United Methodist Women (UMW)
The Tabernacle United Methodist Women
Tabernacle women were the first in this district to organize a
missionary society in 1880. Tabernacle belongs to the
Peninsula 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.
The United Methodist Women of Tabernacle United Methodist Church continued in the quest to serve as a Mission Today Silver Unit. We fulfilled our Pledge to Mission in addition to participating in the World Thank Program. The Prayer Calendar and UMW Program book were used periodically in the monthly meetings held by the Phillips/Hunt and Susanna Wesley Circles. We were especially excited to be able to send one of our members to the 9th Southeastern Jurisdictional Quadrennial Meeting of UMW, “Called by Name”, this year in April. Both circles participated again the Kookies for Kairos program, a prison ministry for women. School kits were assembled and sent to UMCOR, Easter baskets and Christmas bags for the elderly and shut-ins in our community along with thoughtful cards throughout the year are also ways the UMW support the people in our communities. Several members volunteered, along with other people from Tabernacle, at PORT, the Emergency Winter Shelter Program sponsored by LINK. One of our members is closely involved with the local food pantry, making weekly trips to deliver food and assess their needs. These women have helped support the Wednesday night dinners, various receptions and fundraisers for the church and the children’s choirs through volunteering their time and talents. They also sponsor the annual Mother/Daughter Banquet held every year in May, provide Christmas for several families within the community and have helped support children and programs in many ways in our local schools.
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.
Mission Emphases
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Spiritual Growth
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Social Action
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Education and Interpretation
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Membership Nurture and Outreach
Home Missions -- Foreign Missions
Each year the local UMW units support several mission projects in
addition to financial pledges which go to the GBGM.
We contribute to the World Thank Offering and the Call to Prayer and
Self-Denial. We make and contribute Kits for Conference as
defined by UMCOR. In past years we donated many layette kits,
health kits, and school kits. The emphasis for 2009 is for school
kits.
With assistance from the entire church, we collect labels from
Campbell products to benefit the Wesley Community Service Center in
Portsmouth and cancelled postage stamps for UMCOR, gifts for TUMC
shut-ins, and donations to the Central Food Pantry. Circles
provide children’s choirs with holiday parties and send holiday
packages to college students. Circle’s also support church
members who have lost loved ones by assisting with receptions for
funerals. We also donate funds to Poquoson High School
After-Prom. At Christmas time, we support needy families in
the community with gifts and food cards. Members also assist
with delivery of sanctuary flowers.
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President: Gail Harker
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Vice President:
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Secretary: Dana Dunham
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Treasurer: Judi Sullivan
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Spiritual Growth Coordinator:
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Social Action Coordinator: Janet Dickinson
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Ed. & Interpretation Coordinator:
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Membership Nurture and Outreach:
Circles
Phillips/Hunt Circle Officers for 2009
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President - Delores Belford
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Secretary - Alice Austin
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Treasurer - Alma Behler
Susanna Wesley Circle Officers for 2009
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President - Rotates
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Secretary - Carol Derby
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Treasurer - Janet Dickinson
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Callers - Judi Sullivan (A-L); Dolly Woolard (M-Z)
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Sunshine - Ann Fordham
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College Outreach - Judy Hahn
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Children's Choir Parties - Juli Fisk