2014 March Newsletter

A Note from our President:

Over the past few months several Provincial Women’s Board members and I have continued to visit Women’s Fellowships. Board member, Cathy Ebert and I eagerly participated in the general meeting at New Philadelphia. Family and friends joined me in my hometown of Mt. Airy at Grace Moravian for their annual smorgasbord supper meeting. The ladies at Fairview welcomed me at their combined holiday luncheon and meeting. Cackie Rollins, the PWB liaison with Christ Moravian, and I attended their worship service followed by their quarterly meeting during lunch. As I recall my previous gatherings with women’s groups across the Southern Province, I am amazed with their distinct qualities: differences in size, treasury, and organization. There are different ideas of ministry and mission which the PWB encourages and embraces. If we are to serve God in a variety of ministries and missions, we need these unique ideas and personalities. Yet, at every meeting I witnessed a common core, which unites all our Moravian sisters “to make Christ known throughout the world and to develop a personal responsibility for the whole task of the church.”

The PWB is offering an opportunity for all Moravian sisters from every congregation to gather at Laurel Ridge for a week-end of spiritual renewal during May 2-4, 2014. The Reverend Ginny Tobiassen will create time and space for God to refresh our spirit with “The Acts of Our Hands.” You may contact the PWB office at 336-722-4911 or pwbmcsp@gmail.com for a registration form.

Additionally, the PWB supports the 12th Moravian Women’s Conference at North East, Maryland in June 25-28, 2015. Transportation from Winston-Salem by charter bus is available. Arrange to join other women in our Moravian Unity who will “Walk in the Light” to see and understand the truth that brings the abundant life God wants for us. More information and a registration form can be given at 302-703-WALK(9255) or www.moravianwomensconference.org.

Finally, the Days of Prayer in the Southern Province are sponsored by the PWB. We invite you to attend the various worship services during this Lenten season. Lent can be a period of deep regeneration, spiritual revival and feelings of awe as we pause to reflect on our Lord’s final days. Please join me as together we reach forward to the incredible ending: the marvelous glory of Easter.

Lenten Blessings,

Tamra Thomas, PWB President

12th Moravian Women’s Conference, June 25-28, 2015

Early bird registration is now OPEN and you can save $65 just by registering before January 6, 2015!! For those of you in the Winston-Salem area wishing to travel together by bus, there is that option. See the website for information.

The 12th Moravian Women’s Conference will be held June 25-28, 2015 at Sandy Cove Conference Center in North East, Maryland. Sandy Cove, a 220 acre retreat and Christian conference center, is located just minutes from I-95 between Baltimore and Philadelphia on the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay. The website for Sandy Cove is http://www.sandycove,org/. This rural setting is a great place to relax your body, mind and spirit and to enjoy swimming, putt-putt golf, canoeing, paddle boats, zip line, or just sitting in a chair overlooking the bay.

At the 12th Moravian Women’s Conference, we will explore the theme “Walk in the Light”, “Come...let us walk in the light of the Lord…”-Isaiah 2:5. All Moravian women are invited to the beautiful and tranquil shores of the Chesapeake Bay to explore what it means to “Walk in the Light” in today’s world.

Accommodations at Sandy Cove will include triple or quad rooms with a private bath and 8 meals. There will be workshops, worship services, and wonderful keynote speakers Jennifer Sands and Rev. Dr. Craig Atwood. Early bird registration for the conference will continue thru January 6, 2015 at a fee of $485 per person. Beginning January 7, 2015 the regular registration fee will be $550 per person. Registration fees are non-refundable but can be switched to another woman.

For more information visit our website at www.moravianwomensconference.org.

Start planning now for going to conference. For additional information you can contact me at 336-945-3641 or janicewilson@windstream.net.

Submitted by Janice Wilson

CHURCH WOMEN UNITED

          Church Women United is an international ecumenical Christian organization which is recognized and supported by the PWB.  It has three meetings a year.  Our next meeting is on Friday, March 7 at Mount Zion Baptist Church, located on the corner of File Street and Martin Luther King Drive in Winston-Salem.  The emphasis for this March meeting is Human Rights.

