IROQUOIS RIVER DISTRICT UNITED METHODIST WOMEN IN ACTION

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1 I R O Q U O I S R I V E R D I S T R I C T U M W V O L U M E 9 I S S U E 2 April 2014 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: The Fox Den 2 Goings with Towne The Secretary s Pen and Treasury Notes 3 4 IROQUOIS RIVER DISTRICT UNITED METHODIST WOMEN IN ACTION (1) Attending District Spring Meeting, March 15, 2014 Spiritual Growth 5 Social Action & Nominations Cunningham & Lessie Bates Davis NH Program Resources & Calendar of Events Cecil Billingsley of Browsing resource area Bernice Dallas of empty tomb and displays Cunningham Children s Home MN & O and E & I 9 Chicken Lasagna Recipe Festival of Quilts Award Winners 9 10 Betty Kmoch & Bobby Walker FUMC Children s Choir Linda Grose & Susan Connor Cunningham Reps Lessie Bates Davis NH Reps (2) Making Plans to Attend Mission u Northfield Inn, Springfield, IL Weekend session Friday, August 1-Sunday, August 3 Weekday session Sunday, August 3-Wednesday, August 6 Each unit has a brochure with information about the studies and for registration. Check with your President or contact your Shepherdess for the brochure. (3) Saving the Date For Our Iroquois River District Fall Meeting Saturday, September 20 Tuscola UMC (4) Marking Your Calendar for Saturday, October 18 Illinois Great Rivers Conference Annual Meeting Savoy United Methodist Church Guest Speaker will be Harriet Jane Olson, General Secretary of United Methodist Women

2 Page 2 From the Fox Den The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. Song of Solomon 2:1-2 In our UNITED METHODIST WOMEN HANDBOOK , pages , we read about our local units. Quoting our HANDBOOK, it is written In every local church there shall be an organized unit of United Methodist Women. The genius of the United Methodist Women is the stewardship of its members. We have women with many gifts who give time, talent, creativity and energy. We do this in many ways such as leading a program, making phone calls or s, working on projects and helping someone get to a meeting. Yes, we are laywomen who have a ministry and a PURPOSE to help women, youth and children. We have three already! Would you like to join them? If so, please let me know by phone or . I will reserve a table for you. One can display with pictures, posters, crafts, mission trips, special programs, etc. about your unit. You get the idea. This will be at our Fall/Annual Meeting at the Tuscola United Methodist Church on September 20, This is a way we can share with others as we continue to grow in Faith, Hope and Love in Action. April is Assembly 2014 in Louisville, Ky. At the last report we have 140 women registered from Illinois Great Rivers Conference. Iroquois River District has 20 attending. Plans are underway for car-pools, sightseeing, and time for workshops. One of the areas of emphasis will be a Green Event (reduce, reuse, recycle, and compost). China and silverware will be used for dining instead of paper and plastic products. This is a FIRST. Praise the Lord! How good it is to sing praises to our God for He is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting. Psalm 147:1 Becky Fox, President 203 Misty Cove Savoy, Illinois Telephone: fox_rebecca@att.net. Love, Joy, Hope, Rainbow and Five Star Units Love Arcola Bellflower Bismarck Broadlands Centerville Champaign Faith Champaign First Crescent City Danville First Danville St. James Hindsboro Hoopeston Indianola Newman/Murdock Middlefork Milford Paxton Piper City Rankin Rantoul Rossville Savoy St. Joseph Sullivan Tolono Tuscola Urbana Wesley Watseka Weedman Weldon Joy Arthur Camargo Catlin Donovan Loda Mahomet Urbana Grace Hope Countryside Farmer City Mt. Vernon Urbana First Villa Grove Rainbow Arcola Bellflower Champaign Faith Crescent City Danville First Danville St. James Milford Tuscola Savoy Five Star Countryside Loda Piper City Rantoul Tolono Urbana First Watseka Rossville

