It’s Apple Harvest Season! Do you have a favorite recipe? It’s time for applesauce, apple bread, apple pie, apple crisp, apple muffins, apple fritters, apple cake, apple dumplings, …and the list goes on and on. If you’d like to share a recipe in the October newsletter, send it to Holly Zaccone.
COMPASSION WEEKEND
Please consider donating men’s and women’s new socks for our Napa homeless community. The socks will be sorted on Saturday, September 13th at 9:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Our Napa UWF is purchasing toiletries for the homeless and everyone is invited to help assemble the kits on Saturday, September 13th at 11:00 a.m. Sign-up sheets for these projects and RSVP for the church celebration barbeque Saturday at 5:00pm. are in the Fellowship hall Sunday mornings.
ANNOUNCING OUR SPECIAL EVENTS
FOR 2025-2026
Reserve these important dates in your calendars now!!!
Friday, October 17th 6:00 – 8:00pm
“Speaking up for Justice”
Special speakers and a dinner of Pizza and Salad provided.
Saturday, December 13th 1:00 p.m.
Christmas Tea and Silent Auction
Saturday, January 31st 9:00 -2:00 p.m.
“Connect and Learn”
We are hosting this event for the Los Rios District.
Saturday, April 25th 9:00 – 3:00 p.m
Annual Women’s Retreat
“Practicing Hope”
Thursday, June 18th 11:00 a.m.
Picnic with Napa UWF Friends
“Building Communities Of The Spirit
Possibly at Kennedy Park
Days for Girls will be the first Saturdayof September, November, March, May
9:30 – 11:00 a.m. in Fellowship Hall.
CIRCLE UPDATES
The Sarah Crosby circle held their August meeting on Saturday the 9th at 9:30 am. They continued conversations from the book, “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz. The subject of the “3rd Agreement” section of the book was “Don’t Make Assumptions” and they had good and lively discussions with everyone participating regarding this topic. Marlene Haas reported on the Crayola crayon collections for the back to school donations which was once again a success. Their next circle meeting will be held on Saturday,
September 13th at 9:30 a.m. All are invited to attend.
The Katherine Parker circle did not meet the month of August. They usually take a break and resume their monthly meetings in September. Their next scheduled meeting will be Thursday, September 11th at 10:00 a.m. All are invited to attend.
The Susanna Wesley circle is currently available for any of our Napa women and members at large that cannot attend the times of the other two circles. For more information, please reach out to Holly Zaccone.
NAPA UWF IN RESPONSE MAGAZINE
Napa UWF was recognized in the September/October issue of Response,
the national and official magazine of United Women in Faith! Susan Quintana submitted the article and photo about the quilted heart pillows donation to the Courage Center of the Napa County District Attorney’s office and Response published it along with the picture of the Susanna Wesley circle! The article was titled “Providing Comfort in California”. Thank you Susan!
DAYS FOR GIRLS
The next Days for Girls event will be Saturday, September 6th. Napa UWF volunteers meet in the Fellowship Hall from 9:30 – 11:00am 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. See you there!
GIGGLES,
GAB, AND GRUB
The next Giggles, Gab and Grub is scheduled for Saturday, September 27th from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. This time it will feature barbequed hamburgers, baked beans, and ice cream sundaes!
LOS RIOS DISTRICT CELEBRATION
The Los Rios District of United Women in Faith is having their Annual celebration on Saturday, September 20th from 9:00am – 1:00pm. This year’s event will be held at the Wayside United Methodist Church in Vallejo. They are located at 2309 Columbus Parkway. Cost is $20.00 with lunch included. The annual celebration features a speaker and opportunities for spiritual growth, reflection, and community gathering. The featured speaker is Pastor Laurie Bayen from Windsor UMC.
THRIFT SHOP
Our thrift shop continues to thrive with ongoing donations and special sales. Open every Tuesday from 10:00 – 2:00 pm and the first Saturday of the month!
Member Spotlight
BOBBI BIRD – This year the Napa UWF welcomes Bobbi to our Executive Team in the position of Membership Growth and Outreach. She volunteered her nomination for this new role and the team is looking forward to the energy and commitment that she has used in all her current and past positions at our church.
Bobbi used to be a volunteer for Sunday School and was also a Worship Host Coordinator for many years. She has served on the Staff Parish committee and is currently a member of the Finance Committee and the Katherine Parker circle. She is also participating this year in the “Reading the Bible in a Year” study group and also a member of our Uke-Laity group. In fact, her husband Jim, built the ukulele that she plays.
Bobbi was born in Oakland and attended Castlemont High School. She grew up with 2 younger brothers. She attended Cal Berkeley and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Child Development and then stayed an extra year to receive her TeachingCredential. Bobbi worked as a 3rd grade teacher for a couple years. She married her husband, Jim, who was also from Oakland, and they lived in UC San Francisco student housing for a couple of years. Jim became a dentist and went into the Navy and he was gone for 9 ½ months. They moved to Nebraska in 1969 and lived there for 6 years as he went to medical school to become a medical doctor and surgeon. Afterward, they moved back to Oakland for his surgery residency and eventually moved to Napa where he had his own practice. Bobbi worked in Jim’s office for many years until Jim retired from being a surgeon.Bobbi became a tour guide for the Napa Valley working with very high end customers for 20 years. She also worked for the Yountville Visitors Center for 5 years. She was a Master Gardener for over 20 years and she enjoys gardening as well as tending to their apple trees and olive trees. Bobbi and Jim have 3 children; 2 sons, one of which teaches Nursing at Napa Valley College and 1 daughter who lives in Napa and is a 3rd grade teacher. Bobbi has enjoyed helping her daughter in her classroom. Bobbi and Jim have been married for 62 years.
