2018 MISSION STUDIES SAMPLER

 On Saturday woman from 11 different churches gathered at Community of Faith UMC in Davenport for the East Central District UMW Mission Studies Sampler. Clermont UMW had 16 women in attendance. We were welcomed by DianeAbresky, Community of Faith UMW president. They have an active UMW for they had 21 women in attendance.

 Pam Anders talked on social action.

 Wendy's need to join their major competitors in working with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers to join the Fair Food Program in order to guarantee farm workers' human rights in its supply chain.

 You can sign a postcard and support this campaign to inform Wendy's that you are a person of faith who believes in the Biblical call to treat workers fairly, and for them to sign onto the Fair Food Program.

 Joyce Bright, a member at Conway UMC and taught at Mission U this summer, did the study presentation on "What About Our Money?" It has us look at how we relate to money within the context of our faith. The book high lighted on the screen is Born on Third Base by Chuck Collins. It is on our reading list for this year. Chuck was the great grandson of meat packer Oscar Mayer and at the age of 26 he gave away his inheritance. Sounds like an interesting read.

 This study is for all ages, adult, youth and children. Look in the May issue of Response magazine for articles about money.

Diane Wells presented the study on "Health and Wholeness".

 This is a global issue. We need to be in community with each other, plants, and animals.

 Her presentation was interactive with planting leaves, and two skits.

There was a lot of literature available to pick up and buy. Pat was getting quite a selection of books for our library and pamphlets to share with the circles. We should keep reading and studying on all these topics.

PEOPLE OF FAITH

United Methodist Women of FUMC  hosted our annual event "People of Faith" on September 26,2018. The title of the program was "Child of God". Our guest speaker was Rev. Bill Delia, a member of FUMC. He gave a very informative program on the challenges our children face today in this changing world. The table talks gave everyone opportunity to interact and discuss the issues.

Rev. Delia included some wonderful guitar playing and singing of songs he composed pertaining to a child being a child of God.

There were 63 people in attendance with 6 area churches represented.

Les Prestegard and Sherrill McAlister gave the Bible verse readings.

Gabrielle Hasting from Clermont Head Start gave an explanation of their services  They were the recipient of the Love offering.

The Daughters of Lydia hosted the program. Many brought food to share so the meeting ended with a very nice luncheon.

GATHERING OF FINE FRIENDS

 Thanks to Pam Anders for promoting this event when it was announced that Patsy Clairmont, Anita Renfros, and Jan Silvous were coming for their Full Circle Tour at Real Life Church. 

 55 women from FUMC attended the show on Friday, September 7th.

 Pam arranged for us to all sit together and had large signs held up so we could find where we were sitting in the auditorium.

 Our seats were reserved with papers saying First United.They were great seats, as close as we could have been to the stage.

 The evening started out with singing secular and religious songs that were popular through the last six decades. It was fun seeing pictures of them and their families in each of the decades.

 Patsy Clairmont is a Christian motivational speaker. She was very funny and had a great message.

 Anita Renfroe did a great parody on songs from the movie The Greatest Showman, or as she called it The Greatest Woman.

The night ended with her teaching us to sing this song. Great words to recite each day.

CIRCLE MEETING

The Lunch Bunch Circle met the second Wednesday of September. Evelyn Rose presented a program on United Methodist Women, explaining the purpose and vision, who belongs, why we should join and what we do.  UMW is faith, hope and love in action. We were glad to welcome three women who were interested in joining and also welcome back some members who haven't been able to attend for a while.  Today members brought packages of cookies for Debra Woodard to use for Kairos, a ministry taking the word of God to women and men in prison.

LOCAL MISSION GIVING

 Carol Lane, Andrea Beaver, and Margaret Lay have been working making beautiful holiday wreaths and flower arrangements for the Holiday Bazaar. The bazaar is one of the biggest ways Clermont UMW raises money so we can help support local agencies and missions.

On September 4,2018 Evelyn Rose and Jean Gibson presented a check to Linda Krupski, the founder of LovExtension. This organization assists elderly and disabled clients in South Lake county with food, social visits, and many other needs. The clients are sometimes home-bound and dependent on someone coming by with food to help stretch a fixed income or valuable information about social services that may be available. UMW of Clermont believe in and are very supportive of the mission of this organization.

OPPORTUNITY DRAWING QUILT

Since May Jan Becherer and Patti Hackenberg have been working on the Opportunity Drawing Quilt for the Holiday bazaar. Last week Rosemary Yoder  sewed on the binding.

 It is finished and tickets are ready to be sold.  One for $1 or six for $5. It is 78 x 90 so it fits the top of a queen or king bed and hangs over the side on a double.

 The pattern is called Sunny Lanes. It is also called a nickle quilt for it is all made from 5 inch square pieces of fabric.

The backing is a pretty green tone fabric.  the quilt will be on display at your September Circle meetings and tickets will be available.