3 Page 3 Goings with Towne The United Methodist Women of Iroquois River District appreciate the women who attended the recent Spring Meeting to learn and enjoy. Their participation provides incentive for positive UMW work and outcomes. The United Methodist Women of Champaign First UMC were very gracious hostesses and were very supportive of the Executive Board in planning this meeting. A most delicious noon luncheon was provided (recipe shared and can be found on page 9). All attending were made to feel very welcome. We thank Rev. Cathy Minor for her role in representing Champaign First UMC and our speakers, Bernice Dallas of Cunningham Children s Home and Cecil Billingsley from empty tomb. Quality of Life and Economic Freedom Proverbs 24:27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house. Proverbs 31:16-18 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. Quality of Life: general well-being of individuals and societies. Related to concept of human security. Economic Freedom: is the key to greater opportunity and an improved quality of life. Freedom to choose how to produce, sell, and use your own resources, while respecting others rights to do the same. Drives prosperity in the world. This brief excerpt is a follow up to my January 2014 Beacon Article Purposeful Work that described the essence of the United Methodist Women s productive mission programs that are intended to bring about economic freedom and quality of life. Economic freedom is more than significant. The sustenance of the concept for human beings is that the resulting effect is a higher self-worth and less poverty. More economic freedom improves well -being and leads to a higher quality of life. Economic freedom is the respect for others to work and become selfsustaining. To work is to be productive with substantial results. The United Methodist Women provide programs that encourage women and youth to become leaders. Leadership programs must be long lasting, effective and underpin the method for life improvement. Without education and understanding in the economic freedom model and how the impetus of the concept incorporates quality of life, the mission for betterment is futile. United Methodist Women must continuously critique the programs for our gift recipients. Complete the mission thoughts with gifts for betterment. Make corrections in programming where needed and verify the results are productive. Provide in the teaching mission programs the Economic Freedom model that has and continues to be proven repetitively to be the basis for a better Quality of Life. This is the God like way. Luke 3:10-14 Practice integrity in your work. References: Quality of Life Wikipedia Encyclopedia Quality_of_life Economic Freedom The Bible Cheryl Towne, Vice President Iroquois River District UMW 1109 Lake Ridge Road Danville, Illinois Home Cheryl.luann.towne@gmail.com is a publication of the Iroquois River District United Methodist Women. Editor: Kay McCoy, Communications Coordinator, , mccoy18@comcast.net. is published to report and inform UMW of district and conference programs. For more information visit the Iroquois River District web site (

4 Page 4 The Secretary s Pen Hello Everyone! At the end of this month several ladies from Iroquois River District are traveling to Louisville, Kentucky for the UMW Assembly 2014, April 25 through April 27. I had heard of the Assembly at our meetings but had no idea of the size or outreach. I was surprised to learn that former Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, is giving the keynote address. The bliblical text for the 2014 Assembly is the story of the feeding of the multitude in Mark 6:30-44, in which Jesus instructs his disciples to organize the people into groups of 50 to feed them with five loaves of bread and two fish. Throughout the event, participants will grapple with Jesus instructions for his disciples to give them something to eat. I will be in Michigan that weekend helping my older brother after neck surgery, but please join me in prayer for safe travel as well as a blessed time for the community of women who attend. Mary Ann Matthews, Secretary 504 W. Dunbar Street Mahomet, IL heiryann6@gmail.com Treasury Notes Happy Spring ladies! I am pleased to report that we had a wonderful offering at our Spring Meeting; we took in $845 for empty tomb and $ for missions. Awesome! We ve still got a long way to go to meet our $63,500 pledge so keep those wonderful gifts coming. The money we give does so much good for so many. If you d like more information on UMW giving I encourage you to watch Where Do Your Mission Giving Dollars Go? which can be found at resources/multimedia/?i= I would also like to encourage units to purchase Gift to Mission cards; they are a great way to honor someone special by giving to missions. The cost is $5 per card with a variety of cards to choose from. Contact me for more information or simply send in an order form with your next remittance. I have enjoyed my first few months as District Treasurer and look forward to getting to know more of you. As always, if you have any questions, please don t hesitate to contact me. Blessings, MaryBess Gordon 300 S. Jacobsen Drive Thomasboro, IL marybessgordon@gmail.com The Leadership Team of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference United Methodist Women accepted and approved the following as our Mission Focus for this year: Mission Giving Pledge to Mission Special Mission Recognition Gift to Mission Gift in Memory World Thank Offering Treat Dollars/Coins for Coffee Mission Mile of Pennies

