Blue Ridge District Newsletter United Methodist Women

Transcription

1 Vol. 32 No. 2 APRIL 2018 Blue Ridge District Newsletter United Methodist Women The organized unit of 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 through participation in the global ministries of the church. Blue Ridge District United Methodist Women s 2018 Mission Study Mission Study: Missionary Conferences of the United Methodist Church in the U.S. Study Leader: Betty J. Letzig and Barbara E. Campbell Saturday, April 28, 2018 Black Mountain United Methodist Church, 101 Church St, Black Mtn., NC :00 to 9:30 Registration and Hospitality 9:30 to 2:30 (12:30 to 1:00 for lunch) Mission Study Lunch: Provided by Black Mountain United Methodist Women. Bring: Study Book: Missionary Conferences of the United Methodist Church in the U.S. No Pre-registration. Child Care: Contact Jeanette Byrd by April 18 if you need child care. Love Offering: In honor of Black Mtn. UMW and it will be divided among 3 missionary conferences: Alaska United Methodist Conference, Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference, and Red Bird Missionary Conference. Hands-on Project: Hygiene Kits Directions to Black Mountain United Methodist Church: From I-40 W, take exit 64 to NC 9 N toward Black Mountain, turn left onto NC-9. Go.5 miles and turn left onto W. State Street, go 351 feet and turn right onto Church St. Church will be on your left. From I-40 E. take exit 64 to NC-9 N toward Black Mountain turn right onto NC-9. Go.5 miles and turn left onto W. State Street, go 351 feet and turn right onto Church St. Church will be on your left. Attending a mission study fulfills criteria #4 of Mission Today Unit!!!

2 Blue Ridge District United Methodist Women 2018 OFFICERS President Fran Jordan PO Box 447 Black Mountain, NC (828) Vice President Gwen Harris (Windom) 215 Grand View Lane Burnsville, NC (828) Secretary Karen Anderson (Skyland) 9 Chestnut Mtn. Ridge Asheville, NC (828) ksanderson95@gmail.com Treasurer Carol Bryson (Grace) 14 Buckner Road Leicester, NC (828) csbryson64@gmail.com Spiritual Growth, MC Lucy Earls (Oak Grove) 913 Race Path Church Rd. Ellenboro, NC (828) jlearls@att.net MC Education & Interpretation Jeanette Byrd (St. Paul s) 203 Aurora Dr. Asheville, NC (828) jbyrdasheville@aol.com Social Action, MC Kathy Kennedy (Grace) PO Box 2556 Leicester, NC (828) cell (828) kenkat12003@yahoo.com Membership Nurture & Outreach Connie Martin (Addie s Chapel) 350 Holly Hill Dr Marion, NC (828) conniemartin8078@gmail.com Secretary of Program Resources Leith Tate (Black Mtn.) PO Box 208 Montreat, NC (828) tateleith@gmail.com Communications Coordinator Peggy Sanders (Skyland) 206 Ewarts Hill Rd Hendersonville, NC (828) peggy.sanders0522@gmail.com Data Processing Carolyn Hall 237 Pleasant Hill Rd. Marion, NC Asheville, NC (828) c.annehall@gmail.com Parliamentarian Betty J. Letzig (St. Paul s) 266 Merrimon Avenue Asheville, NC (828) letzig@msn.com Committee on Nominations 2018 Chairperson, Anna Hull, 600 Summit Road, Tryon, NC, (Tryon UMC) (828) , aph2@windstream.net (Class of 2020) Maureen Carr, 1680 Hendersonville Rd Apt B-08, Asheville, NC (Central UMC) (828) , mcparishnurse@aol.com, (Class of 2020) Delores Meadows, 248 Cardinal Road, Mills River, NC (Mills River) (828) , delores248@att.net (Class of 2020) Vennie Abrams, 630 Blackwood Rd, Columbus, NC (Tryon Community Interdenominational Church) (828) , aluvenia@yahoo.com (Class of 2020) Member at Large Jo Pyatt, PO Box 1621, Marion, NC , (East Marion), (828) pyattjo@gmail.com Honorary Member at Large Martha Phillips P.O. Box 49 Linville Falls, NC (828) mcwphillips@gmail.com Western North Carolina Conference District Advisor for the Blue Ridge District Dixie Liggett, 8 Springside Park, Asheville, NC (Skyland) (828) , lliggett3@charter.net (Class of 2017) The Blue Ridge District Newsletter is published quarterly. Send any information you would like to have included to the Editor below. (Acceptance of articles will depend on space available and interest to the entire District.) Editor: Peggy Sanders, 206 Ewarts Hill Rd, Hendersonville, NC 28739; (828) ; peggy.sanders0522@gmail.com - 2 -