SPECIAL MISSION RECOGNITION RECIPIENTS 2018

On Sunday, June 3rd, four women were presented a Special Mission Recognition Pin for exhibiting special service in the community and exemplify the United Methodist Women's purpose within the Unit and faith community. The pin represented a monetary gift given to United Methodist Women National Division. The money is used to support international missions of the United Methodist Women Organization. Celeste Hicks, President of the United Methodist Women at FUMC presented the pin to them during the 11 o'clock service. It was a great surprise the women, for they did not know they were receiving this recognition.

 Rosemary Yoder is a devoted member of FUMC Clermont, the United Methodist Women's Unit and Daughter of Lydia Circle. She has supported UMW mission projects with beautiful handmade sewing items and cooking wonderful luncheon items for workers at the fall bazaar, and helped contribute and fill Opportunity Baskets for the Spring luncheon fund raiser. She has been the recording secretary for her Circle and is always ready to be involved with projects. She has attended numerous mission studies and retreats and this February walked 2 miles for Havenfest at Venetian Gardens in Leesburg to support The Haven and raise money for domestic abuse victims. She is not afraid to become involved in Social Action projects. One quiet way she put her love into action in the community was by working with a few neighbor ladies to make "memory boxes" for newborns who did not survive at South Lake Hospital. Rosemary handmade a beautiful gown for each baby. In summary, Rosemary's gifts of kindness and beautiful creativity, along with her servant's heart epitomize faith, hope, and love in action.

 Audrey Morgan is a special woman who lives out the purpose of United Methodist Women even without being an official member. Audrey is an active member of FUMC Clermont and in the community. She has been a member of the church choir for many years and also the King Ridge Singers. She is on the Altar Guild for the church and spends many hours changing the altar cloths, banners, symbols and decorations in the sanctuary. These are behind the scenes things that happen before worship services to create meaningful experiences.  She is also involved in the Clermont community. She has been president of the local Kiwanis for 2 years, a board member of the Boys and Girls Club, a worker at the polls during elections, a member of Friends of the Library and the Chairperson of the Veterans History Committee of Friends of the Library. At the last Florida Lakes Symphony Concert, Audrey was honored with a bouquet of flowers for selling so many tickets for the concerts. Whenever Kings Ridge Community has patriotic events, Audrey is always involved in the planning and helping to assure the event runs smoothly. Audrey Morgan is a dedicated Christian living those principles in the church and throughout the community,

 Noelene McCall is an active member of FUMC and of United Methodist Women. She attends the Friends and Fellowship Bible Study on Sunday mornings in the Upper room.  Noelene participates regularly with We Care Ministry being a member of the Prayer Shawl Ministry and knitting beautiful shawls and baby blankets. She is now part of the team sewing red fleece stockings for the Christmas Project for babies born in December at South Lake Hospital and knitting some of the white stocking hats with red pompoms on top. Noelene is a member of the Lunch Bunch Circle and also Mission Coordinator of Social Action for the Unit. Noelene regularly reads from the UMW Prayer Calendar at Circle and Unit meetings to educate attendees of the global mission involvement and spiritual emphasis of United Methodist Women. Noelene has attended many District and Conference educational events and is always ready and willing to share what she has learned. She has helped plan and participate in several UMW Mission Studies at this church and organized members to participate in local and national projects to raise awareness of social issues. For several years she has been involved with the programs in the Clermont community for People of Faith an interdenominational organization that meets 3 times a year.  Noelene lives out the purpose of United Methodist Women.

Congratulations were extended to these three women after the service. Thank you for sharing your lives with our Church, our community and with us.

Mini Sanderlin was the fourth recipient but because this was a surprise she was not in attendance at the 11 o'clock service to receive her pin. Mini Sanderlin has been active at First United Methodist Church for many years. Every summer she has been involved with Vacation Bible school and frequently with Jerusalem Marketplace assisting in Ministries to Children.  She has organized numerous receptions for bereaved families after funeral or memorial services, bringing a sense of calm and comfort to those affected with loss. She has been  more active in United Methodist Women since leaving her beloved profession as a clinical nurse and educator. Mimi has been involved as the leader and co-leader of Daughters of Lydia Circle which meets in the evening once a month. She has helped organize many luncheons for the UMW Unit for quarterly meetings, assisted with many tasks for the Unit Mission Studies and Mission Fund Raiser at this church. Mimi has served this Unit on the nominating committee, participated on the Special Mission Recognition Pin Selection Committee, been  the Charity Liaison for the Spring Luncheon Mission Fund Raiser and for 2 years was the Secretary for the Unit. Mimi is involved with personal spiritual development having participated in numerous Bible studies; the Disciple Program and attending United Methodist Women's Spiritual Retreats and Mission U summer Education Program. Mimi's community involvement revolves around her family and 4 grandchildren which live in Clermont and her numerous friends. She has been very faithful to a friend and former workmate currently residing in Fruitland Park. When she needed a driver to take her to doctor's appointments and treatment, Mimi made herself available to drive to Orlando on a regular basis. Mimi knows how to have fun and also have a Servant's heart.

Mimi was presented her pin when she came to pick up her granddaughters at Vacation Bible School