The Newsletter of the Connecticut-Western Massachusetts District United Methodist Women. Fall District Meeting One Day Mission U - The Roma of Europe

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1 S p i r i t S o n g The Newsletter of the Connecticut-Western Massachusetts District United Methodist Women Fall 2013 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Inside this issue: Fall Meeting Information 1 Fall District Meeting One Day Mission U - The Roma of Europe The CT-WMA UMW are offering a One Day Mission U (formally The School of Christian Mission) as part of it s Fall District Meeting on Saturday, October 12. The Roma of Europe is the Geographic Mission study offered for 2013 and will be lead by our own Bobbi Bragan. This class will introduce you to the Roma (aka Gypsies), with an emphasis on Eastern Europe. You will discover their history up to and including the twentieth century. You can look into the ways they are treated in contemporary European culture. You will also be able to learn about their lifestyle and spirituality, and investigate ways the church and other organizations are working alongside the Roma. Bobbie Bragan Mission U Leader President s Message & Team 2 Purchase of the study book is suggested are available for purchase at the time of registration at a cost of $10. New England Conference Meeting Information District Team Notes 3 Mission Today 4 Reading Program 5 The book is also available on Kindle. Response Magazine May 2013 The Fall Meeting of the CT/WMA District UMW will be held in conjunction with the One Day Mission U: The Roma of Europe on Saturday, October 12, 2013 at the East Longmeadow (MA) United Methodist Church. Registration Forms and Directions are included with this newsletter. Assembly News 6 The CT/WMA District is a member of the New England Conference of the United Methodist Church

2 Page 2 A Word from our President... Greetings to all of you who are part of the CT/WMA District. As your new president, I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with you. I know that I met many of you when I was the secretary of Program Resources, otherwise known as the Book Lady. I hope that I will be able to get to know you better, and meet many more of you. I also hope that you will all come to the Mission u which is being held at the East Longmeadow United Methodist. I have not taken this class, so we will all learn together. Please come and say hello, and let me get a chance to meet you. Lois Harris Changes to the CT-WMA District Team At the Spring Meeting, President Carol Stidger announced that she had accepted the position of Coordinator of Education and Interpretation on the new England Conference Team, therefore, she regretfully had to step down as District President. Lois Harris was nominated and elected to serve as the new CT-WMA District President as of that date. On January 1, 2014, our District Treasurer, Theda Cornbower, will retire as our treasurer after four years of very dedicated service. Effective that day, Elaine Folkers has agreed to be the CTWMA Treasurer. Elaine's contact information is as follows: eafolkers@snet.net Telephone: Oldfield Farms, Enfield, CT Elaine has taught computer software classes at Asnuntuck Community college, specifically she has taught Excel. She is a member of the Hazardville UMW. She has also served in the Peace Corps in Ghana, and has a heart for mission.

3 Fall 2013 Page 3 New England Conference Annual Meeting Please save the date for our 2013 Annual Meeting. The theme for the day is UBUNTU NEW ENGLAND. It will be held on Saturday, October 26, at Parkway United Methodist Church in Milton, MA. Ubuntu is an African work that means, I am human, because you are human. For United Methodist Women, Ubuntu is the word we use to describe our person to person mission experiences. This October, we will explore mission in New England by visiting the Hattie B. Cooper Community Center in Boston, by learning about the work at the Salem Economic Ministry in Salem, Maine, and by learning about a ministry called L.O.V.E...Ladies Of Vision and Excellence. Each of these ministries is located in New England. Cooper is an urban ministry and is a National Institution of United Methodist Women. Salem is a rural ministry supported by our New England Conference. L.O.V.E is a local ministry of the Wesley United Methodist Church in Springfield, MA. It is a ministry that supports incarcerated women. Thus, we will be learning about mission at all levels of our church: national, conference, and local. We hope you will come and learn about the exciting work being done right here in New England! October The Golden Rule Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ. The focus of our Mini-Mission U will be The Roma of Europe. The Roma, often called "gypsies" are the single largest minority group in Europe. Over the years, the Roma have been enslaved, shut out, shunned, and even shot. We will learn much more about our neighbors across the sea, and how we can help them, pray for them and be with God for them. Please encourage others to join us, to be educated about the Roma's culture, and be open-minded about their plight. We must try to be partners in Christ and become advocates as the Roma seek justice! Jesus commanded us in the Golden Rule, "In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets" (Matthew 7:12) It is with this in mind that we enter this study. We are all God's people. We are all blessed with gifts from God. We are all loved by Christ and asked to love others accordingly. Peace Be With You Alice Rose Spiritual Growth Coordinator From the Secretary If you are receiving a paper copy of this newsletter and have an address, please send me a note so that I can add you to the electronic edition and save paper, stamps and money. Every dime we save from mailings can be put into missions! Susan Coelho, Secretary and Communications Coordinator sjcoelho@yahoo.com Your Addresses! address!

