The Purpose of UMW The organized unit of United Methodist Women shall be 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. What is known today as the United Methodist Women organization actually began in the mid-1800’s. Globally, the UMW has more than one million members. Programs of UMW Grace United Methodist Women meet in a General Meeting session three times a year (first Wednesday of the months of September, December, and May at 11:00 a.m. in the Wesley Center) followed by a luncheon. Annual mission projects of the UMW include the collection of white towels and wash cloths for Epworth Children’s Home in Columbia, church-wide diaper collection for CMONA, and assisting with hygiene kits for the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). The annual fundraiser is the pecan sale each fall. The majority of the profits are for scholarships which are awarded to qualifying church members pursuing education beyond high school. In 2009, Grace’s UMW was extremely blessed to provide a total of $6000 in scholarships to eight deserving students. Additional mission outreach opportunities of the UMW are home ministry to shut-ins and delivery of the sanctuary flowers to those in nursing homes or to church members experiencing illness. The UMW prepares and mails care packages regularly to college students. The UMW also provides funeral meals as needed.