3 2018 NURTURING PARTNERS (SHEPHERDESSES) Your Nurturing Partner is a personalized connection between your district leaders and your unit. Please call your Nurturing Partner during the year if you have any questions or needs. She will be notifying you to remind you about special events throughout the year. Your Nurturing Partner would like to come visit your unit and would appreciate an invitation. Our goal is to visit every unit throughout the district during the year. PLEASE ASK YOUR NURTURING PARTNER TO VISIT YOUR UNIT! Nurturing Partner Church Nurturing Partner Church Karen Anderson Black Mountain Fran Jordan Acton Central UMC Addie's Chapel Grace Ebenezer Barbara Blevins Abernethy Groce Bethel Piney Mountain Biltmore Betty J. Letzig Balfour Carol Bryson Avery's Creek Fletcher Edneyville Mills River Emma Spruce Pine Reeves Chapel Kathy Kennedy Oakley Jeanette Byrd Fairview- Sharon Pleasant Hill- Candler Montmorenci Salem Trinity- Asheville Connie Martin East Marion Maureen Carr Skyland Marion First St.Paul's Snow Hill- Morganton Weaverville Delores Meadows Brevard First Windom Hendersonville First Lucy Earls First Forest City Snow Hill- Candler Lebanon Tryon Mount Hebron Jo Pyatt Concord New Hope First UMC Rutherfordton Providence Gilkey Tanner's Grove Kistler's Chapel Trinity- Nebo Nebo Gwen Harris Bald Creek Oak Grove Caroleen Pleasant Grove Higgins Memorial Pleasant Hill- Marion Mars Hill Joanie Strohm Alexander Chapel/Clark's Chapel Anna Hull Columbus Gilboa Moores Grove Hope Saluda Wells Spring Spindale Leith Tate Asbury Memorial Sardis Swannanoa - 3 -

4 A Message from Your President Spring, don't you just love Spring, a time of renewal. That's how we all felt attending the Prayer Breakfast. What an uplifting program presented by Rev. Toni Ruth Phillips Smith, the beautiful breakfast provided by the Forest City United Methodist Women, and the special music by Lea Danner. This was certainly a day of United Methodist Women Celebration with Prayer. Did you hear we had 200 in attendance and did you hear we had 361 school bags brought to the breakfast? The District was only asked to provide 100. WOW and WOW to everyone. A big Thank You! I hope to see you at the Mission Study at Black Mountain United Methodist Church on April 28. Details are in the newsletter. We are so blessed to have Betty J. Letzig and Barbara E. Campbell presenting the Mission Study on Missionary Conferences of the United Methodist Church in the U.S. Hands-on project is hygiene kits. Other upcoming dates: Spiritual Growth Retreat Lake Junaluska June Please make plans to attend. Mission u Pfeiffer University, July You are United Methodist Women on a path for mission making a difference in the lives of women, children and youth. God bless you. Fran Jordan, Blue Ridge District President The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. Mahatma Ghandi Vice President I'm very excited to provide a little more information about the Blue Ridge District Annual Celebration and the leadership training event. The Celebration takes place on August 25, 2018, and will be hosted by Abernethy UMW in Asheville. Our speaker will be Barbara Campbell. The leadership training event will take place on November 3, 2018, and will be hosted by Snow Hill UMW near Marion. Two excellent programming resources recently became available. Every year the January issue of response has an index of the prior year's response articles categorized by subject so that locating information on specific issues becomes much easier. Also, the February issue contains maps that show where UMW is at work in the world. The maps are a good companion to the Prayer Calendar and response. Locating a ministry on the map makes a study more interesting. The district mission study in April offers multiple programming ideas. The upcoming study focuses on the three missionary conferences of The United Methodist Church. I very much enjoyed the study book and cannot imagine two better leaders for the event than Barbara E. Campbell and Betty J. Letzig. And don't forget your nurturing partner. Invite her to visit your unit and provide a program. You'll both have a good time! Gwen Harris, Blue Ridge District Vice President - 4 -