          This Human Rights Celebration will begin at 11:30 AM with a Bible Study which is followed by a Worship Service and then a light lunch.  Br. Tommy Cole will be the speaker at the worship service and Sunnyside Ministries will receive the Human Rights Award for the service it does in our community.

          On May 2, the CWU May Friendship Day will meet at New Philadelphia Moravian Church where the Offering of the Least Coin occurs.  All women are invited to participate.  For information, call Mallie Graham, 336.924.9409.

Cakes for Prison Ministry Schedule

NOTE:  All cakes must be store bought, NOT homemade.  We need cakes to feed 70 to 80 people each week.

Due to the large number of inmates attending these weekly meetings, please provide at least SIX store bought cakes each week.  Please notify Claudette Wood at the Chaplain’s office at 759-0063 to make certain that someone will be available to open the door at the Chapel when the cakes are delivered.

March 6                 New Philadelphia

March 13                New Philadelphia

March 20                Oak Grove

March 27                Oak Grove

April 3                             Union Cross

April 10                  Union Cross

April 17                  MAUNDY THURSDAY (No Delivery)

April 24                 Pine Chapel

May 1                     Pine Chapel

May 8                    Rural Hall

May 15                   Rural Hall

May 22                  St. Philips

May 29                  Advent

Please contact Frances Swing  if you cannot deliver the cakes.

Thank you for your assistance with this wonderful ministry.

New Hope-Newton

Women are busy and doing good work in Newton! We had over 500+ people come to our Candle Tea in December.  People in the community came and experienced our Moravian traditions, including a putz and a taste of sugarcake and Moravian coffee. They also enjoyed a bazaar full of handmade items made from our membership along with vendors who offered a variety of different things for Christmas giving.

From that success bazaar we were able to contribute to local agencies in our community. In January we donated $500 to each of the following: Hospice, Family Guidance Center for Battered Women, Women's Resource Center and Eastern Catawba Cooperative Christian Ministry. Proceeds of $1,072 from a Candle Tea Silent Auction were given to the Family Care Center. This year we will also support  MOPS (Mother's of Preschoolers) program that is currently meeting at New Hope. We will continue to support our youth with funds for special projects including camp scholarship and support our members by furnishing a meal following the death or illness in their family. Women Fellowship helped the church by donating money to clean the church steeple and helped purchase a new office copier in 2013.

Our women are a very dedicated and busy group, some of us are retired, some of us are still working and some of us are mothers with small children. Many of our women also participate in making chicken pies that are sold during the year.  Many are involved in a circle which meets monthly and a variety of church committees, not to mention adult choir and hand bell choir! Women of New Hope love the church and are committed to sharing the good news of God's love within our community.

Christ:

Christ Moravian will celebrate their Day of Prayer Sunday, March 9^th at 4 PM with a Lovefeast. Bishop Sam Gray will be our will be the speaker. Please join us for this worship service in our newly renovated sanctuary. Submitted by Jo Brown, Pres. CMC WF

CLEMMONS:

The Women’s Fellowship of CMC is off to a Great Start for 2014.  In January, the WF Executive Board met to plan, to organize, and to schedule our many activities and Projects for the year.  Circle Leaders have passed on to members our exciting plans at their January & February Circle Meetings.  On March 9^th, we will have our first General Meeting of the year for members and will update everyone with additional information.  This month we are in the planning stage to work in unison with our Men’s Fellowship for a Port-A-Pit BAR-B-Q dinner in the Fall.  On March 28^th, we will be “Hosting A Birthday Party” for Residents of Salemtowne.    Also, in March we will also have a clothing drive for Sunnyside Ministry.     April brings out our best cooks and volunteers to make our delicious chicken pies.  On May 3^rd, the WF will have a Yard Sale with lots of Bargains!!  In June we start our “Empty Locker/School Supplies Collection…..and all of the above is for the first half of the year!!  It is because of our wonderful and dedicated Ladies and Volunteers that we are able to do all of this.  Bless them all!!!

