FLAMING FORTRESS NEWSLETTER CALENDAR North Central District IOWA Conference Schedule

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1 REVISED IOWA NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER JANUARY CALENDAR North Central District IOWA Conference Schedule March 3 World Day of Prayer March 8 Bell Ringing for Women s Rights March 14 Mission Study Mason City Grace UMC, Snow date March 21 March 16 Mission Study Gilmore City Faith UMC, Snow date March 23 March 17 Flaming Fortress article due to Communication Coordinator (Apr. Nwsltr) April 26 Executive Meeting, Slater UMC 9:30-12:00 and 1:00-4:30 April 27 Spiritual Retreat/Day Apart, Slater UMC June 1 Mission u registrations due June Iowa Annual Conference in Des Moines July Mission u, Marshalltown, DOTE at 1:00 p.m. August 1 Flaming Fortress article due to Communication Coordinator (Aug. Nwsltr) August 7 Executive Meeting, Algona 1st UMC September 15 Executive Meeting, Webster City Faith UMC September 16 North Central District Annual Meeting, Webster City Faith UMC October 7 Iowa Conference UMW Annual Meeting, Washington, Iowa October Fall Mission u, Marshalltown October 1 Flaming Fortress article due to Communication Coordinator (Oct. Nwsltr) December 4 Executive Meeting, Webster City Conference Room, Christmas Luncheon December 15 Flaming Fortress article due to Communication Coordinator (Jan. Nwsltr) LOCAL UNIT FORMS DUE: January 31 Program books to District Friends *March 30 June 30 October 1 December 10 Membership Reports to National Membership Reading & Mission Reports to your Chairperson Local Officers to District Secretary Cash Receipts to District Treasurer IN THIS ISSUE: Page 1 NCD Calendar, Forms Due Dates & Index Page 2 Conference Planning Calendar Page Bible Verses Page 4 President (Daily Prayer Focus) Page 5-6 Farewell from Outgoing Officers (3) Page 7 RACE: The Power of an Illusion Page 8 Treasurer Page 9 Spiritual Growth and Program Resources Page 10 Program Resources cont. and Co-Vice Pres. s Page 11 Social Action & Education and Interpretation Page 12 Educ. & Interp. (Cont.) and Secretary Page 13 Mission Study Flyer Page 14 MNO, Communication Coordinator Page 15 Spiritual Growth-Day Apart Flyer JANUARY 2017 NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER 1

2 2017 PROGRAM PLA NNING CALENDAR IOWA CONFERENCE - UNITED METHODIST WOMEN January 11 Human Trafficking Awareness Day January 21 Program Planning, Mission u, and Leadership Team meetings, Ames First UMC January 28 Snow date for Program Planning, Mission u, and Leadership Team meetings March 3 World Day of Prayer March 6 RACE: The Power of Illusion, Cedar Rapids St. Paul s UMC March 8 International Bell Ringing for Women s Rights March Intergenerational Mission Trip to Costa Rica March 13 RACE: The Power of Illusion, Fort Dodge Trinity UMC March th Anniversary of United Methodist Women April 12 Faith Community Response to Domestic Violence, Lamont April 22 Laity Day with Bishop Laurie Haller April 22 Program Planning, Finance, Mission u and Leadership Team meetings, Wesley Woods, Indianola April 23 Spiritual Growth Retreat, Wesley Woods, Indianola May 5 May Friendship Day, CWU May Mission u Training Event June Iowa Annual Conference of United Methodist Church, Hy-Vee Hall, Des Moines June 11 UMW Gathering at Annual Conference July 16 District Officer Training Event (DOTE), 1-3 p.m., Iowa Valley Conference Center, Marshalltown July Summer Mission u, Iowa Valley Conference Center, Marshalltown August 26 Finance, Program Planning, Mission u and Leadership Team meetings, Ames First UMC September 1 Human Relations Day, CWU September 8 South Central District Annual Meeting, Albia September 9 Southeast District Annual Meeting, Columbus Junction September 16 North Central District Annual Meeting, Webster City Faith September 21 Southwest District Annual Meeting, Lenox September 22 Northeast District Annual Meeting, Dysart September 22 Northwest District Annual Meeting, LeMars September 23 Central District Annual Meeting, Des Moines First September 23 East Central District Annual Meeting, Clinton October 7 Iowa Conference UMW Annual Meeting, Washington October Fall Mission u, Iowa Valley Conference Center, Marshalltown November 3 World Community Day, CWU November 18 Program Planning and Leadership Team meetings, Ames First UMC November Leadership Development Days, St. Louis, MO JANUARY 2017 NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER 2

