“Forgiven and freed by God in Jesus Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves: to nurture our faith through prayer and Bible study, to support the mission of the church worldwide, to work for justice and peace; and to build an inclusive, caring community of women that strengthens the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and witnesses to the promise of God’s kingdom.”

From the Purpose of Presbyterian Women PCUSA

Bethel participates in our denomination’s women’s organization in both spirit and action. We send dues to the national organization, participate in Presbyterian Women’s ministries such as the annual Thank Offering, use Presbyterian Women’s study materials, and send a delegate(s) to the triennial PW Church wide Gathering. In 2003, Bethel’s Presbyterian Women, in cooperation with the Session, awarded a lifetime membership in Presbyterian Women to Bettie Shenk.

In The Beginning

Our first women’s organization, known as the Ladies’ Missionary and Aid Society, was founded in 1868 “to see to the repair and refurnishing of their house of God, which was necessitated by the ravages of the late war.” (from A Church Called Bethel, Katy Banker, 1987)

Bethel’s women have a long history of contributing both to our church and to its missions. The Circles began Bethel’s tradition of fellowship suppers, have raised money to repair the church, and have expanded and contracted in size as needed to meet the needs of the women in our congregation.

Today, Bethel offers two circle opportunities for women.

Circle II meets on the first Tuesday of every month at 1 PM at the church or in members’ homes. The Rea Evening Circle meets twice monthly on second and forth Sunday evenings at 6 PM in the church parlor beneath the Sanctuary.

Fellowship is followed by a devotional, business and mission reports, collection of offering and Least Coin offering, and a Bible study session. Past Bible studies have focused on Job, Jeremiah, Psalms and Esther. Circle II is currently studying Quotable Women in Scripture and Rea circle is reading and discussing W. Frank Harrington's First Comes Faith. Both circles have mission projects: Circle II is visiting Bethel's shut-in members and friends, and Rea Circle is contributing to the Imagination Library through the Kingston Public Library.

On Sunday, June 6, 2004, both circles joined in a celebration luncheon to collect the 2004 Presbyterian Women's Birthday Offering. Our gift this year will help missions at Camp Luminaria in Santa Fe, New Mexico, ITEBA Theological Institute in Salvador, Brazil, Mobile Health Screening in Louisville, Kentucky, Children's Cross Connection USA in Atlanta Georgia, and Presbyterian Senior Services Grandparent Family Apartment in the Bronx, New York.  The Presbyterian Women's offering is one of two special offerings collected each year to support mission efforts.

Our circles seek to nurture friendship, support one another in time of need, support our church’s mission projects, share our faith stories, and study God’s word and will for our lives. We are open to all women of the church.