Submitted By:  Gerri Mulcahy, President WF CMC

Hope Moravian

Due to frequent illnesses, the Day Circle of Hope’s Women’s Fellowship has ceased meeting.  We are sad to see this happen, but gratefully acknowledge the contributions that all the ladies of the Day Circle have made towards the Women’s Fellowship for many years.  They have been mentors to those of us who continue to be active and we consider them as true Sisters-in-Christ. 

The Women’s Fellowship held an organizational meeting on Jan 26 for the purpose of electing new officers and generating interest of women who are currently inactive.  The Night Circle will continue to meet on the 3^rd Tuesday of each month with the goal of having new members join us and possibly begin a new circle.  Please pray for our efforts.

We are currently making large and small chicken pies every Monday.  Our Spring Bake Sale will be on April 5^th from 9 until 11 in our Fellowship Hall.  We are planning to serve our annual Prayer Breakfast for the congregation at 9:00 AM on Palm Sunday. 

Fairview:

We will sponsor a Soup & Salad Bar Luncheon on Tuesday, May 6th from 11:00 a. m. until 1:30 p. m. in our fellowship hall.  The price for adults is $8.00 and $4.00, for children, ages 4 to12.  Tickets are available from the church office (768-5629) or from a member of the Women’s Fellowship.

In January each year the Women’s Fellowship and The Outreach and Special Events Committee plan a Birthday Party for the congregation.  The ladies prepare a complimentary meal and make a cake for each month of the year.  Members having the same birthday month sit together.  It is always well attended and it is our way of thanking the congregation for supporting the Women s Fellowship projects throughout the year.

Submitted by Connie Davis

Friedland

To date, 2014 has been a productive year at Friedland Moravian Church.
Circle 1 is taking a soup and salad supper to SECU House on February 25.  We look forward to serving our community and touching the hearts of those family members who need the comfort of a home cooked meal.  In February and March, Circle 1 and 2 are collecting items to give to the guests who come to the Overflow Shelters to spend the night. We are looking for many ways to help our local community.
Lent is fast approaching and much preparation is needed to get our grounds ready for our Easter Celebration.  We will have our church wide work day on March 29.  The Men's Fellowship will work the grounds, perform maintenance and spruce up the property.  The Women's Fellowship clean the interior of the church and perform the annual spring purge.  Our Women's Fellowship will provide a covered dish luncheon that day.
        In April, we will honor our oldest member of Women's Fellowship, Inez Crews.  She is celebrating her 100th birthday and we have the privilege of throwing her a party!
        Our Women's Fellowship is planning another retreat "Chocolate Cafe" to Black Mountain, NC May 30 - June 1 with an estimated 30 women to attendance. We will experience great fellowship, hear the testimonies of many sisters and grow in our relationship with Christ. If you are interested in learning more about attending this faith weekend with us, please contact Jennifer by email at jennifer.z.smitherman@gmail.com Space is limited and requests are honored while available.  The cost to attend this trip is $135.  This price includes lodging, and most meals.  More information is available upon request.
        As an ongoing fundraiser, the Women's Fellowship is selling chicken pies for $12.  If you are in need of pies, please call the church office at 336.788.2652.
 May God continue to bless us all.
 Respectfully submitted,

Jennifer Z. Smitherman, Friedland's Women's Fellowship President

Macedonia Moravian

The ladies of Macedonia Moravian Church welcomed Alice Sineath as our new president at our January general meeting. We look forward to a busy year under her leadership.

The first week in March our ladies will make beeswax candles to use in our Christmas Eve Lovefeast and Candle Service.  We make these candles in the home of church members, Kathy and Wilson Sparks, and enjoy a time of fellowship as we work.

The day before Easter our ladies place flowers on the graves in our God’s Acre to beautify the graveyard in preparation for the Easter Service.

