The Serving and
Sharing Newsletter
Provincial
Women’s Board, Southern Province of the Moravian Church of America
June 2022
From Our Clergy Representative:
Greetings Dear Friends,
Where has the time gone? It seems like only yesterday, that I was asked to
serve with the Women of the Provincial Women’s Board (PWB), and yet it’s been
four years. I know for me serving and I
hope for those serving with me these pasts years it has been a wonderful
blessing and experience. Yes, despite
our dealing (like all folks with COVID-19 these past years). We made it work
because our ministry as a Board never slowed down. Yes, the ministries we have
done through the PWB may have had to be tweaked in some ways, but we as a
Christian team made it happen.
I would personally like to thank all the ladies who have served with me
for all their love and support and their hard work… You are an awesome Board…
You are all team players for Christ’s glory.
God has been pleased as we gathered to meet, worship, and plan our
outreach-ministries of serving God and others, so that we would bring praise to
God’s Beloved Son: Our Lord and Savior Jesus.
You can be confident that all our outreach-ministries as a Board set high standards
for us as a Board and as Christian women. Let those of us who will be leaving
the Board (for now) support and encourage those who (will continue) and those
who (will be new) on the Board. Let us pledge to pray for and work with the PWB
as these Women continue to serve God and others with Christ-like love.
I would name the gifts and talents of the Board members individually and
the ministries they each contributed too, but we all know that would be
impossible. There are far too many hats that need to be worn when serving God
and others on the PWB. For those who are leaving the Board this year (Susan
Parker, Julia Horton, Becky Ward, Ann Radford, Dorothy Pettus and Rev. Betty
Helms); I say THANK YOU. To those who
will be newly serving on the BOARD (Heather Allen, Rev. Eulencine Christopher,
Mary Ellen Kollman, Jane Shore, Mary Winters and Rev. Kelly Moore); I say
WELCOME! To those who are serving
another term (Martha Johnson, Paula White, Linda Worley and Judy Albert); I say
BLESS you. Please know you are in for a good and godly experience.
I also want to thank all of you for your faithfulness in praying for me
during my recent cancer surgery and my on-going recovery. I’m not there yet,
but I know “God’s Got This.” I also know
our God is BIGGER than our circumstances and He will always make a way for us
through all our trials to glorify Him.
The PWB is blessed to have so many devoted and talented Women willing to
give of themselves in service to God, and others. Those serving know the
importance of the ministries of their PWB responsibilities. It is obvious the
Spirit has impressed this upon the Women of the PWB! It’s a God thing!
I thank God for your faithfulness, your prayers and your encouragement, it
has been a joy for me to work with all of my “Sister’s in Christ!” I look forward to seeing and hearing of all
the outreach-ministries of the PWB in the coming years.
May God richly bless ALL the Women of the PWB as you continue to be led by
the Spirit of the Lord in all you say and do!
In Christ Love & Service,
The Rev. Betty A. Helms (outgoing-PWB-Clergy Representative)
New Hope Moravian Church
Fall Celebration
will be held Saturday, Oct. 22 at New Philadelphia in Winston-Salem NC. We will
be reviewing the new Bible Study book Rolling
with the Rock by Rev. Jason Anderson and the mission Study book, Body Building by Julie Tomberlin,
Unity Women’s Desk Coordinator. More information will be forth coming.
14th Moravian Women’s Conference
Save the Date
There are lots of variations
of the adage, “Good things come to those who wait.” Trust me.
I looked up many of them! The
same is especially true in the case of the Moravian Women’s Conference. Since the postponement of the 2023 gathering,
we believe there is a longing to fellowship and worship with sisters from all
over the world. So, we pray you are
looking forward with anticipation to June 2025.
We know we are.
The 14th Moravian Women’s Conference Planning
Committee
The Provincial Women’s Board invites you
to the:
Spiritual Life Retreat
Facilitated by Sister Traci Fisher
Friday, September 16 to Sunday September 18
At
Laurel Ridge Camp and Conference Center
Laurel Springs, NC
Registration Form is attached to
the newsletter’s email.
Call 336.722.4911 or PWBMCSP@gmail.com
ARDMORE - Women’s
Fellowship at Ardmore Moravian Church continues to emphasize Bible study, fellowship
and the following projects: Member outreach (cards, visits, gifts to homebound members
and students), and financial support or gift donations (missionaries, various
Moravian ministries, varied local and national organizations). In addition to
these activities, we have shared fellowship in monthly programs as follows:
February – Valentine Luncheon:
Ladies were served a delicious sandwich and salad luncheon followed by a sale
of books, CDs, and DVDs. All money raised was donated locally to City Lights
Ministry whose focus is “Loving Others Where They Are” and building
relationships along the way.
March – Ardmore’s Day of Prayer: A
coffee hour was held prior to the worship service. Guests enjoyed fellowship
while eating delicious refreshments – sandwiches, fruit and desserts. Members
of Women’s Fellowship then led the worship service attended by 76 people.
April – Ladies Luncheon: Ladies,
wearing hats and gloves, enjoyed a delightful tea and luncheon. Afterwards, the
ladies shopped for handbags, jewelry, scarves and other accessories. All money
raised was donated to Samaritan’s Purse to support the relief effort in
Ukraine.