5 Secretary Usually meeting minutes don t see much daylight beyond the files, but newsletter editor Peggy Sanders asked me to share my summary of Rev. Toni Ruth Smith s excellent Prayer Breakfast keynote address. Here goes! Lucy Earls introduced the speaker, Rev. Toni Ruth Phillips Smith, co-pastor with her husband, Wesley, of Harrisburg United Methodist Church. A native of Avery County and daughter of Martha Phillips (longtime UMW member, Blue Ridge District honorary member at large and WNC Conference Nominations Committee Chair), Rev. Smith is a graduate of the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Duke University divinity school. She was ordained an elder in Speaking on the Prayer Breakfast theme Join the United Methodist Women Celebration with Prayer, Rev. Smith read from Philippians 4: Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. She asked the gathering, How do we cultivate an intentional life in the chaos of everyday life? The answer is to practice prayer by first telling God what we are thankful for, then asking for what we need, she said. Learning to present requests with thanksgiving is a spiritual gift. She related a moving and multi-faceted story that 2017 was a year of anxiety because her 11-year-old daughter faced and successfully recovered from open heart surgery. Her poignant story included how a decision to accept a Make a Wish Foundation trip to Disney World profoundly changed her perception of prayer and the gift of gratitude, and how prayer and gratitude can free us from anxiety. These are anxious times for the future of our world, our church, United Methodist Women, she said, concluding, What is your prayer for UMW for the next 150 years? God says, Don t be anxious. Tell him what you re thankful for, then tell Him your needs. Practicing thanksgiving reminds us of what God has done, and it gives us hope for the future. Karen Anderson, Blue Ridge District Secretary Treasurer The spring season is fast approaching. All the new growth of flowers and trees is coming forth all around us. Just as God places new growth in his plants, we can plant new growth in our UMW units. Take every opportunity to tell the mission story in your Unit and as you visit with UMW sisters or other Units. Communication is the key to increasing membership and commitment to mission giving. Thank you as you spread the good news about United Methodist Women mission institutions around the world. It does not seem possible, but we have completed our first quarter of Mission Giving. We have made a good start toward our $82,000 pledge to mission for There are several ways to contribute to undesignated mission giving which impacts our pledge. I encourage each of you to help your Unit contribute in the five channels of undesignated giving : Pledge to Mission: Your personal pledge is any amount you have prayerfully considered. The pledge of our UMW Unit is an important reminder of the commitment we have made to Mission. Gift to Mission: Several types of cards are available for various occasions. These cards are $5 each and are an excellent way to remember a person at a special time in their life. Gift in Memory : Cards are free, with donations beginning at $5. It is good to have these cards on hand in your church. Encourage members of your congregation to use Gift In Memory cards thereby contributing to UMW missions. Special Mission Recognition : Pins are available at costs beginning at $40. Encourage your Unit to present a pin to a special person in your congregation or community thanking them for their efforts. World Thank Offering : This is an opportunity for us to respond to God s abundance and grace with gifts of gratitude. Include your congregation in your World Thank Offering program and encourage participation in your offering. It has been my honor to serve as Treasurer for the Blue Ridge District United Methodist Women for four years. At the end of each year, I am amazed at how much more I have learned about the wonderful work of United Methodist Women in the United States and around the world. I hope each of you will make an effort to learn more about our Mission Institutions and their work. response magazine is an excellent source of information about UMW missions in action. You can subscribe to response, borrow a copy from a friend, or copies of earlier issues are sometimes available at District events. Many Units have a Mission Moment as part of their meeting. Sharing information and taking it into our communities strengthens support for the UMW Mission Institutions

6 Thank you for four years of learning, communicating, and serving as we work together to support missions for women, children, and youth around the world. I look forward to seeing you at our District and Conference events. Carol Bryson, Blue Ridge District Treasurer Spiritual Growth Wow! If you were not among the nearly 200 people who attended the 2018 Prayer Breakfast on Saturday, March 17, you missed a treat. What a great day of food, fellowship, and worship we shared! The United Methodist Women of First Church, Forest City, did an awesome job as our hostesses. Rev. Toni Ruth Phillips Smith shared a powerful message of Prayer and Thanksgiving. Rev. Neil Haynes, our host pastor, had a very moving service of Holy Communion and we lit candles to remember our 50 ladies who died in Thanks to Tracey Owens, Aubrey Calton, and Lea Danner for our worship music. I have read each of your evaluations. Thank you for your positive comments and your kind suggestions on how to improve future meetings. Mark your calendars now for the 2019 Prayer Breakfast on March 16 at Central United Methodist Church in Asheville. Deaconess Tracey Owens will be our speaker as we celebrate our 150 years of women in mission. Our president, Fran Jordan, asked our district to provide 100 empty school bags to be used at the Spiritual Growth Retreat in June. The Blue Ridge District came through! You brought 361 bags in addition to 36 hygiene kits and 3 flood buckets. We had some gorgeous hand-made bags in addition to the purchased bags. Bald Creek UMW constructed some beautiful bags and I wish I knew where all the rest of them came from so I could brag on all your skill as well. I hope to see many of you at our mission study on April 28 at Black Mountain and the Spiritual Growth Retreat at Lake Junaluska on June 15 and 16. Online registration is available now for the SGR. Lucy Earls, Blue Ridge District Mission Coordinator for Spiritual Growth Education and Interpretation I hope everyone is planning to attend the 2018 Mission Study on April 28, This year s study is Missionary Conferences of the United Methodist Church in the U.S.. Our mission journey began overseas, but later came to include mission fields at home in the US. Our current missionary conferences are the Alaska United Methodist Conference, the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference, and Red Bird Missionary Conference. We will explore the Biblical home missions of Paul, our church history with missionary conferences, and the present day mutuality of mission with these conferences. Leaders for the event will be Deaconesses Betty J. Letzig and Barbara E. Campbell, both residents of Brooks-Howell Home in Asheville and active members of the Blue Ridge District UMW. Betty spent most of her career with the General Board of Global Ministries serving as staff liaison to national mission institutions from Nome, Alaska to Humacao, Puerto Rico, including Alaska and Red Bird Missionary Conferences. She has served many years as a Study Leader in both regional and conferences Mission U events. Betty serves as parliamentarian for the District Executive Committee. Barbara was a staff member of the UMW national office in New York City, working in media, leadership development and administration. She coordinated national plans for regional and conference Schools of Mission (now Mission u), also teaching at those events. She is the author of two books and has written several articles in response magazine, including a Bible study Bright Hope for Tomorrow in the March 2017 issue. Registration for the study begins at 9 a.m. The study runs from 9:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. with a 30-minute lunch break. Thanks to Black Mountain UMW for hosting this event and graciously providing lunch. The love offering will be taken in the unit s honor and divided among the three missionary conferences. Jeanette Byrd, Blue Ridge District Mission Coordinator for Education and Interpretation - 6 -

