Disciples Women-Always in Service

The Disciples Women of First Christian Church, Pine Bluff, work with Neighbor to Neighbor, providing for needy families throughout the year.  Our year-round project is collecting and delivering canned green beans to Neighbor to Neighbor to help stock their food pantry.

In 2012, we are also working with the Outreach Committee in putting together Disaster Meal Kits for Arkansas Rice Depot.  We collect all items to complete the meal kits, put them together and deliver them to Arkansas Rice Depot.  These kits are distributed to people who are victims of any natural disaster while within the State of Arkansas.

DISCIPLES WOMEN EVENTS-2012

FEBRUARY 12

                      Dessert Auction-proceeds go toward scholarships for 2011 Women's Retreat

FEBRUARY 14     Day Lilies Circle    10:00 a.m.

MARCH 13            Day Lilies Circle    10:00 a.m.

MARCH 17

                      Disciples Women's Quarterly Meeting

                      11:00 a.m. luncheon

                      Program-Melinda Crowder will talk about her work with

                     "Parents of Murdered Children"          

  July 13-15    Disciples Women's Retreat--Subiaco         

CURRENT NEWS

The Disciples Women held their annual dessert auction following our Fellowship Event on February 12.  We raised approximately $600.00 which will go to helping our women attend the 2012 Disciples Women's Retreat this summer.  Many thanks to Mark Pearce for serving as auctioneer for this event!

Our Quarterly Meeting is scheduled for March 17 beginning with a luncheon prepared by the Executive Board at 11:00 a.m.  Melinda Crowder will present our program explaining her work with "Parents of Murdered Children."  A proposed slate of new officers was presented to the DW Executive Board on January 22.  We will vote on the new slate of officers at our Quarterly Meeting scheduled for March 17.  All church members, family, and friends are invited to this event.

We encourage church members to continue donating green beans and other canned goods to Neighbor to Neighbor.  The DW is working with the Outreach Committee to gather the contents for and assemble disaster meal kits for Arkansas Rice Depot.  A list of items needed for breakfast, lunch and dinner meal kits is available in the office.

Christmas cards were sent to Lucy Raley, Steve Carter, Lurline Owen, Sally Owens and Mike Snell.  A birthday card was sent to Lueline Owen and cheer cards were sent to Alline McNulty and Elizabeth Hector.

The Day Lilies Circle continues to meet on the second Tuesday of each month at 10:00 a.m. in the church library.  The study and sicussion is led by Donna Dykes on The Beatitudes found in Matthew and Luke.

Our Prayer Group led by Martha Quinn continues to meet every Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. in the prayer room for prayer and meditation.  This is a very spiritual and uplifting experience for all who attend.

DISCIPLES WOMEN PRAYER

Unto to you, O God, we give our thanks and lift our hearts in prayer.  May your presence be with us and your love surround us as we work together as women of faith.  Open our eyes to the needs of the world and fill our hearts with concern for all people.  Guide us that we may truly serve you through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

2011 DISCIPLES WOMEN OFFICERS

President-Christie Greenich

Vice-President-Melinda Crowder

Secretary-Marsha Rogers

Treasurer-Zandra Barber

Worship-Martha Sue Pearce-Bost

Service-Jennifer Lyons

Hospitality-Donna Dykes

Daylilies Circle Leader-Carol Carter

Cards and Flowers-Betty Quinn

BLESSING BOX

Our Blessing Box Dedication will be held during morning worship on July 17 led by Martha Sue Bost. For Disciples Women, the Blessing Box is a Spiritual Discipline, a tool that helps us focus on how God is blessing us each day, and simultaneously helping to fund the church's wider mission.

According to the International Disciples Women's Ministries, the history of the blessing box is as follows: "The history of women's systematic and sacrificial giving to support their dreams and visions for mission and education began as one of the first projects of the Christian Woman's Board of Mission in the 1880s. It started as the Mite Box, then changed to Love Gifts, then the Thank Offering Box, and then the current day Blessing Box. Since their introduction, Blessing Boxes-by any name-have been kept in the homes and offices of women across the church to enable them to express their gratitude for everyday blessings."

Following are just a few of the ways our Blessing Box gifts support Disciples Women--       

        Leadership training for regional & constituency representatives

        Creation of leadership and study materials

        Staff to plan and coordinate Quadrennial Assemblies

        Publication of Just Women magazine 

        Support for New Church Starts in developing women's ministries

When we give our Blessing Box offering, half of the funds go to support the mission of the whole church. The other half funds ministries carried out by Disciples Women through the International Disciples Women's Ministries.

Because God has blessed us so abundantly, we are able, through our giving, to abundantly bless others.