Check out what is going on in Catawba Presbytery with their most recent newsletter! See the members of their board, and see some great photos from their Meet & Greet in February.

You can also find them on Facebook at:  https://www.facebook.com/CWMARP 

Church of the Atonement, Silver Spring MD

The Thimbles of Praise at our church right now is the Grandma Brigade; it was not always so.  Over the years, it has taken various forms and personalities, meeting the needs of the church determine how Thimbles of Praise functions at any given time.  At present we have 6-12 people who meet weekly at Atonement, bringing our lunch and making it there.

Our activity is determined by a large closet full of “stuffs”- all donated- mostly yarn and cloth.  We like to think we make the decisions, but actually the closet runs our group.

We make Full sized quilts and small lap robes, and thoroughly enjoy giving them away.  The quilts are tied and very functional.  Every missionary gets one (or two). The lap robes which we sent to our older members remind them that they are not forgotten.

The greatest product is the camaraderie and love displayed by the members.  “Thimbles” is very important to each of us.

We have a 50 year history- over the past we have:

1. Given all missionaries a quilt.
2. Sent a yearly shipment of clothes, quilts stuffed animals etc. to the mountains near Harrygate TN, to be distributed in schools by a pastor’s wife who is also a social worker.
3. Made a “Head Start” in Buckley Springs WV.  Our project was Christmas stockings for each student and a purse for each mother (full of stuff).  We also made clothing and acquired used books for the children. The teacher we worked with in the Head Start program was also like a social worker.  But when the school reached 115 students we had to stop this project because of the expense.
4. When we get anything up here, we send it to the Bon Clarken Gift shop- necklaces, scarves etc for sale.
5. Sometimes we provide “favors” for each woman at the church’s retreats
6. We make Baby Afghans for the Rockville Pregnancy Center- You see everything goes to God’s Glory at Church.
7. Each Christmas we have a dinner and invite the church staff and our husbands.  This year we will have around 20 people.  (Collard Greens have become quite the favorite)

The following is from a devotional offered at the ARPWM Executive Committee Meeting in August 2011, presented by Tracey Smith. Tracey is a member
of First Gastonia ARP Church and treasurer of ARP Women’s Ministries.

Click here to read article:

 Why Women’s Ministry Article