F O O T P R I N T S SOUTH DISTRICT UNITED METHODIST WOMEN NEWSLETTER

Transcription

1 December 2015 F O O T P R I N T S SOUTH DISTRICT UNITED METHODIST WOMEN NEWSLETTER Bobbie Norris President Barbara Kerfoot Editor INSIDE THIS ISSUE: PURPOSE... page 2 Message from the president.. page 3 Vice president......page 4 Secretary and communications coordinator... page 5 Treasurer/spiritual coordinator... page 6 Membership care/ education for mission..... page 7 Committee on nominations....page 8 Church Women United page 9 Our Stories a Living Tribute...page10&11 Wesley message.. page 12 Unit messages...page 13 Western Jurisdictional Special Information...page 14 South District 2016 Calendar.... page 15 Registration Form for District Training..page 16 MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR NOTE: If the word isn t getting out, United Methodist Women are losing out. Please be sure to share the information in this newsletter with those who don t have access to a computer or printer. SPECIAL NOTE: We ve all been new at some time or another. Let us not forget what it is like. Besides encouraging others to join, we MUST make them feel welcome. EXTRA SPECIAL NOTE: Please tell your members that they can obtain this Footprints and all attachments along with other UMW information at our WEB SITE: desertsouthwestconference.org/ united-methodist-women

2 PURPOSE OF UNITED METHODIST WOMEN United Methodist Women shall be a community of women whose purpose is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ, to develop a creative supportive fellowship and to expand concepts of mission though participation in the global ministries of the church. Notes of Interest Fact: we only have 118 followers, 25 of whom are not even members of our conference. Just go in and add Those who haven t signed up yet could be missing important information that needs to be disseminated between newsletters. Of course, once you sign up you need to check Facebook on a regular basis! An updated Living the Charter for Racial Justice brochure for 2015 is now on our web pages. Go to scroll to the bottom of the page and find the link to the brochure. AARP has a new tech guidebook out My Facebook for Seniors. Other tech books such as IPHONE for Seniors are also available. See titles at: Check the available books under technology. 2

3 MEET YOUR PRESIDENT So many of you know me because I have served South District as your treasurer for the past five years. Well the time has come for me to hang up my calculator and financial forms to wear a new hat as your South District president. I am so pleased and honored to step up to the plate and take on this huge responsibility. Thank you all for the confidence you have in me, and I know that with each of you supporting me and our South District Leadership Team we cannot fail. I have enjoyed working with each of you during the past five years and I look forward to having a great relationship with all of you as your president and assisting each of you with any needs you have. One of my goals is to visit each unit and church during Getting to know you is very important. There is much work to be done, and with all of us working together there isn t anything we can t accomplish. After all, we do have the Lord guiding each of us. We are going to have a very busy and productive year. Please be sure to check out the South District United Methodist Women s Calendar for 2016 which is included in this newsletter. There are many dates you may want to be aware of for the South District, conference activities and Church Women United. In this newsletter are forms which all units need to complete and return by the deadline dates indicated on the forms. The first one is the Mission Today 2015 form which needs to be returned by December 31, 2015, and the Leadership Training Registration which needs to be returned by January 29, Wishing all of you God s blessings for a Happy Thanksgiving and a very Merry Christmas. Bobbie Norris South District president The registration form for Leadership Training may also be found on the web by clicking here. 3

4 From your Vice President Greetings, By the time you read this, I pray that you have enjoyed time with family and friends for Thanksgiving. I pray that you have been truly blessed for the many gifts that God has provided as well as the "stuffed' feeling from all the goodies we enjoy on Thanksgiving. And, now, our focus turns to Christmas and the many celebrations for the arrival of Baby Jesus. I would really enjoy hearing about the varied programs you have in December. There are so many ways to experience this season of love. Finally, here are two very important dates to put on your calendars now: Sat. Feb. 6: Officer leadership training at Green Valley Community UMC 8:30-12 noon. Please get your registration in early. Sat, April 16: South District Social Action Event Impact of Poverty on Maternal and Child Health This will be at St. Paul's UMC, Tucson Merry Christmas & Happy New Year Marilyn Neal South District Vice president of programming Notes of Interest Justice thru UMW Go to the web site: to see what you can do Working for Justice Through Service & Advocacy. Current justice issues include: Human Trafficking, Global Migration, Domestic Violence, Climate Change, Gender Justice and many others. Which one will you actively advocate for in your community? In your state? In your world? 4

