United Methodist Women in 2015

Transcription

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 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: The Fox Den, Love Gifts 2 Goings with Towne 3 Treasury Notes, Spiritual Growth, M N & O 4 Cunningham & Lessie Bates Davis NH 5 Program Resources, Social Action IRD UMW Officers 7 Festival of Quilts, Hands-on Project 8 Shepherdesses for 2015, Mission u 9 Calendar of Events cover V O L U M E 10 I S S U E 1 January 2015 United Methodist Women in 2015 FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE IN ACTION Iroquois River District UMW Spring Meeting Saturday, March 14, :00 am 2:00 pm Danville First United Methodist Church 1400 N. Vermilion Street Danville, Illinois Featured Speaker: Jacqueline M. Lacy, Chief Public Defender Vermilion County Navigating Your Way Through the Criminal Justice System The Public Defender Perspective Love gifts for Cunningham Children s Home and Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House are listed on pages 2 and 5. Hands-on project information can be found on pages 2 and 8. Childcare will be provided by reservation and on a donation basis. Please provide a sack lunch and drink for each child. Due to an increase in allergies please do not include any peanut butter or other nut ingredients. -- Iroquois River District UMW Spring Meeting Registration Form Local Unit Name # Attending Contact Person Phone # of Lunch $11 Amount Enclosed $ Please attach a list of those making reservations and send with payment. Checks should be made payable to Danville First UMW and send to Mildred Astell, P O Box 963, Catlin, IL ( ) by Saturday, March 7, Childcare Reservation: # of children Age(s) Name(s)

2 Page 2 From the Fox Den Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet, Isaiah 58:1 United Methodist Women Bible LOOKING BACK The year of 2014 was exciting. Make It Happen was in our district. The Illinois Great Rivers Conference of the United Methodist Women Annual Meeting was held at Savoy United Methodist Church, our Spring Meeting was held at Champaign First UMC and the Fall/Annual meeting was at Tuscola UMC. Countryside hosted our Personal Growth Seminar on prescription drugs. After finishing my report from the President s Goal Sheets, we have 25 LOVE units, 7 JOY units and 7 HOPE units. Also, we have 7 Rainbow units and 12 Five Star units. CONGRATULATIONS Awards will be presented at our District Spring Meeting. LOOKING FORWARD 2015 is here. Our Spring Meeting is coming! Danville First UMC will be hosting on March 14, Do not forget your items for Cunningham Children's Home and Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House. Also, the Midwest Distribution Center desperately needs notebooks for the school bags. Each school bag needs 3 of the notebooks. Our Reading Program participants will be honored at the meeting, too. Two good books are out. One is IN THIS SPIRIT WALK written by Henrietta Mann and Anita Phillips. This one needs to be read by those attending Annual Conference in Peoria. The other one is CROSS MANY MOUNTAINS written by Yang Zom Brauen. Both of the books are on the Reading List. The IGRC United Methodist Women s Annual Meeting will be held at First United Methodist Church in Normal, Illinois. The theme will be MISSION & VISION. The date is October 3, IDENTITY THEFT: IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU is the 2015 Personal Growth Seminar topic. Our district s will be held at Watseka UMC with Teedra Hudson, IGRC Coordinator for Education & Interpretation, leading the seminar. Before I close, I appreciate your dedication, commitment, and mission work for the Iroquois River District of the United Methodist Women. You always continue to amaze me for all you do in Faith, Hope, and Love in Action. 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 United Methodist Bible Becky Fox, President 203 Misty Cove Savoy, Illinois fox_rebecca@att.net Love Gifts to Bring to IRD Spring Meeting Hope Gifts for Cunningham Children s Home Love Gifts for Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House Hands-on Project for the Midwest Mission Distribution Center Men s underwear (not boys) briefs, boxer-briefs and boxers are all fine Gift cards to Wal-Mart, Target, Dollar Tree, Dairy Queen, KFC, Culver s, Hardees, Burger King, Wendy s, Pizza Hut and Monical s. Box Tops for Education Shampoo Deodorant Erasers For school bags: One subject spiral notebooks (please no 5 subject notebooks) either wide ruled or college ruled 3 notebooks are needed for each school bag

