Women's Support Group
The Women's Support Group is involved in a variety of projects, activities, and just plain fun events. Each year brings a different calendar of events and new ideas are encouraged! They are members of the Eastern Oregon Presbyterian Women Association and support their many mission projects and gatherings.The group welcomes women from the community as well as those in the our church. They meet on Wednesdays from 9:00-11:00am in the Fellowship Hall and are happy to have new faces join them at any time.
The stated purpose of the Women's Support Group is that "Forgiven and freed by God in Jesus Christ, 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. "In keeping with these goals, the Women's Support Group has been involved in the activites listed below.
OUTREACH
This program allows us to keep in contact with our college youth, military families, and missionaries. Several times a year, care boxes are sent as a reminder that we are thinking about them. Each year we send about 20 care packages plus cards to our extended church family.
MISSION MANIA
Our annual fundraiser, this auction event funds a full year of our various projects and mission activities. The auction (with our very own auctioneer, Fred Warner) is held in the fall following worship and a luncheon. It has been a fabulous success, thanks to donated items that have ranged from food and artwork to family trips.
"MAYDAY PROJECT"
We maintain a bedroom at a local shelter that we refurbished. We have spent countless hours (with lots of laughs) designing, painting, wallpapering, and decorating the room. The goal is to make the room welcoming and comfortable to the women and children who need this temporary refuge.BIBLE STUDY
Once a month we dedicate a Wednesday to our chosen Bible study topic. We recently studied "Unnamed Women in the Bible".
SECRET SISTER PROGRAM
This program is a fun way to keep in contact with all the women in the church, not just those able to attend the Wednesday morning group. Small gifts, cards, and other ways of letting our secret sisters know they are important to us are anonymously delivered 2 or 3 times per year.
CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES
Two Wednesday's in December are dedicated to COOKIES! One day is dedicated to filling decorated cookie tins with a variety of homemade cookies and delivering them to our church shut-ins and older single members. The second is our Christmas Tea and Cookies Exchange. This is our major party for the year. Yes, cookies are exchanged, but the highlight is the gift exchange. You have to be there (and we hope you will!) to get the full effect of the giving and receiving of gifts!
SPECIAL FOOD-RELATED GATHERINGS
"A CUP OF GRACE, HIGHT TEA WITH GOD "
This was our spring gathering, a time of fellowship and sharing. We ate British Food, prayed, sang, laughed, and made a Victorian Craft.
"BACK TO SCHOOL BRUNCH"
We invited all the women of our church community to join in the celebration of school beginning ."JOURNEY OF FAITH"
An evening of food, song, laughter, sharing, and rock painting during which we exlored our continuing path in faith.
HOSTING DINNERS AND LUNCHEONS
We have hosted breakfasts, brunches, lunches, and dinners for a variety of groups over the years including the Eastern Oregon Presbytery, council, committees, and other groups. We have also provided food and service for funerals throughout the year.
MISSION PROJECTS
We were involved with the following local mission projects:
Prepared toolkits for a women's home maintenance class at the Women and Children Center in Baker City, Oregon.
- Contributed money local organizations such as the Red Cross and the Bread of Life Food Bank.
- Provided scholarships to women wishing to attend the Gathering of Presbyterian Women.
- Provided food for local charitable groups such as the Chris Blacker Memorial Golf Tournament which supports the youth in Baker and Union Counties.
We contributed money or supplies to several statewide and global mission projects, including the following:
- Contributed money to Eastern Oregon Presbyterian Women to prepare AIDS Home Care Kits for families in Malawi.
- Coordinated assemblage of Personal Health Kits and cash donations to send to Huricane Katrina victims.
- Prepared Care Bags for Oregon children removed from their homes due to neglect or abuse.
- Worked with Pastor Susan to organize the quilt squares for the women's Ordination Celebration Banners. Over 1200 envelopes and letters holding quilt squares were examined and photographed.
- Contributed funds to support the Musalaha-Israeli/Palestinian Youth Retreats
- Prepared and sent a box of medical supplies to Provadenic.
- contributed money to International Peacemakers.
OTHER FUN ACTIVITIES:
- Church banner designing and construction
- Quilting
- Holiday parties--Halloween, Valentines Day, St. Patrick's Day, Earth Day, and April Fools
- Theme parties
- Christmas Crafts
For additional information please contact the church office by phone at (541)523-5201 or by email at presby@bakervalley.net for information on our activities! We hope to see you there.
