Know God. Love God. Serve God.
UMW is a community of women whose purpose is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ, to develop a creative, supportive fellowship, and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church. The UMW share together in food, faith and fun. Opportunities for gathering include general membership meetings, circle meetings, hands on mission projects, field trips and fundraising events. Membership is open to all women, from teen to adult.
Circle Meetings are usually once per month. Each circle sets its own schedule of additional meetings or special programs for the year, in addition to opportunities for general membership meetings, hands on mission projects, field trips and fundraising events. Membership is open to all women, from teen to adult.
Contact Marsha Ikle, UMW president, iklem@comcast.net.
General Meetings
Our entire membership is invited to these meetings, which are held on the 3rd Thursday of each month (unless otherwise noted) in the basement fellowship hall of the church. We usually begin at noon for lunch and include an educational program or activity, devotions and a short business meeting. The UMW encourages any and all guests to attend our General Meetings!
Circle Meetings
Our unit consists of 5 smaller circles of women. Each circle sets its own schedule of additional meetings or special programs for the year, in addition to the general meetings.
For more membership information, simply attend the meeting of your choice or call the church office at 810-229-8561.
While United Methodist Women remains our parent corporate name, as of May 2022 the international parent organization will be doing business as United Women in Faith. The purpose and governing structure remain the same.
Brighton First United Methodist Women celebrated the 150-year anniversary of the United Methodist Women’s beginning. The UMW began in 1869 when some wives of missionaries to India were home on furlough. They spoke to a group of eight women, describing the physical needs of the women in India. The women who were present called another meeting of women, wrote a constitution, and organized the Methodist Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society (WFMS).
These women recognized the opportunity to serve. They organized, drew up a constitution and have been working in mission all over the world ever since.
*“What connects United Methodist Women through time is the power of stories. In the past, Methodist women were called to action when they heard stories about other women living in poverty or lacking health care and education. Today, these stories of our foremothers inspire us all to act, to serve others, and to keep the legacy of United Methodist Women alive and growing.”
* https://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/news/united-methodist-women-150-years-in-mission
United Methodist Women, Abigail Circle (Whitmore Lake Campus) November 2018
Darla Miller, representing the Abigail Circle (United Methodist Women, Whitmore Lake Campus) awarded a check to Katie of Girl Scout Troop 76376 in South Lyon. Katie is working toward a merit badge by collecting nightgowns and blankets for Mid Michigan Hospice.
Abigail Circle gave a check to “Feral Kitty Trappers” who are located in South Lyon. The “Feral Kitty Trappers” trap feral cats and give them medical attention.
October 2018
Members of the United Methodist Women’s (UMW) Abigail Circle (Whitmore Lake Campus) visited the Regency Nursing Home in Whitmore Lake. From left to right is: June Possley, Karl (Activities Director, Regency Nursing Home) and Darla Miller. The Abigail circle recently purchased a Nintendo Wii system for the Regency residents (theirs had broken), and also gave 2 baskets of coloring books, colored pencils, crayons, puzzles, find-a-word, word search books and playing cards. The Regency residents were very happy with their gifts from the UMW Abigail Circle.
The United Methodist Women held a brunch in April, 2018 with the theme of F.A.I.T.H. in Fostering. It was a presentation on Foster Care in Livingston County. Several organizations that worked with Foster Youth and families contributed.
The assembly gathers every 4 years. It is a time for fellowship and for equipping ourselves to experience God’s call to mission with women, children and youth. This year we gathered in Columbus Ohio. Assembly includes community gathering, worship, participatory workshops and an Experience Hall. This year we celebrated 150 years 0f women organizing for mission and prepared for 150 more. The keynote speaker this year was Leymah Gbowee, Nobel Peace Prize Winner.
The photo collage above is from the October 2017 United Methodist Women’s (UMW) Michigan Conference held at Brighton First.
Photos from the United Methodist Women (UMW) October 2017 General Meeting. Pictured are: Guest speaker Greg Timmons who spoke on the Flint Water Crisis. Also pictured are the Dorcas hostesses, and Special Recognition recipients: Terry Keefe, Nancy Smail and Mary Johnson.
Christmas Season 2017-The Brighton United Methodist Women spread a little sunshine at the St Joseph Woodland Cancer Center last year by presenting 150 patients with small gift bags stuffed with items that the recipients might enjoy: small journals, pens, playing cards, lip balm, etc. We gathered the materials all summer long, assembled the bags, decorated them and took them to the Cancer Center where the staff presented them. Patients and staff loved our “Christmas Sunshine”
