United Methodist Women

All women of the church are invited to attend the meetings of the Mineral United Methodist Women. The group meets at 10 A.M. at Gibson Hall on the 2nd Tuesday of each month from September through May. However, in December the group has a Christmas luncheon at noon, and in June the women usually meet for a picnic at a member’s home. No meetings are generally held in July and August.

This group of ladies funds their various mission projects by holding the annual fall bazaar and the sale of pecans, cashews, and chocolate covered pecans. A craft groups meets periodically throughout the year to make items for sale at the annual bazaar which is held the first Saturday in November.

The group sponsors a child through Christian Children's Fund and supplies books and reading material for the church library. School, health and/or baby kits are donated to the Virginia Conference to be used by those in need. Church members who are shut-ins are treated to home-baked cookies delivered to them during the Christmas season, as well as meals and other help when needed throughout the year. Several members also attend District meetings at various times during the year.

The Church Historian recently delivered this message:

REPORT OF THE MISSION ACTIVITIES OF THE UNITED METHODIST WOMAN OF MINERAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
SOMETIME AROUND 2001 OR 2002 WHEN I FIRST BECAME THE CHURCH HISTORIAN, HERE AT THIS WARM AND FRIENDLY CHURCH, I WAS OVERJOYED AND FELT VERY BLESSED TO HAVE FOUND NEARLY A WHOLE DRAWER, IN A FILE CABINET, FILLED WITH THE MINUTES OF THE METHODIST WOMEN’S MEETINGS GOING WAY BACK TO SOMETIME IN THE 1940’S.

I LEARNED BY READING THROUGH SOME OF THOSE NOTES THAT THE LADIES OF THIS CHURCH TRULY DO STICK TO THE PURPOSE OF THE UMW. THEY ARE AN ORGANIZED UNIT OF THE UNITED METHODIST WOMEN WHO ARE A COMMUNITY OF WOMEN WHOSE PURPOSE IS TO KNOW GOD AND TO EXPERIENCE FREEDOM AS WHOLE PERSONS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST; AND THEY DEVELOP A CREATIVE, SUPPORTIVE FELLOWSHIP; AND EXPAND CONCEPTS OF MISSION THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN THE GLOBAL MINISTRIES OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.

THE WOMEN OF THIS CHURCH CAME UP WITH IDEAS TO RAISE MONEY SO THAT THEY COULD COME TO THE AID OF LESS FORTUNATE PEOPLE, NOT ONLY HERE IN LOUISA COUNTY, BUT AROUND THE GLOBE.

YEARS AGO THEY HAD PUBLIC TURKEY/OYSTER DINNERS AND COOKED FOR THE RURITAN'S MEETINGS. WHEN THEY NEEDED MONEY FOR A COFFEE POT, THEY SOLD VANILLA SO THEY COULD PURCHASE ONE. THE VERY FIRST RECORD I COULD FIND OF THEM SELLING CRAFTS AND BAKED GOODS GOES BACK TO NOVEMBER OF 1971 WHEN THEY HAD A TABLE OF CRAFTS AND BAKED GOODS AT THE LOCAL FIREMAN’S FAIR. THEIR PROFIT AT THAT EVENT WAS $149.40. THAT MEANS WE CAN SAY THAT THIS COMING NOVEMBER WE WILL BE HAVING OUR 40^TH ANNUAL BAZAAR. LAST YEAR OUR PROFIT FROM THE BAZAAR WAS OVER $5,000 WHICH INCLUDED OUR PROFIT FROM THE SALE OF NUTS.

THROUGHOUT THE YEARS OUR UMW HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN VARIOUS AND UNIQUE ACTIVITIES WHILE HELPING OTHERS.

THE WOMEN GOT TOGETHER ON A REGULAR BASIS TO SEW FOR OTHERS. AT ONE TIME THERE WAS A HOSPITAL IN LOUISA AND OUR METHODIST WOMEN MADE HOSPITAL GOWNS FOR THE PATIENTS THERE. THAT HOSPITAL WAS LOCATED BEHIND THE LOUISA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN THE BUILDING THAT NOW HOUSES THE OFFICE OF DRS. SOUTHALL AND HARKRADER. THERE WAS ALSO AN ORPHANAGE IN THE AREA AND THE WOMEN MADE CLOTHING FOR THE CHILDREN RESIDING THERE.

1976 WAS A SPECIAL YEAR IN OUR COUNTRY WITH THE BI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS. THE WOMEN OF THIS CHURCH PUT TOGETHER A BI-CENTENNIAL QUILT WHICH WAS SOLD FOR $100. OUR VERY OWN DOT PAYNE DID SOME FANCY EMBROIDERY STITCHES ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE QUILT WHICH CONSISTED OF THE NAMES OF ALL THE LADIES WHO WORKED ON THE QUILT.

THE LADIES WERE ALWAYS IN TUNE TO THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE IN THE LOCAL SURROUNDINGS AND THEY ALSO KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE WORLD AS A WHOLE. ONE YEAR THERE WAS A DEVASTATING FLOOD IN THE SCOTTSVILLE AREA AN THE WOMEN COLLECTED USED CLOTHING AND SENT THE CLOTHING TO THOSE WHO HAD LOST THEIR HOMES. ONE YEAR SOME OF OUR MEMBERS PUT TOGETHER A BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE LOUISA HEALTH CARE FACILITY. IF THE PARSONAGE WE OWNED YEARS AGO NEEDED FURNITURE, THE UMW WAS THERE WITH THEIR FINANCIAL DONATION.

LAST YEAR WE MADE OUT VERY OWN HANDBOOK WHICH IS USED AS A REFERENCE AND TO HELP NEWER MEMBERS TO OUR UNIT UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT. ONE PAGE WAS DEVOTED TO MISSIONS AND FOLLOWING ARE SOME OF THE MISSION PROJECTS WE CURRENTLY SUPPORT WITH OUR TIME, TALENTS OR FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS:

HENRY FORK SERVICE CENTER              HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

CAMP RAINBOW                                      SOCIETY OF ST. ANDREW

LAKOTA MISSION TRIPS                           EPWORTH MANOR

KITS FOR CONFERENCE                         MUMC PLAYGROUND

DOC ELMA                                               SANTA COUNCIL

PRISON ANGEL TREE                             COOKIES TO SHUT-INS

AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION             LOUISA FOOD PANTRY

HOSPICE OF THE PIEDMONT                    HEIFER PROJECT

ARC OF THE PIEDMONT                          UNITED METHODIST MEN

PRAYER SQUARES TO TROOPS

WE ALSO SPONSOR A CHILD THROUGH CHILD FUND INTERNATIONAL. OUR CURRENT CHILD IS A BOY LIVING IN INDIA.

JOHN WESLEY, THE FOUNDER OF METHODISM WAY BACK IN THE 1700’S TOLD US TO MAKE THE WORLD OUR WORKSHOP. THE UNITED METHODIST WOMEN IN THIS CHURCH CERTAINLY HAVE MADE THE WORLD THEIR WORKSHOP IN THE PAST AND WITH THE LORD AS OUR GUIDE, WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

GEORGIA P., CHURCH HISTORIAN