Favorite Hobby: Gardening
Favorite Holiday: Christmas
Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite Restaurant: Bistro Don Giovanni
First Car: Yellow 1972 Volkswagon Beetle
Favorite Travels: Mediterranean Cruise
Favorite Church Memory: A Christmas Eve Service with Carolyn Bisel singing “O Holy Night”. And a Christmas Eve Service in Omaha at the Episcopal Methodist Church where it started to snow as they left the church.
What would you tell your younger self:
“I would say to have faith that I can do it and not question myself too much”. Thank you Bobbi for your service to Napa Methodist Church!
United Women In Faith
Assembly May, 15 -17 2026
Assembly 2026 is a once every four years gathering of women committed to faith, empowerment, and making a difference. It is described as a weekend event that uplifts your soul, strengthens your faith, and brings you together with an unstoppable sisterhood. This time the event will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana. Anyone is invited to attend so time to mark it on your calendars! Registration opens September 1st. If you would like more information or are thinking about attending, please contact Bobbi Bird.
Dream it, Believe it, Do it!!
COMPASSION MINISTRIES
Eva and Mike’s Brown Bags will need volunteers on Saturday, Sept. 27th at 9:30 a.m. to help build 80 lunches for the homeless shelter. Home baked cookies are always a needed donation as well.
NAPA FOOD BANK
The Sarah Crosby Circle is planning a food drive to benefit the Napa Food Bank. The donations will be accepted in the fellowship hall during the month of October. More information next month.
CALIFORNIA/NEVADA UWF
The 2025 UWF Annual Celebration Event is Saturday, October 4th from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Centennial Methodist Church in Sacramento. This year’s theme is “For Such A Time As This” and the guest speaker is Bishop Sandra K. Olewine. “As we get to know each other, we will have the opportunity to learn how God has and is moving in our lives and to discern what God is urging us to do together as we move forward in this season.” The cost is $25.00 and the deadline to register for this event is September 19th.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
Sept. 1 – Online Registration begins for
UWF 2026 Assembly
Sept. 4 – Exec Team meeting 11:00 am
Sept. 6 – Days for Girls 9:30 am
Sept. 6 – Saturday Thrift Store Open
Sept. 11 – Katherine Parker Circle 10 am
Sept. 12 – Compassion Projects Begin
Sept. 13 – Sarah Crosby Circle 9:30 am
Sept. 13 – Sort donated socks 9:30 am
Sept. 13 – Assemble Toiletry Kits 11 am
Sept. 13 – Church Compassion BBQ 5 pm
Sept. 19 – Deadline for Registration to
Cal/Nev Annual Celebration
Sept. 20 – Los Rios District UWF
Annual Celebration in Vallejo
Sept. 27 – Eva and Mike’s Brown Bag
Lunches 9:30 am
Sept. 27 – Giggles, Gab and Grub
BBQ & Ice Cream 4:30-6:30 pm
Oct. 4 – Cal/Nev UWF Celebration
SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS
Sept. 1st – Jannie Amoroso
Sept. 3rd – Aletha Silcox
Sept. 17th – Donna LaPoint
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL OF YOU!
OPPORTUNITIES FOR LISTENING
FAITH TALKS
“Faith Talks” is a United Women In Faith podcast . You can listen to these monthly conversations, hosted by Jennifer R. Farmer. Each month they explore timely themes and resources from expert insights on ways to live your faith to inspiring interviews with spiritual leaders.
Some of the titles of their past podcasts have been:
“Cultivating Compassion During Difficult Times”, “Tools to Process Grief”, “Intergeneration Learning” and “2025 Mission U Authors”.
Here is the link for the website which will give you a list of discussions to choose from. Each is approximately one hour long and enjoyable to listen to.
www.uwfaith.org/resources/podcasts/
RESPONSE PODCAST
Tune in to audio versions of some of the top articles from each issue of Response magazine. Topics cover everything from spiritual growth and living our faith with local, national and international work.
www.uwfaith.org/resources/podcasts/
SACRED GROUND
ON THE OTOCAST APP
This free app for your phone was recommended to me by Susan Quintana. She is willing to help anyone who has an interest in this phone app. She personally has contributed many photos and she has recorded a couple of audios for Pastor Laurie Bayen of Windsor UMC. This app encourages spiritual reflection and faithful action for the earth in those places where nature lovers feel closest to God.
A free audio “tour” of over 60 scenic vistas, parks and trails (about a third of them in Sonoma County, and others in the North Bay, East Bay, and as far south as Tulare County and as far north as the Oregon border, with more to come!), which connects visitors with knowledge about natural history, ecology, indigenous stewardship and environment challenges, climate justice issues along with guidance in a mindful spiritual practice and a call to action.
To access Sacred Ground, search for and download OTOCAST from the App Store or Google Play. Type “Sacred Ground” in the “search” box. Then click on Sacred Ground and explore!