4 Page 4 Is your unit a Mission Today Unit? Check the list to see if you qualify! Not this year? Start now working on your goal for 2014! What is Mission Today? The purpose of the Mission Today Unit is to: Energize United Methodist Women to be more involved in mission through prayer, study and action; Increase contacts between units and mission personnel and mission projects so that United Methodist Women understand where their money goes; Encourage use of mission resources through United Methodist Women; and Expand concepts of mission, including social justice as mission. Is your unit a MISSION TODAY unit for 2013? Please check the list of requirements (included as a separate attachment) check off your accomplishments and send it to: Lois Harris 9 Laurence Lane, East Longmeadow, MA or me at bentonlady@yahoo.com That if just one person from your unit attends our One Day Mission U - your local organization has fulfilled one of the items to become a Mission Today Unit! See how easy it is!! GIVING MAKES MISSION POSSIBLE! Become a Five Star local organization! Fulfill your Pledge, gift a Special Mission Recognition Pin, give to Gift in Memory, Gift to Mission and World Thank Offering

5 Fall 2013 Page 5 THE 2013 READING PROGRAM There are five categories: Education for Mission, Leadership Development, Nurturing for Community, Social Action, and Spiritual Growth. To get recognition for participation it is necessary to read at least five books; one from each of the categories. For level II, read ten books, two from each category; for level III read fifteen books, two from each category. The other five can be from any category. Level IV is twenty books, at least two from each category plus ten from any of the categories. Please keep track of the books you read and send in your report at the end of the year. If you participated in the Reading Program in 2013, please send your report to: Bev Kalloch, 233 Somers Rd, East Longmeadow, MA by February 1, Thank You! 2014 Reading Program Books are Available! Strong Was Her Faith: Women of the New Testament -Spiritual Growth Category This book, looks into the life and times of 11 different women such as Elizabeth, Mary, Dorcas and Mary Magdalene and examines the scriptures to see what we can learn about these women, what we can learn from them and how each woman fits into as well as shapes the New Testament story. In this follow-up to his book "The Thirteen Apostles, " popular author J. Ellsworth Kalas focuses on several women of great faith who were crucial, in ways both obvious and understated, to the story of the New Testament. Kalas looks into the life and times of eleven different women. With his signature style, Kalas examines the Scriptures to see what we can learn about these women and what we can learn "from" them, and how each woman fit into as well as shaped the New Testament story. Chapters include: Chapters include: Elizabeth: A Friend in Need, Anna: She Knew How to Wait, Martha, the Disciplined, Mary, the Extravagant, The Mighty Widow, Mary Magdalene: When Love Is Greater than Faith, Mary, the Mother of Mark, Dorcas: Worth a Miracle, Lydia, the Businesswoman, Mary in Life and Legend. This book also includes a discussion guide. 176 pp. See the full list at the e-store: umwmissionresources.org Look Inside

6 Meet the Team Page 6 President Lois Harris 9 Laurence Ln. E. Longmeadow, MA bentonlady@yahoo.com Vice President Roxie Pin 21 Montgomery Rd. Huntington, MA roxiepin@gmail.com Secretary & Communications Susan Coelho 6 Daralyn Ct. Pittsfield, MA sjcoelho@yahoo.com Treasurer Theda Cornbower 53 Old Farm Rd. E. Longmeadow, MA theda757@gmail.com Ass t. Treasurer - Vacant Social Action- Vacant Membership, Nurture & Outreach Maude Kwak 476 King St. South Windsor, CT Program Resources Beverly Kalloch 233 Somers Rd E. Longmeadow, MA bevkalloch@gmail.com Spiritual Growth Alice Rose 89 Second St. Pittsfield, MA rosejr1@verizon.net Nominations Chair Jackie Michaud 75 South Rd Enfield, CT MJackieN@aol.com Church Women United-MA Iris Sinclair 307 Chestnut Apt #605 Springfield, MA Church Women United-CT Carole Fish 622 Gilead St Hebron, CT CalandCarole@comcast.net KEEP UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE NEW ENGLAND CONFERENCE NEWS! District Newsletters!! Go to http: Click on Mission & Ministries then Click on United Methodist UMW NEWS - Sign up for UMW News (It s free) NEC - THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH - Web Site: Find us on Facebook: Sign in and "like" our page! Connect With United Methodist Women - Use UMWonline, the official social network of the UMW, to meet members, start discussions and share ideas. To register for UMWOnline go to: 1. Enter a valid address. 2. If you already have an account with UMWOnline, the system will prompt you for a password. If you don t know your password, one can be ed to you. 3. If you don t have an account, you will be taken to the registration page. 4. On completion of registration, you are ready to create your profile and make connections with UMW friends

7 Fall 2013 Registration is now OPEN!! Page 7

8 Dates to Remember: October 12, One Day Mission U Class and District Meeting, East Longmeadow, MA October 26, Conference Annual Fall Meeting, Milton, MA April Assembly 2014, Louisville, KY Susan Coelho CT/WMA UMW Secretary 6 Daralyn Court Pittsfield, MA The Fall Connecticut-Western Massachusetts District UMW Meeting and ONE DAY MISSION U will be held on Saturday, October 12, 2013 at the East Longmeadow UMC 215 Somers Road (Route 83) East East Longmeadow, MA