WOMEN’S MINISTRY
The 1st Pres Women’s Ministry is a Word-based, relationally-oriented ministry which exists to serve and help equip the women of our church to grow in their knowledge of God, live to His glory, and extend His kingdom in their lives, homes, church, communities and throughout the world in a way that complements and supports the vision of First Pres.
By God’s grace we strive to do this through Bible studies and fellowship gatherings.
This year’s theme for our women is . . .
We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19)
In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:9-11 ESV
For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 ESV
Our Bible Studies are the core of the 1st Pres Women’s Ministry—they’re where we grow together in Christ and our knowledge of God’s Word. We are excited to be able to offer several studies to choose from, all at various times and frequencies and studying various topics. In order to create an intentional space for fellowship, each study has a limited number of spaces, so register soon.
Join us for Bible Study
Morning Studies
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Group discussion and teaching
Dates: Begins Sep 1.
Time: Tuesdays from 9:30 - 11:30AM
Location: Red Bank Baptist (4000 Dayton Blvd.)
Leaders: Sandy Hartley, Phyllis Holwerda
Description of study: No Empty Word: Confident and Compelled: A Study on 2 Corinthians by Paula Miles. The words of 2 Corinthians are significant and applicable for the Church today as she navigates relationships, opposition, reconciliation, affliction, and living in the eternal hope of what is to come. No Empty Word: Confident and Compelled examines the transforming truths found in 2 Corinthians that change our perspective and value system, giving us Christ-confidence rather than self-confidence and compelling us to live faithfully in Him.
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Group discussion and teaching
Dates: Begins Sep 15.
Time: Tuesdays from 9:45 - 11:30AM
Location: Red Bank Baptist (4000 Dayton Blvd.)
Leaders: Sue Sawrie, Glenda Henegar, Margaret Rollins
Description of study: In View of God’s Mercies: The Gift of the Gospel in Romans by Courtney Doctor. Walk through the book of Romans to discover that salvation doesn’t just change your eternal future; it changes your present reality. Because of God’s salvation, hope, peace, life, faith, trust, and endurance are yours. After God saves you, He invites you to join Him on His two-fold mission–to sanctify and transform you in the image of Jesus and to send you out into the world to share the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ.
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Group discussion and teaching
Dates: Begins Sep 15.
Time: Meets 1st and 3rd Tuesdays from 9:30 - 11:00AM
Location: First Pres
Childcare provided (registration required)
Leaders: Stephanie Zumbach and Hutton Ivey
Capacity: 12 women
Description of study: The Envy of Eve by Melissa Kruger. What’s truly at the heart of our desires? The Envy of Eve guides readers to understand how desires grow into covetousness and what happens when this sin takes power in our hearts. Covetousness chokes out the fruit of the Spirit in our lives, allowing discontentment to bloom. The key to overcoming it is to get to the root of our problem: unbelief–a mistrust of God’s sovereignty and goodness.
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Group discussion and teaching
Dates: Begins Sep 8.
Time: Meets 2nd and 4th Tuesdays from 9:30 - 11AM
Location: First Pres
Childcare provided (registration required)
Leaders: Lynn Jones, Scottie Cain, and Melissa Guinn
Capacity: 12 women
Study: 2 Samuel
Evening Studies
Micro Groups
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Group discussion and teaching
Dates: Begins Sep 8.
Time: Meets 2nd and 4th Tuesdays from 5:30 - 6:30PM.
Location: First Pres
Leader: Kittie Stauffer
Description of study: The Minor Prophets. The minor prophets aren’t a section of the Bible often studied, but they are just as valuable to us as the rest of Scripture. They show us how every event is stamped with God’s presence and give us eyes to see the unseen. This fall the study will include a closer look at Hosea and Joel.
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Group discussion and teaching
Dates: Begins Sep 8.
Time: Meets 2nd and 4th Tuesdays from 6:15 - 8:00PM
Location: First Pres
Leaders: Christy Dyer-Gultom, Jennifer Holt, and Charlene Hatmaker
Description of study: The Minor Prophets (Jonah, Micah, Habakkuk). Take a closer look at the prophets Jonah, Micah, and Habakkuk.
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Group discussion and teaching
Time: Meets year round on the 3rd Tuesday of each month from 5:45 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location: First Pres
Leaders: Phyllis Holwerda, Janette Barnes, Norma Cate
Description of study: Life in the Spirit by J. I. Packer is a brief, yet rich exploration of the Holy Spirit’s role in the Christian life, focusing on how the Spirit empowers, guides, and transforms believers to live more fully for Christ. Women are invited to join us in our monthly time of fellowship and studying this book together as we seek a deeper understanding of the Spirit’s work in our lives and grow in faith and fellowship.
