WomenCircle Programs for 2024
- Sign up in advance!!! (Note: TBD = To Be Decided)
WomenCircle events are held monthly, some outdoors, some indoors at church, and other places, and some on Zoom. Please note each month is a little different. Some changes to this schedule may occur last minute. Please stay tuned to the church weekly announcements to see latest news.
For many of our WomenCircle events, you will need to sign up in advance. These events are all listed in monthly newsletters and weekly announcements with a contact person’s name. Attendance will be limited for most events. Sign -ups are on a first come, first serve basis. We look forward to having you join us.
Saturday January 20 at 1:00 PM 2024 Visioning: Collages
in Gathering Room at church. Facilitators - Steevie Parks and Maris Abernathy
Tuesday February 6 -at 2 PM Introduction to International U*U Women's Group
in Living Room at church - new Building. Facilitators - Ruth Gibson and Alison Eskildsen
Saturday February 24 at 2 PM Writing Limericks
in Gathering Room at church.
Facilitators -Jody Savage, Sindy Barker and Ruth Gibson
Friday March 22 at 9 AM to 4PM Trip to Whirligig Park, Wilson +Lunch at Daniels Fine Dining
Rain date=Sat March 23. Facilitators -Jane Provan and Janet Stevens.
Tuesday April 16 Time TBD On Taking Pilgrimages
on Zoom
Wednesday April 17 at 9 AM-3 PM Taking our Pilgrimage to NC Museum of Art
Raleigh Rain date=Thursday April 18 Facilitators Ann Deupree and Lisa Epner
Friday May 3- to Sunday May 5 Retreat to Montreat.
Registration needed.
Retreat Planning Committee - Jody Savage , Ann Deupree, Steevie Parks, Val Mitchell, Joann Haggerty, Sindy Barker
May, June, July or August Picking Fruit - Strawberries, Blueberries, Blackberries, Grapes.
Dates will vary depending on harvest conditions. Contact Ruth Gibson if interested
Saturday June 8 - 8:30 AM Boating at University Lake + picnic lunch
Facilitators - Joann Haggerty and Kathy Putnam
Saturday July 13 Tubing on Dan River (Family Members invited)…
This event depends on conditions; if the river isn't safe, the trip will be canceled or postponed. Facilitators -Ruth Gibson and Steevie Parks
Friday August 9 from 3-5 PM Pool Party
at Bonnie Gilliom’s (Rain Date= Sat Aug 10) Facilitators - Bonnie Gilliom and Ivy Brezina
Thursday September 26 Trip to Nasher Museum and Lunch
Time TBD. Carpooling Facilitators - Ivy Brezina and Lisa Epner
Wednesday October 9 10 AM River Walk in Hillsboro and Lunch.
Facilitators - Janet Stevens and Jane Provan
Saturday November 2 Time TBD Yoga Nidra with Cheryl Diegel
in Gathering Room at church. Facilitators - Cheryl Diegel and Carol Genovese
Wednesday December 4 at 9:00 AM Annual Planning Meeting
in Gathering Room at church. Facilitators - Ruth Gibson, Joann Haggerty and Sindy Barker
Committees:
Connection Fair - Sunday Sept ?-
Janet Stevens, Sam Brooks, Maris Abernathy
Day of Service - Sat March 2 - Making Cards and Collecting Ensure for Meals on Wheels
Lisa Epner, Steevie Parks, and Maris Abernathy
Have questions about a particular event?
Use the Contact Us! button at the top of this page.
A bit of History
Since 1996, WomenCircle has encouraged and sponsored programs of interest to women of all ages at the Community Church. Programs are usually monthly and vary widely.