May – Entertainment and Luncheon:
The Snappy Tappers, ladies ranging in age 60-82, performed a number of tap
dance routines. Their energy and enthusiasm inspired us to become more active.
We all then enjoyed a delicious potato and salad bar as we fellowshipped
together.
June – Fathers’ Day Breakfast:
Women’s Fellowship will honor all family fathers and church fathers at a
breakfast provided for all church members. A short program will follow the
meal.
Christ - Our
fellowship is beginning to looks as it did prior to the pandemic.
In late March we gathered after church for lunch and a
planning session to discuss our moving forward. It seems as if we have more
ladies now that would like to be in a daytime circle. So we do see growth
there. Meetings will be held third Monday in each month at Noon. Each will
bring a sandwich or other item for their meal. Hostess will provide beverage,
chips and dessert. Important will be the Bible study, special friends concerns,
Missions, and future projects.
The nighttime quarterly circle seems to still be an issue
with ladies. It maybe these few ladies will only attend our quarterly general
meeting. Still working on the details for this.
Chicken pies are always an ongoing project. Completed two
gathering for this effort in May with next ones twice in July.
Our CE Committee sponsored a Community Day in early May. There
were pop-up tents with items for sale, games and face painting for children,
burgers and hot dogs. Our ladies donated bake goods for sale at an unbelievable
low price.
Our sharing box seems to be a huge hit at our church. Our
members, and some neighborhood people, contribute to this regularly.
Our list of special friends has grown far more than ever
before. All people on this list have a Christ Church WF lady staying in touch
with them. Other ladies are encouraged to reach out also.
Summer may be a bit slow with projects, however, we will be
working on our Fall Event in October. Look for those dates soon.
Friedland - Executive
Committee met in February, we voted to give the daycare $1,000 to be used to
supplement the cost of childcare for a family in need of assistance.
Circles Two and Three decided to further support the staff
with a show of love at Valentine’s Day by giving them Valentines and treat
bags.
In March the same Circles made gift bags for Saint Patrick’s
Day for the daycare children and gave them out as they left with their parent
at the end of the day.
In April these Circles collected supplies for SECU House and
in May gave money to buy snacks for our Laurel Ridge Mission Campers.
Since February, Circle One has sent a flower arrangement to
the twin sister of Norah Smitherman; collected a love offering for the nonprofit,
Live Like Norah, in memory of Norah; sent a memorial to Sunnyside in memory of Mitzie
Kimball’s great grandson; gave money for snacks for our mission campers; and assembled
and delivered May baskets to our honorary members who are no longer able to attend.
We are looking forward to our annual Mother, Daughter, and
Friend’s Banquet in June. Cameron Kent who agreed to speak before Covid, is
keeping his commitment. You may know Cameron as the former news anchor on WXII,
but did you know he is also an author? He will be speaking about the women in
his life who influenced him most and how he developed his female characters in
his book, The Sea is Silent.
In lieu of a speaker’s fee, Cameron has asked the Women’s Fellowship to make a
donation to World Central Kitchen which is currently providing meals for refugees
from Ukraine.
Friedberg - The
Friedberg Women’s Fellowship has continued to meet in person for our Circle meetings
with Bible Study and Fellowship. We praise God for all our many Blessings.
Upcoming Fundraisers:
Port-A-Pit BBQ Chicken Take-Out Dinner –
Saturday, July 30th from 11am to 4pm at Friedberg. This will be a Take-out
Drive through event. Tickets are now being presold on the Friedberg website:
https://friedberg.church/events/port-a-pit-bbq-chicken-dinner/
Annual Tag sale – August 17, 18 and
19th - 9am to 6pm and Aug 20th from 9am to 12 noon. This will be held in the
Friedberg Family Life Center
Annual Fall Chicken Pie Supper –
November 5th at Friedberg Moravian Church. This is planned as a Dine-in and
Take-out event.
With the funds raised from our fundraisers in the spring,
the Women’s Fellowship were Blessed to support the Friedberg Youth’s upcoming
Mission trips and Ukrainian Relief Funds.
Hope everyone has a wonderful safe and healthy summer. Submitted
by: Martha Thomas – Friedberg WF President
Clemmons-Three of
our circles are taking a summer break from meeting, while one circle has chosen
to meet monthly through the summer. Multiple circles are continuing to collect
plastic “Lids to Benches” (in an effort to make molded, heavy benches for
schools or rest homes). Multiple circles are collecting suit cases for
missionaries to carry birthing kits to mission fields. One circle is a
community partner for the Read-Write-Spell literacy program which collects
books (old and new) for children through fifth grade. During the summer
Clemmons Moravian Women's Fellowship will continue to collect clothing and school
supplies for Easton Elementary. Forsyth Prison Ministry is requesting men’s
shirts and pants for those men being released from prison, we will start that
collection.
Save the Date! Our Clemmons
Moravian Bazar is scheduled for November 12th. We plan to have
frozen chicken pies for sale at the Bazaar. Interested vendors should contact
Peggy Hagood at 336.766.2357
FROM
the OFFICE
Our next newsletter
will be published on Monday, August 22, 2022. All articles should be EMAILED to the office by Monday, August
15, 2022.
