♦ In 1869, 6 women gathered to hear about the plight of women in India.

♦ Because of the culture, women could not be treated by a male doctor or educated by a male teacher.

♦ They raised enough money to send a missionary and an educator to India to treat and teach women.

♦ Today we raise money to support missions locally, state wide, nationally and globally for women, children and youth.

♦ We seek to inform about social injustice, and through our faith promote hope by putting our love into action.

 

 

          The purpose of the United Methodist Women (UMW) is to know God, to experience fellowship, and expand the concept of missions through participation in the local and global ministries of the church.

 

          All women of the church are invited and encouraged to join one of our Circles. We currently have two Circles that meet on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, September through June. The Gwaltney-Jacquette Circle meets at 11:00 am, and the Susannah Wesley Circle, meets at 7:00 pm. Both meetings are held at the church. Our focus is on women, children and youth. Participating in UMW is a wonderful opportunity to meet new people, make new friends, and enjoy fun and fellowship as we seek to serve others.

 

          Through our UMW’s ministry focus on women, children, and youth the UMW conducts fund raising projects during the year to contribute to local missions and other areas of need. Each November one of our big projects is selling homemade Heavenly Angel biscuits. The Susannah Wesley members get together in the church kitchen to make the biscuits from scratch, stuff them with country ham (or unstuffed, if you wish!), package them, and have them ready for pickup all in one weekend! Typically, we make between 2,000 – 2,500 biscuits each year! It’s a big effort, but the rewards are many!

 

          UMW also has an annual fall Brunswick Stew fundraiser at the Smithfield Farmer’s Market. This is another major project, one that is eagerly awaited by the whole community. The stew is homemade and sold by the quart. Our fundraising efforts allow us to donate to many worthy causes, including, but not limited to, Relay for Life, Operation Smile, Western Tidewater Free Clinic, Wesley Community Center, Christian Outreach Program (COP), the Genieve Shelter, EDMARC, and our own Trinity Youth missions.

 

 

          Our UMW members make prayer shawls, donate and assemble health kits and layette kits annually for UMCOR, volunteer at Christian Outreach, tutor and/or read to children in our local schools, teach adult and children’s Sunday School classes. Several UMW members teach Sunday School at the local assisted living home, Smithfield Manor.

 

          Our members are involved – come and join us and have your life enriched with mission work! Check out the UMW bulletin board which is right across from the church office – there are names and phone numbers of our Circle leaders displayed as well as other information. And, you can call the office, 357-3659, if you need more information and/or you need a ride. We’ll come and get you!