PW (Presbyterian Women) NEWS
PW Board Meeting will be held on Thursday, May 8th, at 10:00 a.m.

Monthly Gathering
Thursday, May 8 - at Noon in the Community Rooms
We invite you to join us for our May meeting.  Be with us as we enjoy Christian fellowship, devotions, and program.  Please bring your own sandwich.  Dessert and beverages will be provided.   

RUMMAGE SALE REPORT
THANK YOU – to all of you who helped to make our rummage sale a success. 
We could not have done it without your help -
- men and women helping to set up on Sunday
- the people who brought rummage on Sunday and Monday
- all the people who sorted relentlessly all week
- the cashiers, pricers, baggers, floor floaters, and all the other help on the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday sale days
- and last, but by no means least, the clean-up crew that helped box, bag, carry away the leftovers bound for Newark.
Without all these people, we would not have been able to provide this ministry to so many.  We reached about 340 families in need on Wednesday, our “give-away day”!  Also, all of our “leftovers” went to the Goodwill Home and Mission in Newark where they use our “gifts” to stock four thrift stores to support their ongoing mission programs.  All profits (over $11,000!) from our sale are designated for mission projects.  All of you who helped in the sale witnessed to your faith, by your work and by sharing His love with others.
Helen Reigstad, PW Moderator/ Rummage Sale Chair
“This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people, but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.”  II Corinthians 9:12

MAY MEETINGS

 “WRAPPED IN LOVE” CIRCLE
May 7 and 21 - 10 a.m.
We invite anyone who would like to learn to quilt or knit to join us as we work on prayer shawls (given to those whom we wrap in God’s love and ours) and quilts (for children who are seriously ill).  PW will provide the materials.  If you would like to work at home, please let us know.  Please call Helen Reigstad (729-5766).

BOOK CIRCLE
Thursday, May 8 - 7:30 p.m. at the home of Sheila McMeen
If you enjoy reading, please join us for this monthly time of discussion and fellowship.  Our book for May is Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik.  Newcomers are always welcome!  Call Mary Krejci (729-6876) or Frankie Smith (729-7523) for further information. 

“BAD GIRLS of the BIBLE” STUDY CIRCLE
No Meeting this month.  The next meeting will be held on June 17th

DEBORAH CIRCLE
No meeting this month.

ELIZABETH CIRCLE
Thursday, May 22 - Noon in the Community Rooms
We invite you to be with us as we join together in Christian fellowship as we enjoy lunch, devotions, and program.  Please bring your own sandwich and dessert, beverages will be provided.  Contact Carolyn Strombeck (729-7885) or Addie Dimmick (729-6040) for further information.

Presbyterian Women is a church wide organization whose membership is open to all women. Presbyterian Women (PW) members are those who choose to participate in or be supportive of Presbyterian Women in any way.  Presbyterian Women is organized on presbytery, synod and church wide levels. PW…

• Advocates action on contemporary issues and concerns;

• Encourages leader development;

• Offers opportunities for periodic gatherings of Presbyterian Women.

Presbyterian Women of Sparta Presbyterian Church elects its own leadership, plans and implements a yearly program, and determines its own budget.  Sparta PW meets in "circles" (small groups of women) and maintains ongoing activities such as Bible Study, mission interpretation, and special ministries to the congregation and community.

Sparta PW currently has five circles: Deborah Circle, a morning circle (third Thursday), the Elizabeth Circle, and afternoon circle (fourth Thursday) which meets for a sandwich lunch, devotions, and an informative program; and the Priscilla Circle, and evening circle (third Tuesday) which features a light dinner, devotions, and an inspirational / informative program.  Book circle is 2nd Thursday.  Quilting circle is 1st and 3rd Wednesday's in the morning.

Monthly luncheon meetings are scheduled (second Thursday) so that all women may gather for fellowship, devotions, and an inspirational program, usually by a guest speaker.

Service projects during the year include two extremely large rummage sales, spring and fall; a Christmas Tea & Gift Boutique; monthly homemade soup sales during the fall / winter months; and ongoing sales of church cookbooks, commemorative plates, and similar items.

Sparta PW’s annual budget is somewhat over $20,000, nearly all of which goes to missions. A small portion is used for guest speakers, baby-sitting service, leadership development, and sundry items. Funds are directed both to denominational missions and to local missions and area ecumenical and social needs.

The stated purpose of Presbyterian Women’s groups throughout the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is as follows:

Forgiven and freed by God in Jesus Christ, we commit ourselves:

• To nurture our faith through prayer and Bible study,

• To support the mission of the church worldwide,

• To work for justice and peace, and

• To build and inclusive, caring community of women that strengthens the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) AND WITNESSES TO THE PROMISE OF God’s kingdom.