Dear Friends,

This Sunday we celebrate the ministry of United Methodist Women.

There is a lot to celebrate!

From the UMW website:

United Methodist Women is the largest denominational faith organization for women with approximately 800,000 members whose mission is fostering spiritual growth, developing leaders and advocating for justice.

On March 23, 1869, in Boston, eight women gathered at Tremont Street Methodist Episcopal Church to form the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  Isabella Thoburn and Clara Swain left for India in November of that year as the Society's first missionaries. It was the first of eight women's missionary societies founded by UMW predecessor organizations.

Across its 143-year history, the purpose of UMW has remained the same.  Members of United Methodist Women have made a lifetime commitment to Christ's mission in the world.  Groups are organized to pray together, to raise funds for mission, and to improve the lives of women, children, and youth around the world.

I am always impressed by how UMW remains actively, faithfully, and continuously engaged in two areas: the spiritual growth of its members through mutual support and study, and the relief of suffering and injustice wherever it is found in the world. As is often the case with United Methodists, most of the work UMW does on a sustaining basis is done quietly, below the radar.

Most recently, San Diego's UMW, with the leadership and participation of St. Mark's UMW president Kay Bays, has been deeply involved in a project to bring public awareness to the serious problem of human trafficking in the San Diego region.

This Sunday during 9:30 worship, we'll consecrate St. Mark's UMW officers for the year, and the annual UMW luncheon follows at 11:15 in the social hall. Plan to be here to support the work of this great organization.

See you in church!

Craig