The PW Purpose
Forgiven and freed by God in Jesus Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves to nurture our faith through prayer and Bible study, to support the mission of the church worldwide, to work for justice and peace, and to build an inclusive, caring community of women that strengthens the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and witnesses to the promise of God’s kingdom.
Trinity Presbytery Moderator - Susie Cunningham
- Moderator – Linda Hook
Vice Moderator – Lydia Hall
Secretary – Alice Heineman
Treasurer – Debbi Reboul
If you have any ideas for Presbyterian Women (PW) please feel free to call me (649-3477) or email me at linda7hook@aol.com. Any committees or other groups out there, perhaps we can co-sponsor activities/events with you (it can be co-ed!). Thanks!!
It’s still hot, but school is back in session and most of us are starting to get into our “Fall routine”. Our PW Coordinating Team met recently and a lot of plans are in the works. So far this fall our team consists of Officers Linda Hook, Lydia Hall, Alice Heineman, Debbi Reboul, and Circle Leaders Bonnie Hayes, Alice Kierspe, Annie Marie Hall, Lynn Burkes and Missy Byrne. We are trying to fill a few more positions.
Several of us attended the Horizon’s Fall Bible Study (Revelation) and PW Leadership Training at Camp Fellowship on 8/21 and had a good time despite my GPS taking us down a narrow dirt road and scaring some in the Hookmobile. Those attending were Bonnie Hayes, Joan Schrenk, Alice Heineman, Dot McLaurin, Alice Kierspe, myself and 2 lovely ladies from First Presbyterian, Sheryl Phillips and Gail Parker.
One thing I learned fromthis enlightening overview of Revelation is that there is NO “s” at the end of Revelation. I have been saying it wrong for years! Rev. Kevin Cartee led this overview and admitted that he, like many of us, was very hesitant about studying or even reading this famous book of the Bible but that we should actually get a great message of hope from this book. It is actually a letter written by John of Patmos, possibly around 95 or 96 AD (a mere 2000 years ago) to 7 churches in Asia Minor (modern Turkey) and was meant to be read aloud in community with other believers. The author of our study book, Journeys Through Revelation, Apocalyptic Hope for Today, Barbara Rossing writes “Embrace the message of hope instead of fear as Jesus theLamb has already won the victory, through his death and resurrection. God always reigns. Even at its most fearful, the assurance of hope in Revelation is always near. This book is not written to terrify people but to wake them up, to encourage them and to sustain their hope when things seemed the most bleak. Hope is the most important message of Revelation.“ We can all use some hope in our lives these days! We were urged to “explore the sense of urgency for God’s realm”. While Revelation is about the future, most of all it teaches Christians about faithfulness in the present. It gives us eyes to see God’s vision of hope – the “New Jerusalem” – breaking into our world even now. Just as Jesus taught his deciples to pray “You kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10), so Revelation expects communities of Jesus’ followers to live transformed lives now, here on earth – not in the future or in heaven. A lot of interesting information!!! Want to know more? Join our Circles that are studying this controversial and exciting book called Revelation.
Linda Hook
Congratulations to our PW Woman of the Year:
Jean Weeks
* * * * * Upcoming Events * * * * *
We are still planning several PW activities to include: a Mother/Daughter/Sister/Womam tea in the fall, another quilt making class and a scrapbooking gathering planned for November 6. We had such fun with the Men’s Luncheon that we are going to do it again. Look for more information in future AIMS PW articles, the Sunday Bulletin and on this website.
September 12, Sunday - all women who attend our church are invited to our PW Fall Kick-off Luncheon in the Gym following the 11:00 service. You do not have to be a member of a
circle to attend!! We will have quiche, salad, cheesecake and other goodies. Once again we will have jewelry being sold as well as fun door prizes. NO COST! Any woman who wants to sell goodies, see Linda Hook.
October 22-24 – Synod PW Gathering at St. Simons Island, Ga. It is entitled “Messages of Hope” and registration began April 1st. See me (Linda Hook) if you would like a registration packet. Registration deadline is September 1st.
Date to be Announced - A Womens Retreat at Camp Fellowship is in the planning stage for sometime in the fall. Watch the bulletin and this website for more information.
* * * * * Circle News * * * * *
*A reminder of our four Circles: (Most are not meeting in the summer).
Angels in Training Circle – Missy Byrne (642-8757) & Lynn Burkes (640-3102) - Leaders
Meets the 3rd Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm in the Church library.
Our purpose is to build a circle of friends which nutures our faith through prayer and contemporary Bible study, support the mission of the Church through Care Packages to college students and blankets for shut-in, and reach out to our community and worldwide missions to share God’s love.
We are considering Revelation for our study this year.
Sojouner’s Truth Circle – Bonnie Hayes & Heidi Abele – Leaders
Meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the Church library.
****** Invited: all women interested in becoming a part of a Presbyterian Woman’s Circle that meets in the evening. Sojourner’s Truth Circle Kick-off Event will be held on Tuesday, August 31 at 6:00 pm. Bring a dish to share. Pool is open*** See the Sunday bulletin for contact person and address of meeting place.
Sonshine Circle – Alice Kierspe – Leader
Meets the 1st Tuesday morning, September through June, 9:30 – 10:30 am in the Church Library.
Thank you Dot McLaurin for all your hard work leading this group.
We will be studying Revelation this year. Among our many service activities are the following: providing food to our circle members who are ill or have lost a spouse; following the progress of our ”adopted child”, Katelin Moore, at Thornwell Home by participating in visitations and sending her gifts on birthdays and holidays.
Our Circle offerings go to the Presbytery PW Women’s Fund and to our local Circle for operation and missions. We sponsor a child in the Secret Santa Program each year and other outreach programs such as The Least Coin, the Villa International Missionary Home in Atlanta (a CDC related program) which includes gifts of clothing to Mission Haven, and to a missionary program providing food for the needy in Haiti.
We utilize Horizons Magazine to keep us informed about ecumenical activities around the world and to provide subject matter and information for our Bible studies (this year’s focus is on JOSHUA).
We have approximately 32 full-time members plus a number of guests who enjoy our Bible Studies and the company of their Circle sisters. We welcome visitors and are open to new members.
Teen Circle (LYLAS) – Annie Marie Hall – Leader Lydia Hall & Lynn Burkes - Adult Supervisors
Meets the 1st Wednesday of the month at 1:30 pm (early release day) at the church senior high room for lunch. We are continuing their study of Jenna and Max Lucado’s book “Redefining Beautiful: what God sees when Gof sees you”. All teen girls are invited and welcome. We recently had a pizza planning party and have planned several fun service projects, globally and locally.
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There continues a wonderful gathering every Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to noon in the church library of women who meet to knit and crochet needed items. So far they have made more than 35 baby hats, 2 prayer shawls and lapghans for those in need of such items. For more information, please contact Susie Cunningham, Karen Gee, or Mary Bunch. If you have any extra skeins of yarn that you would’nt mind donating, please contact these ladies. Below is a report from Mary Bunch:
We have delivered six shawls/lapghans/blankets so far. We have decided on a definition for our shawls: “tangible evidence of being covered in prayer”.
We currently have six knitter/crocheters active in our group and would welcome more at any time. We prefer not to list the names of the recipients of our shawls, but we are open to requests or recommendations of who should receive one. We have asked Emily Lockard and Judy Bowling for suggestions. We are doing them in all sizes and colors, for both men and women, and children of all ages. We include a printed card with a prayer on it that is specific to that person. We plan to branch soon to give one to everyone who is baptized in our church. We also have made some ”chemo caps” and helmet crosses for the military.