FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF NEENAH/MENASHA

Deborah Circle Meeting Minutes &= #8211; October 24, 2011

Attending: BJ, Mary E, Helen, Mary K, Yvonne, Joann, Cindy, Barb, <= span class=3DSpellE>Jann, Tara, Shirley, Wanda, Fran, Marlene, Rita, Past= or Grace, Jeanie Reimer, & Francis

Guest Speaker -- Cindy Huxstable

What a great group and fun evening we had. Thanks everyone for coming.

Cindy Huxstable did the program "Going Gre= en for Christmas". She brought in examples of handmade crafts -candles, jams, gift bags, a carved Santa etc. She explained how much we affect the world around us by our waste and how getting back to basics is what it's all abou= t. She also talked about how the gift of ourselves and our time is really what people remember, not that you spent a ton of money etc. on the gift.

Thanks Jann for doing the response. Thanks Tara= for yummy treats.

A sign up sheet was sent around for the Christm= as Tea.
This is the listing so far:
COOKIES --- bring Sunday to Church and put in freezer labeled for Tea or Tuesday morning before the Tea so we can assemble them and of course before the Tea if you can't make it any other time. BJ, MaryE, Helen,= Joann M, Mary K, Fran, Yvonne, Wanda, Jeanie ,Marlene, Shirley, Tara and Rita

SET UP DEC 6 AT 9:00 A.M.
PUNCH
Mary K, Yvonne, Wanda, Rita, Jann and Cindy

USHERS
CLEAN UP (MEN)
Fran, Tara, Ed Nokes, Peter S., Bruce Stowe

Suggestions : was to still do the toys for Brigade. And for the offering the following were given: Community Table,Heifer, Feeding America, Emergency Society, Reach Counseling, Harbor House, Christi= ne Ann Center.

These ideas and doing something for Anders Olson will be discussed at the UMW board meeting Oct. 26 at 6:30.

We are putting the banners on hold until after the first of the year. Pastor Grace would like to take a good look at what we have and what she would like and then we will discuss again. We may purchase some and make some simple o= nes.

Card making is in the works for Thurs. Oct 27 from 4-8 and again on Sat. Oc= t. 29 from 9-12

The Christmas Tea meeting will be held on Nov. 1 at 6:00 ---Tara and= BJ signed up from our circle.

Please remember to pay your pledge to Jann soon= , If you are in doubt as to whether you have paid or wha= t you pledged just ask her.
Rita ended the evening with Devotions.

Next meeting Nov. 28 at Helen Kurk= a's home.

Deborah Circle Meeting Minutes &= #8211; April 25, 2011

Attending: Cindy, Jann,= Nancy, Tara, Yvonne, Barb, Joann, Helen, Mary K, Lois, Melissa, Wanda, Karen L, Ri= ta, and guest Monica Kahl

We had a great meeting. Thanks to Cindy who b= rought goodies and drinks. Enjoyed by all.

I passed out some sheets from Donna Allen for order= ing flowers from the King's Daughters. If you would like to order you have until April 30th to call Donna. 722-0048 or eallen2@new.rr.com

Geraniums 4" pots $3.50 &n= bsp;6" $9.00

Impatiens $17.00 p= er flat of 54 plants

I ordered some last year and they did really well.<= /p>

Ellie was downstairs organizing the rummage sale ro= om. She needed a cashier from 2-4 on Sat. in the bakery area and Mary Keepers volunteered. Thanks. Please remember your baked goods for this Sat. --------Deliver Fri. or early Sat. morning to get in the sale. Spread = the word at work or where ever you are together with a group of people.

Cliff Lee's funeral will be held May 2. Jann is in charge of the meal. If you have time or mo= ney to help with expenses, please talk with Jann.

May 19th is retired teachers meal. Jann has the menu planned. She passed around a sign up sheet for workers. &nbs= p;If you have any questions please contact her --954-0804 or jcqb37@aol.com if you = are willing to help.

May 23rd is the all Church woman potluck, 6:00 in fellowship cafe. Place settings, beverages and the main dish (meat) will be provided. We are asking each person to bring a salad or dessert to share. S= et up is the morning of at 9:00.

