Napa UWF Women’s Retreat
It’s not too late to sign up for our annual Women’s Retreat. Pastor Marylee Sheffer is our retreat facilitator with guest speaker Jane Pernotto Ehrman. “Fruits of the Spirit”; Joy, Wonder and Peace is definitely an event that you don’t want to miss! Invite a friend to come with you. Please call Dianne at the church office or contact Holly Zaccone to reserve your seat today!!
Circle Meeting Updates
The Katherine Parker Circle meets the 2nd Thursday of the month at 10:00 a.m. At their April meeting, their focus was from the UWF Program Resource Booklet. Connie Matthew-Warren presented the program titled, Experiences and Rituals of Faith. They discussed how rituals help us identify who we are personally and in our Methodist faith. Everyone can create their own personal daily rituals; prayer, bible study, meditation or simple affirmations about ourselves as we look into a mirror. They talked about rituals and experiences that everyone creates personally or with their families. They identified the differences between some rituals and superstitions. They also talked about the representation of communion as a ritual expression and a reminder of our faith and how it connects us as a community. It sounds like it was a great program! They also celebrated two of their members’ birthdays; Bobbi Bird and Barb Thompson.
The Susanna Wesley Circle meets the 2nd Wednesday of the month for lunch at noon and their meeting starts at 1:00 pm. Their circle members have been very busy making quilted heart pillows for traumatized children. They designed 20 heart pillow tops that were quilted by Evelyn Lutz. They delivered them to the Napa Monarch Justice Center and the Courage Center on March 25th and took a tour of their facilities. These pillows will be given to traumatized children who need to hold and hug a “heart” when they are scared and facing an unknown future. (More about the Justice and Courage Center in this newsletter issue).
After packaging the pillows up in individual bags for distribution they began the second part of their program at their meeting. During the months of March, April and May, members are sharing their trip stories that influenced their understanding and appreciation of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – Yes, DEI ! At the March meeting, Mary Herzog shared about an early trip to England where a friend showed them how to “be a local”, involving them in all kinds of activities, normal today things, not as tourists. Aletha Silcox shared photos, stories and insights from a trip to Israel. They are looking forward to hearing more member stories. They concluded their meeting by celebrating Mary Herzog’s birthday.
The Monarch Justice Center
The Monarch Justice Center is a collaboration of public and private agencies that are dedicated to easing the heavy burden that complex, bureaucratic systems place on survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, child abuse, elder abuse, and sexual assault. In 2014, Napa’s leaders in government, education, nonprofit fields, and the business sector started thinking about a better way to serve Napa’s victims of crime. After much collaboration and collective works with key partners, the Monarch Justice Center opened its doors in July 2019. They promote a client-centered, empathic
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model of survivor care. They partner with the Napa County District Attorney’s office, Napa Police Dept., Napa County Adult Protective Services, NEWS Domestic Violence an Sexual Assault & Human Trafficking Services.
The Courage Center
Napa’s Courage Center, a Napa County District Attorney’s Office program, is committed to the well-being of children and families. As the only nationally accredited children’s advocacy center serving Napa County, they provide forensic interviews and medical exams for children involved in child abuse investigations. It is a safe place designed exclusively for young victims of trauma and abuse. In 2024, the Courage Center experienced a 41% increase in the number of children served. They attribute this to a growing awareness of the youth-friendly services offered at the Courage Center, and referrals from law enforcement. The Courage Center is the ub of Napa County’s multi-disciplinary interview team, which includes law enforcement officers, prosecutors, child welfare workers, and medical and mental health specialists who are dedicated to work together and achieve justice and healing for abused children.
Circle Updates Continued
The Sarah Crosby Circle meets the 2nd Saturday of the month at 9:30 a.m. At their March meeting they discussed an article by columnist Julie Smith titled, “There is Hope in Being Humble”. It referenced the art of tye dyeing fabric wrapping it with rubber bands. The parts of the fabric “tied up” and covered with rubber bands are not exposed to the dye and how you develop that skill can create spectacular fabric art. It’s a humbling exercise and you never know what your finished piece will look like until the bands are removed. That is why you don’t “sound a trumpet” as the plan you had in your mind may not come to fruition. This is when you receive the reward of your work.
