February 2015 Shawnee Signals page 1. PRESIDENT'S THOUGHTS Another New Year of God's Abounding Love and Grace!

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1 February 2015 Shawnee Signals page 1 Shawnee Signals Shawnee Valley District United Methodist Women February 2015 Volume 9 Issue 1 PRESIDENT'S THOUGHTS Another New Year of God's Abounding Love and Grace! Greetings from Shawnee Valley: Well, Shawnee Valley District had a good 2014 and we are looking forward to a great We met our goal for mission dollars this past year. This is thanks to all of our local UMW Units. It is so hard to have the extra money to give to missions when our own pockets are almost empty. God will continue to supply our needs when we reach out to help Him to care for others in need. I read some time back that when we are going to buy ourselves a new garment or something that we really don't need that we should take that amount and instead give it to missions. We probably will not even miss it. I know that all of our local organizations have a lot of missions that they take care of at home and find it hard to think about needs that can't be seen, but if you take time to read the Response Magazine you can see the needs and what is being done with our mission money. Thank you for all you do in God's name with a giving and loving heart. We, the Shawnee Valley District Team, would love to come and visit your organization, get to know you and help you to achieve the appropriate credit on the Mission Today form. If anyone in the local UMWs would like to be a district team member let one of us know. Actually we are all on the same team...united Methodist Women. Looking forward to a great year with all of UMW, Linda Hamilton, Shawnee Valley District President Underground Rd Leesburg, Ohio (Please put UMW in the subject line so I will notice it) lehamilton1@frontier.com Blessings from the Vice President VICE-PRESIDENT'S THOUGHTS New Year Challenges and Promises Greetings United Methodist Women! Hope your Holidays were relaxing, that you enjoyed time with family, and

2 February 2015 Shawnee Signals page 2 shared your time with God. My name is Donna Sparks, and I am the new Vice President of the Shawnee Valley District. I m praying that I will be able to follow in the shoes of Karen Evans, who did a great job in her term as Vice President. I m also hoping I will be able to learn a lot from her and promote missions just as she has done. David and I are both retired, and have been married for 43 years. This is a second marriage for both of us; and we have five children, eight grandchildren, and 12 great grandchildren. I have met many of you, but hope to give more of my time to learning your names and hoping that you will be giving me your time and suggestions in the future. I m sure that my work for the District and God will be slow at first, but when I get the hang of things, and with God s help, it will all come together. Your Sister in Christ, Donna Sparks District Vice President PO Box 633 Chillicothe, OH (740) NURTURING and EDUCATING OUTREACH Mission u Prep Greetings Shawnee Valley UMW! Ladies, if you or someone you know is interested in attending Mission U this year and want to do so on a scholarship, please write a brief description of why you would benefit from attending. Please send this to me no later than March 20th so I can send in the information for the scholarship. Thank You, Tracey Creed Membership, Nurture and Outreach/Education and Interpretation Coordinator 178 Applewood Drive Chillicothe, Ohio Home traceylynncreed@yahoo.com Growing Spiritually Being Socially ProActive What's new for and Beyond!! Have you made your New Year's resolutions and within 24 hours broken most of them? Let's start our day off in a way to get closer to God - spending time with God. Let's get into the GOD habit. You are as close to God as you want to be. You can spend as much time as you want, but if we put God first in our daily routine, He will help us through our day. What we sow, we will reap (spiritual seeds). We all need God and we are no good without Him. We can talk to Him about every aspect of our lives. He wants to hear us say that we need Him, love Him, and trust Him. God can use our troubles for good, to correct us, to perfect us, to purify us, and to sanctify us. Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-11. Start small but make Him a priority first thing in the morning. In our

