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WOMEN'S CIRCLES OF FELLOWSHIP
Makeup, Organization, Activities - The loosely connected circle of circles above represents the Women's Circles of Fellowship at First Congregational Church (UCC) of Battle Creek. We are the women of the church. Some of us are connected to the larger whole by individual women's circles; others participate as individual members of the whole. Any woman who is a member of First Congregational Church is welcome to join any circle and/or to participate in Women's Circles of Fellowship activities. Our activities emphasize both service and educational opportunities for women, and we enjoy fellowship along the way. The Women's Circles of Fellowship Board comprises representatives from each circle and other interested women of the church. The Board sponsors activities within the church, calling on circles and all women of the church for assistance and support. Women's Circles of Fellowship sponsors and provides financial support for the "First Monday Sewing Group." This is a committed group of women who meet once monthly and/or work at home to create hundreds of much-needed knitted, sewn, and crocheted items for area nursing homes and layette sets and school bags for Church World Service. While some of our projects support the church and our women, we also look beyond the local church for worthwhile projects for which we can offer financial and hands on support. We have supported a missionary couple currently serving in So. Africa who were formerly associated with our church. Our most recent project has been a commitment to furnishing one complete room at the new facility for homeless families in our community. Fund-raising is an important part of our program year. The church bazaar in the fall and the Odds and Ends (rummage/garage) sale in the spring both require the help of many hands and always help to fill our coffers.  Christmas crafts and lots of goodies are always a part of our Women's Circles of Fellowship bazaar. Recently we have revived our Lenten "White Breakfast," providing an opportunity for women of our church and beyond to gather just prior to Easter for devotions and fellowship. The Women's Circles of Fellowship truly makes a significant impact on the church through the commitment, love, and corporate power of our body of talented church women. History - Since the late 1800's, women have been an important part of our church. First known as the Church Aid Group, they planned suppers and other ways to earn money for the church. At a later time they were called the Ladies Aid Society and four circles, named "North," "South," "East," and "West," were formed. Members belonged to the circle corresponding to the part of the town where they lived! In 1914 a young women's group and the Ladies Aid Society joined together to become the Women's Society, and ten circles were named; the first was the Plymouth Guild. Many of the circles were also named for women who came over on the Mayflower in keeping with our pilgrim heritage. Through the years following those early women's groups 26 different circles have been created. In 1956 our name was changed to Women's Fellowship; we are now known as The Women's Circles of Fellowship. While there are far too many projects of the women's groups over the years to mention them all, some which are best remembered are scrumptious church dinners and beautiful wedding receptions. Two of the circles made their famous "Congregational Plum Puddings" which were sold within the church and far beyond for over 60 years. Some circles published cookbooks which are still used in the homes of some members. And for more than 30 years, the Women's Fellowship was the sponsoring group of the "Town Hall Series" which brought four or five notable speakers to the Battle Creek community each year. A reported finding of an independent survey done some years ago within the church was that the women's group of the church was one of its strongest assets. Honored and humbled by such a compliment, the Women's Circles of Fellowship group strives always to be an asset to the church. Individual Circles of the Women's Circles of Fellowship Betsy Williams Circle The Betsy Williams Circle was formed in 1938 and named after a descendant of Roger Williams at the suggestion of a former beloved pastor of the church, Dr. Carleton Brooks Miller, who was also a descendant of Roger Williams. Meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month, weather permitting. Some are "lunch or dinner out" meetings. Circle members provide and assemble school kits for Church World Service and also have undertaken a service project through the Charitable Union in Battle Creek, an organization that provides donated clothes to those in need. Chapel Circle The Chapel Circle was established in 1946 when the Miller Chapel was being planned. Its original purpose was to assist the Women's Fellowship in carrying out church activities with special emphasis on meeting the needs which would be associated with the new chapel. Meetings of this circle are held on the 4th Tuesday afternoon of each month with the exception of July, August, December and January. Various speakers from the community are featured for circle programs. Providing and assembling health kits for Church World Service and a sewing day each year are service projects. Doris Ware Circle Created in 1974, the Doris Ware Circle is the youngest of our current six circles in the church; many members are working women with children still living at home. This circle was named after a member of our church who was a committed servant of the church for many years and a role model for some of the founding members of this circle. The circle meets four evenings a year, usually in March, May, September, and December. A major undertaking of this group, the "Soup Ministry," provides soup which is frozen and then available to be taken to members who may be recovering from illness or just in need of a friendly visit. Mary Daniels Circle The Mary Daniels Circle was formed in 1946 and was named after the mother of the first child baptized in our very first church - the log cabin. This group meets on the third Thursday of each month, September through May. Each meeting involves an interesting speaker or service project. Money earned by participation in the annual bazaar is used to support ministries at the church such as the radio ministry. The Franklin Food Pantry, SafePlace, and other local community charitable organizations are also supported. Wider church ministry projects include providing and assembling health kits for Church World Service. Susanna Winslow-Ruth Vore Circle The first meeting of the Susanna Winslow circle, made up of some of the younger businesswomen of the church at that time, was in December 1946. They chose the name Susanna Winslow, a pilgrim woman, in keeping with a tradition that a number of circles before them had followed. In 1973 the Ruth Vore Circle, which had been formed in 1960 and named after the mother of Dr. Duane Vore, our senior minister at the time, voted to merge with the Winslow Circle. For many years, the best known project of this group was making 300-600 lbs. of Plum Puddings each October which sold during the holidays. Craft shows were also money makers which provided funds for benevolent giving. Current service projects include helping at the Charitable Union, donating school kits for Church World Service, and staffing the Salvation Army Angel Tree at Christmas time. The circle meets the second Monday in September, December, April and June at members' homes. Twenty Third Circle The 23rd Circle was organized in 1956 and was so named because it was the 23rd Circle to be formed over the years in the church; also, the 23rd Psalm became the guiding theme for the circle. The circle meets the third Monday of each month, except January and February, and meetings are generally held in members' homes. Service projects include one meeting to work at the Charitable Union and one at the church for cleaning. A money making project is each year is making soup for sale at the Women's Fellowship Holiday Bazaar. Benevolences - Circles and Women's Circles of Fellowship Board for 2005 Inasmuch House $191, 4 baby quilts Haven of Rest $625 Salvation Army $350 Olivet College (Scholarships) $500 SafePlace $200 SNAP Program $50 CAA, Heating Assistance $500 Nursing Clinic/Battle Creek $500 Global Ministries $600 Habitat for Humanity $250 Humane Society Calhoun Area $325 Rotary International $50 Neighborhood Inc. $25 Charitable Union $200, 800 pounds of used clothing Remember-A-Vet $100 Santa's Helper $50 Franklin Food Pantry $ 150 Goodwill Industries - 500 pounds used clothing Least Coin $ 19.17 Neighborhoods Inc. $ 25 VA Hospital - 75 pounds of used clothing Lion's Club 6 prs. Glasses 1 lens Doris Klaussen School 548 Campbells' soup labels 5 pounds pop can tabs United Campus Ministry $50 First Congregational Church (UCC) of Battle Creek: Building Fund $2000 Operating Fund $ 400 Nursing Program $ 75 Library Fund $ 25 Music Fund $ 75 Neighborhood Caring Committee $ 75, 1 quilt Burmese Community Mission Team $ 25 Local OCWM $ 25 Programs $ 75 Flower Fund $ 30 Radio Fund $387.50 Church World Service $694 61 health kits 24 school kits 10 layettes $127 for shipping kits Area Nursing Homes 60 Foley bags 76 Crocheted lap robes 38 Fabric lap robes 53 Knitted lap robes 83 Walker bags 91 Wheelchair bags 6 Single amputee socks 1 Pr. + 4 single knitted knee warmers 43 Knitted hats 98 Prs. Knitted slippers 75 Small pillows 10 Knitted capes Support for 7 women to attend national UCC meeting Related Links www.ucc.org/women/ www.globalministries.org/ www.churchworldservice.org/ |
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