7 Membership Nurture and Outreach Spring is upon us. Trees and flowers are budding and blooming and the days are getting longer and warmer. As this year moves on and we try to forget a most unusual winter, I pray everyone is off to a great start this year. Hopefully every local Unit has received a contact letter from their nurturing partner introducing themselves. Please contact your partner and set up a visit. It is a great way to learn, grow and stay informed about events happening in our District and Conference. We will be working very hard this year to meet our District goal of visiting 80% of our Units. Remember, we are here to answer questions, visit your unit, do a program, or whatever is needed. The next event on our District calendar is the mission study, Saturday, April 28, 2018 at Black Mountain United Methodist Church. The theme for this event is Join the United Methodist Women Celebration in Mission Study. The next Conference event is the Spiritual Growth Retreat Friday and Saturday June 15-16, 2018 at Lake Junaluska. Hope to see you at these events. Remember, contact your nurturing partner, and may God continue to bless United Methodist Women in their mission work to improve the lives of women, children and youth at home and around the world. Connie Martin, Blue Ridge District Mission Coordinator for Membership Nurture and Outreach Communications Coordinator It looked like the Prayer Breakfast was a huge success. Please note some pictures on page 19. Below are the deadlines for the next two newsletters. I am always glad to get info from your Unit. Just send it via ! 2018 Deadlines for information for the District Newsletter are: June 15, 2018 (Newsletter ed or mailed first week of July) Sept. 15, 2018 (Newsletter mailed first week of October) Peggy Sanders, Blue Ridge District Communications Coordinator Social Action It was so nice to see and to meet so many of you at the Prayer Breakfast. Thank you so much for your support of the Blue Ridge UMW petition to our representatives asking them to work together toward legislation to reduce and prevent gun violence. If your unit would like to send a letter, there are sample letters and you can find your legislators addresses on the website 5000letters.com. Remember, fear is contagious, but so is hope. Stand up for someone who can t! Enjoy your summer! Kathy Kennedy, Blue Ridge District Mission Coordinator for Social Action Chair, Committee on Nominations Some of our UMW team members began this term with leadership roles for the first time. As UMW members, we have accepted a special ministry to serve the UMW of the Blue Ridge District. The following narrative serves to remind us that we are not alone as we serve. Meekly Powerful and Tenderly Aggressive, by Sven Erlandson The draft horse, a mighty beast, does not say, I am weak, I am slow. I am no good. The draft horse, a mighty beast, says, I am strong. I am good. God has given me these gifts that I might serve a cause greater than myself. So we serve and we seek others that may be called to fill our vacant offices. Anna Hull, Chair, Blue Ridge District Nominating Committee - 7 -

8 Program Resources Hi everyone! It s great to connect with all of you again! I am reading the book Born on Third Base, by Chuck Collins, who Makes the Case for Tackling Inequality, Bringing Wealth Home, and Committing to the Common Good. He is a great storyteller, and he captivates us with real stories about real people who are stepping out of their 1 percent privilege of wealth and materialism to reconnect with the 99 percenters that is, the rest of the world. Collins has a great sense of humor, too! This is a 2018 title in the Social Action category. I recommend it! What are YOU reading? This past August, the The New York Times reported on a study whi ch determined that people who read books live an average of almost two years longer than nonreaders! Besides living a bit longer, our reading also helps us to develop the capacity for more compassion, joy and love, all three of which the world needs more of in a very big way. Reading is not just a luxury it is a basic and necessary human need. Reading opens up a love of the world we live in and its many cultures and peoples God s people. It moves us to empathy and curiosity about the lives of others, what s important to them and why, how they deal with the same basic human needs and obligations that we all have. Books are one of our oldest technologies, and they have much greater depth than even the most modern social media networks social media that can breed feelings of isolation, loneliness, and disconnection from others. Reading inspires us to grow in civility, spirituality and political responsibility, all characteristics that we need as United Methodist Women! So, again: what are you reading? Please let me know if you need help with selecting a title, or a mission study, or a children s book. It s so easy to order books now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc., and the cost even with shipping is quite inexpensive and well worth the price! Leith Tate, Blue Ridge District Secretary of Program Resources Program Advisory Group Do you remember why you went to your very first United Methodist Women meeting? Chances are it was because of a personal invitation. I m sure that many of you have extended such an invitation to at least one other potential member. And I m sure you rejoiced when the woman you invited became a member of your unit, your circle. Now I ask, Have you encouraged another member to contribute to the Legacy Fund? (I am assuming that you yourself have given to the Fund.) Those of us on the national Legacy Fund Steering Committee read A Spirituality of Fundraising by Henri Nouwen, and now our WNC Conference Legacy Fund Committee members have committed to reading it. If you have been reluctant to ask another member to give money, I recommend this book to you. Just as you invited a woman into the fellowship of UMW, you now have the opportunity to ask others for money to extend our mission work for the next 150 years. Nouwen says, Asking people for money is giving them the opportunity to put their resources at the disposal of the kingdom to offer people the chance to invest what they have in the work of God. This is your time to reach out with a special invitation to give to the Legacy Fund. Dixie Liggett, WNC Conference District Advisor for the Blue Ridge District See Ways to Give to the Legacy Fund on page