3 Page 3 Goings with Towne Genesis 9:6; Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-14: The fall of man brought about corruption in the heart of man, which manifested itself externally with violence, murder, theft, and all manner of criminal behavior. God established civil government in the earth as a means of restraining evil doers and protecting law abiding citizens. 1 Timothy 1:8-10: We also know that the law is made for law breakers and rebels for those who kill for murderers, adulterers and perverts, for slave traders, liars and perjurers This article provides an introduction for a notable individual who provides a service to humanity that most would not contemplate; Chief Public Defender. I was fortunate to become acquainted with this very special being, Jacqueline M. Lacy, approximately four years ago. Although we did not communicate much verbally during the task we were performing together, her presence of knowledge and power seemed to glow around her existence. The task we were performing was walking a parade and distributing educational information to the spectators. The parade distance was long and we encountered many faces together and separately. Jacqueline M. Lacy graduated from Oswego High School She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration, cum laude, from Western Illinois University in 1998 and Juris Doctorate from The John Marshall Law School in She is licensed as an attorney in the State of Illinois and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois (2003); and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois Trial Bar (2005). Jacqueline M. Lacy, Chief Public Defender, moved to the area from DuPage County Illinois 2010; an area very near Chicago. Her experience prior to her relocation and acceptance of the position is remarkable. She began her career in the DuPage County Public Defender s Office advocating for the indigent, committed to insuring proper procedures were followed in the courtroom as required by state and federal laws. Ms. Lacy also previously performed as an attorney in private practice concentrating in divorce and criminal law. Prosecuting was part of her practice, as well. Jacqueline was selected and appointed public defender in Vermilion County and through diligent hard work quickly became Chief Public Defender. Some of her professional associations currently are member of: Vermilion County Bar Association; Eastern Central Illinois Women Attorney Association; Illinois Counsel of Chief Defenders (President ); and Illinois Public Defender Association (Board of Directors ). Jacqueline is also accumulating distinguishable awards. A few of her many volunteer activities outside of her work setting include: Board Member for Land of Lincoln Goodwill Industries, Inc.; Danville Library Foundation; and Danville Boys and Girls Club. Jacqueline is a member of Danville Noon Rotary, serving on Vocational Service Award Committee. The population of this area has been blessed with this extraordinary productive woman of faith who demonstrates effectively and productively her task of defending some of the most sinful degenerates on earth. The Methodist Men have already heard from this extremely significant individual. It is time the Methodist Women learn what Jacqueline M. Lacy, Chief Public Defender is All About. Her presentation title is Navigating Your Way Through the Criminal Justice System The Public Defender Perspective. Jacqueline will also introduce her guest who experienced the system and is a positive example of rehabilitation. Mathew 23:23: the important things justice and mercy, and faith... you shouldn t leave the more important things undone. Reference: Brief Biography of Jacqueline M. Lacy [available upon request] IRD UMW Board Significant Announcements Relating to Spring Meeting March 14, 2015, Hostess Danville 1 st UMW REGISTRATIONS: ALL UMW ORGANIZATIONS (UNITS) MUST PROVIDE A LIST CONTAINING THE NAME OF EACH INDIVIDUAL PAID. THE NAME LIST MUST ACCOMPANY THE COMPLETED IRD UMW REGISTRA- TION DOCUMENT PROVIDED IN THE BEACON. PLEASE VERIFY LEGIBLE LIST IS IN ENVELOPE WITH CHECK AND COMPLETED REGISTRATION DOCU- MENT BEFORE MAILING TO MILDRED ASTELLE, PO BOX 963, CATLIN, ILLI- NOIS CHILD ALLERGIES AND ANTIDOTES: UNITED METHODIST WOMEN ARE AWARE THAT ALLERGIES AND AL- LERGY LIKE CONDITIONS ARE IN- CREASING IN INCIDENCE AMONG CHIL- DREN. WE WOULD LIKE THE MOTHER OF THE CHILD BEING CARED FOR DUR- ING THE IRD UMW MEETING TO CARRY ON HER PERSON THE ANTIDOTE IF MEDICINE HAS BEEN PRESCRIBED. THIS PRECAUTION WILL PROVIDE THE MOST EXPEDIATE AND SAFE METHOD OF CARE FOR CHILDREN WHO MAY REQUIRE INTERVENTION FOR AL- LERGY OCCURRENCE DURING THE MEETING. THE MOTHER WILL BE SUM- MONED TO ADMINISTER THE ANTI- DOTE. Cheryl Towne, Vice President 1109 Lake Ridge Road Danville, Illinois (home) (cell) cheryl.luann.towne@gmail.com

