Morrow Memorial United Methodist Church
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
Morrow Memorial Church

UMW: United Methodist Women

United Methodist Women is a separate, visible group under the Women’s Division within the United Methodist Church with approximately one million members whose purpose is to foster spiritual growth, develop leaders, and advocate for justice. The organization is 140 years old in 2009.

Members raise nearly $25 million each year for programs and projects related to women, children, and youth in the United States and in more than 100 countries around the world. It is the only group of women within the church organized solely to be in mission, and its purpose provides clear focus for all the activities of its members.

Purpose

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

Fundraiser

Our main fundraiser is the Turnover Sale, held every July. We give the money we raise to projects within Morrow Church, global missions, and charity missions in our local community. Our main concentration is on missions concerning women and children. This event provides the funds for our budget for the following year.

Cooperative School of Christian Mission

This annual education opportunity is the ticket to effective mission ministry for local churches across the Greater New Jersey Conference. Each year there are Spiritual Growth, Geographic, and General Issues courses, as well as a Conference study. These help us to understand God’s work in the world, how United Methodists are involved, and what challenges individuals face in their personal lives and local congregations. The Cooperative School of Christian Mission is for all, not just the United Methodist Women. Bring men, children, and friends!

The 2009 schools will be held July 10-12 at Georgian Court University in Lakewood and July 24-26 at Centenary College in Hackettstown. The theme this year is "Together at the Table", and the courses will be:

  • Beauty and Courage of Sudan: Why a Dream of Peace is Possible
  • Giving Our Hearts Away – Native American Survival
  • Faith and Food
  • Conference Study: Sharing the Word in Today’s World

Both sites offer an abbreviated one-day event on Saturday for those who cannot commit a full weekend of time, as well as children’s programs for those who have completed grades K-3 and 4-6. At Lakewood there is a weekend youth school for those who have completed grades 7 through 12. For details, see the flyer posted on the UMW Bulletin Board near Fellowship Hall.

2008-2009 Activities

  • We had our third and fourth annual retreats in Ocean Grove March 29-30, 2008 and March 7-8, 2009, respectively, with an attendance of about 30 each time. The Retreat Fellowship met for a dinner at Sue Ellen Leys’ home on Friday, November 21, 2008.
  • We gave $800 scholarships to two of our graduating high school seniors: Jessica Kerley and Kyle Przekop. In addition, we gave a partial scholarship to Shona Roebuck to attend last summer’s program in Taize, France.
  • We held four luncheons in 2008. Our next luncheon will be on Wednesday, May 6.
  • Martha Circle meets on the third Thursday of each month from September through May. Co-leaders are Louise Noll and Betsey Knowles.
  • Morrow UMW participates in Church Women United. The South Mountain Council is an ecumenical group that meets three times a year.
  • The UMW Bulletin Board posts information on upcoming meetings and events.