Women

Women’s Ministries is an important and thriving ministry at First United Methodist Church of Pensacola. Offering a variety of groups for women of all ages, Women’s Ministries provides it’s members with a network to grow spiritual and the opportunity to worship God through serving in our church and our community.

The Prayer Shawl Ministry

The Prayer Shawl Ministry is a group of women who love to knit, crochet and more importantly desire to encourage fellow church members in hard times. Prayer Shawls are presented to men and women who need the assurance of God’s love and comfort during high and low spots in their lives. The shawls are called prayer shawls because the maker prays while knitting, that the shawl will bring comfort, strength and knowledge of God’s love to the wearer.

Even if you can’t always attend, we need your help. Many talented people in the congregation are willing to help but may not be able to attend our Wednesday gatherings. If you are willing to make a Prayer Shawl for our Ministry, it would be greatly appreciated. Please contact Mary Ann Gantt (850.432.1434) or ask of our knitters for directions on how to participate at home. Beginners, experienced, and those wanting to learn are all welcome to join this group.

Meets every Tuesday at 10:00 AM, Joe Harrell Library Contact: Karen Bower 850.469.1032

Women at the Well

Women at the Well is a time of fellowship, worship and study for all women. The study begins at 10:30 AM in the Perry House next door to the Main Sanctuary.

Meets every Wednesday at 10:30AM in the Perry Home

United Methodist Women/Women In Mission

“The organized unit of United Methodist Women shall be a community of women whose PURPOSE is to know God, and to experience freedom as wholepersons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative, supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church.

Officers 2011

President: Pam Dannelly, 477-6533, bipadann@bellsouth.net
Vice-President: Elsie Morrissette, 476-7474, elsiepm@hotmail.com
Treasurer: Barbara Vititow, 433-5892, babsv@cox.net
Secretary: Joan Ferry, 696-2088, alxjon@cox.net
Coordinator of Mission: Sharon Evans, 549-7913, ogypsygirl7@yahoo.com
Coordinator of Spiritual Growth: Jean Odom, 932-8619, Odom_j@popmail.firn.edu
Coordinator of Membership: Pam Dannelly, 477-6533, bipadann@bellsouth.net
Program Resources: Ruth Sneed, 968-6839, sneed_b@bellsouth.net
Editor, UMW Newsletter: Karen Bower, 469-1032, wkbower@cox.net
Hostess: Mary Stanley, 476-5273, darrellstanley@bellsouth.net

Sacred Heart Women’s and Children’s Hospital Volunteers

Every Monday 9AM to 12PM, or 12PM to 3PM at the Sacred Heart Hospital information desk
The Sacred Heart volunteers work at the information desk of the Women’s and Children’s Hospital. A volunteer tends the desk every Monday, either from 9AM to noon, or noon to 3PM. Duties include answering the phone and assisting incoming patients and visitors with information such as directions to doctors’ offices and medical testing rooms. This information is found in the desk information book or on the computer. An orientation session and occasional training sessions are required by the hospital.

Contact Miriam Birdwhistell, 850.477.0263, mbirdwhistell@cox.net

Suit Yourself Ministry

Located in FUMC’s Outreach Ministry Building This ministry provides much needed clothing and accessories for women entering or re-entering the work force. Clients come by referral only, from all types of sources. Some of the items provided are clothing, shoes, purses, hosiery, jewelry, as well as casual clothing for their use, especially blue jeans. All clothing and accessories are donated.

Our goal is not only to provide clothes and accessories, but to show them our love, and help them with their self esteem. Our hearts are so full when we see how happy these ladies are. Our Lord has really blessed this ministry. The more we give away, the more we get back. We believe you cannot outgive God.

Two important ways you can help the Suit Yourself Ministry are by donating clothing and accessories or by volunteering your time.

Contact Pam Dannelly, 850-477-6533, bipadann@bellsouth.net

Eleanor Nichols Group

Meets every Fourth Monday of the Month 10:00AM at the Church The Eleanor Nichols Group is a growing group of women who have a heart for missions. We have educational programs and guest speakers to inform us of the needs in mission and how we can take action. After our meetings, we have fellowship over lunch at various local restaurants.

This past year, our emphasis has been on children’s resources. We focused our local efforts on The Parents’ Place, helping with art supplies for their day care, donating and cataloging stuffed animals and toys for their parent store, preparing meals for their mothers’ classes, and donating funds to their program. Internationally, many of us have children we sponsor through Compassion International. Our emphasis for 2008 will be on the homeless. We will participate in projects at Manna Food Pantry, volunteer at FUMC’s Thursday lunch outreach to the homeless, and volunteer at the Second Sunday meal for the homeless at Loaves and Fishes.

