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The Presbyterian Women of Hope Church adopted the name "Gleaners" after the example of Ruth in the Bible. Just as Ruth gleaned the fields and used what others did not want or need, our women were the cornerstone of our church when it was believed nothing could be done to save it. In the early years of our church they used old discarded fabric to fashion quilts which were sold at auction. Discarded furniture was refinished and sold. Through their efforts the church was able to remain stable and continued to grow.
Today the women use unwanted items and creatively fashion them into objects that are then sold at local craft fairs. The funds raised are used to provide equipment and other supplies for our church kitchen. In the past, our funds helped build that kitchen and lay the rug. The proceeds from our annual February Love Calendar project help to pay the mortgage on our church.
New ideas are constantly broadening our range of mission and service to the Lord's people. For instance, we were recently able to purchase 40 new pew Bibles. When it became obvious that, with the growth of our congregation, not everyone had access to the existing Bibles in the pew racks, we were thrilled for the opportunity to fill a need. Many of our projects take place behind the scenes, but when we arranged to have all the windows and screens at the church cleaned, everyone noticed! We’re also very happy to support our church school students and teachers whenever possible.
Through our Bible studies, we are constantly learning what God wants us to do with the lives He has given us. May He continue to bless our group as He has in the past.
Our Purpose
The Presbyterian Women Group meets on the second Monday of the month at 1:00pm to 3:00 pm, September through June.
and empowered by the Holy Spirit we commit ourselves
to nurture our faith through prayer and Bible study,
to support the mission of the church worldwide,
to work for justice and peace, and
to build an inclusive, caring community of women
that strengthens the Presbyterian church (USA) and
witnesses to the promise of God's kingdom.
The Least CoinThe Fellowship of the Least Coin links prayer and "least coins" in a very significant way, as the "least coin" becomes the symbol of prayer for peace and reconciliation. It was begun in 1956 by Shanti Solomon of India who considered that women anywhere could have a sense of being part of a worldwide family of faith as they prayed for peace and reconciliation in the family, the community, the nation and the world and set aside the "least coin" of their country as a token of that prayer. The giving of the "lease coin" was to be only a symbol of the prayer for peace, a symbol made more significant by the gathering of the "least coins" from throughout the world into a common fund where the identity of the donor is lost and the oneness of women in their common quest for peace is symbolized.
Grants are made by an international committee for special projects of evangelism, service and relief throughout the world, particularly programs of development and empowerment of women and opportunities for women to meet internationally and ecumenically.
Birthday Offering
In 1922, ten years after the Women's Auxiliary of the Presbyterian Church in the United States (PCUS) was formed, the women sought an appropriate way to celebrate what the Auxiliary had meant to them. Mrs. Hallie Paxson Winsborough, Superintendent of Women's Work, touring mission stations in the Orient, visited Miss Dowd's School for Girls in Kochi, Japan. She saw inadequate facilities and crowded rooms, and recognized a need which could be met by Presbyterian Women in the United States. Returning home she challenged all the women of the church to give only one penny for each year of their lives (or a dollar) as a "Birthday Gift" to those school girls in Japan. Thus began a tradition of annual Women of the Church Birthday Celebrations. The offerings have enabled a long succession of new and often innovative mission projects to be accomplished both overseas and in the United States. This offering is received in the spring and may be dedicated at Spring Gatherings. Up to five projects are designated by the Creative Ministries Offering Committee.
The Thank Offering
The Thank Offering began when Mrs. Eliza Clokey of Springfield, Ohio urged each woman to give over and above her usual contribution to the Women's General Missionary Society as a "thank offering to her Lord". This offering is received in the fall and may be dedicated at Fall Gatherings. Forty percent of this offering is designated to support hospitals and other health ministries throughout the world. The balance is used for new creative areas of mission.