9 Message from Betty Durham, Conference Officer: Hope all you ladies are doing well and things are going well in your district. We all know that there are ladies in our districts or within the Conference that go beyond the call of duty. Honoring them by Dedicating the UMW Annual Celebration Program Book is one of the special ways you can recognize that special lady. Please encourage the women of your districts to fill out the attached nomination form and return it to me. Joanie Strohm, our past district president added the following: Bess Redmond, a former President of the Blue Ridge District (when it was the Asheville District) received it three years ago. It is a great honor to receive this and our members should be able to participate

10 WE DID IT 100% United Methodist Women at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Asheville is 100% in giving to the Legacy Fund. All 31 members, both active and inactive, have given or had given in their honor at least $18.69 per year each year, , over and above their pledge plus an additional $ per year in the name of our unit. According to our records our total giving to date is: $9, How did we do it? We began back in January 2015 by talking about the wonderful legacy we had inherited from all of our predecessor organizations, and, sadly, our recognition that the plight of women, children and youth in today's world is even more dire than back in l869 when the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society was founded. Some in our group are retired missionaries and deaconesses who shared something of their work and how important it is that not only the ministries in which they had been involved should be sustained for the next 150 years but that United Methodist Women needs to continue to meet new and emerging needs on into the future. As we discussed the 150th Anniversary Celebration to be observed on March 25, 2019, we committed ourselves to each component of the Celebration: 1) Celebrating our Past, 2) Strengthening our Local Unit as we focused on the future and 3) Building the Legacy Fund Endowment. Each member was given the information sheet developed by our Conference Legacy Fund Advisory Committee that provided not only complete information about The Legacy Fund but had on the reverse side provision for individual pledges and an opportunity for gifts to The Legacy Fund in memory/honor of persons important to each individual: mother, grandmother, sister or other person most responsible for encouraging them to join United Methodist Women. A record was kept of each individual pledge plus their special gifts with regular reports on our total giving to the Unit and reminders to each individual giver. Initially six members, recognizing that they might not live long enough to join in the 2019 Celebration, paid all five years in Four have already made their transition into life eternal. In January, realizing that we were already almost there, our Unit decided to complete all of our payments for the five years and become the first Unit in our Conference to be 100% and We Did It. Betty J. Letzig, Treasurer Ways to Give to the Legacy Fund Online at By phone: (8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST, M - F) By check: United Methodist Women Attn: Development, Legacy Fund 475 Riverside Drive, 15th floor New York, NY Write The Legacy Fund in the memo section By text on your mobile device: Text and enter Legacy150 in the message area

11 Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS JOIN UNITED METHODIST WOMEN ASSEMBLY May 18-20, 2018 Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND: Assembly 2018 will be a forum for all women. Assembly will offer an incredible personal faith journey through community building, training for action and visioning a movement for the future. Worship/ Plenaries infused with music and performing arts, quality workshops and riveting Town Hall meetings with important leaders, action opportunities and Experience Hall with educational immersion experiences await you. When women unite, bold and courageous actions happen! PRICE: The early registration fee for the 2018 Assembly is $295 with a Nov. 30, 2017, deadline. After that date, the regular registration fee is $330. This fee includes two healthy lunches for attendees. Assembly is a great value at $295 for early registration. Few other faith-based conferences offer such high-quality programming for such a low fee. HOW CAN I SAVE FOR ASSEMBLY? Start now! Add up the amounts below for your location and divide by 12 for a monthly savings amount. Now it doesn t seem so daunting. The unforgettable experience of Assembly will feel very worth it. $295 for early registration fee Starting Sept.1 through Nov. 30, 2017 deadline Hotels range from $139 to $159 per night for up to four people (Double/Double room) Travel expenses Breakfast and Dinner expenses only for Friday and Saturday; Breakfast only for Sunday