We encourage all who have a heart for missions to join this warm and friendly group.

Contact Jane Weekley, 850.932.2350, kenjaneweekley@aol.com

Ruth Braden Group

Meets every First Thursday of the Month Noon, for lunch in the Wright Place (kept to 1 hour) The Ruth Braden Group’s goal is to grow in faith through prayer, Bible study, reflection and interaction with others. Our main mission focus is the Milk and Honey Outreach Ministry. We support that children’s program with our prayers, financial gifts, and materials needed for their projects. We share prayer partners, and in March we fill a time capsule with our prayers for the upcoming year. The next March we open the capsule and rejoice to see what God has done in our lives. Guests are always welcome.

Contact Nancy Shealy, 850.969.1793, nfs3@bellsouth.net

Friendship Group

Meets every First Tuesday of the Month 7:00PM at a Member’s Home The Friendship Group meets in the evening, enjoying a mixture of program meetings, mission focus meetings, and supportive fellowship. On the event of each of their birthdays, we provide a $25 gift card enclosed in a birthday card for each girl residing in the UMC Girl’s Residency Home in Milton. To fund this mission project, once a year we have an auction of wrapped gifts. In 2008, we will focus mission efforts on Christmas Creations, providing leadership, support workers, and organizational assistance. We will spend two of our meeting times making cheese straws for the Christmas Creations Gingerbread House. Guests are welcome.

Contact Nancy Emery, 850.484.2901, nemery2@cox.net

Copelan Group

Meets every Third Thursday of the Month 6:30PM at a Member’s Home for a covered dish supper The Copelan Group’s mission focus is supporting and helping children, especially those that may not have enough to eat. In support of the Backpack Ministry, we hand out food bags to school children that are on the school lunch program to ensure they have weekend meals. We conduct “poundings” to raise money for our special projects. We are a group of women, willing to do what is needed and getting it done. We welcome new members.

Contact Gerri Cripe, 432-7007, astrocr@aol.com

God Stories Group

Meets every Second Tuesday of the Month 7:00PM at a Member’s Home During our meeting we discuss a short story that all of us have previously read. We look at the characters and the plot from both a Christian and a secular perspective. We started by reading the short story collection, God Stories, followed by Faith Stories. Our current anthology is The Best American Short Stories of the Century, edited by John Updike. Our mission outreach for this year includes monthly contributions of nonperishable items to Manna Food Pantries. We also make health kits when they are needed. Our group continues to help Ronald McDonald House with “pop tops,” Favor House with toiletry items, and Children’s Services Center with various requests. God Stories Group welcomes any woman who loves to read and enjoys the fellowship of other women with “inquiring minds.”

Contact Ruth Sneed, 850.968.6839, sneed_b@bellsouth.net

Lunch Bunch Group

Meets every Fourth Tuesday of the Month 11:45AM in the Wright Place Each person brings their lunch to our meeting. We are a study/information gathering group with a variety of teachers and presenters. We are active in UMW unit projects, and we adopt specific projects which are carried out by the group. Gulf Coast Kid’s House is one of the local organizations we support on a regular basis. Our meetings are over at 1:00PM, making it possible to participate during the lunch hour. Guests are welcome!

Contact Nettie Joseph, 850.433.6487, nettiebobjoseph@att.net

Bookworms Group

Meets every Fourth Wednesday of the Month 6:30PM at the Church We read all types of “best sellers:” fiction, non-fiction, and spiritual. We set our book rotation every November for the upcoming year. We meet in a member’s home for our December meeting, sharing a holiday meal, and “swap” a new, gift-wrapped paperback book. We support a number of UMW mission efforts with our prayers and monies, but our main project is serving a luncheon each Spring to all the women of the church who are eighty or more years of age. The tables are set with china, silver, crystal and fresh flowers. We serve a gourmet meal and entertain our guests. We provide transportation as needed. As a follow-up to our luncheon, throughout the year, we sign and send a birthday card to each of the church women eighty or more years of age.

Contact Sue Glenn, 944-1787, walterglennsr@cox.net

Mary and Martha – Servers and Seekers

Meets the Second Tuesday of the Month – 6:30PM The Mary and Martha Group – the Seekers and Servers is our newest small group. It has been formed for our newest female members of FUMC. We meet once a month on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 6:30 PM in member’s homes. We have a short program and then fellowship. It is a great opportunity to learn about UMW and about the amazing projects in our community helping women, children and youth, and getting to know other women in the church. If you are interested, please call Pam Dannelly at 477-6533.