United Presbyterian Women

The United Presbyterian Women held a fall dessert and three circle meetings in October. Jane Fehr welcomed 21 ladies to the UPW Fall Dessert on Oct 8. The Coordinating Team served as hostesses. Joyce Letts and Janice Flory provided the apple cake. June Asper decorated the tables in fall colors.

Representatives from Hillcrest Family Services included Paula Paider Licht, director of Community Relations from the Dubuque office; Kristin Helm, director of SE Mental Health Centers; and Devona Diron, lead therapist at the Washington Mental Health Center. They gave an interesting and informative presentation of services available through Hillcrest. The UP women will help support Hillcrest through one of their monthly offerings this year.

Betty Colby opened the business meeting as June lit the Christ candle. Janice reported that since June the sewing group has given a blanket, a quilt and three baby blankets. They have also repaired four flags.

Betty thanked all the women who have done so much for the church this fall. She thanked especially Karen Murphy, who headed up the kitchen crew for the Presbytery meeting.

The mission correspondents gave the program for the day. Phyllis VanGerpen reported on Greg and Chris Callison. They will not be given a permit to go back to Turkistan. Instead they plan to travel the United States.

Davida Nicholson read a letter from Tom Johnson of Niger. They are not allowed to go back to their rural home and mission. They are now making their home in Niambi, the capital city of Niger. Tom is teaching Bible classes.

Maxine Martin reported on Bernie and Farsiana Adeney-Risakotta of Indonesia. She has visited the UP church in Washington.

After a prayer for all the missionaries, members recited the Purpose of UPW as the Christ candle was extinguished.

Circle III met on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at the church at 9:30 a.m. Seven members attended. Jane opened the meeting with prayer.

Mary Case led an informational presentation of Lesson 2 concerning Paul in Corinth. She emphasized Second Corinthians, which was written about 20 years after the crucifixion.

Phyllis presented devotions, noting that Jesus? covenant of love for His people is ever present and God is faithful to all generations. She read Psalm 136 and excerpts from the book of Ruth. From the Mission Yearbook she read about the Presbytery of Northern New England. It consists of 30 congregations with 128,000 members. She mentioned that a group from the First Presbyterian and the Congregational churches of Barre, Vt., meet at a local pub for Bible study.

Phyllis reported on missionaries John and Gwen Haspels in Ethiopia. They were accosted by armed robbers as they traveled to a conference. John was beaten with the butt of a gun and suffered severe damage to his face and possible loss of an eye. Gwen was shot in the neck. They were found and flown to Amsterdam for preliminary treatment of their severe injuries. Then they were flown to Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. All this time Gwen was unconscious. They continue to recover with family in Kansas

Jane reminded the group of their next month?s responsibilities and closed the meeting with prayer.

Circle IV met the morning of Oct. 8, in the Campbell Room at the United Presbyterian Home for a time of fellowship and study. Betty Beenblossom was hostess to 10 members. To begin the meeting Esther Bordwell offered a reading ?Take Time.?

Circle IV is responsible for the Brownlee birthday party on Oct. 15. Betty, Kay Hall, Julia Gamon and Esther Bordwell will provide cakes, juice and napkins.

Each circle needs to help with Thank-Offering Sunday on Nov. 23. Circle IV is in charge of the program and devotions for the UPW Christmas Tea on Dec. 3.

Davida read the latest missionary news from Tom of Niger. He reported that during the move of some 300 miles some of their belongings were damaged. They have been shopping to replace needed items. This was their 18th move in 12 years.

Esther Hess gave devotions by reading ?Sunset with God? and a special Serenity Prayer for day?s end.

Jeanette Miksch had the lesson on Paul in the context of ancient Corinth, a city with people of many cultures and religious movements. Along with the prevalence of polytheism, Paul preached Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

The meeting closed with unison prayer.

Maxine Martin was hostess at her home to eight members of Circle V at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct.1. Jean Wells, leader, opened the meeting by reading from Phillipians 3 and 4. She offered prayer. Roll call was ?Trick or Treat: Halloween memories.?

Maxine Davisson presented devotions from Romans 12:6. God uses his children to serve His purposes despite their faults and failures. She read ?Scarecrow? and ?Pumpkin Girl.?

Pat Johnson gave the Least Coin. She read an article concerning immigrants and offered prayer. Maxine Martin gave the missionary report. Circle V is responsible for refreshments for the Brownlee birthday party on Nov. 19.

Wilma Wright offered prayer and led the study. Paul had started a church at Corinth. The lesson considered the contents of Paul?s letter to the church.

The group read the closing prayer together. Hostess Maxine served delicious refreshments that were enjoyed around her dining room table.