Darnestown Presbyterian Women’s Association  (DPW)

Our DPW organization bases it structure on Presbyterian Women of the PCUSA, whose statement of purpose sets out our shared goals:

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 and witnesses to the promise of God’s kingdom.

All women of Darnestown Presbyterian Church are automatically members of DPW.  We encourage you to join in all the DPW activities.  If you would like the group to sponsor a speaker, launch a circle, start a study, consider a hands-on mission or any other new activity, please let us know - all ideas are welcome.  We hope women of all ages will feel welcome to this fellowship.

The DPW Annual Bazaar & Boutique

The Annual Bazaar is Darnestown Presbyterian Women’s one money-making event of the year.  It takes place on the first Saturday of November each year, and provides a fun and exciting opportunity for fellowship for all members of the Church.  We work on crafts and projects in small groups throughout the year, and bring it all together in November with spectacular results!  There is a large focus on Crafts and Baked Goods made by the women (and some men!) of the church, but the Bazaar also includes a Book Sale, a Collectibles and Antiques room, and gently used Toys and Sports Equipment. A large part of the Bazaar is the Silent Auction, which offers an opportunity for the whole Church to be involved in offering goods, services and leisure activities for bid.

The Bazaar in 2011 was held on Saturday, Nov. 6th from 8:30am-3:30pm.  Thanks to all who worked so hard to prepare!

Missions Supported by DPW

Children’s Hospital – serving the needs of the community of the Washington Metropolitan Area.

Church Women United – a racially, culturally, theologically inclusive Christian women’s movement representing 25 million women, celebrating unity in diversity and working for a world of peace and justice.

Church World Service – Through the Tools of Hope & Blankets program, DPW supports their effort to meet immediate and long-terms needs of people in crisis around the world.

Germantown HELP – Offers delivery of an emergency 3 day food supply, prescription assistance program, and diapers to needy residents of Germantown, MD.   Also coordinates the Holiday Basket program for distribution of Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets.

Guatemalan Tomorrow Fund

Heifer Project International

Hospice Caring – Offering free non-medical hospice services to terminally ill patients and their families and bereavement programs to those who have lost a loved one.

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Lord’s Table – A group of volunteers sharing a common concern for disadvantaged people, working in cooperation with Montgomery County churches, synagogues, & community service organizations to feed the needy, offer referral services, and promote efforts to prevent hunger and homelessness.

Mercy Health Clinic

Montgomery Hospice/Casey House – The only facility in Montgomery County designed and built to provide 24 hour hospice care.

Nightingale House

Drift KY – Our church sponsors an annual trip to this under-privileged Appalachian Mountains community, working with missionary Doreen Martin.  A group of about 20 conducts a Vacation Bible School program each morning and works on home improvements each afternoon.

Opportunity International – a micro-finance organization that provides opportunities for people in chronic poverty to transform their lives.  Recognizing that the large majority of the world’s poorest are women, and that they contribute decisively to the well-being of their families, Opportunity International makes it a priority to support programs serving the particular needs of women.

Presbyterian Committee on Northern Ireland –an unprecedented joint effort of the PC(USA), the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI), the U. S. Catholic Conference, and the Northern Bishops of the Irish Episcopal Conference aimed to make peace by uniting the voice of the churches.

Presbyterian Disaster Relief

Presbyterian Medical Benevolence Fund

Samaritan’s Purse - A nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world, and helping to meet needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God's love.

Stepping Stones Shelter

Winter Growth -  Assists health-impaired older and disabled adults with services designed to support independence, enhance self-esteem and promote the dignity of each individual.

In addition to these organizations and missions, the funds raised by DPW also go to financially support areas of spiritual development in our own church community:

Christian Education Support

Community Service/DPC Family

Hands-on Mission Opportunities

Youth Group Retreat/Support

2012 DPW Officers

Jan Summers - President

OPEN - 1st Vice-President  (programs)

Belinda  O'Berry and Joy Wikoff - co-2nd Vice-Presidents  (annual bazaar)

Sally Belcher - Treasurer

Anita Goldshine  - Recording Secretary

Sue Gordon - Publicity

Judy Wenig - Missions

Kathy Kurkjian - Historian

Carrie Daughtry - Kitchen Coordinator

Sandy Kahn - Mary Lydia Circle Representative

Any of the members of the DPW Board of Directors will be happy to provide information to those wishing to get involved in any of our missons, study groups, activities and events.

Circles

For a circle to be complete, there must be a coming together.  Circles shaped around heartfelt needs will achieve the purpose of Presbyterian Women.  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

The DPW Mary Lydia Circle is currently a group of about 15 women, and meets at 10am on the first Thursday of the month in the Church Parlor and occasionally in member's homes.  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.  The members of the Circle decide on the study course they want to undertake.

Other circles are planned at DPC and it is hoped will be formed in the near future.

DPW 2013 Calendar of Events

Saturday, February th - Annual Presbyterian Women’s Prayer Breakfast

February 22-23, 2013 - DPW Retreat

May 5 - Annual DPW Spring Banquet

June - Teddy Bear Picnic

July-August-September - Crafting Workshops announced in the Weekly Bulletins and Email Updates

September __ - National PW Fall Meeting

September __ - Cluster PW Meeting at DPC

Saturday, November ___ from 9am-3:30pm, Annual Bazaar & Boutique

Sunday, December 1 - Annual Christmas Tea for women and daughters.

Annual Retreat

DPW organizes a weekend retreat each year, usually in February or March.  The locations vary from year to year, and are attended by approximately 20 or so participants.

In 2009, we met at Meadowkirk, a facility in a serene setting, perfect for communing with God, nature and each other.  The Retreat was lead by Ruth Sweet of our congregation, and she taught us about “Praying in Color.”  We learned about meditative prayer in various forms including Lexio Divina and walking a labyrinth.

Woman of the Year

In 1989, the DPW Board decided to honor a woman each year at the Spring Dinner.  The honoree is an individual who has shown distinguished service to DPW and contributed to the missions and activities of Darnestown Presbyterian Women and who has been involved with the life of the church.  The recipient of the award receives a certificate of Honorary Lifetime Membership in Presbyterian Women of the Presbyterian Church (USA), and her name is engraved on the plaque that is displayed outside the Parlor.  She also receives a pin that is the symbol of PW PC(USA).

The women who have been chosen for this award over the years are:

Presbyterian Women of the Presbyterian Church (USA)

PW is organized at all levels of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).  Women’s groups have existed in the Presbyterian Church for over 200 years and have more than 300,000 members.  PW assumed a formal role in raising funds for missions in the late 1800’s and at the request of the General Assembly.  This year, PW celebrates the 20th anniversary of Presbyterian Women, after the reunification of our denomination earlier in the 1980’s and an effort to broaden the organization beyond mission support.

Presbyterian Women offers women in the church meaningful ways to live out their faith in the midst of a caring community of women.  Any group of women who enjoys mission, Bible study or advocacy could become a PW group.  The 198th General Assembly (1986) received the PW Purpose and Principles of Organization, recognized PW as the body within PCUSA that supports all women’s ministries, and affirmed the independence and responsibility of Presbyterian Women to make its own decisions concerning leadership, program, and budget.  A Covenant between General Assembly Council and PW in 2001 formalized this independent relationship and gave the PW Moderator a voice and vote on Council.  Recent initiatives from the 2006 triennial gathering include work and studies on immigration issues and racism as they affect women.

You can read more about PW at pcusa.org/pw