Women's Ministry

Prayer retreat set for April 29

FPC will be hold a Women’s Prayer Retreat from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 29 at the Bishop DeFalco Conference Center.

The DeFalco Center will provide a facilitator to lead us through their prayer labyrinth. A prayer labyrinth is a planned prayer time in which you progressively enter into the labyrinth, removing yourself from the world and preparing yourself for quiet time in God’s presence.

After spending some time in quiet prayer, you begin the planned progression out of the labyrinth back into the world with a fresh spirit and fresh perspective given to you by your prayer time there.

Those who would like to carpool can meet at FPC at 9 a.m. and drive to DeFalco together. The retreat will include lunch. Please call Jean Edwards at 373-4242 so we will know how many lunches to provide.

Women's Gala

Diane Baker, from left, Betty Hallerberg and Melody Alexander helped serve at the Women's Gala dinner on Aug. 29. About 130 women attended the dinner. For more photos, click here..

New women's group to start Moore study

A new women's group will begin a study of Beth Moore's “Believing God" at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays beginning Sept. 19 in Room 203 at the church. For more information, contact Carol Sue LeGate, 463-2041; Caryl Smith, 680-9260; or Jami Wilmarth, 379-7722.

Women's studies delve into Word

FPC Women have a number of small-group Bible studies, and you are invited to come and learn more about God's design for our lives as revealed in His word.
For more information on women's Bible studies, or if you are interested in leading a small group study, contact Sonya Letson, 220-0246 or letson@suddenlink.net.

MONDAY 5:30 P.M.
Leader: Virginia Sicola
Place: Northwest Branch Library
Study: Encounter with God

WEDNESDAY 10:00 A.M.
Leader: Charlotte Houchin
Place: Wilkins Parlor
Study: First Corinthians

THURSDAY 11:30 A.M.
Leader: Jerre Wells
Place: Church, room 203A
Study: “Heaven," Randy Alcorn

THURSDAY 11:30 A.M.
Leader: Tracie Brooks
Place: Church, Room 202
Study: “Daniel," Beth Moore

SATURDAY 9 A.M. – SECOND & FOURTH SATURDAY
Leader: Sherida Stone
Place: Wilkins Parlor
Study: “Remarkable Women of the Bible," Elizabeth George

Love Luncheon

Sue Vermuelen, from left, Kathy Morris and Michael Bankhead attend the Love Luncheon on Feb. 14 in honor of the church staff members. The luncheon was sponsored by the Jean Miller Circle. For more photos, click here.

Special Events group seeks input on women's activities

The Special Events committee members are Diane Baker, team leader; Susan Cox, Betty Hallerberg, Becky Harkins, Carol Sue LeGate, Carol Toperzer, EA Vermillion, and Alicia Woodburn. They have established multiple goals for 2007:

to build on already successful functions
to support “Circle" activities, and
to introduce two or more new events this year that will encourage First Presbyterian Women of all ages to participate, particularly those vibrant women in the 20-40 age group.

The committee hopes to see the number involved in women's activities grow dramatically. They welcome your ideas and bless you for them. Please get involved. Your participation will make our events successful. For more information contact Diane Baker at 372-1381.

The new Vision Statement for Women's Ministry is as follows “United by the Holy Spirit, we embrace women of all ages in building a personal relationship with Jesus Christ — being called for such a time as this." There are 14 teams in place to work toward achieving not only this vision but also the objective for 2007, which is to “encourage all women of FPC to build a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and grow in the Word, Prayer, Fellowship and Service."

Longtime church member Martha Collaer is a member of the Women's Leadership Team and serves as coordinator for the Affinity groups. There are 16 groups either in place or proposed and/or reforming. They are:
Sunday Lunch
Canasta (day and evening*)
Bridge (day and evening*)
Walking/exercise
Needlework
Book Club*
Travel*
Gospel Gourmet*
Tables of Eight*
Gardening
Crafts/Quilting
Bunko
Gourmet Cooking*
Scrapbooking

Men are encouraged to join those groups with asterisks. Information about these groups may be found in The Chimes and the bulletin. You may call Martha Collaer at 359-3289 for more information on these groups that promote Christian fellowship and common interest at the same time (plus a lot of fun).

There are six groups of ladies that form the Women's circles at FPC, averaging 25 per circle. They meet the fourth Wednesday of each month morning and afternoon, Tuesday afternoon or Saturday morning.

Meetings last about two hours, light refreshments are served and a Bible lesson is taught.This year, the lessons are either from the book of Genesis, James or about remarkable women in the Bible. A small amount of business is discussed, such as service opportunities, etc.

Each circle has a cottage at the Presbyterian Children's Home and is at liberty to be as involved as they desire. Circles are a wonderful way to get better acquainted with other women at FPC, plus they offer good Bible studies.Call Dani Hermesmeyer at 352-0652 for more information.

The Jean Miller Circle will host a Love Luncheon for FPC staff at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 14. We invite all women of the FPC congregation to be our guests. Please make reservations no later than Feb. 11 with Jean Edwards, 373-4242, or your small- group leader. We will have a sign-up table in the Great Hall on Feb. 4 and 11.
Day canasta players sought Join FPC canasta players from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Feb. 9, as they huddle around tables in the Westminster Room, staying warm and cozy with friends, fun and hot hands of cards. Lunch will be brought by several in the group, so come on down! For more information, call or e-mail Pan Sticksel at 655-4234 or priscillasticksel@sbcglobal.net.

FPC Women offer a number of small group Bible studies, and you are invited to come and learn more about God's design for our lives as revealed in His word. For more information on women's Bible studies, or if you are interested in leading a small group study, contact Sonya Letson, 220-0246 or letson@suddenlink.net. The following groups are always open to newcomers:

MONDAY 5:30 PM
Leader: Virginia Sicola
Place: Northwest Branch Library
Study: Encounter with God

WEDNESDAY 10:00 AM
Leader: Charlotte Houchin
Place: Wilkins Parlor
Study: First Corinthians

THURSDAY 11:30 AM
Leader: Jerre Wells
Place: Church, room 203A
Study: “Heaven," Randy Alcorn

THURSDAY 11:30 AM
Leader: Tracie Brooks
Place: Church, Room 202
Study: “Daniel," Beth Moore

SATURDAY (2ND AND 4TH ) 9:00 AM
Leader: Sherida Stone
Place: Wilkins Parlor
Study: “Remarkable Women of the Bible," Elizabeth George

It's an exciting time for the women of FPC! Last summer, a planning group was charged to look at Women's Ministries and make recommendations. A comprehensive review was conducted by the 14-member planning group that was co-chaired by Betty Hallerberg and E.A. Vermillion and facilitated by Mary Rogers-Ellsworth.

The summary report of the planning group was submitted and accepted by the Coordinating Council of Presbyterian Women and to the FPC Session. As a result of their acceptance, ministry to, for and by women is being revitalized. Instead of several different ministries to women, PW, Bible studies, and all other women's programs have combined into one.

FPC Women in Christ … In Community is being launched with the development of a new Women's Ministry Leadership Team. Co-moderators Shelley Chaloupka and Susan Kitchens will lead the team, and Jennifer McElreath will be moderator-elect and Marilyn Bergen will be secretary. The objective of the ministry is to encourage all women of FPC to build a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and grow in the Word, prayer, fellowship and service.

The different women's ministry programs are led by coordinators who serve on the leadership team and work with the women on their teams to make progress towards the ministry's goals. The area coordinators are always eager to welcome women onto their ministry teams and into their programs. If you feel God is calling you to serve in a particular area of women's ministry or if you just want to find out more about what is happening in each of these areas, contact the coordinator: