Eventful Spring and Summer Ahead

Transcription

1 Spring 2014 Volume 3, Issue 2 Corridor Connections Corridor District of the North Carolina Conference United Methodist Women The Purpose of United Methodist Women The organized unit of U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t 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 through participation in the global ministries of the church. Inside this issue: Conf. Annual Meeting 8 Conf. Mission Trip 4 District Mission Encounter 5 Education and Interpretation and Mission Studies 3 Learn More with Mission u 9 Mother-Child Retreat 9 Proclaiming Spiritual Growth 6 Social Action Updates 8 Surprises with Program Resources 3 Time to Get Nominating 5 Eventful Spring and Summer Ahead May 17 NC Conference Spiritual Enrichment Event led by Bishop Hope Morgan Ward Saturday, May 17 9:30 am - 2:30 pm Pinehurst United Methodist Church 411 Airport Road, Pinehurst, NC For more information: June 7 Corridor District Offers 3 Mission Studies Poverty Roxie Floyd The Roma of Europe Lib Creech The Call: Living Sacramentally & Walking Justly Patricia Pemberton Saturday 6/7 9:30 am - 2:00 pm Epworth United Methodist Church 3002 Hope Valley Road, Durham, NC Please contact Joann Barbour for child care by May 28, 2014 at or Joann@triad.rr.com July NC Conference Mission u See Page 8 August 22 Corridor District Sister-to-Sister Event at Emmanuel United Methodist Church 2231 La Vista Drive, Burlington 6:30-6:55 pm MAKE YOUR OWN SUNDAE and fellowship 7 p m P r o c l a i m i n g t h r o u g h P r a y e r!! P r a y i n g I n Co l o r A P a r t icipato r y Event l e d by R e v. L i nda Harris

2 Page 2 Greetings from the Corridor District President, Susan Rayle Welcome Spring!! During the first three months of 2014, we have had sleet, freezing rain, snow, ice storms, power outages for days, downed limbs and trees; and we even had to postpone our Corridor District mission studies. I am overjoyed that Spring is finally here with warmer weather and bright sunshine. We are fast approaching Holy Week and Easter a time when we will go from Hosanna, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, to Do this in remembrance of Me, to Were you there when they crucified my Lord, to Christ the Lord is Risen today, Alleluia. Let us remember that each day can be a personal Easter for us, remembering what our savior did for us, dying but not held by the grave. Each morning when you wake up, shout Alleluia, He is Risen for we do serve a risen Lord to walks with us each and every day of our lives. Thank you, Jesus! A special thanks goes out to our Social Action Coordinator, Yvonne Cook. Yvonne has served on the Corridor District team from the district s beginning in July Unfortunately, Yvonne is leaving her position due to the busy demands on her life. She had served the Corridor District UMW well especially teaching us about being green. Yvonne is a dynamic young woman who loves UMW. She is still very much a part of UMW and is looking forward to serving in a leadership position at a later time. During this transition time, please send any Social Action questions or concerns to JoAnn Barbour at eandi@corridorumw.org. Upcoming events include National Assembly in Louisville, Ky. April 25-27; Conference Spiritual Enrichment Event in Pinehurst May 17, our District rescheduled Mission Studies in Durham for June 7, Mission u in Fayetteville July 17-19, and the District Sister-to-Sister Event in Burlington Friday, August 22. More information on each of these events can be found in this newsletter. I hope to see many of you at these events. Blessings, Susan president@corridorumw.org Greetings, Spring is finally here! As we observe God s glory in the awaking of new life the flowers are blooming in honor of our Lord as we PROCLAIM For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus sake. We are now in our second quarter of mission giving. Please review your schedule will you be a Seven-Star Unit/Member this year? Will you send a card to tell someone you are thinking of them? Have you scheduled your candle burning event? These are all small things we can do to cheer someone telling them that we love them and donate to mission giving. Please let me know if you need any of our UMW Cards either Gift in Mission or Gift in Memory. You can make the Corridor District an outstanding District by PROCLAIMING Jesus Christ as Lord very day! Mary Forrest, Treasurer

3 Page 3 Education and Interpretation With JoAnn Barbour The winter weather caused us to postpone the mission study that was scheduled for March 8. It has been rescheduled for June 7 th at Epworth UMC 3002 Hope Valley Road Durham, NC. Please note the different time: this study will begin at 9:30 AM and conclude at 2 PM. The same three studies will be offered with the following leaders: Poverty Roxie Floyd The Roma of Europe Lib Creech The Call: Living Sacramentally & Walking Justly Patricia Pemberton Study books only will be available for sale before the meeting and during lunch at the Program Resources table. Coffee and juice will be available before 9:30. The wonderful people at Epworth will provide drinks and dessert to go with whatever you bring for your lunch. Please contact me for child care by May or Joann@triad.rr.com Please be using the Gift to Mission Cards more than you have in the past. This is the way we will be honoring the special people in our lives this year. Susan Rayle, our President, has many good ways to use these cards that she s shared with the Presidents. Ask to see that list and think about sending a Gift to Mission Card to someone. Please see the Social Action article for information on the District Mission Encounter that will be happening concurrently with the District Mission Study. As always, if you have questions pertaining to Education and Interpretation or something else that I can perhaps help you with in United Methodist Women, don t hesitate to ask. Shalom, JoAnn eandi@corridorumw.org Don t You Just Love Surprises? We all love surprises and never grow too old to enjoy them! Well if you want to be surprised by a couple of good books, I have two to recommend. JoAnn Barbour, the Corridor District s Education & Interpretation Coordinator, has shared with me two titles that are good reads. So I am sharing her recommendation with all of you. The first is Women, Spirituality and Transforming Leadership, which is in the Leadership Development category for She said it was a powerful book with some deep thoughts on women s leadership gained through personal experiences. The other book is Wonder in the Youth Category for Nurturing for Community. It is a book about boy born with a facial deformity who wants to be a regular boy, just like everybody else, in his fifth grade class. This book is good for 10 year olds and up (as well as adults). If you have a good read that you would like to report on, let me know and we can include it in our next Newsletter. This is a great way to share with one another and spur interest in the books offered through the Reading Program. Don t forget to continue to read, even with spring on the horizon, it s still a good time to get outdoors (finally) on our porch with a big class of ice tea and a good book and enjoy God s magnificent creation that is coming into full bloom!! Thanks and happy reading.carol Smith, Secretary of Program Resources, contact me at prog.resources@corridorumw.org.

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5 Page 5 Nominations Committee Updates To All Nominating Chairpersons and all others reading this, Your District Nominating Committee has started on officers for 2015 and hope that you are also. They will need to be ready to attend training sessions and be ready to start on a good trip with United Methodist Women. Meet with your committee, see which officers are to be filled then look at their responsibilities and pick the best person to serve. Go over from information you have previously received and read helpful notes and hints on how to handle your job. My best wishes to each of you as you fulfill a most important job for United Methodist Women. Call, or write if you need my help. Kathryn Self, Corridor District Nominations Chairperson Plans for the District Mission Encounter I m excited about the District Mission Encounter that will take place on June 7 th but you ll be preparing for it ahead of that date. You see, we are going to be gathering objects for the MATÇH program at the North Carolina Correctional Institute for Women in Raleigh. Do you know what MATCH stands for? Mothers and Their Children. This program helps mothers who are in the correctional facility maintain contact with their children. The North Carolina Conference UMW Project Sheets have a good short explanation of the program. MATCH currently needs: Paper goods for birthday parties such as wrapping paper, table cloths, napkins, cups, hats, etc. (like what you would have for a child s birthday party) Party favors Gift cards to Target or WalMart. Please no toys at this time. (During the Christmas season, a Raleigh high school student gathered toys for MATCH as his senior project and they have plenty of toys.) School supplies for elementary through high school age students are needed all year. Personal hygiene projects for the mothers or children. This could include shampoo, deodorant, lotions, toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc., but nothing containing alcohol. Please be gathering these in the next weeks to bring to the Mission Study June 7 at Epworth UMC, 3002 Hope Valley Road, Durham, NC. This gathering of supplies for the MATCH program is our District Mission Encounter for 2014 and will fulfill #21 on the Mission Today Report. I m catching up on what s currently being emphasized by our conference UMW in Social Action, but you ll be hearing from me. If you have Social Action questions, please send me an or a phone call and leave a message! I will return your call. Blessings, JoAnn Barbour or joann@triad.rr.com Domestic Violence Awareness Domestic Violence is not just a women s issue. It is an issue of faith. United Methodist Women and United Methodist Men have partnered to launch a domestic violence initiative to raise awareness and provide training in United Methodist congregations. Join the Domestic Violence group on UMWOnline.org

6 Page 6 Spiritual Growth with Carolyn Wood Greetings UMW Sisters, spiritual.growth@corridorumw.org Spring makes me HAPPY! I am so glad to be able to PROCLAIM Christ as my savior and to be his servant. The NC Conference Spiritual Enrichment Event will be held Saturday, May 17, at Pinehurst UMC in Pinehurst. The speaker will be Bishop Hope Morgan Ward. Childcare will be available for 1st thru 5th grades and a mission study will be available for the children. Please see registration form on Page 9 in this issue for more details. District Day Apart will not be held this year. Mission u will be held July at Methodist University. Three studies will be available. See information below and page 11 for registration form or I encourage you to plan a UMW Sunday in your unit. Sample services are available on the website: new.gbgm-umc/umw. Go to Resources, then Tools for Leaders, program ideas, click on UMW Sunday under picture. You can use these as a guide but make them your own. You may contact me if you have questions. Deceased member reports are due to me by August 15. Please see form on our website: corridorumw.org. Hope you are PROCLAIMING by sending someone from the Prayer Calendar a gift to mission card each month. There is much info in the RESPONSE and NEW WORLD OUTLOOK magazines. You can find out how others are PROCLAIMING. A prayer from the 2014 Prayer Calendar: When I feel overwhelmed, Oh Lord, grant me the grace to choose hope over hopelessness, love over impatience and laughter to continue serving you with joy. Amen Looking forward to seeing you at the next District event. Carolyn Wood, Corridor District Spiritual Growth Coordinator The United Methodist Church General Commission on the Status and Role of Women recognized Fran Alguire in 31 Days of Women in UMC History: In honor of Women s History Month 2014: Celebrating Women of Courage, Character and Commitment. GCSRW celebrated Women s History Month by creating a gallery of courageous, committed women in Methodist history. For the complete article, see WomeninUMChistory.aspx Frances W. Alguire was the first woman and first layperson to chair the 150-member World Methodist Council. In 1996, when she took the reins of the World Methodist Council after many years involvement, a woman taking note of her small stature supposedly remarked, You re too little for such a big job. Alguire reportedly responded, I m the same size as John Wesley. Alguire is now a member of University United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill, NC, where she is the past president of the local UMW. She certainly is among the finest of God's servants and a trailblazing woman in our church, said Dale Flexner, the current UMW president. Her profile by United Methodist New Service can be found at Alguire/ Her autobiography is God Trusted a Woman: Leadership Lessons from the Life of Dr. Frances M. Alguire, First Laywoman to Lead the World Methodist Council by Cynthia B. Astle (Author), Frances M. Alquire (Collaborator).

7 Page 7 What is human trafficking? Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery, and the second largest criminal industry in the world after drug trade. The U.N. Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons defines human trafficking as the recruiting, transporting and harboring of persons by use of threat, force or deception for the purpose of exploitation. Traffickers take advantage of vulnerable persons with false promises or physical abduction, forcing them into contract slavery, forced labor and sex-ual trafficking. Why it happens: Our current global economic system continues to reward wealth and exploit the poor. Sexual trafficking is connected to the feminization of poverty. Seventy percent of the world s poor are women and girls, most of whom live in developing countries with limited options available. Women com-prise 56 % of the 12.3 million trafficked adults and children according to the Trafficking in Persons Report. Raise Awareness: As in previous years, the national office has provided bulletin inserts, fliers and postcards for you to distribute that offers info on human trafficking and how regular folks can take steps in their own lives to help end it. Use the UMW Human Trafficking Resource Guide (PDF) to help you convene a community or church conversation on human trafficking. Distribute these at your next UMW local meeting. We ask all local UMW members to stand united to eliminate human trafficking around the world by supporting our national campaign to Intercept the Traf-fickers. It is putting our faith, hope and love into action. Let s prevent trafficking, protect those who are vul-nerable and prosecute those who commit this crime. For further info contact UMW Executive for Public Policy Susie Johnson: or CSADC@unitedmethodistwomen.org Human Trafficking is HERE in North Carolina! It is estimated that NC ranks in the top 8 for hu-man trafficking in the U.S. Reasons why NC is a hotspot for human trafficking: Major highways (40, 85, 95, etc. all come through NC). Large military presence with a transient population, huge agricultural community, eastern NC ports and large rural area. Source of NC Statistics: NC Coalition Against Human Trafficking School Kits to be Collected at Annual Conference During Annual Conference 2014, in a partnership ministry with NC Conference, The UMW and the Missions Team will be collecting school kits. Annual Conference is June 11-14, 2014 at the Greenville Convention Center. Half of the kits will remain in our Annual Conference and half will be sent to worldwide mission sites. You must build the kits as outlined below to meet UMCOR standard. School Kit Materials 1 pair blunt scissors, Rounded tip only; No plastic scissors please. 3 pads of paper, Spiral or top-bound pads; 150 sheets or less of loose-leaf paper can substitute for 1 pad; Combinations of spiral, top-bound, side-bound, or loose-leaf paper is acceptable. 1 hand-held pencil sharpener Must be at least 1" long; Remove from packaging centimeter ruler, Hard or flexible; Cartoon characters are acceptable; No advertisements please. 6 unsharpened pencils, No advertisements, religious, patriotic, military, or camouflage symbols please; Cartoon characters are acceptable. 1 2-inch or larger-size eraser, No ads, religious, patriotic, military, or camouflage symbols please; Cartoon characters are acceptable count box of crayons, Only 24-count boxes please. 1 14" x 16" cloth bag, Homemade or purchased bags are acceptable; Heavy-duty fabric such as denim, corduroy, drapery fabric; No ads, religious, patriotic, military, or camouflage symbols please; Closures optional but must be buttons, snaps, or Velcro sewn in middle of opening.