12 Hygiene Kit Hygiene kits provide basic necessities to people who have been forced to leave their homes because of human conflict or natural disaster. Hygiene kits are also used as learning tools in personal hygiene, literacy, nutrition, and cooking classes. Hygiene Kit Value: $12 per kit Assembly 1 hand towel 15" x 25" to 17"x 27"; Kitchen, cleaning, and microfiber towels not acceptable. 1 washcloth 1 comb Comb needs to be sturdy longer than 6 inches; No pocket combs or picks please; Rattail combs and combs without handles are acceptable with a minimum of 6 inches of teeth. 1 metal nail file or nail clippers No emery boards, please 1 bath-size soap 3 oz. and larger sizes only; No Ivory or Jergens soap due to moisture content; Do not remove from original packaging. 1 toothbrush Adult size only; Do not remove from original packaging. 6 adhesive bandages ¾" to 1"-size; Common household Band-Aids. Assembly Directions Set the $1.00 for toothpaste aside to be included in a separate envelope. Lay out the hand towel flat on a table. Lay the washcloth flat in the center of the hand towel. Place all remaining items on top of the washcloth. Fold over the sides of the hand towel to cover all of the items. Fold over one end of the hand towel so that it covers all of the items. Grasp the bundle of items tightly and roll over the remainder of the hand towel tightly. Place the tightly rolled bundle in the plastic bag. Remove as much air as possible and seal the bag. Important Notes All items must be new. Do not wash any of the items as they will be considered used. Please remove all packaging, unless otherwise specified. All emergency kits are carefully planned to make them usable in the greatest number of situations. Due to the fact that strict rules often govern product entry into international countries, it is important that kits contain only the requested items, nothing more. Do not include any personal notes, money, or additional material in the kits. These things must be painstakingly removed and will delay the shipment. UMCOR is now purchasing toothpaste in bulk to be added to health kits before shipping to ensure that the product does not expire before they are sent. Do not put single dollar bills in each kit. Collect all money for toothpaste and shipping, then place it in a separate envelope and send along with the kit donations. 1 plastic bag One-gallon size sealable bag only. $1.00 to purchase toothpaste

13 WNCC UMW Mission u July 19-22, 2018 ***Register by July 5*** Pfeiffer University US Hwy 52N Misenheimer, NC Life Abundantly Embracing Wholeness? What About Our Money? What does God tell us about caring for Earth? Loving our neighbors? Loving ourselves? Being good stewards of financial and environmental resources? Join us as we learn about the abundant life Jesus promises. Workshop for Leaders of Children s Study: Money Matters: A Study for Children Leader: Sandy Hieronymus Session Time: 4:15 pm Friday or Saturday This workshop provides potential study leaders with suggestions and examples for hands-on learning experiences from the study. Full-Time Youth Camp: Is It Just Money? Our Dollars, God s Economy Leaders: Sherry Sink and Renee Hayes This exploration of money as it relates to faith and justice will help youth deepen their understanding of the complex questions that surround making, having, giving, and using money. The camp also offers opportunities for youth who are interested in relationship-building and hands-on mission. Spiritual Growth Study: Embracing Wholeness: An Earth Perspective for Covenantal Living Full-Time Leader: Dr. Patty Meyers Overview Leader: Sandrea Williamson God has called us to live in covenantal relationship with all of creation and challenges readers to work toward stronger and healthier relationships with creation, their communities, themselves, and God. Issue Study: What About Our Money? A Faith Response Full-Time Leaders: Laquetta Barbee, Anita Fox, Jennifer Burton Lineberry, Pamela Moye, and Steve Taylor Overview Leader: Janice Lentz Through this connection between our faith and our money, readers discover how to live closer to God and God s people, even in our North American culture that is so deeply defined by money. Geographic Study: Missionary Conferences of the UMC in the US Full-Time Leader: Barbara Campbell This study gives an overview of the three missionary conferences in The United Methodist Church, the contexts out of which they grew and their current engagements. Put the u in Mission u! Local Unit officers and members of UMW, District and Conference UMW Officers, District Chairpersons of Mission Engagement, Clergy, interested men, women, and youth; in short YOU are invited to attend!

14 Registration is open May 1-July 5. All Registrations must be received no later than JULY 5, NO ONSITE REGISTRATION Full-Time Studies/Fee range $50-$190 Check-in Thursday, July 19, 2:00-6:00 PM. First session begins at 6:30 PM. One-Day Overview Studies/Fee range $30-$40 Friday, July 20, and Saturday, July 21. Check-in 8:00 AM-8:45 AM. Class begins at 9:00 AM. Hands-On Mission Project: School Kits 1 pair blunt scissors (rounded tip) 3 pads of paper (or packs of sheets) 1 hand-held pencil sharpener (remove from packaging) 1 30-centimeter ruler 6 unsharpened pencils 1 2-inch or larger-size eraser 1 24-count box of crayons (only this size) 1 14x16 inch cloth bag Place items in cloth school kit bag. (Please make check payable to UMCOR Sager Brown for at least $1.00 per kit for shipping.) (Instructions for sewing a bag and assembling kit: Supplies/Relief-Supply-Kits/School.) YOUTH CAMP is limited to 20 participants and will last the full time of Mission u. For youth participants, there are covenant and consent forms that must be completed and accompany the basic registration form. Those forms are available from the Mission u officers, District Presidents, and our Conference website at DORM DETAILS: New Hall ($190): private rooms with private bathroom. Limited availability based on order of registration. Other dorms: single ($175) or double ($160) occupancy with community bathrooms. Mission u Policies and Information SPECIAL NEEDS: If you have any physical conditions that require consideration in room or classroom assignment, please explain on registration form or on a separate sheet of paper stapled to your form. Child care is not available. REFUNDS: There will be no refunds without at least 7 days notice. ($50.00 of Resident Fee is not refundable.) HOUSING: Bring bed linens (including blanket and pillow), towels, clothes hangers, toiletries, bathrobe, and any other items necessary for your comfort away from home. (Wireless internet is available all over campus.) CLASSES: Full-Time students take two studies: Embracing Wholeness and either Missionary Conferences or What About Our Money? Overview students take one study: either Embracing Wholeness or What About Our Money? (Attend both days if you wish to take both studies.) Study books are available from the Mission Resource Center and at all Conference events prior to Mission u. A limited number will be available in the Resource Room during Mission u. Participants are strongly encouraged to purchase and read the texts before arriving at Mission u. CEU s and Advanced Lay Servant Certifications: Continuing Education Units and Advanced Lay Servant Certifications are available if requirements are met. Dean Lisa Bacon (828) , lisabacon304@gmail.com Assistant Dean Patricia Moore (704) , phmoore1183@earthlink.net Business Manager LaDonna Butts (704) , ladonna.butts@windstream.net Housing Manager Sandy Letchworth (336) , sletchworth@usindustrialpiping.com Friday and Saturday Afternoon Activities (4:15-5:15) Chair Aerobics Workshop for Leaders of Children s Study A Way Forward UMW Responds More information and updates may be found at our Conference website:

15 Full-Time Students: ( ) Resident - New Hall - $190 ( ) Resident - Single Room - $175 ( ) Resident - Double Room - $160 ( ) Non-Resident with meals - $90 ( ) Non-Resident without meals - $50 ADULT REGISTRATION WNCC UMW Mission u Overview Students: ( ) One Day Over-View with Lunch - $40 Attending Friday Saturday ( ) One Day Over-View without Lunch - $30 Attending Friday Saturday OFFICE USE ONLY Date Reg # Ck # Amt STUDENT INFORMATION: Please print clearly and complete all information. Name: First Timer? ( (Name for name tag) ) Yes Church: District: ( ) F ( ) M Age Level: ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) 60 & over Address: Street or P. O. Box City State ZIP Telephone : ( ) Roommate (if applicable) (Forms must be sent in together!) Emergency contact: Name: Telephone: ( ) Special housing or classroom needs (please be specific): (First-floor dorm rooms are limited please request only if essential. We may not be able to accommodate both roommate preference and a first-floor room. Please indicate if you can manage a 2 nd or 3 rd floor dorm room.) Resident & Non-Resident Full-Time Students, which Mission Study do you prefer? Note: All full-time students take the Spiritual Growth Study and choose one class from the two listed below. ( ) What About Our Money? or ( ) Missionary Conferences in the US One-Day Overview Students, which Mission Study do you prefer? ( ) What About Our Money? or ( ) Embracing Wholeness Workshop for Children s Study Leaders (4:15 pm Friday or Saturday) ( ) I plan to attend this. PLEASE CHECK ALL THAT APPLY: Are you a ( ) Conference Officer ( ) District Officer ( ) Local Unit Officer ( ) Unit/Circle Member ( ) Scholarship Recipient ( ) Mission Personnel ( ) Deaconess ( ) Clergy ( ) Study Leader PLEASE CHECK IF YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO HELP AT Mission u as a: Full-Time Students: ( ) Golf Cart Driver ( ) Class Hostess Assist the study leader as needed ( ) Class Tech Support ( ) Class Secretary Take roll in class Overview Students: ( ) Class Secretary/Hostess (Take roll and assist study leader as needed) REGISTRATION FORM & PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED BY JULY 5, 2018 Make check payable to: United Methodist Women Mail check and registration form to: LaDonna Butts 865 Lake Lynn Rd Concord

16 Blue Ridge District United Methodist Women 2018 Scholarship Application Form One scholarship to the Mission u! (formerly School of Christian Mission) and one scholarship to the Conference Annual Meeting will be given this year. Each unit is encouraged to submit a name(s) of someone who will be a first-time attendee. Young women ages are also eligible. Please complete this form and return to the District President by the following deadlines: Mission u: April 28, 2018 Annual Meeting: July 30, 2018 Name: Church: Mailing Address: Telephone: Adult or Youth? Please check if you would like to apply for either or both of these scholarships: Mission u! (formerly School of Christian Mission) (July 19-22) WNCC UMW Annual Meeting (Sept ) Short Biographical Sketch (Just a paragraph or two about yourself.) Why do you wish to attend the Mission u! (formerly School of Christian Mission) or Conference Annual Meeting? Applicant s Signature Recommendation of the UMW President of your local unit: Signature Date Mail to: District President Fran Jordan, PO Box 447, Black Mountain, NC