5 From your Secretary and Communications Coordinator Seasons Greeting to All: Thanksgiving is now past and Christmas is coming. Hope you are all enjoying the blessings of this time of year and are looking forward to 2016! We had a busy year in 2015 with the Leadership Training Event, all the special meetings, Conference Retreat in April, Mission u, the district meeting and Conference Celebration. Also, some special events on Human Trafficking and Church Women United events throughout the year. It looks like 2016 will be just as busy, with all the same events and meetings, along with some extra events beingg scheduled. Be sure to check the calendar in this newsletter for the upcoming dates. One of the major events scheduled is the Western Jurisdiction Quadrennial Meeting - April 22-24, There is further information on this in this newsletter also. Please note that you can see all of the United Methodist Women Conference and District Newsletters by going online to desertsouthwestconference.org/umw. The menus for you to choose from are easy to follow, including all South District information, especially registration forms, Standing Rules, Mission u and Charter for Racial Justice information. I wish you and your families all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Blessings to all, Barbara Kerfoot South District secretary/communications PLEASE NOTE: Each Newsletter is sent to the local Unit president and we hope you will share the contents with your local United Methodist Women members. If you have something coming up or any comments for the newsletter, please send to me at barbjohnk@cox.net. I will try to incorporate in an upcoming edition. 5

6 From your Treasurer Special Note: Bobbie Norris has retired as treasurer and is now serving as your president. As of January 1st, we will have a new treasurer: Patsy June, from Green Valley Community UMC From your Spiritual Coordinator During this time I ask for prayers for myself and the Williams family as we grieve for the loss of my fiancé, Josh. I also ask prayers for all the people who have been affected by the recent terror attacks all over the world. God and love will unite us all. Thank you and much Love from me, Stefanie Henry 6

7 From your Membership Care/ and Education For Missions Coordinator MEMBERSHIP CARE What a joy it is to be a United Methodist Woman! Our cup runneth over with fellowship, education, mission work and spiritual growth. Let us pass this joy on to those women who have not experienced this phenomenon called United Methodist Women. Oh, and yes, let s include the LOVE we freely give out. I send you my love and peace during this most Blessed time of the year. Ann Jenkins South District membership care EDUCATION FOR MISSION Does the name Rosangelica Acevedo sound familiar to you? If so, you will have met her at the Southwest Conference Annual Meeting in Tempe, AZ.. Rosangelica was spreading her good news as a Global Ministry Missionary. This most outgoing lady was accompanied by her teenage son who was passing out information. How can we support our missionaries that spread the word of Jesus through the world? 1. Pray 2. Contact (cards or social media) 3. Donate. Adopt a Global Missionary! Ann Jenkins South District education for mission 7

8 Committee on Nominations The Committee on nominations worked together diligently to nominate new members to the committees: Elected to a One (1) Year Term: Treasurer Committee on nominations class of 2016 Being Elected for a Two (2) Year Term President Secretary Secretary of program resources Mission coordinator spiritual growth Continuing in Office Vice president of programming Committee on nominations chair Communications Mission Coordinators Membership care Social action Education for mission Patsy June Virginia Watson Bobbie Norris Barbara Kerfoot Bobbie Norris Stefanie Henry Marilyn Neal Pat Hoag Barbara Kerfoot Ann Jenkins Stephanie McCamy Ann Jenkins Committee on nominations Joyce Edwards Class of 2016 Linda Salfen Class of 2017 Kay Hayworth Class of 2017 Open position Class of 2019 The Committee on nominations has new members and an open position for the class of During this year, we will be holding meetings to choose a new member for the class of Looking forward to our upcoming meetings and gathering through the year. Thank you for all the support you give the committee on nominations members. Pat Hoag Committee on nominations, chair 8

