Connect with Cindy Whitcomb

1.  How long have you attended Troy UMC?
I have been connected with TUMC since working as secretary in 1990.  I’ve also quilted with the TUMC Quilters for ten years.  My family and I officially joined the church on 10-10-10.

2.  What drew you to this church?

Pastor Dennis, the uplifting worship services, the welcoming congregation, and the variety of opportunities to participate in ministry.

3.  Which service do you typically attend?

10:30 a.m.

4.  Share a favorite Bible verse, and why this is a favorite.

“Be still and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10.  Life can get very hectic as we run around going here, going there, doing this, doing that. Sometimes I feel like a child who needs to be told, “Just STOP! Be still!” and “Know that I am God.” He is the One in control, He is the FIRST priority, and everything else falls into place after that.

5.  What are you passionate about?

My passion is creating things as gifts and for other people’s enjoyment. The Ladies’ retreat this fall was a perfect outlet for that passion. I had a wonderful time sewing tote bags, planning decorations, and baking cookies. I also enjoy quilting, basket weaving, cross stitching and knitting.

6.  Speaking of baking cookies, those cookies you baked for the Ladies' Retreat were not only delicious to eat, but also stunning to view.  Do you have the recipe?

A friend of mine saw the Fall Leaf Sugar Cookies Recipe in the Belleville Newspaper and sent it to me.

7.  Tell us about Chicks with Sticks (who, what, when, where, why).

Last fall (2010) Gail Joyner and I started the Chicks with Sticks ministry from a simple desire to knit and crochet. Gail taught me to crochet, and I shared some knitting tips with her. Several other women of the congregation expressed an interest in what we were doing. We started meeting casually on Wednesday evenings prior to the Wednesday night worship service and it grew from there. Many women from outside TUMC now attend regularly. Our motto is, “We Share Our Craft with Others.” In addition, we share our support and Christian caring with each other.

The group blesses each item when it is completed, and a prayer accompanies the donations. We pray that the (blanket, prayer shawl, Chemo hats, etc.) provide warmth and comfort, blessings and peace to each recipient. Our list of recipients includes St. Elizabeth’s Hosp., Anderson Hosp., Family Hospice of Southern IL, the Cancer Treatment Center in Swansea, Cover St. Louis, and two orphanages in China. Truly it is a ministry of caring and giving, and God’s Spirit has been present throughout the development of this group. I believe that God comes to us through the people around us. It is my personal wish that each of the recipients experience the love of God in a tangible way through this ministry.

Prayer Shawl with the blessing, "May God's grace be upon this shawl, warming, comforting, enfolding and embracing.  May this mantle be a safe haven . . a sacred place of security and well-being . . . sustaining and embracing in good times as well as difficult ones.  May the one who receives this shawl be cradled in hope, kept in joy, graced with peace, and wrapped in love.  Blessed Be!"

8.  Tell us about your family.

My husband, Bruce, works for the National Geospacial/Intelligence Agency in St. Louis, Mo.  He has completed 30 years of service and is anxious to retire soon! Our son, Marshall, is 19 and graduated from Collinsville High School. He enjoys computer gaming, is studying Japanese and is seeking employment. Finally, Truman, a 9 yr. old welsh corgi, is a valued part of our family. (He was named after Harry Truman with whom he shares the same birth date, May 8.)

9.  What are you thankful for?

I am thankful for my family, my church, and the love of my God.

10.  How may we contact you in order to make a further connection?

I can be contacted by phone at 345-6608 or by email at cindyw@wisperhome.com 

Connect with Beth Miramonti

1)  How long have you attended Troy UMC?
Almost 10 years (wow)

2)  What drew you to this church?
A strong faith-based youth ministry where my kids could have a church family to help guide them through the teenage years.

3)  Which service do you typically attend?
9 O'clock

4)  Share one of your favorite Bible verses, and explain why this means so much to you.
Joshua 24:15b"...As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." it's my mantra

5)  Tell us about your family.


My husband Rick and I wll have been married for 15 years on Valentine's Day 2012. Together we raised my 2 kids Brandy & Jacob and Rick has two married daughters who have blessed us with 5 "Grands"

6)  When did you start creating prayer bead bracelets?  Was there a trigger that prompted you?
The prayer beads are a new project I began when struggling in my prayer life. I have always fostered an interest in symbolic meanings behind traditions and customs.  Often I find my mind wandering and jumping from one thought to the next, making concentrating on prayer a challenge. I would start a prayer in quiet meditation and before long realize my mind had jumped to next weeks dinner menu??? My husband was raised Catholic and the image of a little child holding the rosary intrigued me. (Specifically this picture of Shannon, Rick's step daughter who we lost in February of this year.)

7)  Explain the process of making the bracelets (time, beads, request, gift).
The process...for me it is it is an experience. After hours of online research, I came up with a pattern of beads and prayers I was comfortable with. I use them in stressful times to quiet my mind and focus my prayers. Upon making that first set, I wanted to share these with my Sunday School class. I put together a totally plagararized "instruction" sheet and grabbed the pony beads! My last Sunday of teaching I shared these with my girls. I have given personalized sets to friends in need and shared my set with friends in times of anxiety.  I have ocasionally spent several hours in a craft store fingering, comparing, holding different sets of beads and crosses until I felt I had the right combination. I want the bracelets to represent the individuals personality and preferences. I also like for them to be weighty enough to feel a drawing prescense without being cumbersome and the cross should fit comfortably in the hand. I love to repurpose old jewelry and restring beads that hold a famililar memory. Right now I am still searching for the right elastic or cording to use so the are durable yet flexible.

8)  What do you hope people will take away from your prayer beads?
These beads in and of themselves are nothing more than a material reminder to help focus prayers. I enjoy sharing  these with others, in hopes of encouraging a peaceful communication with God.

9)  Share a prayer with us.
One of my favorites comes from Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God."



10)  How may we contact you to make a further connection? 
email miramonti97@att.net  or home phone 667-3386