UPCOMING EVENTS
Our Story
Deborah Circle is a welcoming group of women dedicated to both mission outreach and cultivating strong bonds of friendship with one another. It’s best described by members as, “fellowship with a purpose.”
Its roots go back to the 1880’s when Methodist women founded “The Women’s Home Mission Society.” Today, it has evolved into “United Methodist Women,” (unitedmethodistwomen.org) whose 800,000 members make it the world’s largest denominational mission service organization for women.
Sue Gillaugh and Charm McLemore started a Jesse Lee Church Deborah Circle chapter under the UMW umbrella in 1977. The group is named for the Old Testament prophet, Deborah, and it celebrates strong women dedicated to spiritual growth, fellowship and advocacy for women and children around the world.
Faith, hope and love are the primary drivers for all the mission outreach work the women of Deborah Circle do.
COVID has increased the needs of so many women and children so Deborah Circle is inviting all the women of Jesse Lee, as well as women in Ridgefield and surrounding towns, to consider joining their efforts to alleviate suffering wherever possible.
With history as a guide, we’re confident you’ll have fun, make new friends and fortify existing relationships in the process of serving women, youth and children in need.
Contact Ronda Lanzi at deborahcircle@jesseleechurch.com to learn more.
2023 EVENTS & OUTREACH
April Deborah Circle event
Deborah Circle welcomed Jesse Lee’s Director of Christian Education, Leticia Soltero, to be their special guest. Leticia shared her vision for the spiritual development of the children of Jesse Lee. Thank you Leticia for the faith and love you share with generosity and grace. Jesse Lee Church is blessed to have you!
March Deborah Circle event
Deborah Circle hosted Ability Beyon at the March meeting. This organization offers day programs, employment services and professional support to people with intellectual disabilities in Connecticut and New York.
Deborah Circle learned how Ability Beyond residences give the maximum independence and job support to residents.
Thank you Ability Beyond for sharing information about the program and its benefits to residents, and to the community. And thank you to BG Brown for arranging this excellent presentation.
February Deborah Circle event
Jesse Lee’s own Maria Pia Seirup, Deacon of Jesse Lee, was the special guest at the Deborah Circle February meeting. She shared her thoughts on Ash Wednesday. She also helped us understand the importance of the forty days of Lent between Ash Wednesday and Easter. Maria Pia also gave the imposition of ashes as part of her presentation.
See below for photos from Deborah Circle on Ash Wednesday. We celebrated Dorothy Lockwood’s 92nd birthday and Maria Pia gave an excellent presentation on the history and meaning of Ash Wednesday and administered ashes and a remote blessing to Sharon Collins, who joined us from Arizona via Zoom. We had 19 in attendance.
January Deborah Circle event
In January, Deborah Circle had a great visit from special guest, Susan DiGregorio, Speech Language Pathologist at the RVNA (Ridgefield Visiting Nurse Association). Susan shared information about what causes fading memory and loss of focus as we age. She also presented great ideas to help keep our minds and memories strong.