8 Page 8 Robeson County Work Teams Needed The Robeson County Church & Community Center (RCCCC) Free Choice Food Pantry needs small mission teams willing to stock shelves and prepare the pantry for monthly food distribution. The Home Store needs small mission teams or groups to build shelves, paint, and sort donations. Dates for volunteers in the Food Pantry and Home Store are flexible and scheduled to accommodate the work team. Other valuable items that are currently in low supply include health care and toiletry kits, socks, layettes, and baby formula. Need more information? Or, to schedule a work team, contact: Darlene Jacobs rccccdir@ncrrbiz.com or RCCCC, North Carolina Conference United Methodist Women Annual Meeting October 11 at Methodist University, Fayetteville, NC The meeting will begin at 9:30 AM with worship, followed by our United Methodist Women business and celebrations. (Group singing will begin at 9:15.) Every evaluation of the 2013 meeting was read. The Program Committee will endeavor to improve the meeting by responding to suggestions to the extent that we can. One suggestion from the evaluations that we will implement is to highlight missions done by local units. So to that end, Sandra Mendell, Conference Vice President, is encouraging any local unit that has a specific mission they d like to showcase to create a table display for our Annual Meeting. Someone from your unit should be at the table to share the mission project with others so that your idea may be used by another unit to help someone outside your local unit s reach. Your District President knows of this request so you can communicate with her about your desire to show off what your unit is doing. Also, please let me know so that I can reserve sufficient table space for your display. Make plans now to attend this meeting and enjoy worship and celebrations with a little business. The registration forms is available on our website: Take Time to Honor Someone with A Gift to Mission Card We don t have a special project this year; but, we are focusing on our Gift to Mission Cards. For as little as $5.00 per card you can honor anyone in your family, church, and/or community. Each month can be special such as the following: April: See above or to college students getting ready for exams or graduation May: Remember mothers and those in prison with a gift to missions June: Remember fathers, brides and grooms and anniversaries July: Remember someone for Independence Day or Thank you for your service August: Thank you card to a person listed on the Prayer Calendar or to Nursing Home Staff September: Send a card to a child or youth starting school or going off to college Thinking of You Great idea: Send a birthday card every month to a person listed on the Prayer Calendar. You can send Gift To Mission any time during the year. These are the types of Gift to Mission Cards available: *Baby *Birthday *Thank You *Congratulations *Special Day *Peace *Thinking of You *Christmas * In the Service of Christ We can proclaim our love for missions by purchasing these cards. Contact your local treasurer. What a great gift to anyone and it will be a way to show your love to others. Thank you for all you do for the glory of God's kingdom.

