First United Methodist Church/UMW

Items may be purchased, sewn, knitted or crocheted (soft fabrics, no wool, please) and should be laundered and placed individually in a quart or gallon ziplock bag.

Adult sizes: S, M & L

Adult scarves: 33”x35” or 35” square or larger

Children’s sizes: S, M & L

Children’s scarves: 24” square or larger

Patterns are available from Shawl Ministry (see Mary Nahhat) or you may request patterns by email at stanleyd@comcast.net or call 313/767-8365 and patterns will be mailed to you.

Please bring your Caring Caps to the September 10 United Methodist Women unit meeting and tea.

We do appreciate your continued support of the Ingathering Projects. Thank you!

Mission Opportunity: Hygiene Kits

Charity/Kindness Circle has set a goal of putting together at least 100 hygiene kits. The first 100 kits will be donated to the Cass Adult day program for the mentally challenged. The remainder of the kits will be given to The Sanctuary. All in the congregation are invited to help us meet our goal by donating items for the hygiene kits. Items needed are: individually wrapped bars of bath soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste (6 oz. or larger), deodorant, chapstick, and combs. PLEASE NO TRAVEL SIZE ITEMS! Each month we will be collecting a different item. For the month of April we are asking for bath soap. In May we will be collecting toothpaste (6oz. or larger). There will be a drop-off box in the narthex on the 4^th Sunday of each month (the same Sunday that you bring your “noisy bucket” offering for Lithuania) to collect the items asked for. If you would like to make a complete kit of your own to donate, please place all items listed above in a Ziploc bag. Thank you for helping us to meet our mission goal! Questions? Cynthia Cline.

Sweat Pants, Socks and GCCP

The United Methodist Women is currently involved in supporting God’s Country Cooperative Parish (GCCP), a group of 7 small United Methodist churches in Michigan’s central Upper Peninsula that share ministers, programs, and projects. One of their mission projects that our UMW currently helps with is collecting sweat pants and socks, sizes 2T through children’s XL. These items are distributed to the public schools in the central Upper Peninsula so the children can have clean, dry pants and socks to wear. Their current need is great due to the state of our economy. Please help the children in our U.P. by donating to this ongoing mission project. New or clean, gently used children’s sweat pants and socks can be placed in the marked container located in the Narthex. We hope to have a good supply of items to give to a GCCP representative, Katie Peterson, when she comes to talk about their programs at our September Tea.

For more information, contact Kathy Riggs, Social Action Chairperson. Thank you for your continued support.

New Books for the
2009 UMW Reading Program

Spiritual Growth

Joshua in a Troubled World by Joseph F. Girzone
Joseph F. Girzone possesses a unique ability to make Jesus’ words and actions come to life for contemporary audiences. His fictional depictions of Jesus’ return to the present-day world – the Joshua series – have inspired millions of readers. This book is a continuation of his perennially popular series and an enlightening perspective on the political paranoia and destructive acts of vengeance that fill the front pages of our daily newspapers. Arriving in Washington, D.C., Joshua walks along Pennsylvania Avenue with a cool detachment and determination that set him apart from the bustling crowds. “Joshua in a Troubled World” explores the most explosive issues of our day and offers a realistic, compassionate assessment of the things that divide us and the beliefs that can serve as a foundation for a new, more peaceful world.

Education for Mission

Bethlehem Besieged by Mitri Raheb
“This is a heartrending account of what has happened to ordinary people and how they have lived and survived under siege by Israeli soldiers in Bethlehem, the birthplace of the Prince of Peace. It should shake us out of complicity with the injustice being visited on ordinary people. I hope it will do that for many…in the West who have perhaps too easily accepted the stereotype of violent Palestinians. Peace without justice for the Palestinians is impossible.” --Desmond Tutu, former Archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa

The Hospital by the River by Dr. Catherine Hamlin
Gynaecologists Catherine and Reg Hamlin left Australia in 1959 on a short contract to establish a midwifery school in Ethiopia. Over 40 years later, Catherine is still there, running one of the most outstanding medical programs in the world. Thousands of women have been able to resume a normal existence after living as outcasts.

Children’s Book

Hurty Feelings by Helen Lester

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.
	UMW’s Ingathering Project for this year is collecting new handmade or purchased blankets (sizes 45”x45”, 50”x50”, 50”x60” or 60”x60”) for abused women and children. These items can be placed in the marked tub in the narthex by September 30.
	Fall Coat Drive. Please save your gently used coats for our fall coat drive. Please note: We will not begin collecting coats until the fall.

God’s Country Cooperative Parish News

We were pleased to send 54 pairs of sweat pants, 81 pairs of sock, and 26 pairs of children’s underpants to GCCP in August. They were very appreciative of our donation to the children. The GCCP cookbooks are in. Please contact Cathy Marsh if you ordered one. A big thank you goes to Marilyn Murley for delivering the donated clothing to GCCP and for picking up the cookbooks.

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

Ink Jet Cartridge Recycling Continues

Thank you to all who have donated empty printer cartridges. This is an ongoing fundraiser, so please continue placing your empty cartridges in the bucket located in the church office. We can now accept Epson cartridges. 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:

1. Do you have extra medicine samples, food supplements, or eyeglasses you don’t need?

2. Has your prescription been changed and you have some of the other one left?

3. If you’re finished with crutches, wheelchair, hospital bed, or other equipment, they can be used by others.

4. 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.).

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:

Ø Read 4 books each year, 1 from each category (Spiritual Growth, Education & Interpretation, Social Action, and Membership Nurture & Outreach)

Ø Selections from the 1998-2006 reading lists including children’s books (if not included in previous reports)

Ø 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.

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, and baby-sitting is provided.
	Knowledge Circle Meets the second Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the church parlor. 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 members’ homes 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 call us at (248)541-4100 or write to us at the church address.

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