The Sunshine Circle will meet Sunday, January 8, 5:00 pm at the home of Cindy Roe, 404 Shadowood Dr., Smyrna. Group A will have refreshments. Nita Wright will be doing our pledge program.

There will be a UMW Executive Team meeting Monday, January 16, 6:30 pm, at the home of Nita Wright, 203 Brookhaven Trail. Please bring a covered dish to share.

The Sunshine Circle will sponsor a chili supper Sunday, January 29, 5:30 pm. The cost is $5.00 per person or $20 per family. A nursery will be provided.

Interested in picking or grinning? We will be doing that in the fellowship hall on January 29 following the chili supper. This will be an informal gathering of those who would like to play a little music. Please let Julie McDonald know if you are interested.

Cornerstone Circle will meet Thursday, January 5, 6:30 pm at the church. Lost and Found Ministry needs for January are feminine hygiene products and toilet paper. The Love Offering for Bethlehem Center is to be collected every month.

Saturday, January 28, 9:30 am is Leadership Training for local officers at Murfreesboro First.

The Hospitality Team is starting a Shepherd ministry. Being a shepherd would involve having 4-5 Church families to check in with during each month to remind them of Church events and to see how they are doing.

If you would be willing to help with this important ministry-caring for each other-please fill out the form and submit it.

For more information, call Nita Wright at 459-9279 or email her at nita_wright@bellsouth.net.

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

The official emblem for United Methodist Women, the cross and flame, symbolizes our organization.  The cross and flame are ancient symbols of the church and appear on The United Methodist Church emblem.  Both symbols remind us of the opportunities and obligations of discipleship.

Paul’s words to Timothy have fresh and contemporary meaning: “I now remind you to stir into flame the gift of God which is within you.”  (II Timothy 1:6).  As United Methodist Women, we share our gift with others through mission.

As parts of our emblem, the cross and flame remind us of our PURPOSE of growing in our understanding of and willingness to participate in the global ministries of the church.  They remind us of our heritage of women who pioneered in service for the church at home and in other countries.

The overall shape of the emblem is also symbolic.  Fluid and free flowing, the shape suggests change and mobility.  The women who came before us were at the forefront of movements for change.  Always aware of the times, we move with ever-changing circumstances rather than feeling overwhelmed by them.

As we have moved into another century, we remember that we are a group of Christian women with many gifts who are unified by one Spirit.  We will participate in God’s mission in all areas of life.

UMW is invinting all women of the church to attend a UMW meeting.  Come and get to know the other ladies of the church and make lasting friendships.  We currently have two circles, Sunshine Circle and Cornerstone Circle.  Sunshine Circle meets the second Sunday of the month and Cornerstone Circle meets the first Thursday of the month.  We are sisters in Christ and are involved in Missions.