3 February 2015 Shawnee Signals page 3 local organizations, we have several things to help us --- the Bible, the Prayer Calendar, the Response magazine, and devotionals. (I use the Upper Room). At our Spring District meeting, you will be able to purchase reading material. Some suggestions to consider for your local organizations are--- Spiritual Growth, No Longer Silent by Susan Matthews and Social Action, Behind the Kitchen Door by Saru Jayaraman. My prayer is for Shawnee Valley District's local organizations to grow closer to God, to increase our membership, to increase our mission money, to work daily by getting closer to God, and to help spread spiritual seeds for women, children, and youth. With faith, hope and love-in-action, we CAN fulfill the United Methodist Women s Purpose. Have a blessed New Year, Karen Sue Evans, Social Action/Spiritual Growth Coordinator 5212 A US Hwy 52 Stout, Ohio READING CORNER Between the Pages Welcome to the New Year and the 2015 Reading Program! As the new Secretary of Program Resources for Shawnee Valley District, I am excited to review and choose new books from the reading program. The books in the reading program can be found in the Reading Program Booklet, or online at umwmissionresources.org. Also, remember the Response magazine is an integral part of the UMW reading program. Three interesting books I've found that you might want to read are: The Well Women, No Longer Silent, and January First. God talks to us in many ways through His word, song, and even through the books on the UMW reading program. Let's read, and allow the Holy Spirit to dwell with us, empowering us and drawing us closer to our Father. I hope to see all of you at Spring Enrichment. Make it a point to stop by the reading room, say hello, and choose a nice selection of books to take back to your local organization! God Bless, Judy Barber Secretary of Program Resources 1425 N 4th St Ironton OH ohjudyb@gmail.com Greetings Ladies from chilly Southern Ohio!!!! LET'S COMMUNICATE So What's Important to Know? I am so excited to begin a new year with you!! There is so much going on this year to increase and then communicate your faith to others! The Shawnee Valley District (SHVD) President gave an open invitation to your local organizations for our team to come to visit your organization to share ideas. The SHVD Membership, Nurture, and Outreach/Education and Interpretation Coordinator has told you about the opportunities that are

4 February 2015 Shawnee Signals page 4 open to women, children, and youth within your local organization and church who have never been to Mission u so that they may increase their faith through study and worship by obtaining a scholarship to Mission u. Many of us already use our Bible and devotionals but the SHVD Spiritual Growth/Social Action Coordinator has taken it a step further by explaining how to use the Prayer calendar, the Response magazine and even many of the books from the Reading program to not only increase faith but to bolster social justice. Finally, the SHVD Secretary of Program Resources extended an open invitation to come to the reading room at the District events to purchase reading materials to share amongst the members of your local organization and church. So is this enough? It can be or you can also check out websites that the United Methodist Church and the Board of Discipleship maintain to continue your journey of faith. Some contain courses that are free while others cost a small fee. Does your church offer small group studies? If not, there is a website that offers a free weekly Bible study that can be sent to your or you can just check out the website to study. The World Wide Web (www) is a plethora of information that can be used to increase your faith. In addition, there are some communities that offer small boxes within neighborhoods that are free sharing libraries. You take a book and add a book for everyone in your neighborhood to read. These boxes look like a small 2 or 3 shelf medicine cabinet with a glass door on a post that sit by the curb. You could put one in your neighborhood or the hallway of your church so that everyone could share the good books that each are reading. Another excellent way to walk the journey of faith and communicate what you are learning is through your church bulletin boards. Share what you learn through pictures, articles, and artwork on your church bulletin boards so that the men, women, children, and youth that pass by will also learn valuable ideas to increase their individual faith. Let the Holy Spirit guide you on your personal journey of faith and He will show you ways to then allow the light of Jesus Christ to shine from you to the world! Sharing in God s love, Stephanie Wright Communication s Coordinator th Street Portsmouth, OH Cell Divaqueen52j@gmail.com F.Y.I. The General Board of Discipleship: The United Methodist Communications Online Training Center: The United Methodist Women website: West Ohio Conference United Methodist Women website: Shawnee Valley District UMW Facebook page:

5 February 2015 Shawnee Signals page 5 UPCOMING EVENTS Mar 1-Jun15 Apr 15 Apr 18 May 2 Jul 6-9 Jul Jul 11 Sep 12 Oct 10 Nov 13 Nov 14 Registration for Mission u Mission u Early Bird Discount and deadline for scholarships Spiritual Growth Retreat King Ave. UMC Columbus, OH Spring Enrichment Trinity UMC Chillicothe, OH Mission u Week School Ohio Northern University Ada, OH Mission u Weekend School Ohio Northern University Ada, OH Mission u Day Sampler Ohio Northern University Ada, OH West Ohio Conference Racial Justice Leadership Development Church of the Messiah UMC Westerville, OH Shawnee Valley District Annual Meeting/Fall Leadership Training TBA Mission Exploration West Ohio Conference Center Worthington, OH West Ohio Conference Annual Celebration Powell UMC Powell, OH We are at 20% of our Pledge to Mission Giving goal!!!

6 February 2015 Shawnee Signals page 6 Choose Life: A Bible Study on Sustainability I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live. ~Moses-Deuteronomy 30:19 Intriguingly, Moses had just retold the history of the Israelite people, and throughout the Book of Deuteronomy repeats over and over warning and cautions about their need to remember the God who had brought them up from the land of slavery. He repeats over and over that the Israelites must Love the Lord their God with all their heart, mind and strength and Love their neighbors as themselves. He warns the Israelites that when they cross over into the promised land of Israel from the wilderness, they will be tempted to forget the sustenance that God has been for them in their poverty. He retells their history in deep ways the water from the rock, the hoarfrost from heaven and warns them that when they enter the Promised Land, they might begin to consume too much, and will, if they re not careful, create idols. He told them as long as they made sure these two principles (Love God and Love neighbor) were part of everything they were about, it would go well for them and their grandchildren. This verse: I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live is almost the last sentence before he dies. The rest of the book is his farewell address. Reflection Questions: As you think through U.S. history, where are the obvious points that come up where we loved something more than our neighbors? What did we love? Where is our love of something other than our God and our neighbor still happening? What are the consequences? As you think about our present day, what are our idols? What damage have those idols done to the earth and her people? In order to Love God and Love neighbor as ourselves, what spiritual disciplines do we need to have deep in our practices? How have your United Methodist Women friends and family been a support system for you as you struggle to love God and love your neighbor (along with God s creation and your neighbor s environment)? Can your United Methodist Women friends and family become a better support system for an upswing in care for neighbor, God and the created order that sustains us?

7 February 2015 Shawnee Signals page 7 EXPLORING YOUR PERSONAL SPIRITUALITY Who: YOU!! What: Spiritual Growth Retreat When: Saturday, April 18, 2015 Registration: 9:15 am Event: 10 am 3:00 pm Where: King Ave. UMC 299 King Ave Columbus, OH Why: Because the Standing Rules say so JUST KIDDING! To help us know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ Cost: Registration is $5.00 (this includes lunch) Bring your Bible and join us and Rev. Vernagaye Sullivan for a day. We ve set aside this day for ourselves, to nurture, refresh, and equip us to continue to help women, children, and youth to become whole persons. Deadline for registration is April 1, Please make your check out to WOC UMW and send it c/o Sylvia Kempton 322 Zane Rd Chillicothe, OH 45601

8 February 2015 Shawnee Signals page 8 9th Spring Enrichment Shawnee Valley District UMW CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE Be Just. Be Green Saturday May 2, :45 to 9:25 a.m. Registration 9:30 a.m. Program Trinity UMC - Chillicothe 24 South Mulberry St. Chillicothe, Ohio Cost: $12.00 includes lunch Reservations due by April 25, 2015 Please make check payable to: Shawnee Valley District UMW Send names and check to: Becky Johnson 4277 St. Rt. 220 Waverly, Ohio Names Church

9 February 2015 Shawnee Signals page 9 Directions: From the North - come down Rt. 23 south to Main St. exit, turn right on onto Main St., go 8 traffic lights, church on left. From the South - come up Rt. 23 to Main St. exit, turn left onto Main St., go 8 traffic lights, church on left. From the East - Jackson exit Rt. 50, to Main St. exit, turn left onto Main St., go 8 traffic lights, church on left. From the West---come on Rt. 35 to Main St. exit, turn right and go 8 traffic lights, church on left. Parking: 1) Main Street in front of the church; 2) in the side Garden Lot ; 3) on Hickory Street beside the church; 4) in lot on Hickory Street past the church; and 5) down the alley behind the church.

10 February 2015 Shawnee Signals page 10 President 2015 SHAWNEE VALLEY DISTRICT MISSION TEAM Vice President Linda Hamilton Donna Sparks Underground Road 595 Marietta Rd. Leesburg, Ohio P.O. Box Chillicothe, OH Secretary Treasurer Margaret Hedden Becky Johnson 620 Market St St Rt 220 P O Box 414 Waverly, Ohio Piketon, Ohio (H) danieljsn55@gmail.com anniescc04@yahoo.com MISSION COORDINATORS Social Action/ Spiritual Growth Membership, Nurture, & Outreach/Education & Interpretation Karen Evans Tracey Creed 5212-A US Hwy Applewood Drive Stout, OH Chillicothe, Ohio (H) (H) jkevans52@frontier.com traceylynncreed@yahoo.com Communications Coordinator Secretary of Program Resources Stephanie Wright Judy Barber th Street 1425 N. Fourth St. Portsmouth, Ohio Ironton, OH (C) (H) divaqueen52@gmail.com ohjudyb@gmail.com

11 February 2015 Shawnee Signals page 11 NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE Chairperson, Committee on Nominations Millie Hutchison Class of Page Rd. 32 Page Rd. Chillicothe, Ohio Chillicothe, Ohio (H) (C) (H) (C) Class of 2015 Class of 2015 Helen Wolery Carolyn Bethel 1555 Kinneys Lane 3016 Dixon Mill Rd Portsmouth, OH Londonderry, Ohio (H) Class of 2016 Class of 2017 June Bundy Mildred (Midge) Rose 1709 Waldo Dr Careytown Rd. Ironton, Ohio New Vienna, Ohio (H) (H) no Make a Note!!! Shawnee Valley District Treasurer Becky Johnson would like to remind you to send in your remittances as early as possible this year. You may keep track of the Shawnee Valley District's Pledge to Mission goal by watching the Goal Together box with the percentage achieved on each newsletter. Thank you!!!

12 February 2015 Shawnee Signals page 12 Delegates for General and Jurisdictional Conferences News from the Conference As United Methodist Women, we begin this new year of 2015 with great faith and hope. We are strong and determined as we continue in the tradition of Christ-like mission with women, children and youth globally just as our foremothers did. United Methodist Women lead the church in global mission endeavors as well as in effective models for mission education. The year 2015 is critical because in June at the West Ohio Annual Conference at Lakeside, we will be electing 8 delegates to General Conference and 8 additional delegates to Jurisdictional Conference. It is vitally important that United Methodist Women have a place at the table so our voice for women, children and youth will be heard. There are several things we can do to make this happen. If you are not already a member to Annual Conference from your congregation or by virtue of an office you hold in our West Ohio Conference, you can apply through your district office to be a member-at-large with a vote. Do this immediately! Then you can read your Annual Conference materials to gain a better understanding of the entire voting process. As the voting begins and a UMW leader emerges, we must all support that one woman who will best represent us. Because West Ohio Conference has only 8 delegates to General Conference, we must strategize in order for our voice to be heard. We cannot throw away votes by voting for people who are not electable, even if they are our best friends. Please pray about this process. Yes, sometimes it feels way too political! But as dedicated leaders with an important purpose, we must remain a strong voice at the table of the United Methodist Church. Shawnee Valley District United Methodist Women th Street Portsmouth, OH RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED