Abigail Circle Ι  Lydia Circle Ι  Rebekah Circle Ι  Ruth-Sarah Circle Ι  Women's Retreat

United Methodist Women

President: Nancy Leathrum

With approximately one million members, the United Methodist Women (UMW) is the largest lay women's organization of a major Protestant denomination in the United States. The Elkton UMW meet in "circle" groups. Each of our four circles meets anywhere from 9-12 times a year. Some meet in the evening and others meet during the day.

The Elkton UMW sponsor several annual events: Mother's Day Tea (on the Saturday before Mother's Day), a bake table at the Elkton Fall Fest a UMW birthday party in the fall, and cookie walk in December. The funds raised at these events support the UNW mission projects around the world and locally in Cecil County (including our church, the Help Center the Boys and Girls Club, Cecil Heating Assistance Program, Sunbridge Nursing Home Ministry, the Community Kitchen, and Meals on Wheels.

We invite all women of our church to join any of these circles or start a new circle! Please contact any of the circle leaders or the church office for additional information.

Circles of the UMW

Abigail Circle

Co-leaders: Phyllis Bixler and Sarah Bjerke. The Abigail Circle meets on the the 3^rd Tuesday of the month from 1-3:00 p.m. in Room 1. This circle is made up of women in their 30s and 40s. Their mission project is the Angel Tree each Christmas. Meetings are held at various locations where members share Christian fellowship and support.

Lydia Circle

Leaders: Pam Gustafson. The Lydia Circle meets on the the 2^nd Friday of the month at 7:00 p.m. This circle is a group of women dedicated to the service of our church and to the elderly in our community. They offer each other support through monthly meetings, come-as-you-are Bible studies, and discussion on raising families in this day and age. Their primary mission is Meals on Wheels. They take turns delivering meals each Wednesday. In 2005, they began a long-term project gathering the history of EUMC. They plan to put it together in print and on DVD for all to see.

Rebekah Circle

Leader: Carol Robinson. The Rebekah Circle meets on the the 2^nd Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in the church library. The mission of this circle is to strive for spiritual growth through Bible study and to give emotional support to their members, as well as to support the mission of the Elkton United Methodist Women, the Elkton United Methodist Church, and the Missions Committee of our church. Their mission projects include the Sunbridge Nursing Home Ministry, the Samaritan's Purse, and the Community Kitchen candy bags.

Ruth-Sarah Circle

Leader: Ruth Deibert. The Ruth-Sarah Circle meets on the the 2^nd Wednesday of the month at noon in Weldin Hall. This circle is a group of dedicated, mostly retired, whose purpose is to know God through regular Bible study pursued during a fellowship lunch. Their missions projects include the Sunbridge Nursing Home Ministry, Samaritan's Purse, and helping a needy family in our church each Christmas. They raise money to support other mission projects and giving by selling bottles of flavorings (vanilla, lemon and almond) and Rada cutlery knives.

Women's Retreat

Early in the year, women from our church and from a number of other congregations in the area meet for an all-day retreat. They are refreshed by sharing, singing, praying, eating breakfast and lunch, through presentations and by doing a craft.