5 Page 5 Spiritual Growth You meet a friend and the conversation may begin How are you? and the automatic answer is usually Fine, how are you?. I wonder how my friend would respond if instead I asked her How is it with your soul?. If nothing else it might provoke a surprised look and perhaps an honest introspective answer. The spiritual growth study for mission u this summer is titled How Is It With Your Soul?. The question is worth reflecting on what our response would be. I am excited to discover other dimensions of the question that this study will teach me. Come and join me this summer at mission u where women of our conference once again come together to share, learn, grow and play. Details are elsewhere in this newsletter. Happy Spring! Pat Davis Spiritual Growth Coordinator 3204 Ridge Park Rd. Urbana, IL pat@bnpdavis.com People Honored at the Spring IRD UMW Memorial Service Arcola Bernice Marlow Naomi Rothrock Catlin Jeane Songer Champaign Faith Cheryl Beyer Virginia Davis Jennifer Arnold Smith Lola Williams Champaign First Margaret Barker Olive Getchius Beatrice Hall Elizabeth Hyde Lucille Starkey Eunice Sticklen Laveta Thinnes Indianola Beaulah Thomas Mahomet Rev. Harold Bodeen Dorothy Knell Lois Williams Erma Wood Mt. Vernon Gloria Rayburn Rankin Lorraine Dorman Jan Kohen Savoy Marian Jordan Barb Miller Mary Pitsch Sally Scharf Urbana First Dee Chrest Martha Hanson Grace M. Lee Vera Sands Urbana Wesley Phillis Cooper Marian Hohn Ruth Wright Watseka Thelma Shaw Anna Tudor Weedman Doris Gilmore Dorothy Grindley Donovan Emilie Barnleand Alberta Johnson Irene Line Bernice Munson Hindsboro Charlotte Harvey St. Joseph Marge Clark Dorothy McCrown Sullivan Dorothy Lawson Ina Roney Mabel Shulman

6 Page 6 Social Action Let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. I John 3:18 Human Trafficking: The Rohingya of Myanmar/Burma are an oppressed ethnic group (predominantly Muslim). Women refugees often encounter gross atrocities such as genital mutilation, rape, sexual assault, acid attacks, trafficking, forced marriage and honor killings. Over 300,000 Rohingya live in camps in Bangladesh. Help the Rohingya and fight human trafficking. World Fair Trade Day is May 10, when you can help oppressed women. During the week, 1,000 events in Canada and the U.S. will campaign for trade justice together with farmers, workers, and artisans. Shop Fair Trade markets, purchase unique gifts, and help others. Divine Chocolate USA, WorldPantry.com, 10,000 Villages in Champaign, ESTROG (Every Single Transaction Reaps Overall Good) helps formerly trafficked women get a new start. and Ecuadorian handcrafts Immigration: The IL Secretary of State issues Temporary Visitor Driver s Licenses for non-citizens of the U.S. who are here legally. They must be temporarily residing in IL and be ineligible for Social Security numbers. This is valid for 3 years or for the length of time the person is authorized to stay in this country whichever is sooner. Environment: Illinois is # 1 in the U.S. in the sustainable building design movement with over 29 million sq. ft. of certified green buildings. This supports Gov. Quinn s agenda to ensure a clean, healthy environment for future generations. The average wedding produces 62 tons of carbon emissions, lbs. of garbage and costs over $25,000! Simple sustainable celebrations include: small guest lists, recycled paper, eco-friendly outfits (borrowed or heirloom dress, suits), vintage rings, repurposed decorations, practical gifts (friends donate services/supply food), and honeymooning nearby. Reduce, reuse, recycle, repurpose to help IL become green and clean. Lobby Day: Springfield, Wednesday, May 10. Conference Center 9:30, Capitol 10:30, Conference Center for evaluation 1:30. Bring sack lunch. We ll talk with representatives about needs of children, domestic abuse, human trafficking, etc. More information: ndavidson3@gmail.com or Conference Soc. Action. Patty Russell Social Action Coordinator 215 Forest Glen Tuscola, IL prussell61953@yahoo.com Committee on Nominations Greetings! At the end of this year (2014) the following positions on the district s Executive Board will need to be filled as the term for those currently serving will have expired. We are looking for: Spiritual Growth Coordinator Communications Coordinator Secretary of Program Resources Member of Committee on Nominations We would like to fill these positions as soon as possible so if you would like to serve as a board member or know of someone who would be interested please call me, Charlotte Pritchard, Chair of Nominations at the phone number listed to the right. Thank you! Charlotte Pritchard P. O. Box 43 Savoy, IL

