United
Methodist Women
The N.H. District of United Methodist Women held their spring meeting on May 3rd in North Charlestown, NH. Our In-Gathering of Mission Resources was for each Church to bring in 7” X 9” either knitted or crocheted squares to make into blankets. As we left our meeting each church received 49 of the squares and we were to join them together in a blanket form and donate them to a charity or organization in our area. Marge Mertz was gracious enough to crochet themtogether for us.
When Teen Challenge visited our Sunday morning service on May 18th, we were very inspired by their testimonies and their message in song. You could see the love for the Lord on their faces. When our local unit of United Methodist Women met the following week, we discussed where we would like to donate the blanket that was sewn together. It was unanimous that we donate it to the women's unit of Teen Challenge in Providence, RI. It was our hope this blanket would be used to comfort the women in their group. There were many church women that put their spirit and prayers into those squares and we prayed that the blanket would help some women in their time of struggle.
A week later, I received a phone call from the Teen Challenge unit in Providence. The young women I spoke with could not express enough thanks and appreciation for the loving gesture. She reiterated that the blanket would be used to comfort many women during their time of recovery. She expressed the desireto bring a group of young women to our church to speak and witness how God is working in their lives.
Annual Rummage Sale
Thanks to Lynn and Paul Worth, we will be having our Annual Rummage Sale again this year. Lynn stepped forward at our last meeting with her concern of the impact it would make if we did not have a rummage sale. There would not only be the loss of revenue towards our Pledge to Missions, but also, how much the community depended on it. Thanks Lynn for making us aware of our commitment to our own community as a priority. We have asked the Youth Group to help us and we will be splitting the proceeds with them. The sale will be on Friday and Saturday, August 22nd and 23rd from 9 to 2.
Another fund raiser I would like for people to think about is our "Silent Art Auction and Tea" on Saturday September 6th from 1 to 3 p.m. We are looking for all kinds of art that you would be willing to donate to our auction; such as paintings, [oil, watercolor, pastels], quilt wall hangings, basketwork, woodcarvings, needlework, etc. We would like these to be of high quality because it is an Art Auction and not a craft fair. Our UMW ladies will be serving tea and cookies as you brows at the Auction. We would like to have a nice assortment of things to auction and hope you will be generous with you quality donations.
Judy Ironfield 569-3020
The Prayer Shawl Ministry
.......be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous knowing that you were called to this,
that you may inherit a blessing. I Peter 3:8-9
The ladies of the "Moultonboro United Methodist Church Prayer Shawl Ministry" are of one mind, tenderhearted and courteous, expressing compassion and love for one another. We know that we are called to this ministry; we are blessed, ‘PRAISE GOD.’
I came across this scripture Sunday morning when Pastor Murray was reading the Gospel lesson, it just seemed to jump out at me as I was thumbing through the Bible and I thought "this is our Shawl Ministry".
I cannot even begin to tell you the emotions that go through the room in an hour and a half. There was Betty, who we had not seen for several months because she was too ill to come. But feeling better, she had someone stay with her the night before our meeting so they would be there to help her get ready to come that morning. She wanted to bring the shawl she made and had sewn small roses in the corner which made it so special. Sue brought a shawl she had made from yarn that she found at her sister’s home after she had passed away. Gerry brought several Chemo Caps she had made and every one a little different. Bev was making a shawl for a breast cancer patient that had the symbol of the pink ribbon we often see for breast cancer subtly knitted in the fabric. Bunny had gotten up early that morning and made cookies for us to share with our tea. Peg was knitting a shawl of different colors she found among our many skeins of yarn that has been donated to us.
Each one of the ladies brings something to the group, whether it is words of encouragement, help with a knitting project someone can't quite figure out, or just being present. No matter what it is, we are of one mind; compassionate, courteous and tenderhearted, and we all receive blessings from each other and from God.
What a blessing God has given us, to be able to gather in one mind to serve the Lord, the sick and the lonely.
In His service, Judy Ironfield
