Presbyterian Women
A Logo with Purpose
Forgiven and freed by God in Jesus Christ,
Forgiven and freed by grace through faith, the central figure stands in praise.
and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves:
Rooted in faith, the trio of women emerge. The outline of the central figure forms a cross. We are Presbyterian women, engrafted in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is no longer we who live, but Christ who lives in us.
to nurture our faith through prayer and Bible study,
The right figure holds a book to guide her reading, studying, praying or meditating.
to support the mission of the church worldwide,
The left figure reaches out to care for others, as she shares, nurtures and heals. The circle represents the church worldwide where women offer their gifts and talents in the midst of the global community.
to work for justice and peace,
The uplifted arms of the central figure reach out to embrace a just peace for the world. The relationship between the three figures depicts lives of wholeness rather than turmoil.
and to build an inclusive, caring, community of women
The three women have no distinct features and represent all women. The shapes surrounding them express energy, strength and openness.
that strengthens the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Our name, Presbyterian Women, ties us to our denomination. The Bible resembles the Bible depicted in the PC(USA) seal.
and witnesses to the promise of God's Kingdom.
Guided by the PW Purpose, Presbyterian Women witnesses to the reality of God’s present realm.
Presbyterian Women in the Congregation
Presbyterian Women in the Congregation (PWC) exists to build community, affirm women’s calls to leadership, raise concerns and channel information to and from Presbyterian Women in the Presbytery.
At the most basic level, every PWC group
· elects its own leadership — the coordinating team
· plans and implements a yearly program and determines its own budget
· meets in small groups and participates in PW programming, such as use of the Horizons Bible study, celebration giving, mission interpretation and special ministries to the congregation and community
· supports the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) worldwide through education, interpretation, global awareness and financial and material gifts
· develops the leadership abilities of women
· recognizes its accountability to the session, including an annual report with a financial record
· preserves historical records of PW
· maintains connections with PW at other governing body levels
· benefits from the services of the PW leadership network.
· encourages support of PW’s affiliations
The specifics of how a Presbyterian Women in the Congregation group operates depends on the needs and desires of the group. Some congregations have multiple PWC groups, often called circles; some have only one group. Some circles dedicate themselves to one goal only — Bible study, mission or a yearly meeting — while other circles have several projects and goals throughout the year.
What is a circle?
A circle is:
- where faith is nurtured and growth take place through worship, study, friendship and outreach
- where women are challenged to stretch beyond their limits
- where women move beyond the safe places of life and reach out to others
- where Christian leadership is born, nurtured and sent forth into ministry
Many circles meet monthly, although others may meet more or less frequently. If your congregation has more than one circle, try to meet at different times — women can participate in both circles or may be available for only one time spot. Try to be flexible with meeting times.
Make sure meetings are well publicized within the congregation. If your congregation has a welcome or hospitality committee, make sure the committee members have details about the circle meetings to share with new members.
Basic to circle life is the Horizons Bible study. Some circles may have a dual study of both the Bible study and a mission study. Other circles may study current issues, such as peace, hunger, racism or another topic from a Christian perspective. In addition to using the Bible study resource in every issue to supplement your Bible study, the books and videos reviewed in Horizons can be used for effective program planning.
Vital to the interpretation of mission and meaningful worship is the use of the Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, as well as all issues of Horizons. Don’t forget the free online support piece for each issue — “Make the Most of Your Magazine.”
For additional info go to www.pcusa.org/pw
PW at First Presbyterian Church, Washington, NJ
Deborah/Ruth circle meets the second Monday of the month at 2:00 in the parlor.
Rachel circle meets the second Tuesday of the month at 1:00 in the parlor.
Martha Circle (formerly the Mother’s Group) meets the third Friday at a member’s home.
All women of the church are invited to attend the circle meetings.
Special Programs
Sunday, January 17 – Blanket Sunday
Friday, March 5 – World Day of Prayer
Friday, May 7 – May Friendship Day
Sunday, November 14 – Praise Service and Potluck Luncheon