7 Page 7 Cunningham Children s Home What a beautiful morning this is spring is definitely on the way! The weekend of April 4 and 5 was beautiful too at least inside the Spiritual Life Center on the Cunningham Children s Home Campus. Friday was a blustery, cold day but it did not hinder the many people that came to experience the Festival of Quilts. The 10th Annual Festival raised well over $50,000 this year over a two day period people attended the event and over 100 volunteers were put to work. Most of those 100 were United Methodist Women. What a great event it was! Thanks to everyone who made the weekend a success. The Quilt Show is wonderful and is a great fund raiser but Cunningham Kids need us throughout the year. By being Guardian Parents, by buying articles from the Wish List and by praying each and every day for the kids and staff, we can make a difference. The Bible makes it clear how we are to conduct ourselves in Colossians 3:12. As God s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience. As I think of Cunningham staff I see this verse being lived out each day. Betty and I thank all of you for everything you do to make life at Cunningham a little easier. Be sure to call us to schedule a visit to your unit or church. The 2014 Festival of Quilts Awards are: Best of Show Sedona Joy by Maggie Szafranski Bed Quilt Hand Quilted First Place Tumbler Quilt by Sarah Raymond Bed Quilt Machine Quilted First Place Trees of Life by Sherry Fourez Antique Quilt First Place Farmhouse Quilt by Kay McCoy Baby Quilt First Place Toddler Time by Allison Bergquist Wall Hanging or Lap Quilt First Place Inspirations from Africa by Judy Gamble Judges Choice Asian, Blue Satin by Eileen Burrell People s Choice International Sunbonnet by Dorothy Kipling (See pictures on back cover) Cunningham Representatives: Betty Kmoch 2908 Springhill Lane Champaign, IL bettylouisek@sbcglobal.net Bobby Walker 406 W. Diller Broadlands, IL bswalker42@gmail.com Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it. Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House is still doing great things for the Lord in East St. Louis. Their Youth Program recently witnessed a change in a group of young men between the ages of 12 to 17 who regularly attend the after school hours program. They let their guard down and spoke from the heart during a special session with a visiting minister. The breakthrough has developed into an ongoing mentoring program lead by the older group of young men for the younger boys in the program. Caring Neighbors Program is another great thing that LBDNH is doing. You can be a Caring Neighbor by donating a monthly amount of $20, $50 or $100 or a quarterly amount of $200, $500 or $1000. A Caring Neighbor adopts a family around Christmas time and helps with food, clothes, furniture and household supplies during emergency times of need. When you give to Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House you help them meet the challenges of serving nearly 23,000 neighbors annually. Linda Grose 1189 Country Club Road Sullivan, IL mikelindagrose@gmail.com Susan Connor 1431 CR 800N Sullivan, IL radtech @yahoo.com

8 Page 8 Program Resources Congratulations to all of the 2013 Reading Program Readers! Year after year the number of readers increases; I m so proud of you! 2014 will be yet another year of great accomplishments in the Reading Program. If you attended the meeting on , you could have enjoyed the haphazard way in which awards were distributed this year. Our President, Becky Fox, is always finding a new way to jazz things up. Education of understanding and tolerance seep into our hearts with every book read. From our hearts come Faith, Hope, Love, and Action to spread the word of God as we seek to aid and comfort the marginalized. The Ten Commandments were written and signed by God for us to read and obey. Similarly, several authors of mission study books and others will be at Assembly 2014 in Louisville, Kentucky in a couple of weeks. I have a few different books lined up just in case the lines are too long for my first selection. Don t worry though I will let you all look at my autographed book(s) if you like. If Hilary Clinton was signing books after her address at Assembly 2014, I would certainly go purchase one of hers. After such a fabulous and exhausting Spring District Meeting, I didn t think a newsletter article would be asked of me. As usual, I was wrong. Then I got excited thinking that it could be my last article since I am rolling off of this office in December. I was wrong again. Instead of whining even more, I will tell you a little about Mission u that will be here before too long. Here are the titles of the movies showing this summer at the Mission u theatre in Springfield Illinois: Spiritual Growth Study: How Is It with Your Soul? Geographic Study: The Roma of Europe Current Issue Study: The Church and People with Disabilities: Awareness, Accessibility, and Advocacy Aside from the learning that takes place, there are a bunch couldn t spell the word I wanted to use -- of other activities and opportunities for fellowship. If you have not attended Mission u yet, you should give yourself permission to do so. There are scholarships available and there is a young women s study for those entering grades 7 through 11. Whatever you choose for inspiration and renewal, go out there and enjoy God s options. Barb Rascher rascher@illinois.edu 802 E. Larmon St. Tolono, IL (home) Date Time Event Location Fri. Aug. 1 Sun. Aug. 3 Sun. Aug 3-Weds. Aug 6 Calendar of Events mission u weekend mission u weekday Springfield Springfield Sat. September 20 9:00 am-2 pm District Fall Meeting Tuscola UMC Sat. October 18 8:30 am 3 pm Conference Annual Meeting Savoy UMC Sat. November 1 9:00 am District Spiritual Growth Retreat/Officer Update Countryside UMC

9 Page 9 Membership, Nurture & Outreach Hello IRD Members! I have been in the nursing home after having a stroke but I am on the mend to fulfill my job. Thank you all for the prayers and cards and visits. Now get to work, Dicksie. Please remember to always be talking with members and friends to join your local units of United Methodist Women at your church or even start a new unit. What a joy to be together in work for mission and your local church. Love, Dicksie Dicksie Blankenship 999 Route 10 West, Apt. 14 Clinton, IL d.blankenship@mchsi.com Education & Interpretation HAPPY SPRING! (I hope) I know we are all glad to bid winter goodbye. I want to encourage you to have at least one member of your unit in attendance at mission u. This is a wonderful place to get educated about missions. You will hear from missionaries, participate in one of the studies The Roma of Europe or The Church and People with Disabilities, be inspired by the spiritual growth study How Is It With Your Soul? and have fellowship with old and new friends from throughout the conference. You need to get your reservations in soon so you can get the class of your choice. Deadline is July 6. Every unit has received a brochure with reservation information. Hope to see a lot of you there. As your Education & Interpretation coordinator for the district there are three things I would like to stress this year. First, every unit should have at least one copy of the prayer calendar. There are many ways to use it. Every member could take a missionary who shares their birthday and write to him or her. Most have addresses for those of you with computers. Each week there is a short message and picture you could share with your unit. Some of you have participated in the Pennies for Mission program. Putting aside a penny a day would soon make a mile of pennies possible to add to our mission giving. Lastly if you go out to treat yourself to a candy bar or ice cream treat, put the same amount in a TREAT BOX and watch it accumulate so you can give it to missions through your treasurer. These are practically painless ways to get involved in mission which is the purpose of our organization. Wishing you all a blessed Lenten and Easter season. Roberta Sterrenberg Education & Interpretation Coordinator P. O. Box 486 Piper City, IL ******************************************** Chicken Lasagna (served at IRD Spring Meeting) 1 pkg (9) lasagna noodles 1/4 t. garlic powder over bottom of greased 9 x 13 pan. 1 can cream of mushroom soup 2 c cooked chicken breasts, diced Alternate layers of noodles, chicken 1 can cream of chicken soup 2 c shredded mild cheddar cheese mixture & cheese 3 times, ending with 1 c shredded Parmesan cheese Cook noodles and drain. Blend together cheese on top. Cover with foil & bake 1 c sour cream soups, Parmesan cheese, sour cream, for 45 minutes at 350 degrees. After 1/2 c chopped onions onions, olives & garlic powder. Stir in 30 minutes remove foil and continue to 1/2 c black olives, chopped chicken. Spread 1/4 chicken mixture bake until bubbly and golden.

10 Iroquois River District UMW Savoy United Methodist Church P. O. Box 65 Savoy, IL NONPROFIT US POSTAGE PAID SAVOY IL PERMIT NO. 48 Address Service Requested Festival of Quilts 2014 Best of Show 1st Place Bed Quilt-Hand Quilted 1st Place Bed Quilt-Machine Quilted 1st Place Antique Quilt Sedona Joy Tumbler Quilt Trees of Life Farmhouse Quilt Maggie Szafranski Sarah Raymond Sherry Fourez Kay McCoy 1st Place Baby Quilt 1st Place Wall Hanging Judges Choice People s Choice Award Toddler Time Inspirations from Africa Asian, Blue Satin International Sunbonnet Sue Allison Bergquist Judy Gamble Eileen Burrell Dorothy Kipling