Meet Our Eight Circles
Presbyterian Women includes all women who are members or friends of Desert Palms Church. All women are welcome to attend any PW activity by visiting our sign up table in Fellowship Hall on Sundays.
We are honored to currently have eight PW Circles, of over 200 women, that meet monthly to study, support, and provide service together. All circles welcome new members so you may click on any of the links below learn more about any circles or contact PW Moderator, Joanne Bishop.
Below are the normal PW Circle meeting information. Please contact the circle leaders for specific monthly meeting information. Meetings will begin again in the fall.
Elizabeth meets the 2nd Thursday of the month at 9:30am in Fellowship Hall Room A. Contact person: Carol Goff.
Esther Circle meets the 2nd Monday of the month at 9:00am in Fellowship Hall Room B. Contact person: Judith Hoye.
Lydia Circle meets the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 10:00am in the Conference Room. Contact Person: Dorrit Briere.
Martha Circle meets the 2nd Wednesday of the month at noon, meet Char Stelting's home. Contact person: Char Stelting.
Naomi Circle meets the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 9:30am Fellowship Hall Room B. Contact person: Susan Lewis.
Phoebe Circle meets the 2nd Thursday of the month at 6:00pm, meet in homes. Contact person: Dodie Weiland.
Rebecca Circle meets the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 9:00am in the Conference Room. Contact person: Jean Montgomery.
Sarah Circle No meeting scheduled.
Any women can attend any circle in a given month by contacting the person listed. Study Books are available for $11 by contacting Carol Hammond or in Fellowship Hall on Sundays.
Elizabeth Circle - Close Up
Meet Elizabeth Circle! We meet the 2nd Thursday of the month at 9:30 a.m. in Room A from September through May.
Elizabeth Circle is one of the largest circles but always has room for more members so please come visit us if you are interested in joining a circle that meets during our time. We were created in 2018 and have choir members in our circle, but also other members who find this time convenient. We are studying current Hoizon Bible Study. It is a great, fun group so please call the circle contact person if you are interested.
Anyone who would care to visit or join us is always welcome!
Esther Circle - Close Up
Esther Circle
Esther Circle was founded by Betty Lou South in the mid 90's to create an alternative meeting time on Mondays, since at that time the other circles met on Wednesdays. In 2019 they combined with the Priscilla Circle since both Circles had become small. Members take turns moderating the monthly Bible study. Members feel very comfortable sharing their ideas and personal experiences that relate to the Bible Study discussions. These discussions have become the favorite part of the meeting for many members.
In addition to helping support the activities of the church’s Presbyterian Women’s Organization, Esther Circle supports the D.O.V.E.S. program, which is part of the Area Agency on Aging in the Phoenix area. This program helps elderly victims of domestic abuse and violence.
Esther Circle meets on the second Monday of the month, at 9 am. in Room B in Fellowship Hall. We welcome new members to journey with us as we nurture our faith and expand our friendships. If you are interested in visiting or joining, please contact one of our co-leaders Judith Hoye or Jackie Broderick or just show up and join the group at the scheduled meeting time.
Lydia Circle - Close Up
Need text here.
Martha Circle - Close Up
The Martha circle was started around 1993. One of the long-term members was Joyce Turner. We missed her when she moved and started a circle at Grandview Terrace. The Martha circle was struggling in the late 1990’s, but with the support of its members, new members joined.As of the present time, it is a thriving group. We mourn the loss of two of our members, who passed away last year. They are Sandy Green and Robin McFarland. Jan Lansberry took over as leader of our circle after Robin passed away.
We presently have 25 members, averaging 20 at our meetings. We meet monthly in members’ homes the second Wednesday of the month, September through May, noon - 3 p.m. We bring our own lunch and eat together. The co-hostess brings dessert to share with everyone. When dessert is finished, we have a meeting, followed by a Bible study.
Our activities include sitting at the Presbyterian Women's table between services, which we did the month of November, hostessing the Mission luncheon January 23, 2018, and we help with the spring tea in March. We have prayed together in the Chapel for ill members or members’ children. We have provided meals for members in need. Martha circle is a wonderfully supportive group of ladies who care about each other and our church.
Anyone who would care to visit or join us is very welcome. Please call the hostess to let her know that you are coming.
Mary Circle - Close Up
Mary Circle is our newest circle that began meeting together in September of 2019. We meet the 2nd Thursday of the month at 9:00 a.m. by Zoom.
We are a small intimate circle who find this time convenient and enjoy sharing our life experiences and discussing the most current bible study. We did not take a picture of the whole circle prior to disruption of our meetings due to Covid-19 but we have included a picture of our Tea Table from March 14, 2020. Not all our members chose to attend the tea so we invited members from Phoebe Circle to join us.