4 Page 4 Treasury Notes Greetings ladies! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and are ready for a happy and healthy 2015! I must say we finished 2014 with strong financial support from all of you, thank you! It wasn t quite enough to make our full pledge, we were about $6,000 shy, but we had a great fourth quarter. We still have a lot to accomplish in 2015 but I am sure we can rise to the occasion and meet our pledge. If you or your units have any questions please don t hesitate to contact me. If any treasurers need forms please let me know and I will send them your way. Thank you again for a great year last year. I am so excited to see what 2015 will bring and I can t wait to work alongside all of you to accomplish great things. MaryBess Gordon, Treasurer 300 S. Jacobsen Drive Thomasboro, IL marybessgordon@gmail.com Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 I would like to thank the UMW leadership team for welcoming me so warmly and assuring me that God has sent me among them. I look forward to serving as your new Spiritual Growth Coordinator and would like to thank Pat Davis for all her guidance. My home is in Bellflower, Illinois, with my husband Mark. We have two grown children and 4 grandchildren. I retired from teaching elementary school in the Blue Ridge School District in I serve our church in many capacities, UMW President, choir member, lay delegate to annual conference, and lay leader. I enjoy using my role as Certified Lay Servant to bring messages of God s love to our church and neighboring congregations. At our spring meeting we will have a memorial service remembering those UMW members who have gone on to Heaven in the past year. Please send me by mail or the names of those from your unit that we will remember at our memorial service. I would like to receive these by March 7. Spiritual Growth I will prayerfully lead you in the ways God directs. Walking with God everyday gives us strength, direction, and peace. Keep Him close and His Word in your heart. God bless. Carolyn Paullin Spiritual Growth Coordinator 36330E 300N Rd Bellflower, IL paullinc@wirelessdatanet.net Membership, Nurture & Outreach Happy New Year a little late! But we do know time goes on. Our district has done a great job getting our membership numbers to me. I want to thank you all for helping get it done. Now you have a job to do come to our Spring District Meeting at Danville First UMC on Saturday, March 14 at 9:00 a.m. to hear the good news. I always say to be a friend and invite everyone to come to your unit meeting and join our mission to help one another either here or overseas. God is good! Love, Dicksie Dicksie Blankenship 999 Route 10 West, Apt. 14 Clinton, IL d.blankenship@mchsi.com

5 Page 5 Cunningham Children s Home Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10 When I look at this passage, I think January is definitely made for this verse. January, a new beginning into a new year. Even though I have had a restful January, things have not slowed down at Cunningham Children s Home. There is always something going on something to give the Cunningham youth HOPE. What do you call a sad coffee? Depresso Twelve year old Allen told this joke and the crowd erupted in laughter. The Annual CCH talent show was anything but depressing. Many in the room knew that Allen could not read when he first came to Cunningham. His ability to stand on stage and read jokes made it even better. Thirteen kids shared their talents that night singing, dancing, drumming, playing piano, comedy and magic. Laughter erupted, confidence grew, HOPE abounded. The staff at Cunningham does an amazing job and they rely on us to do an amazing job making quilts, raising money and praying for them daily. We can do this for them. Please remember these Cunningham dates: March 28 Mission Day for Youth April 10 & 11 Festival of Quilts (You can help by baking, crafting, working on committees or just plain enjoying the fun.) Please join us for two wonderful days. Love gifts (now called Hope gifts) for the district spring meeting are: men s underwear (not boys) (briefs, boxer-briefs and boxers are all fine); gift cards to Wal-Mart, Target, Dollar Tree, Dairy Queen, KFC, Culver s, Hardees, Burger King, Wendy s, Pizza Hut and Monical s; Box Tops for Education Please remember to call Betty or me for a time for us to visit your unit or church service. We look forward to sharing news of Cunningham. 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 To help Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House homeless persons and provide food through the cold months, they need your help. Their homeless and feeding programs are not directly supported by any government grants, but depend on the generous spirit of persons like you who understand the vital needs of the East St. Louis community. Our contributions to LBDNH for the spring meeting are shampoo, deodorant and erasers. 105: Mission Alive does not at this moment have a reschedule date, however, many units are giving generously toward that theme already. In December Prospect Park UMC gave a week s worth of diapers to 105 families and 1050 baby wipes. LBDNH Representatives: Linda Grose 1189 Country Club Road Sullivan, IL mikelindagrose@gmail.com Susan Connor 1431 CR 800N Sullivan, IL radtech @yahoo.com

