St John United Methodist Church

Saint John United Methodist Church has a very active United Methodist Women’s Unit that meets every quarter. The months the unit does not meet, there are three circles that meet and have programs. The circles are as follows: Mary Martha Circle, Sara Anna Circle, and Susanna Wesley Circle.

The Mary Martha Circle meets at the church each second Wednesday of the month at 10 am. The Sara Anna Circle meets at night each last Monday of the month at 6:30pm in circle member’s homes. The Susanna Wesley Circle meets at Dot’s Restaurant at 12:30 pm every second Tuesday of the month. The circles would welcome more women of the church to join them.

The UMW is very active in mission work: locally, state wide, and worldwide. Some of the things done locally are monetary support for St. John Christmas baskets, Sanctuary House, St. Luke’s Free Clinic, Aaron McNeil House, Salvation Army and the Red Cross. State wide monetary support is given to Mary Kendall Children’s Home, Methodist Children’s Home and Red Bird Mission. For worldwide support we send money to the Kentucky UMW Conference and it is used to support mission work all over the world.

The local unit has two large fund raising events during the year. In July they sponsor a Taster’s Luncheon that involves everyone in the church and feeds approximately 300 people throughout the city and county and sometimes sister units from other counties. The other event is a large Rummage Sale held in October. Slightly used clothes and furniture is collected and sold at a very modest price. What is not sold is donated to the Salvation Army or Goodwill Industries.

Throughout the year the circles collect Campbell Soup labels, aluminum can tabs and education box tops to be sent to various organizations for use. They also participate in supporting snacks for the hospital waiting rooms.

The circles and the unit try to fulfill the UMW Purpose, which is as follows. The organized unit of United Methodist Women shall be a community of women whose purpose is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church.