Women’s Pine Island Circle of First United Methodist Church — empowering women to align
The women’s Pine Island Circle is a small group of women who meet at First United Methodist Church. It was at one time much larger, according to group member and president Janet Davis, who said the group was at one time groups that merged together and can be a stepping stone to getting more involved in the church.
She said that learning is always the most important part of the group dynamic and the value of meeting with this small group cannot be measured.
“We had three circles. We had Matlacha Group, Bokeelia Group and St. James Group,” said Davis.
The groups merged together and although they have admittedly shrunk somewhat, she said they agree that the group remains an important part of their faith journey as well as a tremendous opportunity to share fellowship.
Davis said it is always good to get back to the ladies and that she finds herself looking forward to it each month, describing it as a highlight in her life, where each member is able to share freely. The group has been a fundamental way of getting to know one another said Davis. The multigenerational dimension also seems to highlight a warm, diverse space where women of all ages and stages of life can come together to support, encourage and learn from one another. She sees it as a safe harbor to share her faith story, celebrate her victories, and find encouragement during challenging seasons that may come.
“I know this has been a very important part of our women’s journey. Even now, in the middle of the summer season, it’s great to meet together and share the things we do, even though we always have fewer this time of year, when the snowbirds come back, we have more,” Davis said.
Each month, at the women’s circle group, there is an appointed speaker from Pine Island, with whom the women look forward to sharing and connecting. At times, there are as many as 15 women taking part in the circle, Davis said. Most of the women in the circle already attend the church, although Davis said outsiders would be welcomed and recalled that there have been guests in the past.
“If someone has a visitor or a neighbor, they can come, but, generally, this group is the women in the church, but you don’t have to be a member of the church to attend. Anybody can come,” Davis said.
Davis admits she is not yet finished learning and that this group has given her some of tools necessary to continue doing just that.
“This is a great opportunity to have fellowship and that is a great place to start,” Davis said.
Pine Island First United Methodist Church is at 5701 Pine Island Road, at The Center. For more information, contact the church at (239) 283-2386.
To reach PAULETTE LEBLANC / pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com, please email