6 Page 6 Social Action Speaking Out Against Human Trafficking On February 1, 2015 many Americans will watch Super Bowl XLIX, the largest sporting event in the United States. The Super Bowl will be held at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Although big sporting and entertainment events are not proven to cause human trafficking, such events intensify the space in which such crimes can occur. Here are some things you can no, you must do now to help counteract this crime against humanity. 1. Use website intercept (for flyers or bulletin announcements about Super Bowl and human trafficking Greetings! My name is Terry Benson and I am IRD s new Secretary of Program Resources. I am from First UMC in Champaign. I have done a fair amount of moving in the last 30+ years. As a result, I have belonged to UMW in NC, VA and AL in addition to IL. I don t remember hearing about the UMW Reading Program until I moved to Champaign. And I have a confession I have never participated in the Reading 2. Use the above website and download a packet of materials for your education and to present to your UMW and other groups 3. Take a photo of your group in prayer (or see other suggestions on the above website) and submit it with many others to show our advocacy against this practice 4. Educate yourself and others and then speak out 5. Check with your local law enforcement department for information about possible human trafficking in your county and what is being done. Program, but with all the great titles we have available this year I do intend to start. I will keep you informed of my progress. Please send me your Reading Program reports from 2014 by February 23. I want to make sure that I don t miss anyone when the readers are recognized at the Spring District Meeting in March. You may send the reports via mail or . Pat Davis, Social Action Coordinator (new beginning 2015) 3204 Ridge Park Road Urbana, IL pat@bnpdavis.com Program Resources If you have questions about the Reading Program or what books are on this year s reading list, please don t hesitate to contact me. Terry Benson 2604 Coppertree Rd Champaign, IL bbenson217@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 ( and click on the UMW link.

7 Page 7 President Iroquois River District UMW Officers 2015 Becky Fox 203 Misty Cove Savoy, IL fox_rebecca@att.net Program Resources Terry Benson 2604 Coppertree Rd Champaign, IL bbenson217@gmail.com Committee on Nominations 2016 Louella Pence Box 22 Bellflower, IL louella@wirelessdatanet.net Vice President Cheryl Towne 1109 Lake Ridge Road Danville, IL cheryl.luann.towne@gmail.com Secretary Mary Ann Matthews 504 W. Dunbar Mahomet, IL heiryanne6@gmail.com Treasurer MaryBess Gordon 300 S. Jacobsen Thomasboro, IL marybessgordon@gmail.com Spiritual Growth Carolyn Paullin E 300 North Rd Bellflower, IL paullinc@wirelessdatanet.net Education & Interpretation Roberta Sterrenberg P. O. Box 486 Piper City, IL Membership/Nurture/Outreach Dicksie Blankenship 999 Rt. 10W, Apt. 14 Clinton, IL (cell) dblankenship@mchsi.com Social Action Pat Davis 3204 Ridge Road Urbana, IL pat@bnpdavis.com Communications Kay McCoy 18 Lange Avenue Savoy, IL (cell) mccoy18@comcast.net Nominations Committee on Nominations Chair Charlotte Pritchard P. O. Box 43 Savoy, IL Committee on Nominations 2015 Roberta Benschneider 205 E. Fourth Street Broadlands, IL rbenschneider@juno.com Committee on Nominations 2017 Cheryl VanNess 1809A Lydia Court Urbana, IL cvn902@aol.com Cunningham Representatives Betty Kmoch 2908 Springhill Lane Champaign, IL bettylouisek@sbcglobal.net and Bobby Walker 406 W. Diller Broadlands, IL (cell) bswalker42@gmail.com Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House Representatives Linda Grose 1189 Country Club Road Sullivan, IL (cell) mikelindagrose@gmail.com and Susan Connor 1431 CR 800 N Sullivan, IL radtech @yahoo.com

