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UNITED WOMEN IN FAITH

Welcome. You are invited.

Can you hear the music, the sweet sound of female harmony? Can you see the laughter, the joy of being together? Can you feel the love, the community of sharing?  Welcome, you have found a United Methodist Women’s (UMW) gathering. You are invited to come and know God’s grace – the love of God to share. No formal invitation is needed. Just bring yourself and maybe a friend. Who knows what all you will find? But where, how, and why?

Most United Methodist churches have a local UMW unit. Dates and times may be announced on Sunday mornings, listed in the bulletin, or published in the church newsletter. Better yet, one of the ladies from the church may personally invite you or offer to pick you up for a gathering. 

What happens there at the gathering depends on the specific local unit. Most common are devotions, maybe a short business section, a program, and of course, you will probably get fed. (There’s just something about United Methodists that calls for food.) 

The local unit is one of three levels of UMW. There you will be: introduced to various mission opportunities, especially those relating to women, children, & youth; encouraged to grow in faith & spirituality; asked to expand your knowledge on social & geographical concerns; invited to join in fellowship with other women; and maybe become better able to discern God’s particular call for you. The last may happen in any number of ways like a conversation with a friend or a book from the reading program. Usually a local unit also has at least one pet mission project the ladies support financially and maybe with their time and talents.

The district level of UMW in the East Ohio Conference (EOC) consists of two meetings each year. The spring meeting is normally devoted to recognizing those who reached different goals, remembering those special ladies who physically left us in the past year, special music, and a study/message related to a social concern, spiritual growth, or a geographical area. The fall meeting has a special message time, and also includes the district business.  Retiring officers are recognized and honored; new officers are elected/installed; budgets are passed, etc. Another role for the district is to work with the local units for training, nurturing, and just plain being available.

There are two main functions of UMW at the conference level in East Ohio. The first is Mission u, formerly called the Schools of Christian Mission. Each July, there is a Bible study, plus geographical and social concern studies. The Bible study changes annually but the study groups are on a two-year cycle with one changing the first year and the other changing the next year. Our second event Annual Celebration is held at the end of October. Friday evening is a relaxed atmosphere with a speaker and some entertainment. Saturday contains a worship service, different speakers, and the conference business.

The United Methodist Women Purpose is not just a guideline, but can also be a way of life. We not only strive to live up to these ideals but also to enjoy the fruits of doing so. Try it, you’ll like it!