Loving Christ. Loving One Another. Loving The City.

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Women


Women’s Ministries

We are not meant to be isolated; we were made for connection. Don’t miss out on the many avenues available to get to know other women and share life with them! No matter your age, background, or personality, you can find connection with other women at FPC.

Women’s Studies & Groups:

“Digging Deeper” in Women of the Church Circles

WOC offers a range of women’s Circles that meet monthly (September – May.) These meetings occur in various locations, including homes and the church, often incorporating lunch. The Circles serve different purposes, such as Bible study, knitting and crocheting prayer shawls, providing meals for families with newborns or those recovering from surgery, and supporting mothers of young children. Additionally, there is a Literature Circle that welcomes men and a Circle of Concern that organizes memorial receptions at the church. Many women participate in multiple Circles. For specific dates, times, and contact details, please refer to the Women of the Church tab above. Visitors are always welcome!

Circle 8, which is a group for Mothers of Young Children, will also be gathering for fun and fellowship. Susan DeKoch is the Circle 8 contact (susandekoch@gmail.com). Please contact Pat Brodeen at pat@brodeen.com and Sheila Figueroa at sheilaf@fpcsat.org for more Circle details. Visit the Women of the Church tab for information on Circle groups.


Women’s Tuesday AM Bible Study

Ruth

Dates: March 19 – April 30
Time: 9:30 AM -11:45 AM
Location: Covenant Hall
Contact: Catherine Miller, 210-394-2045, grcjmiller@sbcglobal.net

Description: Join us for an updated study from Kelly Minter as we examine Ruth’s journey of unbearable loss, redeeming love, and divine legacy. See how God proves Himself faithful as the One who rescues, revives, and restores. Bring a friend! Childcare available upon request.

Women of the Church Spring Ladies Night Out

Tuesday, April 16 | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Home of Sharon Seal, 134 Cave Ln. 78209

Description: All FPC women are invited to fiesta with friends at the spring Women of the Church Ladies Night Out. Wear your favorite fiesta garb, grab a friend, and join us for a fun night of food and fellowship. Sign up online at fpcsanantonio.org/lno-rsvp or in Mauzé Lobby on Sundays. Contact Jill Peavy, 210-667-0525.

 


Women of the Church May Coffee

Wednesday, May 8 | 10:30 AM PM – 12:30 PM | Home of Laura Zachry, 334 Geneseo Rd., 78209

Description: Join us as we celebrate and honor the past presidents of Women of the Church with a coffee at the beautiful home of Laura Zachry. Please RSVP for this free event at fpcsanantonio.org/may-coffee-rsvp. Delicious refreshments will be served, and donations will be accepted toward the First Presbyterian Church Children’s Center and AWC Centers, formerly Any Woman Can. For more information, contact Mary Ann Randolph at maryannrandolph.randolph@gmail.com or 210.602.9555.


Literature Circle

Description: The Literature Circle meets from September through May, on the second Tuesday. Men and women, church members and non-members are invited to attend the Literature Circle’s 50th Anniversary Year. More information and the 2023-2024 reading list are available at fpcsanantonio.org/lit-circle.

Dates: Jan. 9, Feb. 13, Mar. 12, Apr. 9, & May 14
Time: 1:00 PM Social | 1:30 PM Review
Location: McCullough Room


Regular Women’s Events:

  • Women’s Circles (see “Women of the Church” tab for the monthly schedule)
  • Women’s Faith Gatherings (various times & locations)
  • Women’s Retreat (usually once a year at FPC)
  • Ladies’ Nights Out (usually three yearly, various times & locations)
  • Women of the Church Fall Legacy Luncheon (Fall in Westminster Hall)
  • Women of the Church Spring Luncheon (Spring in Westminster Hall)
  • May Coffee (various times & locations)
  • Christmas Parties for Assisted Living Facilities
  • Volunteering with Children’s Advent and Easter Programs
  • Staff Appreciation Lunches & Staff Christmas Eve Reception

Women of the Church

We look forward to an exciting new year as we seek to love Jesus Christ, love one another, and love our city. We encourage you to join us!