WomenCircle programs have enabled women to:
- Explore spirituality in rituals
- Learn new skills
- Get outdoors
- Expand physical skills
- Build community and make friends
- Have fun
Here’s what our 2023 planners have liked most about WomenCircle:
• A circle of interesting and supportive welcoming friends who care about the church and each other
• I see/feel accepted… sisterhood
• Women’s community of caring, sharing and laughter
• Fellowship with kindred spirits
• The gathering together of some of the most enjoyable women I’ve ever met
• The Women! Hearing each others’ stories, getting to know each other, and its fun learning new things
• The ingenuity of different plans
• Enjoying the strengths and creativity of women
• I love the community building and friendships I have
• Fun interesting places to go
• Place for new people to meet people
WomenCircle programs have enabled women to:
- Explore spirituality in rituals
- Learn new skills
- Get outdoors
- Expand physical skills
- Build community and make friends
- Have fun
Here’s what our 2023 planners have liked most about WomenCircle:
• A circle of interesting and supportive welcoming friends who care about the church and each other
• I see/feel accepted… sisterhood
• Women’s community of caring, sharing and laughter
• Fellowship with kindred spirits
• The gathering together of some of the most enjoyable women I’ve ever met
• The Women! Hearing each others’ stories, getting to know each other, and its fun learning new things
• The ingenuity of different plans
• Enjoying the strengths and creativity of women
• I love the community building and friendships I have
• Fun interesting places to go
• Place for new people to meet people
Haikus written in WomenCircle Workshop 11/13/2022
Coordinators: Ivy Brezina and Mariana Fiorentino
Coordinators: Ivy Brezina and Mariana Fiorentino
- Acorns drop, crack, roll
- Halting scurry, flicking tail
- Horned stag, windblown leaves
- ~ Joan O’Brien
- Wearing shingled hats
- Acorns plop down in the woods
- Ready to take root
- ~ Bonnie Gilliom
- Leaves are falling now
- The trees emerging undressed
- Flaunting stark beauty
- ~ Janet Tice
- Brick walkway littered
- Strewn with acorn debris
- Navigate with care
- ~ Ivy Brezina
- Oaks’ future hopefuls
- Spreading generations
- Fast falling to earth
- ~ Mariana Fiorentino
- So full of promise
- Standing under oaks, so wise
- Sometimes wisdom hurts
- ~ Linda Thompson
- Like Clydesdales clomping
- The sounds of falling acorns
- Excite the squirrels
- ~ Marianna Fiorentino
- Inside is treasure
- It must be broken open
- So much like our hearts
- ~ Linda Thompson
- Abundance assured
- Let the gathering begin
- Squirrels hoard acorns
- ~Mariana Fiorentino
- Whisper wings come close
- Sip sweet nectar
- For journey away til spring
- ~ Carol Palm
- Sun setting early
- Wrapping the yard in darkness
- Sleeping comes quickly
- ~ Gwen Van Ark
- Unpack down blanket
- Cuddle up with Throat Coat tea
- Hibernation time
- ~ Ivy Brezina
++Book Recommendations from WomenCircle Bookshare on 9/26/2020
Lisa’s recommendations:
Waking Lions by Ayelet Gundar-Goshen
The Line Becomes a River by Francisco Cantu
Valerie’s Recommendations:
From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home by Tembi Locke
The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See
The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyers
To the Land of Long Lost Friends by Alexander McCall Smith
All the Devils Are Here by Louise Penny
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett (audio read by Tom Hanks)
The American Marriage: A Novel by Tayari Jones
Inspector Ian Rutledge and Bess Crawford Series by Charles Todd
Fantastic Fungi Documentary – Paul Stamets
Joan’s Recommendation:
Circe by Madeline Miller
Shannon’s Recommendations:
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Mudbound by Hilary Jordan
The Window by Amelia Brunskill
Maggie’s Recommendations:
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse: A Novel by Louise Erdrich
Kathy’s Recommendations:
The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal
Ivy’s Recommendations:
The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd
Breakfast with Buddha by Roland Merullo
How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan
Helen’s Recommendations:
Being Peace by Thich Nhat Hanh
The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
Bruno Chief of Police Series by Martin Walker
Don’t Remember Who Recommended:
Maisie Dobbs Mystery Series by Jacqueline Winspear
Lisa’s recommendations:
Waking Lions by Ayelet Gundar-Goshen
The Line Becomes a River by Francisco Cantu
Valerie’s Recommendations:
From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home by Tembi Locke
The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See
The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyers
To the Land of Long Lost Friends by Alexander McCall Smith
All the Devils Are Here by Louise Penny
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett (audio read by Tom Hanks)
The American Marriage: A Novel by Tayari Jones
Inspector Ian Rutledge and Bess Crawford Series by Charles Todd
Fantastic Fungi Documentary – Paul Stamets
Joan’s Recommendation:
Circe by Madeline Miller
Shannon’s Recommendations:
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Mudbound by Hilary Jordan
The Window by Amelia Brunskill
Maggie’s Recommendations:
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse: A Novel by Louise Erdrich
Kathy’s Recommendations:
The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal
Ivy’s Recommendations:
The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd
Breakfast with Buddha by Roland Merullo
How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan
Helen’s Recommendations:
Being Peace by Thich Nhat Hanh
The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
Bruno Chief of Police Series by Martin Walker
Don’t Remember Who Recommended:
Maisie Dobbs Mystery Series by Jacqueline Winspear