June 9th is the open house for Pastor Bob. Pl= ease bring BARS, pictures, and stories. Cindy is helping Pastor Jeff with the pictures etc. so if you have something, give it to them.

Monica Kahl did the pro= gram and it was wonderful. What an experience it sounds like they had. It was very interesting and we really learned a lot and the pictures were grea= t. She also brought some of the things she purchased there, including a broom--a b= ack breaker!! I thank her very much for coming and spending the evening with us= , we all wish she could come more often.

Wanda did the response. A lot of the magazine told = us about Sudan and how the South is trying to become it's<= /span> own country. They want to reconcile with the world and themselves and re-establish friendships. What holds them back is fear. Fear of getting involved and of course money and education. They want the Chu= rch to come in and help guide them and teach them how to Think, Learn, Live and Gi= ve. There is a Church in Iowa that is earning money and sending it to Sudan. Th= ey have put the talents of members to work on small projects and are working together to help change Sudan. The magazine is ver= y up to date, it even had an article about Wisconsin = and the demonstrations at the Capitol. Thanks for sharing the information Wanda= .

Barb did devotions and read a piece on "Hugs&q= uot;. Thanks.

Cindy has a new email address and phone number ----= cinstowe@gmail.com 920-574-788= 2. No more land line phone, only using cell phones now.

I hope everyone remembers what they signed up for a= s Jann has all the papers. Sorry no minutes last month,= but I would like to thank Helen for doing response, Tara for arranging food and movie.

See all soon in Church ----------Rita

Deborah Circle Meeting Minutes &= #8211; February 28, 2011

Attending: Nancy Berge, Ellie, F= ran, Helen, Lois, Mary K, Yvonne, Joann, Shirley, Karen L, Tara, BJ, Marlene, Jann, Rita, Julie Beck and our guest Arlo Sell.

Thank you to Arlo Sell for giving us the book review. "Pulled by the Heart" by Nancy Wall. It was fantastic and many of us will be g= oing to the library to read the whole thing. Very interesting.

We did not have Response as Michaelene was not present.

Joann Meagher brought some fanta= stic goodies, enjoyed by all. Thanks.

Jann gave us Self Denial information for the month, to concl= ude at the next meeting bringing in our donation.

Asked for renovation suggestions= . As a UMW group the kitchen is our main concern and of course more storage.

We discussed what to do with the $121.00 we had raised for a missionary, and with Church not supporting= one, we voted on giving this money to the Community Food Table. We will ke= ep the jar going for next year and it's new name is "Second Mile Giving". At the end of this year we will vote = on where this money will go.

We are reminded of the rummage s= ale on April 30. Write this date down so you can help ahead of time,

bake, and work the day of. Contact= Ellie or Yvonne.

Thanks for devotions given by Joann.

Just think -- winter is almost o= ver -- God Bless, Rita

Deborah Circle Meeting Minutes &= #8211; January 25, 2011

Attending: BJ Davis, Helen, Ellie, Yvonne, Mary K, Cindy, Tara, Jann, Michaelene, Mary E, Joann, Lois, Wanda, Rita

Thanks everyone for coming and putting together a terrific program for the coming year= !!! I was feeling very frustrated by not having something that seemed productive for meeting programs and I am very pleased with our outcome :)

Thanks to Mary E for providing t= he treats and wonderful hot cider.<= /o:p>

Yvonne did a great job on her Response report. The magazine dealt with addiction issues of all kinds. Wor= ds from the article "The Wesleyan tradition is strong on breaking the bon= ds that hold us, whether they be drugs or alcohol, = sex or gambling, food or Facebook." Whatever our = drug of choice, any addiction interferes with our ability to become whole persons and to give ourselves wholly to God and to the work of God's reign. As UM W= omen we can address these issues. Make sure our doors are open. Leading experts in the field of medicine and science have discovered that physiological changes occur to an addict's brain, so behavioral therapy and spiritual support must accompany treatment= .Openness and hospitality in churches and by individual members can mean the differen= ce between a person enveloped in God's love or a person who feels rejected by = God and Church. ---Jan. 2011 issue of Response.