See Our Upcoming WOC Events & Registrations on the Women’s Events Tab Above


Women of the Church (WOC) Circles at First Presbyterian Church welcome visitors and new members! If you are interested in attending a Circle or have questions about any WOC events, please contact Pat Brodeen, Vice President for Circles, at 210-383-3083 or Sheila Figueroa, Vice President for New Members, 210-226-0215.

Monthly Opportunities
WOC Circles provide fellowship, service, mutual support, and lifelong friends. Refer to the monthly First Press newsletter for dates, times, and meeting places of WOC Circles. You can also find the regular Circle Meeting Schedule below.

  • Bible Study Circles
    Meet monthly in homes or at church for Bible Study at various times and days of the week. The WOC Bible Study for this year is “Digging Deeper” into the Fall 2023 sermon series on 1st Corinthians.
  • Literature Circle
    Meets on the second Tuesday of the month at the church. Books are chosen and reviewed by circle members and guest speakers. Visitors (men and women) are welcome. fpcsanantonio.org/lit-circle.
  • Circle for Mothers of Young Children
    Meets monthly for fun, fellowship, and Bible study. Dates & times to be determined. Childcare is provided!
  • Shawl Ministry
    Meets at the church on the third Wednesday of each month to knit and crochet shawls for members who are facing a crisis, challenge, or change—anyone who needs to feel God’s love. If you’ve always wanted to learn to knit or crochet, we will teach you.
  • Circle of Concern/Memorial Teams
    Meets as needed to coordinate receptions following memorial services and cook for special church needs.
  • Circle of Service
    Provides food for families with new babies, people recovering from surgeries or illness, the Advent Festival, the Children’s Easter Program, VBS hospitality room, etc.

Access the 2023 WOC Directory Online (Password required)


WOC (Women of the Church) Regular Circle Meeting Schedule:

Circles are groups of church members and friends who meet monthly and share in Bible study, fellowship, service and even knitting and book reviews! Circles meet on various days at various times and all are invited to join. This year the Circles will be “Digging Deeper” into the fall sermon series studying 1st Corinthians – written by Lisa and Mitchell Moore and coordinated by Becky Prichard.

Circle 8, which is a group for Mothers of Young Children, will also be gathering for fun and fellowship. Susan DeKoch is the Circle 8 contact (susandekoch@gmail.com). Please contact Pat Brodeen at pat@brodeen.com and Sheila Figueroa at sheilaf@fpcsat.org for more Circle details

Circles typically meet from September – May: times, dates, and locations are subject to change. Please contact a Circle leader or look at the most recent First Press Magazine for up-to-date information.

Circle Number Circle Theme Regular Meeting Info Additional Info
Circle 1/12 Bible Circle 3rd Monday | 11:30 AM | FPC Geneva Room (lunch optional) Suzanne Thomas, Chair (210-846-3240);
Circle 5 Shawl Ministry 3rd Wednesday | 1:00 PM | FPC Room 228 Kay Weber, Co-Chair (210-288-5290) ; Mary Fruge-Medford, Co-Chair (210-823-7054)
Circle 6 Bible Circle 3rd Tuesday | 1:30 PM | FPC McCullough Room Jean Parsons, Chair (210-240-7483)
Circle 7 Bible Circle 3rd Tuesday | 11:30 AM | Member’s Homes or at FPC Mary Ellen Mauze, Chair (210-844-5549)
Circle 8 Mothers of Young Children

Meeting once a month. Time and place to be announced.