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Group discussion and teaching
Time: Meets on the 4th Monday of each month
Location: First Pres
Leader: Sandy Hartley
Description of study: Heirs of the Covenant by Susan Hunt, Stephen Estock, and Karen Hodge. Based on Titus 2:1;3-5, older women teach biblical womanhood to younger women, married or single. Titus 2 groups consist of six to eight women who meet monthly for the study and at other times for dinner. Please sign up if interested in joining this new group.
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Leader: Christy Dyer-Gultom
Time: Meets twice a month on Thursdays from 10:00 - 11:30AM
Location: Together Cafe
Description of study: Disciple Them Like Jesus by Barrett Johnson. If you are in the midst of answering hard Biblical questions with your big kids, wondering when you might see the fruit of spiritual growth, or just have tiny conversations with little ones just starting to wonder about faith, then Rooted is for you. This fall we will walk through Disciple Them Like Jesus and explore a Christ-inspired paradigm to help parents stay focused on Jesus’ command to make disciples.
Contact: christondyer@gmail.com
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Leader: Ashton Freeman
Time: Meets every other Tuesday from 7:00 - 8:30PM
Location: Ashton’s home in Hixson
Description of study: Cultivating Spiritual Growth by Conrad Mbewe. Too many believers treat salvation like fire insurance. They are happy to have it for entrance to heaven, but they fail to appreciate their own responsibility to grow spiritually in the meantime. Conrad Mbewe teaches through 2 Peter 1 to faithfully encourage us to pursue a fruitful and godly life by considering how God equips Christians to grow, the ways God ordains for them to cultivate growth, and the implications of either neglecting or diligently attending to these things.
Contact: ashtonjfreeman@gmail.com
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Leader: Jessica Livermore
Begins: Sept 17.
Time: Meets weekly on Thursdays from 7:00 - 8:30PM
Description of study: 1 John: Relying on the Love of God by Scotty Smith (The Gospel-Centered Life series from New Growth Press and Serge). Dive into 1 John and see how a rich understanding of the love of God prepares us to thrive in times of great stress and strengthens us for every season of life.
Contact: jessica@1stpresbyterian.com
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Leader: Liz Parkhurst
Begins: Sept 10.
Time: Meets every other Thursday from 6:30 - 8:00PM
Location: Liz’s home in Red Bank
Description of study: Turn Your Eyes: A Bible Study on the Psalms by Winfree Brisley and Sharonda Cooper. The prayers and songs of the Psalms offer a powerful and practical means of connecting with God. They give voice to our emotions and help us find words to praise God for his grace and faithfulness, no matter our current circumstances. Turn Your Eyes offers a structured, step-by-step approach to help readers observe, interpret, and apply a wide variety of psalms. Themes studied include: wisdom, thanksgiving, lament, kingship, trust, praise, and more.
Contact: lizparkhurst17@gmail.com
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Leader: Sara Kaitlin Van Puffelin
Begins: Sept 3.
Time: Meets every other Thursday from 6:30 - 8:00PM
Location: Oddstory Brewing Co. (on Central)
Description of study: God of the Ordinary: A Study of Ruth by Alistair Begg. Against a backdrop of strife and chaos, Ruth is a story of ordinary people making the most of their bad situation--and finding God in the midst of it. Alistair Begg reminds us that no matter how dark or dramatic our days may seem, God still protects His people and accomplishes his purposes. Within life's humdrum and routine events, we discover His loving hand at work.
Contact: sk@1stpresbyterian.com
Join us at Fellowship Gatherings
Our fellowship gatherings give us the opportunity to build community, have fun, make new friends, deepen existing relationships, and encourage one another in our walk with Jesus. Below are our upcoming events—mark your calendars and stay on the lookout for more details on each one by subscribing to First Pres’s weekly email announcements, or via the events page!
Autumn Suppers - September 24 at 6:00 PM
Register Here: https://1stpresbyterian.shelbynextchms.com/external/form/b309d768-4180-419c-8192-2d4074a0bef6
Lunch at Chelsea's Tea Room - October 8 from 12:00-1:30pm
First Pres Women 2026-2027 Leadership Team
Chair: Carrie Schumpert
Chair-Elect: Tiffany Dorizas
Past Chair: Nancy Hill
Treasurer: Liz Clem
Recording Secretary: Carol Schoner
Nominating Coordinator: Michelle Bower
Communications Coordinator: Charlene Hatmaker
Bible Study Coordinator: Liz Parkhurst
Hospitality & Special Events: Dee Lapihuska
If you have any questions about First Pres Women’s Ministry, please contact the current Chair, Carrie Schumpert.
Other ministries for women
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A Christian women's 12 step program committed to recovery. Some of the needs addressed include perfectionism, control, codependency, eating disorders, or coping with the addictions of a family member or friend. Meeting on Tuesdays 12:00 - 1:00pm in Room F03-F.
Contact leader Gail Pinchak to learn more.
More information about our Congregational Care ministry can be found HERE.
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Connects and offers a network for First Pres families who homeschool.
Contact Liz Parkhurst to learn more.