Newsletter, March 1, 2016

Dear Sisters of the Southern Province,

Greetings to each of you during this Lenten season.  We have many opportunities to worship at the Days of Prayer which began on Ash Wednesday. We are grateful to each church and its Women’s Fellowship for hosting these meaningful events.

I am sure that you are all looking forward to spring and warmer and more pleasant days.  An important event planned for the weekend of April 29- May 1^st is the Spiritual Life Retreat at Laurel Ridge. A few rooms are left in Higgins Lodge. Contact Cindy Lamb at the Board Office (336-722-4911)  if you are interested.  It promises to be a lovely weekend with Bishop Blair Couch of the Northern Province leading the Retreat.

We are hearing how much Fellowships are enjoying this year’s Bible Study, “Hanging In, Hanging Out” by Rev. Carol Foltz.

Your Board hosted a Sweetheart’s Tea at Salemtowne on February 12, 2016. The residents enjoyed it very much. We served party food, punch and hot tea and Norma Nifong of Konnoak Hills played the piano for the guests to enjoy.  Board member Becky Ward of New Philadelphia chaired the Valentine Tea and was assisted by committee members Susan Parker of Macedonia and Julia Horton of Friedland. All Board members contributed food and assistance at the Tea. Former Board President, Sylvia Cardwell of Konnoak Hills came to help also.

I want to give a huge thank you to our Board member, Frances Swing, of Calvary, who has so faithfully organized the cakes for the Prison Ministry for several years.

As always, I am so impressed by the wonderful work done by the women of our Province. Whether it is a bazaar, a dinner,  a Day of Prayer,  a meal for a bereaved family, or one of many other activities; the women are organizing and working to make it a success.

Blessings to all of you,

Janet Doub, President

“The  Gathering 2016,” sponsored by the Yadkin View RCC, for all SP Moravian Women is scheduled for April 9, 2016 at Clemmons Moravian.  The theme for this event is “The Cherokee/Moravian Connection.”  Two of our speakers will be the Rev. Dr. Daniel Crews, retired Moravian Archivist, and Dr. John Hutton, Assoc. Professor of Art at Salem College and author of the Sister Maus Book Series.  Celeste Handy, Duke Seminary student who previously worked with Native Americans in campus ministry at the University of New Mexico, is planning to share about current life and ministry among Native Americans. Complete details for registration and event schedule will be available by February 2016.”

Fairview will have its annual Soup

and Salad Bar Luncheon on Tuesday,

April 19 from 11 AM until 1:00 PM

in fellowship hall.  Price for adults is

$8.00 and $4.00 for children ages4 to 12:

In January the Women's Fellowship

provided the dinner for the annual

Congregational Birthday Party hosted

by the Outreach and Special Events

Committee.  This is one of the congregation's favorite events.

Our circle project for January and

and February was to contribute

baby items to the Pregnancy Center.

Unity Moravian Church Women's Fellowship is off to a great start in 2016.  New officers began their duties in January.  We are enjoying the Bible Study 

"Hanging In, Hanging Out" led by Bari Fort.  This Thursday will be out 5th lesson since we started this in the fall.  Joy Cole keeps us updated on mission news from around the world.  One project we are continuing from last year is the seminary in Alaska with special emphasis on the book store.  In the spring we look forward to our annual dinner meeting for all women with a catered meal and special program.  Our craft group is hard at work every Tuesday preparing Christmas crafts and we have managed to have one chicken pie work day.  

Submitted by Audrey Parsons, President

Macedonia Moravian Church Women’s Fellowship began their new year on January 11, 2016 with a general meeting of both circles and new officers presiding.  Our new officers are:  president, Leah Mills; vice president, Helen Myers; secretary, Sharon Boger;, and treasurer, Kathy Sparks.  During our meeting Carol Foltz, our special guest, introduced the Bible Study book she authored and taught the lesson.

In February we made beeswax candles to be used at our Christmas Eve Lovefeast and Candle Service.

On Tuesdays in January and February our church offered workshops for seniors. Tuesdays at 2:00 covered topics such as:  coping with loss; wills and power of attorney; settling estates; and how to keep your mobility as you age. These free workshops were offered to our church family and to anyone in the community. The workshops were successful and may be offered again later in the year.

ARDMORE MORAVIAN CHURCH-Our Day of Prayer was held on Wednesday, February 24^th.  Approximately 100 persons braved the threatening storm to enjoy fellowship during the coffee hour and to hear an inspiring message by Rev. Arkon Stewart.

On December 13, 2015 members of Women’s Fellowship participated in the Peter’s Brook RCC sponsored “Blessing of Scarves and Lovefeast” at Augsburg Lutheran Church.  Ardmore donated 25 hand-made scarves and many, many pairs of crew socks for the homeless men at the Augsburg Lutheran Shelter.

Seasonal activities included gifts (clothing, toys, food) to a single parent family with five children, poinsettias to home bound members, and sugar cake to college students.

A Women’s Fellowship also has the following new projects (assisting Friedland Moravian Church) to help others:

·         Saving empty medicine bottles for people in Malawi who now receive their medicine in paper or in just their hands.

·         Saving manufacturers’ coupons for our military families.

FROM THE OFFICE

Registration Deadline for the Spiritual Life Retreat is March 17, 2016

Be looking for the book order forms coming soon. The Bible Study for 2016-17 will be Dr Rev. Daniel Crews' "This  We Most Certainly Believe".

Next Serving and Sharing Newsletter will be published May 26, 2016. Submission date will be May 16.

Original colored artwork by Cindy Lamb 

Residents of Salemtowne and PWB members enjoying the Sweetheart Tea on February 12, 2016