9 Page 9 Mission u is an opportunity to study current issues impacting society based on recent mission study topics. If you have never attended this event, you have been missing out on one of the most enriching experiences available in the NC Conference. The studies for 2014 are How Is It With Your Soul, The Roma of Europe and The Church and People with Disabilities. You may choose to only take one of the studies, however the schedule allows for you to take two of the three studies in one of the following combinations: Thursday night/friday morning and Friday night/saturday morning; Thursday night/friday morning and Saturday Full Day; or Friday Full Day and Saturday Full Day. If you are NOT in the Friday Full Day class, you may participate in the Mission Encounter on Friday afternoon, which is several hands-on service projects. This year one of our projects will be to assemble school kits. You will receive more information after your registration is received. You may register as a full-time resident student, for one price, staying Thursday and Friday nights and taking two classes, with five meals (Thursday dinner through Saturday breakfast) or as a parttime student, choosing your combinations of room/board and classes. If you have any questions regarding your registration, please contact: Martha Caves, Dean, at (mcaves@nccumc.org); or Madoline Murphy, Registrar, at (mamuphy39@suddenlink.net). More information and the registration form are available at Mother Child Retreat September 12, 13 and 14 at Camp Rockfish 2014 Theme: "God Is Calling Us to Proclaim Come on down to Camp Rockfish for a great, fun-time weekend. This event provides a wonderful opportunity to bond and to spend quality time with your child (children). Registration begins at 4:00 pm Friday afternoon, 9/12. (No Friday dinner meal is provided. You are on your own.) Saturday, 9/13, Breakfast is served at 8:00 am. Saturday registration will begin at 8:45 am. Teacher's introduction & instructions will begin at 9:15 am. Workshops start at 9:45 am. All registrations must be received by August 8, Forms received after this date will be honored only if space is available. Directions and a tentative agenda are available. Adults can select one of four workshops: * Personal Spiritual Growth; * God Is Calling Us to Proclaim ; * Challenge Course; and a Craft. Children s workshops will include Bible lessons, games, crafts, singing, nature walks and preparation for the Sunday morning Worship Program. Saturday afternoon is free time for everyone. Activities available during Free Time: swimming, skating, knee-boarding, hay riding, tubing, canoeing, kayaking, archery, fishing, volleyball, soccer, nature trail hikes, high rope, climbing tower, Zip line and environmental education. After dinner we will have a gala ice cream social. All campers should bring the following: Bibles, linens (Twin for bunks), blanket, towels, washcloths, soap, various personal items, swimsuits, flashlight, bug spray, rain wear, & coins for vending machines. The camp store will be open at various announced times. For further information please contact: Dr. Melba McCallum, Membership Nurture & Outreach Coordinator: PO Box Rockingham, NC 28380, - mdgmccallum@yahoo.com - Telephone # or Betsy Westbrook,

10 Those Last Little Reminders: The 2015 officer list is due by September 15. But in the meantime, if your local unit has a mid-year officer change, send contact information (office held, officer s name, address, phone number, and address if available) to secretary@corridorumw.org or to Jennifer Freeman, 15 Briarfield Ct, Durham NC at any time during the course of the year. If you haven t already done so, reach for your calendar as you read this newsletter to mark some important dates! There are many opportunities of interest throughout the newsletter for UMW members. Seek out a sister in Christ in your church community to attend and share an experience with Christian women. Set up a carpool to enjoy traveling with several others. We continue to add and correct addresses for the District officers and members to keep all informed of the activities of the UMW. Please make a copy of newsletters and notices to circulate among those who do not use . Please send all contact information and updates to: Jennifer Freeman secretary@corridorumw.org Ceil Matthews communications@corridorumw.org Other Dates to Remember: April UMW Assembly, Louisville, KY May 2 Church Women United Friendship Day July Pledge Report to District Treasurer August 1 Candle Burning Report due August 15 All local UMW reports due to District Officers Sunday, October 26 Corridor District Annual Pleasant Green UMC, Durham Saturday, November 15 Local Officer Bellemont UMC, Burlington Corridor District of the North Carolina Conference United Methodist Women Corridor Connections Phone: corridorumw@gmail.com We re on the Web! corridorumw.org Today, Tomorrow, and Beyond, GOD is Calling us to Proclaim! For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servant for Jesus sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:5-6 UMW Corridor District website: UMW NC Conference Website: UMW National Website: unitedmethodistwomen.org Corridor District Website: corridordistrictnc.org NC Conference Website: nccumc.org