17 Western North Carolina Conference United Methodist Women Opening Session 6:45pm Ends Noon Saturday Lake Junaluska, Stuart Auditorium Rev. Dr. Suzanne G. Michael Retreat Registration Opens February 7 th Early Bird ONLINE Registration $15/person Advance registration fees are transferable, but non-refundable. So, if someone registers for the retreat, and is unable to attend, their registration is not refundable, but it is ok for someone else to attend in their place. Register yourself and others! Our online registration offers the opportunity for you to register up to 35 guests at the same time you complete your own registration. Help other members of your local unit register online and save. On-site registration at the retreat $25/person DO NOT mail Retreat registration fee money to Lake Junaluska. Contact us if you have any questions about registration Retreat Leader Rev. Dr. Suzanne G. Michael, Senior Pastor New Hope UMC, Winston Salem Music Leader Justin Snyder Forest Hill UMC, Concord Song Leader Lindsay Megill Hands on Mission Project: Hygiene Kits umcor.org/umcor/relief-supplies Lambuth Inn Newly Renovated Saturday Lunch the Terrace Complete information about the retreat is available on our website: Mark your Calendar Register ONLINE and Join us at the lake! Questions? Retreat Information Martha Efird Mission Coordinator for Spiritual Growth Mdjefird@outlook.com Online Payments Nancy Reigel, Conference Treasurer nancy@reigelridge.com Online Registration Lynne Gilbert Webmaster lgilbert.umw@gmail.com

18 Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center P.O. Box 67 Lake Junaluska, NC Housing Reservations open February 7 th Group Code: Call Lake Junaluska / Select 1 for the reservations department, the next available agent will be able to assist you. The reservations team is on duty from 8:00am until 5:00pm, Monday through Friday. We all need a break from our busy lives, a time for reflection, a time to listen for God's guidance. We are so busy doing all the things we are called upon to do, we don't often take the time to slow down, to sit back and think about the things that are really important. Join us to pray, to listen, to study, to fellowship with United Methodist Women from across the conference, and to spend some quiet time in reflection. United Methodist Women Western North Carolina Conference Visit our website: (Private baths, Free WIFI, TV, air conditioning, phone, mini-fridge, elevator) Per person rated include: Room (11% tax) & Meal Plan (7% tax) (meal plan includes Friday dinner & Saturday breakfast and is not optional) TERRACE TOTAL LAMBUTH TOTAL per person per person SINGLE $ $ $ $ DOUBLE $ $ $ $ TRIPLE $ $ $ $ QUAD $ $ $ $ Saturday Lunch the Terrace $13 +tax (Private baths, air conditioning, TV, phone, no elevator) Per Person Rates include: ROOM w/11% tax SINGLE $ DOUBLE $ TRIPLE $ QUAD $29.97 Apartments: Type A, C & D have kitchens w/small refrigerators, countertop burners, microwave, and limited equipment and dishes Telephone Reservations: Payment by credit card required at time of making reservation (room rate + meal plan. Specifically excludes incidentals or room damage). Exception: Payment by check: Check must be received by Lake Junaluska within 10 days of reservation or room released back to WNCC Room Block. Photo-ID and Credit Card required of each guest upon check-in. Individual lodging deposit refund policy: Cancellations 15 days or more before an event receive a full refund minus a $15 processing fee. 14 days or less before an event will not receive a refund. Check-In 4:00pm; Check-Out 11:00am (All facilities) Important Meal Information: The confirmation letter you receive after making your reservation will include lodging charges, meal charges (if staying in Terrace or Lambuth Inn), and taxes. Optional meals for guests staying off-site: Friday dinner - $16, Saturday breakfast $13 plus 7% tax No Saturday lunch reservations accepted after May 14,

19 Blue Ridge District 2018 Prayer Breakfast Held at First United Methodist Church of Forest City The United Methodist Women from Forest City did an outstanding job of hosting the Blue Ridge District UMW Prayer Breakfast. The ladies at the registration desk were very welcoming. The food was delicious and the decorations were lovely. Blue Ridge District Vice President Gwen Harris (left) and President Fran Jordan President go over some last-minute notes. Leith Tate, secretary of program resources, with Elaine Melson in the Resource Room. Leith had many books and materials available for everyone. Pictured at right is the Blue Ridge District Treasurer Carol Bryson, ready to take your money. 200 in attendance! Rev. Toni Ruth Phillips Smith gave a wonderful message. (See Karen Anderson s article, page 5) Can you see Lucy Earls? She did a fantastic job of putting together this year s Prayer Breakfast in the beautiful sanctuary.

20 Blue Ridge District United Methodist Women %CENTRAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 27 CHURCH STREET ASHEVILLE, NC April 28 August 25 Oct. 20 Nov. 3 June June July Sept Oct 13 May Blue Ridge District UMW Events for 2018: District Mission Study, Black Mountain UMC District Annual Celebration, Abernethy UMC Ubuntu Day of Service, Various locations Blue Ridge District Leadership Training, Snow Hill UMC Western North Carolina Conference UMW Events for 2018: Spiritual Growth Retreat, Lake Junaluska UMC Annual Conference, Lake Junaluska Mission u, Pfeiffer University, Misenheimer, NC Conference Annual Celebration, Lake Junaluska. Leadership Development Day for District Officers, Morganton FUMC United Methodist Women Events for 2018: United Methodist Women Assembly, Columbus, Ohio For More Information: Visit our Web Site: Join our Conference UMW List Read the Conference Gram and your District Newsletter Visit us on Facebook: Visit us on YouTube!