9 Church Women United is our sister organization There are two events coming up in 2016 that would be great if as United Methodist Women you would help support. Church Women United in Tucson: Annual Meeting Journeying with Church Women United in Tucson When: Saturday, January St. James UMC, Time: 9:30 Check-In, 10:00-12:00 Annual Meeting- 12:00-1:00 Pot Luck Lunch, 1:00-3:00 Continuing Our Journey Together, CWU 101 & Marketing Tips. Please pre-register with: Pat Hoag- phoag@q.com Pre-registration required if you need child care. Two young church women will be honored - one is from St. James UMC. Plan on attending and supporting this United Methodist Young Woman. Mission in Action project for METRO Center- socks (dress or casual, especially men's styles) and/or gift cards of any denomination to stores or restaurants. Flyer with additional information will be available soon. Church Women United in Arizona: Come Journey with Us Friday, February 26 3:30-5:30-State Assembly 5:45-6:45 Dinner, 7:00-9:00 Opening Worship Service-Sacred Movement. Saturday, February 27, Check in 8:-9:00, 9-3:00. Get on Board for a wonderful Renewal Retreat Cost: Early Bird Registration Fee: $25.00 by February 19. After February 19- $30.00, at the door $35.00.l Registration form and additional information will be available soon. For additional information on both events call: Alice Brown,

10 The United Methodist Women Living Timeline started out as a multimedia digital and offline exhibit. Artwork, poetry, videos and essays were submitted by members to honor United Methodist Women members who have done extraordinary work putting faith, hope and love into action. Some tributes were of active members who were bright lights within their units and communities, while other tributes honored those members no longer with us. The stories were displayed on the United Methodist Women s Facebook page, Pinterest and at the 2014 We Make It Happen United Methodist Women s Assembly in Louisville, Kentucky. Telling our stories to each other is easy because we are sisters in Christ and understand our work in mission. However, for our stories to grab the attention of outside audiences such as The United Methodist Church, faith-based organizations and the news media, we need to learn how to become master storytellers. Our work needs to be widely known to various audiences and Our Stories: A Living Timeline is one way to show the impact United Methodist Women has historically had on social justice, racial and women s issues. For nearly 150 years, United Methodist Women members have done God s work to ensure women, children and youth live better lives. The next five years leading up to the 150th Anniversary will be a time of celebration! It will also be a time of reflection, a time to ask ourselves, what will our legacy be? What more needs to be done? Now is the time to regard our work, look around and remark on the brilliant ways members, leaders and units have contributed to God s call for us: to put faith, hope and love into action. Leading up to the 150th Anniversary, we want the story of United Methodist Women members in mission to go viral. Yes, we help raise money for mission and serve the goodies at coffee hour, but we have put faith, hope and love into action as changemakers for millions of women, children and youth for 150 years! History of Your Local Unit/Circle Chronicle the founding members steps and their mission. What global mission initiatives were started in the beginning? What mission work did members do within the community? It is important to look back at the accomplishments of our units and/or circles. Doing so allows us to gauge the progress we have made in the lives of women, children and youth. It also helps us to assess how much more work still needs to be done. Ultimately, it will give our sisters in Christ (other United Methodist Women local members) an opportunity to see different areas of mission work being carried out in our communities, country and world. - cont. page 11 10

11 Your Unit/Circle s Mission Story in the Present What is presently happening within your local units? What does mission work look like now for the local unit and for the community the local units serve? Just as it is important to look at past accomplishments, it is meaningful to share the current mission work being done now. What are individual United Methodist Women local members doing to put faith, hope and love into action? Lift up the stories of one or two members that demonstrate exactly how individuals make a difference. The Trailblazers Within Your Unit/Circle There may be a unit leader or member who should be lifted up or remembered for their exemplary work or leadership role. Sharing tributes about United Methodist Women trailblazers demonstrates the power the individual spirit can have on some of God s most needy people. -Our Stories: A Living Timeline A DYI (do it yourself) Guide for United Methodist Women Desert Southwest Conference United Methodist Women will be creating a specific Facebook page on which to share Our Stories, as will women across the country on their own pages. Begin now to start thinking about the history/present you want to highlight. (Note - we are talking about writing paragraphs - not pages). Submission guidelines for pictures and writing helps will be available in future newsletters and on our web page. Save the Dates Western Jurisdiction It isn t too early to be saving the dates, April 22-24, 2016 to attend the Western Jurisdiction United Methodist Women s meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah. Rev. Paul Jefferies, missionary and photographer for Response magazine will be the keynote speaker on Saturday evening. Other speakers include Harriett Jane Olson (General Secretary and CEO of National) and Yvette Richards (President National Board of Directors). Mission u 2016 July North District - Desert Spring UMC, Las Vegas July Central East/ Central West - Dayspring UMC, Tempe August South District - Catalina UMC, Tucson We will see you there. Carla Whitmire, dean & Gloria Simmers, assistant dean 11

12 What will be on your Christmas dinner table? Campbell s, Swanson and Pepperidge Farm will grace the tables of many this holiday season - from the traditional green bean casserole made with mushroom soup to Pepperidge Farm stuffing and assorted other dishes and desserts. Please remember to clip the UPCs from the qualifying Labels for Education products and send them to Wesley Community Center - not just from your holiday meals but all year long. The Center has participated in the LFE program for many years and has been able to redeem points accumulated from the UPCs for items such as sports equipment, tables, chairs, a computer, a rug, books and many other things. Currently they are working towards more chairs. Unfortunately Wesley isn t receiving nearly the UPCs as they used to in the past. Those who help sort and count the UPCs at the Center wonder if people just aren t fixing food at home any more or are they forgetting to clip the UPCs and send them in. You can find a list of the qualifying products at: Earn-Points/Participating-Products or if you want a list via that you can print or duplicate send an to: wesleyccnews@wccphx.net Remember, Wesley is the only national mission institution in our conference. Saving UPCs is a small way we all can help. 12

13 The following are some messages from your sister units SANCTUARY UNITED METHODIST WOMEN held a bake sale on Oct 31, our yearly fund raiser. We will furnish goodies at our annual harp fusion program on DEC 5. We will be delivering a number of children's books to the University Medical Center's Diamond Children's Center on DEC 2. These books were written by a new member and her husband. They will be used for their library and given as Christmas gifts to the children. A recognition pin was presented to our wonderful church secretary for all she does, not only for the church, but for our United Methodist Women s group. Our annual United Methodist Women s meeting will be held DEC 16 at a member's home. Sanctuary United Methodist Women will concentrate on Hands on mission projects in We all wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year. The United Methodist Women of Safford s Quilting Circle gave quilts and stuffed animals to the Highway Patrol Officers to keep in their trunks to use for children, as needed for emergencies. The Quilting Circle has also made quilts for the local Dialysis and Cancer Centers, the Safe House and SEACUS to help the aging and special needs people. At the December 10th United Methodist Women s Christmas party, we will be taking plates of food to our church's Child Care teachers. Instead of a gift exchange at the United Methodist Women s Christmas party, we will be taking up a collection to give gift cards to the Child Care teachers. The United Methodist Women of Willcox are having problems as a unit. Between deaths, health issues, age and time we probably can't go on. Currently I'm the only officer. However, on November 8th we served a baked potato lunch with a simple salad right after our worship service. We had a donation basket on the serving table. After expenses we cleared $ Thankful for generous givers. Marilyn Hawley, Willlcox From the Green Valley United Methodist Women comes the following invitation. The Green Valley/Sahuarita Against Human Trafficking Committee is sponsoring a Stop Human Trafficking Now Forum on January 30th from 9 am until noon. The Forum will be held at Desert Hills Lutheran Church, 2150 S. Camino Del Sol in Green Valley. Marc Tetzlaff from ICE and Savannah Sanders, a survivor from Phoenix are the speakers. There will also be a panel of the two speakers plus Beth Jacobs, a survivor from Tucson and Patti O Berry, Director of Genesis House Domestic Abuse Shelter in Green Valley. Regina Ford from Green Valley News will be the moderator. Many Green Valley United Methodist Women are part of the Committee and the local unit supports the forum financially. We thank the units who have submitted these articles and invite all units to contribute to our newsletter. 13

14 Western Jurisdictional Conference The Desert Southwest Conference will host the Western Jurisdictional Conference (WJC) in July As host Conference it is our purpose to demonstrate God s abundant joy and grace that is present in the Desert Southwest. The WJC Worship Planning Team is asking for our assistance to do some needed work in advance of the gathering. Volunteers are needed in the following areas: 1) Advanced woodworkers we need 7 processional poles and stands made 2) An Advanced fabric artist to design stoles for the Bishops in cooperation with the Worship Planning Team 3) Seamstresses Quilters to make vestments and banners for the Bishops We need 6 stoles made We also need 7 processional banners made 4) 2 people who will assist in putting music into a format for the worship books 5) 6 churches whose children will assist in making a prayer gift for the participants 6) 1 or 2 people to work with our team coordinator to design and create prayer spaces for the gathering It is our goal to have these projects completed by January If you are interested in helping with any of these projects, please contact Rev. N. Susan Brims at seniorpastor@doveofthedesert.com or call Together, let us become God s blessings to those who will participate in the Western Jurisdictional Conference. 14

15 South District United Methodist Women Calendar 2016 Friday-Saturday January 8 & 9 Saturday, Feb. 6 Church Saturday, Mar 5 Saturday, Mar 12 March 20 March 27 Saturday, April 16 Friday-Sunday April Saturday, June 4 June Leadership Team Retreat - Sierra Vista Officer Leadership Training Green Valley Community Leadership Team Meeting St. James UMC UMC Human Trafficking Committee - HTC Event El Mecias UMC Nogales Palm Sunday Easter Sunday South District Conference Social Action Event St. Paul s UMC Impact of Poverty on Maternal and Child Health Quadrennial meeting in Salt Lake City- Theme: A Fresh Wind Blowing Leadership Team Meeting -St. James UMC Annual Conference Glendale Renaissance Friday & Saturday SD Mission u Catalina UMC August Saturday, Sept. 24 Leadership Team Meeting St. James Friday, October 7 Saturday, Oct. 8 Friday, Oct. 21 Saturday, Oct 22 Rehearsal for Annual Meeting Sierra Vista UMC Annual Meeting Sierra Vista UMC Conference UMW Leadership Training Green Valley, AZ Conference UMW Annual Celebration Green Valley, AZ Newsletter Deadlines: November 15, 2015 (Officer Leadership Training, Human Trafficking Event) March 15, 2016 (Social Action Event, Mission u) July 15, 2016 (Mission u, Annual Meeting & Conference Annual Celebration) 15

16 SOUTH DISTRICT UNITED METHODIST WOMEN LEADERSHIP TEAM INVITES ALL OFFICERS OF LOCAL UNITS TO A TRAINING EVENT REGISTRATION FORM DATE: Saturday, February 6, 2016 Check in: 8:30AM Location: Green Valley Community Church Opening & Training: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM 300 Esperanza Blvd Cost: $15.00 per person Green Valley, AZ (Interstate 19 Esperanza Exit) Please come whether you are new or continuing in office. Share your knowledge!!!! If unable to attend, please send a representative in your place. We will meet in the fellowship hall. Mail registration form with check made out to: United Methodist Women To Registrar: Alice Brown 4100 N. Romero Road Lot 204 Tucson, AZ aabrown1@comcast.net Registration deadline: Friday, January 29, 2016 (Detach and mail one registration per person) PLEASE PRINT NAME: MAILINGADDRESS: PHONE: E MAIL: EMERGENCY CONTACT: PHONE: CHURCH: OFFICE HELD IN LOCAL UNIT: DO YOU NEED CHILD CARE? (yes) AGES OF CHILDREN: 16