memorial service for Linda Kauffman's daughter, Colleen, on May 6. Please let Bonita know if you can assist with either/both events.

Other News:
+Saturday UMW Circle: Everyone is welcome at the morning circle.  The group begins gathering at 9:00 am for a continental breakfast followed by the meeting/program at 9:30. The recycling effort with plastics is going very well; bins are available in the storage room next to the parsonage garage. The Saturday circle will be putting the Easter egg hunt items together following its meeting tomorrow.

+Sunday Fellowship Coordinator: Carole Koval would like to step down from coordinating the Sunday fellowship time. Please give some thought if this ministry of hospitality sounds like something you'd like to try.

Upcoming events:
15 April - Saturday UMW Circle
22 April - Western Mtns. District @ Flathead Lake UM Camp
1 May - UMW Reading Group Meeting, starting at 6 pm
12 May - May UMW meeting
13 May - Missoula Circuit Joint Meeting of Clergy and Laity at FUMC in Missoula
14 May - deadline for UMCOR kit donations
20 May - assemble UMCOR Health kits following Saturday Circle
9 June - UMW dinner @ Annual Conference
17 June - Annual Rummage Sale
14 July - Summer UMW Picnic
21-22 July - Summer Mission u @ Aldersgate UMC - Butte
4-5 August - Creamery Picnic
9 September - Western Mountains District fall event
6-7 October - Conference UMW annual meeting @ Bozeman UMC
21 October - Our fall bazaar!