Tabernacle United Methodist Church Logo

Tabernacle
United Methodist Church

Sharing God's love since 1817

United Methodist Women (UMW)

Purpose

“United Methodist Women is 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 the global ministries of the church.”
 
United Methodist Women is a  membership and faith-based organization.  Membership shall be open to any woman who indicates her desire to belong and to participate in the global mission of the church through United Methodist Women. Members are women of diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds: employed and unemployed; women with disabilities; housewives and career women; single, married, widowed, and divorced women; teen, young, middle-aged, and older women; college and university women.  As a member each woman joins forces with other women to embrace and work on the four mission emphases reflected in the PURPOSE.

We currently have two circles: Phillips-Hunt Circle meets at 11 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall on the second Wednesday for a meeting followed by a covered dish lunch. Susanna Wesley Circle meets at 7:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall on the third Thursday evening. We also have a Prayer Shawl group which meets each Wednesday afternoon from 3 - 5 p.m. in Room 9. We welcome visitors and new members to join in any activities.

Tabernacle United Methodist Women Officers for 2012

Circles

Phillips/Hunt Circle Officers for 2012

  • President - Delores Belford, littlema@juno.com, 757-826-0662

  • Secretary - Alice Austin, 757-868-9808

  • Treasurer - Alma Behler, 757-868-9828

Susanna Wesley Circle Officers for 2012

Mission Emphases

  • Spiritual Growth

  • Social Action

  • Education and Interpretation

  • Membership Nurture and Outreach

History and Recent Activities

Tabernacle women were the first in this district to organize a missionary society in 1880.  Tabernacle belongs to the York River District and the Virginia Conference of UMW.  The Virginia Conference is part of the Southeastern Jurisdiction and, nationally, a part of the Women’s Division of the General Board of Global Ministries.  The UMW pledge to Missions provides over 32 percent of the budget of the GBGM.
 
As a member of UMW you are also a member of a larger group, the World Federation of Methodist Women. In 57 countries around the world, the WFMW is a symbol of spiritual ties, unity, sisterhood, and opportunity for the development of international understanding. 

In 2011 the United Methodist Women of Tabernacle United Methodist Church continued to be a Mission Today Silver Unit.  Many of these activities continue from year to year. 

  • supported Wesley Community Services Center with gift cards, stamps, and soup labels
  • donated to UMFS with funding gifts and Box Tops for Education
  • held “green” meetings with not using disposable dishware
  • supported the Campaign for Children by helping with Children’s Church, VBS, and Elementary Wednesday
  • sent 70 school kits to UMCOR through the Virginia Annual Conference
  • held fundraiser dinner for UMCOR’s Imagine No Malaria
  • supported the UMCOR initiative for Equal Exchange coffee project

UMW reached out to the local community:

  • donated 52 dozen cookies to Kookies for Kairos program, an international prison ministry,  going to Virginia State Prison in Fluvanna County
  • prepared and delivered Easter baskets and Christmas bags for the elderly and shut-ins along with sending thoughtful cards throughout the year
  • volunteered, along with other people from Tabernacle, at PORT, the Emergency Winter Shelter Program for the homeless in Newport News sponsored by LINK.
  • made weekly trips to deliver food and assess needs at the local food pantry
  • increased participation in Prayer Shawl Ministry to crochet and knit shawls, lap robes, and baby blankets for those who need to feel a tangible expression of God’s love and also made scarves for each graduating high school senior at Tabernacle to take with them to college
  • supported children and programs in our local schools/funded camp for a child in need
  • provided Christmas for several needy families within the community

UMW members supported our church:

  • prepared and served several Wednesday night dinners
  • prepared and served for several funeral receptions and revival reception
  • held parties several times during the year for the children’s choirs
  • sponsored the annual Mother/Daughter Banquet held every year in May

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