Women's Gatherings
Women’s Ministry - Bible Study Groups - Activity Groups- Care Groups
All groups and activities welcome new participants!
For more information, please contact Jackie Freed (863) 644-7774
BIBLE STUDY GROUPS
Presbyterian Women
Part of the PC(USA) Presbyterian Women, with national conferences, as well as regional events within our local Presbytery of Tampa Bay. Contact person: Carol Boulware, Moderator, 682-5926; email Carol Boulware. The Presbyterian Women organization hosts 11 active Bible study circles, 10 during the day and one in the evening. They meet the second week of each month, except for summer months. Meeting places are in members’ homes or at the church. The schedule for each month is posted on the church web site. Gatherings with special programs and/or speakers are scheduled in January, March, April and November. Click here for the PW Circle listings for May 2012.
Grace (Girls Restored as Christ Redeemed) Sunday School Class
Contact person: Susie Stone 683-6643, cell 899-2144; email. Meets from 9:15-10:15 a.m., Sunday mornings in the Parlor (room 121). This is a prayerful, encouraging group of women who study the word throughout the year. They often use Beth Moore studies, which include ongoing homework during the week to enhance personal growth. The group is open to women of all ages.
WOW (Women of Worth) Bible Study Group
Contact person: Susan Stephens, 646-2178; email. Meets on Wednesdays during the school year, 9:30-11:30 a.m., in the Parlor (room 121). This is an interactive Bible study and includes time for prayer support. The study content is published in the church newsletters and worship bulletins prior to beginning each series. Women of all ages attend.
Women’s Bible Study Group
Contact persons: Nikki McConnell, 640-2014; email or Wendy Fitzsimmons, 802-6775; email. Usually meets every other Sunday evening, 6:30-8“ish” in a member’s home. This is a flexible, casual Bible study group. Members are mostly working women and working mothers.
Thursday Morning Small Group Bible Study
Contact person: Genie Watkins, 683-7158; email. This study group meets Thursdays from 7:15-8:15 a.m. at FPC in the Conference Room. It includes working women and early risers.
Women’s Sunday Evening Bible Study
Contact person: Mary Snow Brandon, 644-5109. The members meet in each others’ homes weekly. They share a meal at 6:00 p.m., followed by study and prayer time.
Caring, Sharing, Growing Bible Study
Contact person: Terry Frost, 533-5520; email. This study group will meet on Sunday afternoons/evenings (time TBA). Bible Study, prayer, support, encouragement for growing in joy and faith. Study material announced in advance. This group is growing out of a small group from the September Women’s Retreat. Call if you’d like to join!
ACTIVITY GROUPS
Fun with the Girls
Contact person: Gwynn Butterfield, 529-6003; email. These fun loving folks meet every 4-6 weeks for dinner, brunch, chocolate tasting, special celebrations for members, etc. They meet primarily in homes, but occasionally in restaurants. Women of all ages from both the Vine and Classic services attend. (Couples events are sometimes planned, too.) Their activities foster supportive friendships and lots of fun! New people are welcome. There is no limit to the number that can attend.
Women’s Exercise Group
Contact person: Gail Doak, 688-4661. Meets Monday & Thursday, 3:30-4:30 p.m., at FPC in room 318. These exercisers use the “Strong Women Stay Young” exercise video, which includes stretching, strength training, balance work, and osteoporosis prevention.
Jerry Crane Book Club
Contact person: Marilyn Leonard, 646-0132; email. Meets the 3rd Thursday of each month (except July), 10:00-11:00 a.m., at FPC in the Parlor (room 121). Members suggest “good literature” books. They read and discuss one book each month. This is not an exclusively women’s group.
CARE GROUPS
Care Teams
Contact person: Jackie Hansen 686-7187, ex. 224; email. Care Teams are the front line folks to know when someone needs meals, transportation or financial help.
Cooks Care
Contact person: Pastor Cecelia Moore 686-7187, ex. 233; email. People who like to cook help provide meals for shut-ins or those temporarily incapacitated. Meals can also be taken to new moms and dads. When needed, these people gather at the church kitchen to cook and freeze meals. Volunteers are also needed to help deliver the meals.
Flower Power
Contact person: Cathy Gilbert, 665-6221, or Pastor Cecelia Moore, 686-7187, ex. 233; email. This group rearranges flowers left over from large bouquets into smaller vases. These are then placed around the church and/or may be taken to shut-ins, hospital patients, and Oscar Pope Elementary School. They meet as needed.
Prayer Shawl Ministry
Contact person: Millie Lenhart, 701-2777; email. Meets the 3rd Monday of the month (except summers), at FPC at 10:00 a.m., in room 232. They make prayer shawls to give to individuals who are going through difficult times. They also donate shawls to VISTE and cancer centers.
Knit Wits
Contact person: Margie Lewis, 644-5822; email. Meets Monday mornings at FPC from 10:00-12:00 in the Craft Room (324). This group is a mix of community women and church members. They knit items for local shelters and work on personal projects.
Bag Ladies
Contact person: M.J. Mitchell, 683-4589; email. Meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month (except summer) at 10:00 a.m. at FPC in the Craft Room (324). For the past five years these ladies have collected, cleaned and decorated used donated suitcases for Heartland for Children in Highland, Hardee, and Polk counties. Their #1 priority is praying for the children who receive the suitcases. To date they have donated over 1,900 suitcases. Others are welcome to join them—no artistic ability necessary.
Hospital Visitation
Contact person: Pastor Cecelia Moore, 686-7187, ex. 233; email. Volunteers can sign up to visit patients for as little as two days a month or to be a sub.
Nursing Home Visitation
Enjoy amplifying the pastors’ visits with shut-ins and folks in the nursing homes. Visiting even once a month is a great ministry. People are in various nursing facilities spread throughout our community. They would love a friendly face to pop in for a short time to bring a small gift provided by the church and a copy of a church bulletin! This is a great ministry for two people to do together. Several married couples are enjoying doing this as a couple.
Prayer Ministry
Contact person: Pastor Cecelia Moore, 686-7187, ex. 233; email. Join a team of people who are contacted by email on behalf of those who have called the church or the Prayer Chain to request prayer for their concerns. Some may be interested in setting up a “prayer room” or two following the 10:30 services where people could come and be prayed with. This ministry doesn’t exist at this time, but several people have shown interest. Others have shown interest in coming together weekly or bi-weekly to gather together in the chapel to offer prayer for those on our prayer list.
Stephen Ministry
Contact person: Linda Peach, 644-3899; email. This is a one-on-one ministry where people walk beside someone who is in a difficult transitional time of life – being widowed, divorced, new babies, moved to a nursing home, etc. It requires 50 hours of training, which is offered every two years. What is important that the women of our church know that such trained ministers are available to help people through difficult times.
Bereavement Committee
Contact person: Pastor Cecelia Moore, 686-7187, ex. 233; email. Volunteers are needed to help with receptions following funerals. They do not ‘cook’ or provide refreshments. They simply expedite the process for hired caterers, circle members, etc., who are providing the food for such receptions. A group of 3-5 people is needed to act as coordinators.