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 >Adults>United Methodist Women
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.
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United Methodist Women Circles
Sarah Circle
Sarah Circle meets the second Tuesday of each month at 12:00pm. During the months of September through May, Sarah Circle meets in a member's home for lunch, fellowship and study. During the summer months Sarah Circle go out for lunch. The study material is always oriented with emphasis on growing in our Christian faith. The two main projects of Sarah Circle are providing underwear for children in need and supplying the church office with "lunch bags" for those who are hungry. Sarah Circle is open to all ages. For more information contact Drudy Jarrell at 972-661-9941.
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Love Circle
Love Circle meets the second night of the month at 7:00pm September through May. Love Circle doe not meet in the summer months. Meetings are held in a member's home where a light meal is served. This is followed by a program which has been selected from a variety of organizations and topics with the main emphasis being on missions. Love Circle projects include stocking stuffers and Easter baskets for children of Family Outreach. For more information, please contact the church office at 972-231-1005 or via email.
Both circles are involved with a variety of services at the church which include receptions for weddings, anniversaries, funerals, etc., bake sales, pumpkin sales, and the annual rummage sale. Sarah Circle and Love Circle would like to extend an invitation to women of all ages at AUMC to attend UMW.
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Prayer Blankets
In the Summer of 2008, Rev. Jack introduced our congregation to the idea of prayer quilts with the beautiful quilt made by Nancy Netherland. As you may remember, we were invited to tie a knot in the strings on the quilt and say a prayer for the Rwandan orphans. Jack then took the quilt with him when he went to Rwanda and presented it to the children as a symbol of our love and care for them.
Last winter, UMW learned about the concept of prayer blankets from a friend at FUMC Richardson. This is not a new idea, as it has been used by churches and other organizations for some time. It is a new idea to AUMW, and we are very excited to present this project to our congregation. The process goes like this:
1. The person requesting the blanket would fill out the Prayer Blanket Request Form.
2. A blanket would be made specifically for that person, with the recipient’s name on it and the United Methodist cross embroidered on it.
3. The blanket would be placed in the sanctuary on Sunday mornings for prayers. Congregation members, friends and family and the person who receives the blanket will be invited to tie knots in the fringe while praying.
This ministry will make prayers tangible for those suffering with serious illness or infirmity. The blanket will serve as a symbol of faith in God and in God’s power to comfort, strengthen, and heal.
Prayer Blanket request forms are available at the church office, the UMW bulletin board and at the visitors’ center by the north entrance. Before requesting a blanket for someone, please ask if the person who will receive the blanket wishes to accept our gift of prayer. Ask what they would like us to pray for, and ask what information about the situation may be shared with others.
At this time, we are limiting prayer blanket requests only to members or long-time visitors of AUMC.
For further information, please call Marty Russell at 972-231-1396, Drudy Jarrell at 972-661-9941, or Jane Miller at 972-964-4027.
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Wrapped in God’s Love
On Sunday, November 16, Kyle Witt received his prayer quilt, part of a new ministry undertaken by the United Methodist Women. Kyle’s quilt is a soft, red fleece blanket patterned with pictures of dogs. Several knots are tied in the blanket fringe. They symbolize the congregation’s prayers for his health and recovery. Each night, Kyle cuddles the blanket in his arms as he drifts off to sleep, and I am comforted, knowing that those prayers surround him. Thank you to the UMW for this new ministry.
Here is a segment of our conversation the day Kyle received his blanket.
Following the service on Sunday, Kyle and I left the sanctuary and walked to our car. Kyle climbed in the front seat, holding his blanket. As we drove out of the parking lot, Kyle gave the blanket a hug and said, “God Loves Me.” I replied, “Yes Kyle, God does love you, and so do several other people at church.” A few miles down the road, Kyle said again,” God loves me.” “Yes, Kyle”, I answered. In an attempt to explain the concept of a prayer blanket, so that Kyle would understand, I continued, “But your blanket was made by the ladies in the church. They put your blanket in the sanctuary and everyone who loves you said a prayer and tied a knot in the blanket. See all the knots?” Five minutes later, Kyle’s face broke in to a huge smile and he said,”God loves me.” I was about to say, “Yes, Kyle”, when finally, I was the one who understood.
To Kyle, the blanket is a tangible symbol of God’s love. You, the members of Arapaho, have been teaching Kyle about God’s love from the time he was three years old. God’s love is reflected daily through your prayers, helping hands, and concern. Kyle states the simple truth, “God loves me.” Kyle gets that. It just took me awhile to understand.
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