Each circle meets monthly, usually in member’s homes. An
open invitation is extended to anyone who would like to come and visit or join.
Report for Year
September 1, 2006 to August
31, 2007
The organization of Presbyterian Women of Mt. Horeb
Presbyterian Church consists of a Coordinating Team and three circles all of
which meet monthly. The purpose of the Presbyterian Women’s organization is
Bible Study, Mission and Fellowship. The monthly circle meetings are held in the
homes of the members.
The officers for this period were:
Gladys Wonderley, Moderator, Dawn Bulle, Vice-Moderator, Johanna Bailey,
Secretary, Nancy Zimmer, Treasurer, Peggy Wonderley, Historian, Reba Patterson,
Circle Leader, Sylvia Clement, Circle Leader and Johanna Bailey, Circle Leader.
The Historian compiles a history of the events of the
entire church for each year. This wonderful story is located in the filing
cabinet in the workroom of the church. It
is informative and should be of interest to each member.
Year, 2006-2007, was active with the accomplishment of many
projects as well as the remembrance of friends and a Bible Study.
Each circle takes their assigned months in continuing
to provide flowers for all Worship Services.
Our Bible Study, which is provided through “Horizons”
(the official magazine for Presbyterian Women), was entitled “In the
Beginning… Perspectives on Genesis.” - - A thought-provoking study for
our Christian growth.
Presbyterian Women, in October, along with the help of the
entire congregation, held a public auction, bake sale and cake walk at the
Weyers Cave Community Center for the benefit of the Building Fund.
This project required many hours of work soliciting, packing and moving
sale items as well as baking and manning the different booths.
Approximately $7,900 was
netted for the Building Fund.
On a Thursday in October, many from the congregation
gathered in the Fellowship Hall to peel approximately 40-45 bushels of apples.
On Saturday, at 5:00 am, they gathered again to begin boiling the apples.
After ten to eleven hours, the equivalent of 533 quarts of tasty
applebutter were canned and made ready for sale.
This project has become very popular, so all jars were sold within
several days. $2,846.50 was netted
for the Building Fund. Presbyterian
Women provide snacks on Thursday and breakfast and lunch on Saturday.
The last Sunday in November, Presbyterian Women, along with
the Worship Committee, assembled the materials for the Hanging of the Greens in
the sanctuary in preparation for the Advent Season.
The sanctuary and the lobby of the church were beautifully decorated with
greenery, candles, and bows as well as a beautiful Chrismon tree.
For the first time, artificial wreaths were purchased for
the outside doors. This provides the
opportunity to keep the wreaths for use in future years.
In December, the two night circles gathered at Rowe’s
Country Buffet for a Christmas dinner and the day circle met at the Traditions
Restaurant for a noon Christmas gathering.
On Shrove Tuesday, February 20th, Presbyterian
Women prepared and served a Pancake Supper to the church family and friends.
This is an annual event in which the women find joy in providing for
approximately eighty to ninety participants eager to have fun and
enjoy fatty foods prior to the beginning of Lent.
PW (Presbyterian Women) published their second cookbook
which contains “tried and true” recipes by church members and
friends. 227 books were received and sold at $ 12.00 per book. A profit of $
950.80 has been given to the
Building Fund. We have thirteen
books remaining to be sold with the monies to be given to the Building Fund.
Other projects include: Serving the Weyers Cave
Ruritan Club in April and August, the New Hope Ruritan Club in March, the
Hi-Noon Club in June, and a wedding rehearsal dinner in May. From these
projects, a total of $ 1,295.00 was contributed to the Building Fund.
The Presbyterian Women purchased all the tablecloths,
at a cost of $725.00, for the new round tables in the Fellowship Hall, played an
active role in the celebration of our 150th church anniversary and
filled the refrigerator at our new minister’s home prior to his arrival.
Presbyterian Women are very charitable-minded. Monetary
gifts were given to Ronald-McDonald House, Western State, Presbyterian Home and
Family Services, Valley Missions, Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, Zuni Presbyterian
Home, Habitat for Humanity, Summerlee Missions, Churchwide General Assembly
Missions, Synod of the Mid-Atlantic Missions, and the work of Presbyterian Women
in Shenandoah Presbytery. In
addition, we financially
participated in the Least Coin and the Birthday Offering.
These two offerings support grants for the needy around the world.
The Presbyterian Women in Shenandoah Presbytery
were assigned a mission project for use particularly in the international
community. Mt. Horeb supported this
effort with the following: 220
knitted and/or crocheted baby caps, 27 baby gowns made by the women, 4 baby
gowns purchased, 15 baby blankets made by the women, 11 baby blankets purchased,
3 fleece baby blankets, 65 used sheets, 27 new sheets, 1 sheet set (double), 1
sheet set (twin), 3 health kits, and 1 blanket for a double bed. These items
were delivered to Church World Service.
The Homebound, Special Friends and College Students of our
church are evenly divided between the three circles and remembered at special
times during the year. In addition, each circle provides money, gifts and food
for an under-privileged family and/or families at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The Presbyterian Women at Mt. Horeb belong to a larger body
of Presbyterian Women in the Shenandoah Presbytery, as well as the Synod of the
Mid-Atlantic and the Church-wide General Assembly.
Each year, on the local Presbytery level, we have two gatherings; the
Spring Gathering, which includes a business meeting with the election of
Coordinating Team Officers on the Presbytery level, and in the Fall, a workshop
for the benefit of new officers being installed in the local church.
Presently, on the Presbytery level, Elaine Quick serves as Leadership
Coordinator and Gladys Wonderley serves as Treasurer. These gatherings are held
at Massanetta Springs Conference Center in Harrisonburg. In addition, a
Triennium is held every three year at a designated
location (usually in another state) as well as learning opportunities
held at Montreat Conference Center in North Caroline.
The Mt. Horeb Presbyterian Women
close each business year with a family picnic in the picnic area at the
Grand Caverns in Grottoes.