The members of the meeting talked about what they individually like to do and their “hobbies” and things they do that represent their own humble creations and what “rewards” they receive from them. Topics included; acrylic art paintings, (allowing time to create something new on a blank canvas); gardening, (saving a dying plant by giving it extra love and care), and traveling differently, (knowing your limits and changing travel plans without expectations). There is hope in being humble when praying, giving to others, and in the arts.
Weaving Stronger Neighborhoods
Keith Calara and Jennifer Tokar have scheduled a lunch with our church members and the teachers at Shearer School so we can get to know each other better. The catered lunch for the teachers is on Friday, April 11th anytime from 11am. to 1pm. as the teachers stagger their lunch breaks. The idea is for members of our congregation to get to know the teachers and what their needs are and find out how we can partner with them to fill those needs. If you can spare a little time, even if only 1 hour during that lunch time event, please contact Keith and let him know that you will plan on being there. Let’s show some UWF support!
Another Retreat Opportunity
On Saturday, April 26th from 9am. – 3pm. The Windsor Community United Methodist Church is presenting “Earth Connect Retreat. Registration required to attend this retreat. To sign up, go to this link: www.cnumc.org/news?search=climate Cost is $5 – $10 suggested donation. A vegan lunch will be provided by the Himalayan Restaurant of Windsor.
Soles 4 Souls Donations
The Sarah Crosby Circle is coordinating a Soles 4 Souls event. Most people own many more shoes than they actually wear. Soles 4 Souls is a national nonprofit organization that accepts all styles and sizes of new or gently worn shoes and sneakers. A shoe drive fundraiser collects new or gently used shoes and sneakers to support a mission of turning donated footwear into funding for global anti-poverty initiatives. By participating, donors promote recycling and help provide shoes to those in need, reinforcing environmental responsibility and community support. The shoe donations will begin the first week of April and continue for the rest of the month. There will be a designated box for your shoe donations in the fellowship hall.
Napa Methodist Compassion Project
On Saturday, April 26th at 9:30 a.m. the sandwich and lunch assembly crew will be putting together 60 lunches for the Napa Homeless Shelter. If you can volunteer an hour of your time, please contact Leah Danao.
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Napa UWF Mission U Opportunity
We are looking for 2 volunteers from each of our Napa UWF circles to help coordinate a Mission U event at our church on Thursday evenings in May and June. We will be having a meeting after church on Sunday, April 27th at 10:45 a.m. to start the planning of these Mission U events. Please see Joan Feury at church or send her an email.
Birthday Celebrations in April
Napa UWF members celebrating a birthday this month are: Katherine Proctor (Apr. 2),
Louise Mehrens (Apr. 2), Jataun Hieb (Apr. 11) Molly Craver-Peck (Apr. 18) and Karen Brothers (Apr. 26) Happy Birthday to all!!
Ideas for Newsletter
Do you have an idea or a story to share in our monthly newsletter? If you would like to have an event or an article included in our Potpourri newsletter, please email Holly Zaccone or talk to her at church.
Earth Day Recognition
Earth day is Tuesday, April 22nd. Do you have a ritual or an experience that you usually do to recognize Earth Day? The current issue of the Response Magazine has an appropriate prayer for Earth Day. It is reprinted from the United Women in Faith and Creation Justice Ministries from 2023. I thought it would be appropriate to share in this month’s newsletter:
Pray – A Liturgy for Earth DayGod of seedtime and harvest, have mercy on us and hear our prayer: For children who go to bed hungry at night, and for parents who cannot find food for them. Lord, hear our prayer. For communities hungry because of flood, fire, or drought, and for governments who struggle to provide for them, Lord, hear our prayer. For farmers sowing seed and raising livestock to feed the world and for their care for the land that provides their livelihood, Lord, hear our prayer. For subsistence farmers vulnerable to climate changes, and for market gardeners vulnerable to price variations, Lord, hear our prayer. For those who are committed to organic farming practices, Lord, hear our prayer. For the wellbeing and ethical treatment of livestock, and for those who raise, transport and slaughter animals for food, Lord, hear our prayer. For soup kitchens, food banks, and aid agencies, and for the donors, volunteers, and staff who help feed the hungry, Lord, hear our prayer. For remote communities where fresh food is expensive and in short supply, Lord, hear our prayer. For policymakers and planners in land use and food production, and for community educators in diet and nutrition, Lord, hear our prayer. Gather us into your heavenly feast where all who hunger and thirst for justice will be satisfied. Amen