8 Page 8 Hands-On Project for District Spring Meeting Midwest Mission Distribution Center (MMDC) is a unique place to work hard, meet others with like minds, and improve the lives of countless women, youth, and children throughout the world. To do that, supplies are needed. We are asking you ladies, and men if you are lucky enough to attend our District Spring Meeting at Danville First, to bring one subject spiral notebooks. We will concentrate on gathering a gi-normous amount of these to facilitate a gi-normous number of book bags created and sent overseas. The notebooks need to be sheets wide ruled or college ruled makes no difference. The size needed is 8 X 10½. If we start stocking up now, who knows how many we can collect by March 14 th? United Methodist Women are known for their generosity. Please keep our image intact and fill your carts with love in the form of notebooks.

9 Page 9 Shepherdesses for 2015 Terry Benson Dicksie Blankenship Susan Connor Pat Davis Becky Fox MaryBess Gordon Linda Grose Betty Kmoch Mary Ann Matthews Kay McCoy Carolyn Paullin Charlotte Pritchard Roberta Sterrenberg Cheryl Towne Bobby Walker Rankin, Roberts, Rossville Bellflower, Farmer City, Loda Arthur, Bement, Villa Grove Bismarck, Savoy Champaign Faith, Danville St. James, Rantoul Middlefork, Paxton, Weldon Arcola, Centerville, Tuscola Countryside, Hindsboro, Urbana Wesley Crescent City, Donovan, Piper City Champaign Mt. Vernon, Mahomet, Urbana First Camargo, Champaign First, Newman/Murdock Broadlands, Tolono, Weedman Milford, Watseka Danville First, Hoopeston Catlin, Indianola, St. Joseph, Sullivan Nominations Greetings United Methodist Women! My faith and strength are to support United Methodist Women. Next year we will be needing several positions filled on our executive team. So be watching and listening you may be ready for a change in Charlotte Pritchard Chair of Nominations P. O. Box 43 Savoy, IL Mission u Mission u again? Yes, it happens every year. In fact, there are a couple items of interest that have been slipping past us ladies. Each unit is asked to give $15.00 to Mission u every year. This money helps support the school in continuing to provide the highest quality of teachers, subject matter, and some down home amenities. Bishop Keaton is slated to teach the spiritual growth study this summer. Upcoming subjects include what is on our minds and also on the minds of ladies everywhere. For those who cannot attend Mission u, mini-missions will be taught by each district to enhance their education by teaching others. Let s sharpen our pencils and convene this summer in Springfield! 2015 Mission Studies Spiritual growth: Created for Happiness: Understanding Your Life in God Issue study: The Church and People with Disabilities Geographic: Latin America: People and Faith Children's Study: Life and Faith in Latin America Youth Study: Latin America: Places, Culture, and Faith 2016 Mission Studies Spiritual growth: The Bible and Human Sexuality Geographic: Latin America Issue study: Climate Justice Children and Youth: Climate Justice Date: July 31 August 2, 2015 & August 2-5, 2015 Location: Northfield Inn and Suites, Springfield, IL

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 Calendar of Events Date Time Event Location Fri. Feb. 25 & Sat. Feb. 26 Conference Spiritual Growth Retreat Springfield Sat. March 14 9:00 am-2:00 pm District Spring Meeting Danville First UMC Fri. April 10 & Sat. April 11 Fri. July 31 Sun. Aug. 2 Sun. Aug. 2 Weds. Aug. 5 9:00 am-5:00 pm Festival of Quilts Cunningham Children s Home, Urbana Weekend Mission u Weekday Mission u Northfield Inn Springfield Sat. September 19 9:00 am-2:00 pm District Fall Meeting Rossville UMC Sat. October 3 TBA Conference Annual Meeting First UMC, Normal Sat. November 7 9:30 am District Personal Growth Retreat/Officer Update Watseka UMC