On April 25 and 26 we will be making chicken pies.  We take advance orders for these pies. The fresh unbaked pies can be picked up on Saturday, April 26 at the church (700 NC Hwy. 801 N in Advance, NC).  To place an order for chicken pies please call the church office at 998-4394. The pies sell for $11.00 each.

Prayer List for the Unity Women’s Desk (partial)

March 2014

As we enter the Lenten Season, may we be drawn ever closer to our Lord as we pray each day for ourselves and the concerns of the world, always giving thanks for the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Please join your local Church Women United for a Day of Prayer on March 7. May women praying together around the world make a difference in the lives of all of our women.

Please remember that March 8^th is International Women’s Day with celebrations around the world.  If there is one in your area, please plan to participate.  Pray for women throughout the world on this day that justice may be found for women of all nations.

Pray for the work of the Moravian Church in Cuba.  Bishop Sam Gray and Br. Joe Jarvis will be visiting there in early March.

Pray for the Lansdowne Moravian Congregation in South Africa as they celebrate the 100^th Anniversary of their church. May they continue to bring glory to our Lord and Savior.

Pray that Sr. Rachel Lwali, our Sub-Desk Coordinator in Northern Tanzania, will be able to join other MCWT leaders who are planning to go to Burundi in early March.  Such a trip would allow Sr. Lwali to visit with our Burundi sisters there.

Pray for the Moravian Women of Nicaragua (UMMON) on March 26-30 as they meet in Puerto Cabezas, where they will hold a national board meeting to elect leaders for the next 3-year period.

Pray for the Moravian Church in Suriname as they face uncertain times.  They are dealing with many issues that call for wise discernment.  Give thanks that their women are becoming more active as they prepare for the Women’s Consultation in February 2016 in Paramaribo under the leadership of Sr. Cornelly Pinas.

Pray for the Women’s Conference being planned by Moravian Church in Western Tanzania, which will take place in Mgandu in Western Province on July 23-27, 2014.

Unity Women’s Desk- Phone:  336-725-6413 or

336-416-2337          Unitywomen2011@gmail.com 

 The Moravian Church in America,

 Southern Province

2014 Days of Prayer

Wednesday, March 5—Home Moravian Church

The Reverend Dr. Gail R. O’Day, Speaker

Dean of the Wake Forest School of Divinity

10:00 AM Coffee Hour

10:45 AM Music

11:00 Worship

Nursery Provided

Sunday, March 9—Christ Moravian Church

Bishop Sam Gray, Speaker

4:00 PM Lovefeast

Nursery Provided

Wednesday, March 12—Trinity Moravian Attorney David Daggett, Speaker

11:00 AM Worship

12:00 Noon Complimentary Luncheon

Wednesday, March 19—Ardmore Moravian Church

The Reverend Cheryl Cottingham, Speaker

9:45 AM Coffee Hour

10:45 AM Meditation/Music

11:00 Worship

Wednesday, March 26—Calvary Moravian Church

The Reverend Ramona Prestwood, Speaker

10:45 AM Meditation/Music

11:00 AM Worship/Lovefeast

Nursery Provided

Wednesday, April 2—Fairview Moravian Church

The Reverend Scott Venable, Speaker

10:45 AM Music

11:00 AM Worship with Communion

Wednesday, April 9—Konnoak Hills Moravian Church

Karl Sjolund, Speaker

Head of Salem Academy

11:00 AM Lovefeast

Sunday, April 13 Palm Sunday

Friday, April 18 Good Friday

Sunday, April 20 Easter Sunday

Published by the Provincial Women’s Board, Southern Province

To all Moravian Churches and Fellowships: Please contact the PWB office if you have not submitted the name of your WF President or the contact person for 2014. We the (PWB) are directed by the Provincial Elders Conference to assist you in the spiritual growth of the women of your church. So no matter how big or small, active or not active we want to hear from each congregation! 336-722-4911 or pwbmcsp@gmail.com Next Newsletter: May- 26 Newsletter Submission Deadline June- 6 Publish Newsletter