We would love to have new PW members join us. Please contact Carol Goff (630-788-7330) or Dodie Weiland (816-210-3646) if you would like to visit or join our circle.
God Bless You All!
Naomi Circle - Close Up
Naomi circle was one of the earliest circles in our church. An interesting fact is that one of the early members of the circle was actually named Naomi.
Naomi circle meetings are held the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 9:30 a.m. in room B in Fellowship Hall. After coffee, snacks and a short business meeting, Naomi circle studies the Horizons Bible Study that is shared by Presbyterian Women all over the world. The 2017 - 2018 Horizons Bible Study was entitled "Cloud of Witnesses, The Community of Christ in Hebrews" by Melissa Bane Sevier. Next year for the 2018-2019 PW season the study will be "God's Promise: I am with you" by Amy Poling Sutherlun. An overview of next year's study is being held at our church on April 14, from 8–11 a.m. Coffee and light refreshments will be served.
Naomi circle is a small but close knit group whose names are listed with this picture, which was taken on Valentines Day. Naomi Circle welcomes new members to come and join them by contacting Marty Kixmiller or Patsy Blinn.
Be sure to say "hello" to them as they join Ruth circle in hosting the Tuesday, April 24, 2018, PW Women's Annual Breakfast at 8:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall, where we will install new members of the PW Coordinating Team.
Phoebe Circle - Close Up
The Desert Palm's Presbyterian Women's organization hopes all women of the church will consider joining one of the many circles that meet monthly to share friendship, support and focus on the Bible study that all circles around the world are sharing. To help you better understand our circles we will provide a "Close Up" on different circles each month in the Palms.
Please stop by the PW Table to learn more about the varying circles to find the one that best meets your interests and availability.
Phoebe circle is the newest of all the circles that began in 2015 when it was obvious that another evening circle was desirable with the growing number of working and very busy women in our area. Phoebe meets at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month in member homes with a snack provided by the hostess.
These are a very energetic and active group of women who, in addition to the monthly bible study and PW business activities, find themselves also championing many special causes that reach out to involve the entire congregation.
Phoebe has assisted in special projects associated with the Desert Palms Women's Retreats, organizing the "Women of Faith" Cancer Walk team from our church, as well as volunteering to assist in many outreach and mission projects. They co-chaired the PW Christmas Communion in 2016 and will do so again this year.
Phoebe proves that small groups working together to support each other builds strong personal bonds and can accomplish wonders with God's help. They welcome any new member to join them and hope you will stop by the PW Table in Fellowship Hall any Sunday in September to greet them. There you can then learn more about all circles and other PW activities.
See you there!
Rebecca Circle - Close Up
Our final PW Circle Close Up this season features Rebecca Circle. They started in September, 2004, by Jean Montgomery and Natalie Herrick, who are the only original members still attending.
Rebecca Circle co-leaders are Natalie Herrick and Lucille Schultz and they welcome new members and visitors. Our meetings are on the second Wednesday of the month at 9 a.m. and we take turns hosting them at our members homes.
Rebecca Circle is unique because they meet the second Wednesday of each month YEAR ROUND! While the ladies are meeting at various homes from September through May, the husbands also meet the same morning for breakfast at the Golden Corral in Surprise, Arizona. In the summer months of June through August, Rebecca Circle continues to meet on the same second Wednesday mornings, this time joining with their husbands for breakfast at the Golden Corral or at other restaurants. What a great opportunity to continue in fellowship, faith and friendship beyond the normal PW season!
Sarah Circle - Close Up
Sarah Circle meets in member homes on the 3rd Wednesday of every month at 9:30 a.m., September - May, to share active support and caring for each other. They take turns leading the bible study discussion, devotions, and hosting. Many of the members have been with Sarah Circle for years but they always have open arms to new members and have found the three new members this year fit into the group as if they have always been there.
Sarah Circle is very excited about their project in 2017 to sponsor a young girl, Vanessa, in Uganda, Africa through Prepare The Way Ministry. Dodie Weiland joined Sarah Circle at their December meeting to provide pictures and videos of Vanessa and the King's Kids Learning Center where she attends school.
In the picture below, you see Vanessa with a special "Jesus" necklace and touching letter from her "Grandmothers in Sarah Circle", that was sent with Dodie when she visited Vanessa in Africa in October. Sarah Circle also sent a package to Vanessa at Christmas and continues to pray for and support Vanessa's Christian education, personal safety and full potential.
If you are interested in visiting or joining Sarah Circle you are encouraged to contact either of their co-leaders, Ruth Friesenborg or Francis Palsma. Or say "hello" to them at the PW Tea, Saturday, March 10th, where they are usually the only circle to decorate two coordinated tables!
Celebrating Sabbath: Accepting God’s Gift of Rest and Delight by Carol M. Bechtel
