“April Showers Bring May Flowers”
Does anybody remember the “May Day of Flowers” tradition? I remember as a young girl that I used to pick flowers and put them on a neighbors front door step, ring the doorbell or knock on the door and then run away. It was an anonymous act of kindness. We even made paper baskets at school one year for a receptacle for the flowers. According to Farmers Almanac, this tradition dates back to the 19th & 20th centuries. Maybe it’s time to bring back that act of kindness. Happy May Day! And just in time for Friendship Day, which is traditionally the first Friday of May.
DAYS FOR GIRLS, SATURDAY, MAY 3
On Saturday, May 3rd, Napa UWF volunteers will once again meet in the Fellowship Hall from 9:30 – 11:00a.m. to sew Days for Girls kits. Even if you don’t know how to sew, if you can operate a pair of scissors, you are needed for this wonderful mission opportunity. We will see how much we can get done in just an hour and a half. See you there!
SOLES 4 SOULS
Napa UWF is currently taking donations this month for Soles4Souls. They are an organization that accepts all styles and sizes of new or gently-worn shoes and sneakers. One of their partners purchases and resells the shoes, creating jobs and helping people start and grow businesses to earn a living. Together, they turn donations into opportunities so that all people regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity or nationality can have access to a better life and a cleaner planet.
So bring in those shoes that you never wear or they just don’t fit right and make this worthy donation in the fellowship hall in the marked boxes. Thank you!
A SUCCESSFUL RETREAT !
The UWF Women’s Retreats have been compared to a “warm hug” and this year’s retreat was no exception! Our well attended event on April 5th was thought provoking and meaningful to all.
Pastor Marylee Sheffer was our retreat facilitator with guest speaker Jane Pernotto Ehrman. “Fruits of the Spirit”; Joy, Wonder and Peace, gave attendees moments of scripture study, creativity, 
A big “THANK YOU” goes out to Marylee Sheffer, Jane Ehrman, Pat Parker, Vicki Poli and Holly Zaccone for planning the retreat and we are already looking forward to the retreat next year.
CIRCLE MEETING UPDATES
The Katherine Parker Circle meets the second Thursday of the month at 10 a.m. Their April meeting gave attention to the histories of women in the early days of UWF from the Response magazine. Margaret Payne welcomed everyone and Mary Ann led the devotion time. Their program was Generational Influence: How Has Your Faith Changed Over The Years; with the discussion and sharing led by Connie Matthew-Warren. Attending Mission U on July 19th was discussed and Joan Feury gave the closing prayer.
The Susanna Wesley Circle met on Wednesday, April 9th at 1:00 p.m. They continued their program series of personal travel stories that make meaningful memories. Their emphasis is on how these travels or visits make a difference in their understanding and appreciation of diversity, equity, and inclusion. They will continue in May, so all have the opportunity to tell their story.
The Sarah Crosby Circle met on Saturday, April 12th at 9:30 a.m. Their program discussion focused on the importance of Traditions and Rituals in our lives. They talked about the grounding of the knowledge that certain things happen at the same time each year in both the Church calendar and our personal calendar. They agreed that it is very important for a sense of belonging in each of our many “worlds”.
They are well into the collection of Soles for Souls. They do hope church members will remember to donate their unwanted, still serviceable shoes of any kind.
The Teacher Resource Center has asked us to concentrate our School Drive this year on the loss leader items the stores offer each year. More on that when their circle sets up the school drive.
They welcomed a new member to their circle meeting; Meredith Jaynes.
MISSION U 2025
Practicing Hope Together is the theme for this year’s Mission U events. The Centennial United Methodist Church in Sacramento is holding one of these events on Saturday, July 19th from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Napa UWF is hoping to bring some of our members to this event and hoping we can create some car pools. If you are interested, please contact Joan Feury at for more information.
*** SAVE THE DATES! ***
FOOD, FAITH, FELLOWSHIP & HOPE
Napa UWF’s next event is scheduled for Thursday, May 29th at 5:30 p.m. We will have a light supper together and hear more about Faith, Fellowship & Hope from Pat Parker and Joan Feury.
The Randolph Street Social Club presents Giggles, Gab and Grub BBQ Style on Saturday, June 21st from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Fellowship Hall. More information to come but make sure to reserve this date on your calendar now!
NAPA METHODIST COMPASSION PROJECT
On Saturday, May 24th at 9:00 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.
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS IN MAY
Napa UWF members celebrating a birthday this month are:
Meredith Jaynes – May 10th
Rita Dunaway – May 14th
Lorrie Weeks – May 24th
Happy Birthday to all!!
DATES FOR MAY CIRCLE MEETINGS
The Katherine Parker Circle will meet on Thursday, May 8th at 10:00 a.m.
The Susanna Wesley Circle will meet on Wednesday, May 14th at 12 noon.
The Sarah Crosby Circle will meet on Saturday, May 10th at 9:30 a.m.
THRIFT STORE
Open: Sat. May 3 – noon to 2:00pm and
Tues, May 6, 13, 20, & 27 – 10 a.m. 2 p.m.
METHODIST HISTORY: The Founding Mothers of Mother’s Day
Ann Reeves Jarvis organized women’s clubs in the 1860s to serve suffering mothers and children. Women came together with their sisters in their locations to respond to the needs that they could see. Ann was in a coal mining part of what is now West Virginia. And she could see the needs of women and children and the effect of the economy of her day on the people that she cared for most directly. She started mothers clubs. And she talked to them about hydration for fevered babies, about sanitation and nutrition. Ann recruited nurses for military hospitals, and after the war formed friendship clubs to promote reconciliation. Ann Jarvis was convinced that mothers, women, but especially mothers, had to work for peace because they could see the ravages of war in their husbands and in their sons. Faith was always foremost. When she was older, Ann Jarvis and her daughter Anna became members of Philadelphia’s St. George’s Methodist Episcopal Church. Anna became a Sunday school teacher but she’s best known for the efforts she made to get Mother’s Day recognized as a national observance. She and John Wanamaker, who was a famous retailer, are the ones that got Woodrow Wilson to sign the petition.” Ann Jarvis died in 1905, before an official holiday was in place. But her daughter Anna (who was never a mother herself) stayed true to the purpose of the celebration. She envisioned Mother’s Day as a time to write a personal letter to your mother, a time to send her an inexpensive carnation (a flower in which the petals hold tight like a mother’s love) and a time to visit or attend church together. And so we say, Happy Mother’s Day to all who “mother” our communities with their voice, heart, faith, support and social actions.