First Edition
It’s finally here! The purpose of this newsletter is to create better communication between our circle meeting groups and United Women in Faith activities here in Napa and beyond. I am sure that this will evolve as time goes by, but for now we are happy to share our ideas, sisterhood, mission activities and our faith with all of our active members and members at large. Welcome to Potpourri! (credit of the name of this newsletter goes to Margaret Payne). Current producer is Holly Zaccone.
Review of our February 6th Forum
On the evening of February 6th, we held a social action event in our sanctuary. The forum, Gun Violence and Public Safety, was fairly well attended even though it was a rainy evening. Our invited speakers were Napa Police Chief Jennifer Gonzales; Vice Mayor and Councilmember Bernie Narvaez; and Jean Donaldson from the Napa County Office of Education. Our moderators and their topics and questions for our speakers were as follows: Lorrie Weeks, Gun Violence in Napa, policies on police actions and procedures in place for school violence; Sally Archambault, Communication within our community,
and public safety and awareness; and Connie Matthew-Warren addressed agencies approach to issues of ICE, hate group activities in Napa County and diversity in education and book bans. A big thank you goes out to Lorrie Weeks, Connie Matthew-Warren and Sally Archambault for organizing this event. For those of you who missed this great presentation, here is the youtube link to access the recording of the forum. https://youtu.be/2ADISLIHYQY
Circle Meeting Updates
The Katherine Parker Circle meets the 2nd Thursday of the month at 10:00 a.m. In February, the theme for their meeting was “How have scriptures and songs informed your faith?” from the UWF Program Resources book. The bible verse was from Proverbs 27:19, “Just as water reflects the face, so one human heart reflects another”. They shared book (continued next page)
(Circle updates continued) recommendations and decided to include that to their monthly agenda. They shared joys and concerns with each other, celebrated birthdays among their members along with some tasty treats and closed with a prayer.
The Sarah Crosby Circle meets the 2nd Saturday of the month at 9:30 a.m. In February, their focus was on an article by Diana Butler Bass called “My Ten W’s. These W’s represented actions to take during tumultuous times in our current political climate. These are the 10 W’s: Wake up; Welcome the Day; Walk; be With Others; Work; Write, Watch the news; practice Wide-sight, Weep and Wonder. After their lively discussion surrounding these actions, the group discussed plans for the next Giggles, Games, and Grub event scheduled for Saturday, March 1 at 4:30 pm. It is a soup sampler event, (provided) and lots of fun and games.
The Susanna Wesley Circle meets the 2nd Wednesday of the month for lunch at noon and their meeting starts at 1:00 pm. At their February meeting they read something from the Response magazine and talked about John Wesley and his “heart strangely warmed”. They also designed heart quilt blocks for little pillows which will go to the police to give children removed from unsafe situations.
* * * SAVE THE DATE * * *
SATURDAY, APRIL 5 AT 9:30 AM is when the next Women’s Retreat is happening. You don’t want to miss this event and it is sure to sell out. More info will be coming soon! Put this date on your calendars!
UWF 2025 Reading Program
Mary Herzog attended all the circle meetings in February and gave a presentation about the reading program. There are four different reading program plans to choose from and a new list of a variety of book titles, some of which will be available in our own library at the church or at the Napa County Library. Mary has updated the list and the sign-up sheets and they are available in our library. For more information, please send an email to Mary or talk to her at church.
Annual UWF Pledges
New UWF Brochures with Pledge Forms were passed out at all the February circle meetings. There are more of them available in the hallway in the UWF mail slot. We are continuing to receive pledges through the month of March.
World Day of Prayer
The World Day of Prayer is Friday, March 7. Church Women United are celebrating with a program from the Cook Islands at the chapel at the Meadows, 1900 Atrium Pkwy. at 11:00 am. If you would like to stay for lunch, the Rebekah Cafe will be open to the public with food choices around $10. The Los Rios District is doing a program on Zoom that day as well at 10:00 am. Anyone can register at www.LosRiosUMW.org. On their page, if you go to Events, under that heading you will see World Day of Prayer information and registration.
Days for Girls Sewing
UWF Days for Girls sewing is Saturday, March 1st, 9:30 am in the Fellowship Hall.
Napa UWF Exec Team
The Napa Exec Board members meet on Thursday, March 6th, at 11:00 am.
The Thrift Shop
The Thrift Shop reopened again on February 4th and continues every Tuesday from 10 am – 2 pm. There are always good deals to be found. And it is continuing to accept donations. The Thrift shop will be open Saturday, March 1st as well.
Support Our Girl Scout Troop
Our local Troop 11025 that meets at our church is still selling Girl Scout cookies as part of their annual biggest fundraiser. It’s not too late to purchase or make a donation of cookies. Their sales continue through mid-March. You can usually find one of the Scouts during Fellowship time Sunday mornings.
Lent at Napa Methodist
March 5th is Ash Wednesday. Ashes will be offered from 7:00-9:00 in front of Napa Noodles on First Street and at our church at 6:00 pm. Don’t forget to pick up a Lenten Devotional Booklet. Consider the devotions during Lent a daily ritual.
March is Women’s History Month
The theme for Women’s History Month in 2025 is “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations”. This theme recognizes the impact of women who have dedicated their lives to leadership, education, and mentorship.
Celebrating History – Methodist Women
Susanna Wesley, mother of John Wesley, married Samuel Wesley at the age of 19 and gave birth to 19 children. Samuel was a priest in the Church of England. In 1712, (history of methodist women continued) Samuel had to travel to London to preach and attend meetings, he left another man in charge of his parish at St. Andrew Church. Susanna thought his temporary substitute was a buffoon at best, so she began inviting friends, servants and her children to hear her preach at her home after regular Sunday services. From her kitchen, she was soon preaching to over 200 people each Sunday. John Wesley was about 8 or 9 years old when he saw his mother preaching to hundreds each week. From his mother’s example, he realized that to truly reach people, sometimes you have to bend some rules and welcome people into the Love of God, and sometimes this calls for unsanctioned actions outside the walls of the church.
By the early 1760’s the Methodist movement had women who spoke with religious authority. None of its official preachers were women, but women organized, led, and sustained the movement. Sarah Crosby was one of 3 women who opened an orphanage and school in 1763. They led prayer services and spoke from a place of religious authority to crowds of more that 200 men and women. Crosby recalled, “I saw it impracticable to meet all these people by way of speaking to each individual. I therefore gave out a hymn, and prayed, and told them part of what the Lord had done for myself”. And she was said about her preaching. “I do not think it wrong for women to speak in public provided they speak by the Spirit of God”.
Katherine Parker comes from a family with deep roots in United Methodism on the West Coast of California. Two grandfathers, a great-grandfather, an aunt and several cousins have served as United Methodist clergy. She graduated with Bachelor of Science and Master degrees in Biology and did her thesis on bacterial contamination of drinking water in rural Ghana. Since 2007, her mission work has taken her to Japan, Cambodia, and currently Nepal. Katherine is passionate about the process of linking values to action. She believes in telling the stories of our lives and exploring the stories of our faith.
Birthday Celebrations in March
Happy Birthday to our Napa UWF members; Mary Herzog, Leah Danao, Bobbi Bird, Barbara Thompson and Gretta Steinbruner.
Susanna Wesley Circle – March 12 @ noon Katherine Parker Circle – March 13 @ 10 am Sarah Crosby Circle – March 15 @ 9:30 am