United Methodist Women do a lot of good... around the world and locally.
This page is dedicated to showcasing the local units and the work they do in the Durham District.
If your unit has any activities to share on this page please send the information and pictures to the
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Beulah Cole Circle Fall Festival Supports Missions
Members of the Beulah Cole Circle of Mt. Sylvan UMC are pictured above making jewelry to be sold at the annual Fall Festival October 24th sponsored by the United Methodist Women of Mt. Sylvan Church, Durham. The Fall Festival featured handmade crafts, baked and canned goods, and a delicious barbecue meal. The proceeds of this event go to missions within the local church, the community and the world. Also as a Mission project, the Beulah Cole Circle recently assembled and packed flood buckets. These were delivered to the Merci Center in Goldsboro to be used for flood victims throughout the state and southeast.
Epworth UMW provide food at
Urban Ministries
Three times a year Epworth UMW cook for the Urban Ministries Sunday night meal. Our last Loving Hands Meal was on June 14 when we served approximately 250 people. We provide a casserole-type main dish, rolls, fruit, beverage, and brownies for dessert. One of the pans is a vegetarian. We shop for rolls, canned fruit, and some of the ingredients then a team prepares the dishes, takes them to the Urban Ministries kitchen and bakes them. The team serves the line as they come in. Lots of organization goes into this effort but it is paid for a thousand times over. We often get to witness to these folks as we serve them their food. God works in many wonderful ways. For more information on Urban Ministries of Durham ckeck out their web site: www.umdurham.org
In addition to providing clothing and food for the food pantry and Urban Ministries, we also continue to support our husband and wife team who went to Haiti in April. We sent enough funds to provide 800 - 1000 meal tickets for the starving children there. We continue to rejoice in the privilege we have to serve our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ
Pleasant Green UMW Retreat
On April 24, 12 women from Pleasant Green United Methodist Women in Durham set out to participate in an overnight retreat at the St Francis Springs Prayer Center, located in Stoneville, N.C. They were joined at the center by their retreat leader, Sherry Waid, who was recruited by the organizer from Pleasant Green, Rachel Duboney, church Minister of Education and Youth. Both women worked diligently to make this retreat one to remember. Interspersed with small worship services and singing were focused discussions of what it means to be a woman of faith in today’s world. There was also plenty of time for quiet personal reflection and prayer. While the original intent of the retreat was to spend time in fellowship, the event turned out to be much more. All participants would highly recommend this retreat center as a wonderful setting for other United Methodist Women to commune with God’s world and women of faith. Fees are very reasonable, the setting is beautiful and very comfortable, and the food is quite good. Sherry and Rachel proved to be wonderful leaders and examples for all participants. For more information about the retreat center, the website is www.stfrancissprings.com. Rachel Duboney can provide contact information for Sherry Waid. Rachel can be reached at Pleasant Green UMC at (919) 383-5674.
Mt. Sylvan Backpack Food Program Feeds Kids
Mt. Sylvan Church initiated a pilot backpack program in late 2008 by providing food for children to take home from a local elementary school for the weekend. This program expanded rapidly and now approximately 28 backpacks are provided each Friday to children, who were identified by their teachers and or school counselor, as living in food insecure households. Each backpack contains nutritious food, snacks and milk - 6 meals and 2 snacks - for children for the weekend. The coordinators of this program, JoAnn Adams, Katy MacDonald and Kathy Wynne are UMW members and many of the volunteers are also UMW members. The food is donated by members of UMW circles, church members and other donors. There have also been monetary donations by individuals and local businesses that help supplement the food collected. Several teachers have commented that this program is greatly appreciated. The names of the children are only known by the school staff.
Mt. Bethel United Methodist Women Brighten Lives with Crafts
The UMW members at Mt. Bethel UMC in Bahama enjoyed an afternoon of crafting. They made Easter key chains, sun catchers and wall hangings. They will share them with Shut-ins and members who were unable to attend.
A fun time was had by all! The gifts will brighten the lives of others.
Wa
rren’s Grove Sends Stockings to the Troops
The United Methodist Women of Warren’s Grove United Methodist Church, Roxboro, NC, gathered supplies that are needed by soldiers serving in Iraq. At a meeting after church they assembled the donations received of basic toiletries, and goodies. They were able to provide 21 stockings to send.
The soldiers of the Regional Border Team South MNF-W unit were grateful to receive the items. Regional Border Team South was formed shortly after their arrival in Iraq and includes Marines originally deployed and assigned to Military Transition Teams 0100, 0120, and 0132. Pray for them during their 12 month deployment
Regional Border Team South MNF-W Unit, Iraq
Effie Soloman and
Amanda Gardner Evelyn Duncan and Effie Soloman