Purpose

Forgiven and freed by God in Jesus Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves:

• To nurture our own faith through prayer and Bible study;
• To support the mission of the church worldwide;
• To work for justice and peace;
• To build an inclusive caring community of women that strengthens the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A., and witnesses to the Promise of God's kingdom.

All adult women of the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. are also members of Presbyterian Women. Our church has seven active circles which meet monthly on Mondays or Tuesdays from September through April. The times are arranged to meet the needs of each circle's membership, with some circle meetings held in the morning, some in the afternoon and one at night. Circles meet at the church, in members' homes, and one circle meets at Covenant Village.

Women who are unable or do not wish to participate in an active circle are enrolled in one of four service circles. Service circles do not meet, but contribute to the service of the Church, of Presbyterian Women, and provide financial support to Presbyterian Women.

CRISIS CARE
Under the direction of the Crisis Care Committee, at the death of a church member, each circle is called upon on a rotation basis to provide a meal for the family. Download the Bereavement Hospitality Services available to members of First Presbyterian Church.

SEWING/KNITTING FOR MISSIONS
The Sewing Room is staffed by volunteers who provide handwork and machine stitched items for a variety of causes. Emphasis is given to answering local needs. Volunteers provide the Gaston County Health Department and Crisis Pregnancy Center with flannel baby blankets and caps, county-owned nursing homes with toboggans and lap robes for wheel chair residents, friends in need with walker bags, Gaston Memorial Hospital with pillows for surgical patients, American Red Cross with afghans for Warm Up America, and Gaston Hospice with shawls for patients. Foreign projects include baby caps for Malawi and pillowcase dresses for Africa. There are also opportunities to work at home.

CASSEROLE CARE
Through each circle on a monthly rotation, Presbyterian Women deliver casseroles to church members who have been hospitalized, have had an extended illness, injury or surgery, or have recently had a new baby.

TOOL AND BLANKET SUNDAY
Typically the third Sunday in February, Tool and Blanket Sunday is designated to remember those in primitive areas of the world with an offering used to provide them with essential tools and protective blankets, as tokens of love and support.

ANNUAL BAKE SALE
Our Annual Bake Sale 2013 was held February 26 (9:00a.m. - Noon). The Bake Sale is the chief fundraiser for all missions and service projects. Check back soon for details regarding our 2014 outreach mission effort.

RECOGNITION OF
PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN
Held annually, Recognition of Presbyterian Women recognizes the leadership and service to First Presbyterian and the community by Presbyterian Women, with women playing a prominent role in the leadership of a Sunday morning worship experience.

ANNUAL PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN BIRTHDAY OFFERING
The Annual Presbyterian Women Birthday Offering received Monday, May 6 totaled $1559 and will benefit Westminster Neighborhood Ministries in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our contributions, along with other Presbyterian Women will help expand a variety of current programs designed to educate children, families, and adults in an area where 34% of residents have incomes below poverty level.

The following circles meet the second Monday of the month:

ANNUAL BIRTHDAY LUNCHEON
Presbyterian Women celebrate the conclusion of the year's activities with a luncheon and program during which they honor a woman or women with an Hororary Life Membership to recognize faithful service to First Presbyterian Church. The event remembers women who have joined the Church Triumphant in the previous year. It is also the time to identify causes, both national and international, as recipients of the annual Birthday Offering received at the luncheon.

FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS
Presbyterian Women provide over $15,000 in benevolence giving annually to the following non-profit organizations:

• Crisis Assistance Ministry;
• Barium Springs, Black Mountain and Grandfather Homes for Children;
• national and international mission projects;
• Presbyterian Weekday School;
• The Shelter of Gaston County;
• With Friends;
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Gaston;
• Living Waters of the World.