Thursday, September 9, 1:00 p.m.
Rev. Faith Fowler presents
"Food and Faith"

The United Methodist Women invite all to attend this special program followed by a tea. Faith always provides a very interesting program and, when you hear her opening devotion, you will never forget it. This special event is a great opportunity to meet other women and learn about all the things that the United Methodist Women do. Our regular monthly meetings, beginning in October, will be on the first Thursday of the month with lunch at 12:15 p.m. and the program following.

Circle members are asked to bring finger food for the Sept. 9 tea. Please have it to the kitchenette on the second level by 11:30 a.m. Executive Committee members will meet in the Parlor at 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 9.

United Methodist Women

Harvest Festival of Crafts and Seventh Street Cafe
Saturday, October 15, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

The festival includes a delightful luncheon as well as a bake sale and abundant gifts and crafts to purchase for holiday giving and beyond. Items for men, women, and children will be available.

If you are interested in donating knitted and crocheted items, craft items, and baked goods, please contact Mary Nahhat. Also, if you are interested in serving as a volunteer during this time or have questions, please see Mary.

United Methodist Women welcome the generous support of all of our church family as we continue to strive to raise funds for our mission outreach program locally, nationally, and internationally.

Ingathering Project

The ingathering collection this year is for young people who find themselves having no place to live but the street. We are asking for the following NEW items: sports bras, underpants and socks for women, and t-shirts, underpants, and socks for men. These items should be sizes small through extra large and can be placed in the marked tub located in the Narthex.

An invitation to join in fellowship

For the woman-

who finds meaning in her church and is drawn to fellowship.
who wants to develop creative, supportive fellowship.
whose life is packed full of activity and obligations and who needs a supportive group to affirm her own sense of prayer.
who wants to grow with and help expand mission concepts through participating in global ministries of the church.

Circles

Charity Circle
Meets the second Wednesday of the month at 9:30 a.m. in the church parlor. We have a short business meeting, devotion, light snack and guest speakers. Twice a year we have a potluck luncheon. We have a mix of ages in our circle.
Knowledge Circle
Meets the second Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the members’ homes. Dessert is served followed by a business meeting and an inspirational program. Programs include speakers, hands on creative projects, and other events combining fun and fellowship.
Peace Circle
Meets on the third Thursday of each month at 1:00 p.m. in the church Parlor for a short meeting and a program. Guests are always welcome.
Love Circle
Meets on the first Thursday of each month at 10:45 a.m. in the church Library. A business meeting is followed by a program after which we attend the UMW Unit luncheon, meeting and program. On the months there is no Unit meeting, Love circle either goes out for lunch or picnics in the church.

If you have any questions about the United Methodist Women at Royal Oak First United Methodist Church, please contact us at (248)541-4100 or office@rofum.org.

Shawl Ministry

Shawl Ministry group, sponsored by United Methodist Women, has been meeting since January, 2006. Our mission is to minister to people in need of various kinds of support for diverse life situations. Since our beginning, members have dedicated and donated hundreds of prayer shawls, scarves, hats, and blankets to those in need of loving comfort.

Our group meets in the Parlor from 1-3 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursday of the month throughout the year. If you are interested in joining in on this ministry of caring, you are cordially welcome!

UMW Reading Program

The purpose of the UMW Reading Program is to encourage United Methodist Women:

to expand understanding of and participation in God’s mission;
to increase sensitivity to all human beings – their needs, interests, and concerns;
to encourage critical thinking about issues facing humanity today;
to grow in understanding of Scripture as it relates to Christian faith in contemporary life;
to enhance self-knowledge and to act from that knowledge;
to strengthen involvement in local and global Christian mission.

Any person wishing to participate in the UMW Reading Program should follow these guidelines:

Read 4 books each year, 1 from each category (Spiritual Growth, Education & Interpretation, Social Action, and Membership Nurture & Outreach)
Selections from the 1998-2006 reading lists including children’s books (if not included in previous reports)
Regular reading of Response

Please sign your name on the "Reading Program" list in the library. Any questions, contact Marge Youngs, Chairperson of Program Resources.

Help Those in Need!

United Methodist Women is currently involved in the following missions to help women and children in need:

God’s Country Cooperative Parish, a group of 7 small United Methodist churches in Michigan’s central Upper Peninsula that share ministers, programs, and projects. The UMW is currently collecting clean, gently used or new sweat pants and socks, sizes 2T through children’s XL. These items are distributed to elementary schools in the central U.P. so the children can have clean, dry pants and socks to wear when they arrive at school. They currently need 50 pairs a month. Your donated items may be placed in the marked tub in the narthex. This will be an ongoing collection.

Thank you for your continued and heartfelt support. If you have any questions, contact Kathy Riggs, Social Action Chairperson.

Ink Jet Cartridge and Cell Phone Recycling

This is an ongoing fundraiser, so please continue placing your empty cartridges and used cell phones (no chargers, please) in the bucket located in the church office. Please put the empty cartridge in the original box or a Ziploc bag to keep it safe from damages and spills. Thank you, in advance, for helping us recycle those old ink cartridges and participating in this fundraising program. If you have any questions, contact Marge Youngs.

UMW Collections for Missions

Please note that we are no longer collecting tea tags, postage stamps, or Betty Crocker coupons.

The following items may be deposited in the Kitchenette in either the cupboard or drawer next to the window:

Aluminum can tabs
Trading stamps
Manufacturer’s coupons (pet products, tobacco, adult diapers, or items unattainable with food stamps)
Box Tops for Education
Campbell’s, Franco-American, and Prego UPC labels
Greeting card pictures (fronts only)
Medical equipment large and small (medicine samples and unused prescriptions, prescription bottles with straight sides, eyeglasses)

Cell phones and old ink cartridges (no toner cartridges, please) may be placed in the receptacle in the office.

UMW Collecting Items for World Medical Relief

Give it to us when you’re done with it:

Do you have extra medicine samples, food supplements, or eyeglasses you don’t need?
Has your prescription been changed and you have some of the other one left?
If you’re finished with crutches, wheelchair, hospital bed, or other equipment, they can be used by others.

After you remove the label, bring in your prescription bottles. World Medical Relief can use the plastic ones (usually yellow or brown) with straight edges. The medicine bottles with narrow necks (such as what vitamins or aspirin come in) should be put in your recycle bin; they can’t use them.

These small items should be brought to the kitchenette, between the parlor and mechanical room. Put them in the last drawer on the right, next to the window. That is where United Methodist Women collect all the items we send on to a variety of missions. Other items collected are Campbell’s labels, box tops for education, pop can tabs, redemption stamps and cents-off coupons (especially those for items that can’t be purchased with food stamps – adult diapers, sanitary products, pet food, etc.).

First United Methodist Church
320 W. Seventh St., Royal Oak, MI 48067 USA
Telephone: (248) 541-4100
Fax: (248) 541-0192
E-mail: office@rofum.org

Thursday, September 9, 1:00 p.m. Rev. Faith Fowler presents "Food and Faith"