United Presbyterian Women

The United Presbyterian Women held a Christmas Tea at 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 2 in the Fellowship Hall. Twenty members and guests attended. Members of Circle IV were hostesses and Circle V gave the program.

Jane Fehr welcomed all present as the Christ Candle was lit. Members recited the Purpose. June Asper gave the devotions. She displayed wooden angels made by her late husband as his last Christmas gifts for their family and read a story she had written about them.

Circle IV served cookies, tea and coffee. Vivian Griffith decorated the tables. Jane Fehr conducted the business meeting. Kay Hall gave the treasurer's report. The Least Coin Offering was dedicated. Janice Flory gave the sewing report and Betty Beenblossom gave the monthly mission report. Jane thanked members for helping with Thank Offering Sunday and activities at the U. P. Home Health Center.

Announcements included the World Day of Prayer on March 4 and the Spring Workshop April 21. It will be held in Washington. Betty Colby and Betty Beenblossom are co-chairs. The salad luncheon will be May 4.

For the program, six members of Circle III selected and read children's books. They shared the Christmas story in several different ways. Betty gave the closing prayer as the Christ Candle was extinguished.

Circle III met on Dec. 8 in the church lounge. Seven members were present. The Christ Candle was lit and members expressed concerns and the joy and blessing of the Christmas season.

Deb Helmick led Lesson Four, ?Dangerous Water-God's Deliverance.? She began the lesson by playing a spiritual rendition of ?Wade in the Water, Children,? a very appropriate song for the lesson. The group read the opening litany.

The main focus of the lesson was ?the Israelites needed to cross the Jordan River to get to the promised land.? The people followed the leaders this time and crossed the Jordan successfully. God kept His promises and provided for them.

Members shared times when God helped them personally through their ?deep waters? of life. They also talked about the healing nature of tears. It was mentioned that the composition of tears is different for happiness and for sadness. Betty Colby offered devotions and started by reading an editorial to get members in the Christmas spirit. She then read from The Yearbook of Prayer.

Phyllis VanGerpen reported on money to be sent to missionaries, the Callisons and Tom Johnson. Members signed cards for Thelma Wagner and Maridee Woods. Jane Fehr led the lesson's closing prayer.

Eleven members of Circle IV met on Dec. 9 at the U.P. Home. Members provided cookies for refreshments. Santa Claus was a surprise visitor and wished the ladies a Merry Christmas.

Betty Beenblossom oopened the meeting with prayer and presided over the business meeting. Reports were given from two corresponding missionaries. The special offering will be used to buy gifts for residents of Brownlee Health Center.

The group made plans for the upcoming Brownlee birthday partys and Hymn/Sing. Members shared readings, memories and items related to Christmas. Members filled plates of cookies to take to shut-ins. The next meeting will be January 13 and Betty Beenblossom will be the hostess.