UMW Friday Circle is underway in 2018!

Julie McGarvey and Sara Malo prepare the refreshments

Lots of energy today!

Carole Koval shares the prayer shawl report

Linda Kauffman steps into the V.P. roll

Bev Schneider shares with the group

Twenty were present today for the first meeting of the Friday UMW Circle in 2018. Hostesses for today were Mary Costello, Sara Malo, and Julie McGarvey. 

Pastor Charles led the installation of the officers for this year: President, Marcia Prather - Vice-president, Linda Kauffman - Secretary, Carol Goffe - Treasurer, Bonita Ziegler. 

Linda Kauffman shared the devotion from Response Magazine which was based on the need for each of us to choose hope in 2018.
 
The program, shared by Belinda Alkula, featured the Pledge to Mission.

Pledge to Mission

An individual member's Pledge to Mission is the amount a woman gives to her local unit to help fulfill the Purpose of United Methodist Women. The conference United Methodist Women pledges a specific amount to United Methodist Women's national office for mission with women, children and youth and retains a designated percent to be used for district and conference administration and membership development expenses.

- from the UMW website


Reports:  
+Secretary - Thank you's were noted and a card to be sent to a missionary in Zambia was shared.
+Treasurer - Bonita Ziegler reported that our budget for this year is fully funded.
+Spiritual Growth - Bev Schneider shared that in addition to our usual New Year resolutions, we should remember to include spiritual health and practices.
+Outreach/Mission/Social Justice - Belinda shared a report about the Stevi UMC's Loaved & Fishes fund. It was noted that this ministry has been at SUMC for more than thirty years.
+Receptions - Bonita reported that at least 200 people were served at the reception following Dudley Chilcott's memorial service last week.
+Reading program - Linda reported for Marcia Prather that new books have come in for the 2018 Reading Program. Certificates of completion for Level 1 were presented to Carole Koval, Sue Pearson, and Marcia Prather.
+Saturday UMW Circle - Belinda said that the recycling effort is going well (drop-off at the parsonage) with Molly Hackett and  Ellyn Jones taking the items to Missoula this month. The Saturday Circle will be sending back to school items to Stevi Elementary this month. Pantry Partners Sunday offering will be on Jan. 21st.
+Prayer Shawls - Carole Koval shared that no shawls were presented last month. Carole recognized the ten shawls made by Fran Jackson that are a welcome addition to our supply. 237 shawls have been given to date. 

Business:
+The 2018 Unit program books were distributed with the amended budget information.
+The 2018 budget of $12,545 was approved.
+The December meeting date has been changed to December 7 from the 14th.

Fund raising:
+Apple Dumplings - There will be several changes in the way we do this fund raiser this year. 
*The price will be $6, up from $5 to reflect rising costs. 
*We will be making about 500, down from the 900+ made last year.
*The dumplings will not be sold from the Lewis & Clark Park location as in years past. We will be selling from the church grounds (on Creamery Picnic weekend).
+Fall Bazaar will be on November 3.
+There is not a lot of enthusiasm for taking part in the rummage sale on the Saturday of Western Heritage Days. The men are thinking of doing it again but the $600 that the UMW earned makes continuing in this project less than productive. This was tabled for next month's business.


Upcoming events: 

January
17 - Worship on Wednesday @ The Living Center, 6 pm
20 - Saturday Circle @ 9 am
21 - Pantry Partners' Sunday (Peanut butter, hot cereal is being asked for)

February
2-3 - Winter Mission u @ Laurel UMC
9 - Friday Circle, 1 pm
17 - Saturday Circle, 6 pm
21 - Worship on Wednesday @ The Living Center, 6 pm

April
21 - Western Mountains District UMW spring meeting @ Kalispell UMC

May
18-20 - Assembly 2018 @ Columbus, Ohio (Marcia Prather and Linda Kauffman are going)

August
3-4 - Creamery Picnic

September
28-29 - Yellowstone Conference UMW Annual Meeting, location to be determined.

November
3 - Fall Bazaar