Devotions were given by Cindy.&n= bsp; She used the book called "Amazing Grace" by Kenneth W. Osbeck. She highlighted the song "America the Beautiful" I really enjoyed it and consequently don't have as many not= es as I should. We sang the first verse as a group. Thanks, it was very interesting.

Tara talked about the Tea and thanked everyone for their support. She and Mary E have volunteered f= or this years Tea so please let them know if you care t= o join the committee. We had 71 women this year.

Ellie will be in charge of the Rummage Sale and is looking for a co-chair.= Sale to be held on April 30. 8-4 One day only and also having baked goods. Contact her for helping and organizing etc.

Helen and Mary E met with Pastor= Bob and talked about Food table, they have a few things in the works, with something coming = ;in March that the congregation can participate in. Mean while keep circle posted as to what we can do.<= /o:p>

We spent a good amount of time discussing program ideas and the following are what we came up with. We are using some this year and will keep the list for future years, not to say we can't find new ideas too.

-Senegal ---Jeff and the youth

-Turkey ---- a gal spent six wee= ks in Turkey and has a program she will share

-Read a book as a group and disc= uss

-Movie and eats

-Book review by Arlo Sell

-circle picnic

-community fun --- trestle bridge/Heckrodt

-Women's health / parish nurse

-headstart<= /span> reading

-Louisiana mission work

-Christine Ann/ Emergency center=

-Go Green for Christmas

-Pins (Joyce Smidt)

-Making jewelry --circle bracele= t

-Linda Webster - Quilts

-Muslins and Christianity=

-International fashion show / dr= ess from around the world.

-UMW conference program book

Let me know if you have any additions or corrections. I think that's it and thanks again for sharing and coming. Take care and stay warm and as I say to my husband as he leaves the door -be good-

Rita

Deborah Circle Meeting Minutes &= #8211; November 22, 2010

Attending: Yvonne, Lois, Helen, = Mary E, Sue K, Tara, Cindy, Joann, Rita

We missed a lot of ladies this month, but had a good meeting. <= /o:p>

Thanks to Sue K. for bringing too many goodies, which is only the beginning of holiday expansion on the waistline.

Thanks to Cindy for doing the Response magazine. UMW logo says: Faith - Hope - Love in Action !

This months= issue was about Think, Learn, Live, Give, Listen, Act, Pray, for women in t= he United Methodist Organization acting for mission across the world. Locally = we have the Community food table, food shelters, homeless<= /span> shelters, just to name a few. Globally we are becoming more and more involv= ed in Senegal.

United Methodist Women has 98 national mission institutions including residences, schools, research and h= ospitality centers and community centers across the country serving needs of the peopl= e in the communities where they are located.

The whole magazine really fit in= to today's world as everyone is struggling with the economy. If you have = a chance look for this issue in the library and take a= look at it.

Cindy closed with a prayer

O Lord, grant that what we have = said with our lips, we may believe in our hearts; And that what we believe in= our hearts, we may practice in our lives through Jesus Christ our Lord by the p= ower of the Holy Spirit. Amen<= /o:p>

We discussed Helen needing food = and or money for the food table. Tossed around a few ideas and Helen

and Mary are going to talk with Pastor Bob on some possible special collections being made. Anyone wanting to donate can do so with Script cards from Woodman's or Copps. Mary also brought forth some suggestions on what we could give guests to take home wi= th them. Maybe dry soup mix, cans of soup, bread, peanut butter. Also, a possible coat collection.

Marlene was not at the meeting, = but she left a voice message on my machine about starting up a prayer chain again. Yvonne is going to talk with Pastor Bob about that.

December 7

The Tea preparations seem to be going well. You can leave your cookies downstairs after Church on Sunday, bring them Monday, Tuesday morning, or Tuesday evening. The more that are there ahead

of time, we can plate and get ready. Please label th= em Christmas Tea.

Passed around the sign up sheet for this coming year. Anyone interested in meeting to discuss possible progra= ms or brainstorm please let me know and we will meet in the beginning of Janua= ry.

I also shared an email I recieved from Marcia. Thanks Helen for reading that.<= /span>

Everyone hav= e a wonderful Thanksgiving and if you are traveling ---Travel Safe--

See you at Church, Rita