Susan DeKoch, Coordinator, (210) 508-7127
Circle 9 Bible Circle 3rd Tuesday| 10:00 AM | FPC Breakfast Room Grace Clouse, Co-Chair (734-718-7057) ; Janice Wilson, Co-Chair (210-492-0333/210-260-4157)
Circle 11 Bible Circle 4th Monday | 12:30 PM | Member’s Homes Jean Swanson, Chair (210-826-0766)
Circle 13 Literature Circle 2nd Tuesday | 1:00 PM |  McCullough Room | Online Later Open to women & men; September – May. A recording of each book review will be available online at fpcsanantonio.org/lit-circle after the 2nd Tuesday of each month. The reading list is also available on their webpage; Grace Clouse, Chair (734-718-7057)
Circle 14 Bible Circle 3rd Monday | 12:00 PM | FPC St. Andrew’s Room Karen Carawan, Chair (210-213-4589)
Circle 18 Circle of Concern Opportunities for Service throughout the Year Char-An Witten, Chair (210-341-1856); Pat Brodeen, Email Contact (pat@brodeen.com); No formal meetings – Small home-baked cookies always needed for receptions; Volunteers for help with receptions needed
Circle 20 Circle of Service Opportunities for Service throughout the Year Muffin Camp, Chair (210-789-1808); No formal meetings – Volunteers to make/take meals when needed

Spring 2023

Women of the Church Spring Luncheon 2024

Women of the Church Spring Luncheon 2023 Recap

We enjoyed hearing Jenna Lucado Bishop’s talk, “The One Thing,” on Mary and Martha during our WOC Spring Luncheon on February 27, 2023. So many enjoyed her talk, that she has given us permission to publish it here.

Spring Luncheon 2022

Fall Luncheon 2021

Spring Luncheon 2021


Fall Legacy Lunch 2020

Count your blessings at the 7th Annual Women of the Church “Ties that Bind” Fall Legacy Luncheon. Hear from our wonderful guest speakers, Doug and Barbie Beach and their work with NAMI (National Association on Mental Illness.)

Meet the Speakers

Doug and Barbie Beach

Doug and Barbie have spent much of the past ten years engaged in mental health ministry and outreach.  They helped begin a mental health ministry at First Presbyterian Church almost ten years ago by sharing their personal family story, launching NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Family to Family classes at FPC, establishing a faith-based family support group (which still meets twice a month), holding the first community wide ecumenical worship service for families and individuals impacted by a mental health diagnosis, formingTeam Brick at FPC to raise funds for NAMI San Antonio, hosting monthly meetings at FPC of the Bexar County Mental Health Coalition, authoring FPC newsletter articles with short messages about local mental health champions, helping create a safe place to talk about mental illness, and welcoming anyone to FPC that needed a home.

In 2016, they worked with the FPC Local Missions Committee to help launch Pathways to Hope, a community wide conference on mental health intended to engage faith communities to become part of the continuum of care for people affected by mental illness.  The just completed fifth year of the Pathways to Hope Conference moved from the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts to becoming a virtual event seen by several thousand people in San Antonio, Bexar County, throughout Texas, across the U.S., and in 45 countries across the world.  The community wide impact of the conference goes on throughout the year by reaching out to faith communities to help provide mental health education, resources for faith-based groups, and the opportunity to be part of a supportive and inclusive community.  They regularly visit with people from faith communities across the U.S. on how to begin mental health ministry.

Doug also currently serves as the Board President of NAMI San Antonio, the Chair of the Community Advisory Committee for the Bexar County Center for Health Care Services, the Chair of the Texas Dept. of HHSC Behavioral Health Advisory Committee, the Chair for NAMI’s national FaithNet Advisory Group (NAMI national’s outreach to faith communities across the U.S.), and Board Vice President of Pathways to Promise (a national interfaith mental health ministry).

Barbie and Doug have been blessed with the opportunity to use their own experiences to provide support, comfort, and care for hundreds of others who have had to deal with mental health issues.  Their own family challenges have become a way to help create more understanding, acceptance and appreciation for the gifts of everyone, even when, and especially when, someone is dealing with mental health challenges.  Recovery is not only, possible, it can be a way forward to a productive and fulfilling life.

Doug and Barbie have three adult sons and one grandson.  Each of their sons have found a place in the world with work they love, relationships with people that affirm them, and ways to give back to their family, friends, and community.

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