3 January 2017Bible Verses 2 Chronicles 7:14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land. NLT February I John 5:21 Dear children keep away from anything that might take God s place in your heart. NLT March Philippians 4:4-5 Be glad in the Lord always! Again I say, be glad! Let your gentleness show in your treatment of all people. The Lord is near. CEB April 1 Peter 1:3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you. NIV May 1 John 4:10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. NIV June Matthew 7:20 The way to identify a tree or a person is by the kind of fruit that is produced. TLB July Galatians 3:27-28 All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. CEB August Luke 11:28 Blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice. NLT September Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God! NRSV October John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. NIV November Hebrews 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone, and to be holy; without holiness, no one will see the Lord. NIV December Luke 2:19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. NRSV JANUARY 2017 NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER 3

4 MEET OUR NEW NCD PRESIDENT United Methodist Women Members of the North Central District, I always thank God for you. You put your faith, your hope and your love in action as UMW members. I see it as we work together in God s mission in this world. Let s look for A Fresh Wind Blowing in this new UMW year. My journey in UMW has brought me to this new adventure as your District President. UMW has provided me opportunities to grow spiritually for over 50 years. I have been blessed by love shared through your talents, inspired by lived-faith and your smiles and hugs. Let s continue to be a blessing and being blessed as United Methodist Women. We have made God s love visible for many in our past. Let s look for A Fresh Wind Blowing in We are women with a PURPOSE. Recite and sing our PURPOSE often as you meet together. Use our PURPOSE as a plumb line for your meeting times. Celebrate the various gifts and talents of your members. Pray for one another. Iowa Conference and District Officers will be using the following Daily Prayer Focus each month. Please join us in praying for our UMW. DAILY PRAYER FOCUS And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith. Matthew 21: 22 Please join us in prayer. We will pray each day of each month for the people listed here. We know God hears and honors our prayers. May you be blessed as you pray. 1) Bishop Laurie 4) Mission u Team 7) District Presidents 10) District Treasurers 13) District Vice Presidents 16) District Secretaries 19) District Spiritual Growth 22) District Social Action 25) District MNO 28) District E & I 2) Conference Leadership Team 5) Conference Nominations Comm. 8) District Nominations Committee 11) Diversity Fund 14) Local Pastors 17) Charter for Racial Justice Comm. 20) Local Nominations Committees 23) Local Program Resources 26) Program Resources 29) Women in Ministry in Iowa 3) Legacy Fund 6) Local Presidents 9) Local Treasurers 12) Local Vice Presidents 15) Local Secretaries 18) Local Spiritual Growth 21) Local Social Action 24) Local MNO 27) Local E & I 30) Iowa Conference Cabinet I welcome your prayers, questions and comments as we grow together in United Methodist Women in It will be my joy to meet you at our district and conference UMW events. Peace and joy, Jean Sheets sheetsec@ncn.net JANUARY 2017 NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER 4

5 FAREWELL MESSAGES FROM YOUR OUTGOING NCD OFFICERS It doesn t seem possible that I am writing my final column as North Central District UMW President. The four years have flown by. It has been a wonderful four years. I have met many of you and made so many new friends. January 1, 2017, Jean Sheets of Britt will be our new president of the district. I am sure you will all be as welcoming to her as you have been to me. I know that she will do a great job. Support her as you have supported me. The memories are too many to list but the annual meetings are the highlight of those memories plus meeting with many of you at your churches. Next year I will be sitting out in the audience with all of you enjoying the meetings and not thinking about what I need to do next. I will be Belmond s new president so you will still see me in the President s LOTE. As I said at the district meeting, we are family; a family of Christian sisters who care about each other and others around the world. Thank you for the wonderful experience. I would not trade it for anything! God s blessings to each of you, Myra Gochenouer Your Outgoing President 2017 In the two years that I ve been your coordinator for social action, we have seen improvements in many areas, but there is still much to do. With new leadership for our Country, it seems we will need to push for what we believe needs to be done for the climate and immigration. To understand more about our climate, there is a film featuring Leonardo Di Caprio, Before the Flood that would be good to use for your Unit and your church. On the anniversary of the Newtown shooting there is a Newtown Alliance Action group that is asking Congress to pass several gun safety measures to reduce gun violence in the United States. Contact your Congressmen so they will support this action. Plans are underway for an Advocacy Day at the State Capitol. Topics that will be stressed are mental health, quality water and medical care for those in poverty. Our district should have a representative there. There will be several sessions called RACE: The Power of Illusion throughout the state in Two dates are March 8 at Cedar Rapids and March 13 at Fort Dodge. (See flyer in this newsletter!) January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Iowa is extremely aware of this problem and some progress is being made but much more is needed. This is my final month as a district officer. The years I ve been on the District board have been some of the most satisfying times in my life. I appreciate all of the friends I ve made and all of the support you ve given me. United Methodist Women have always been a top priority for me and will continue to be. God Bless you, Bonnie Florke Your Outgoing Social Action Coordinator JANUARY 2017 NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER 5

6 FAREWELL MESSAGES FROM YOUR OUTGOING NCD OFFICERS Best wishes as you begin a new year of United Methodist Women activities. It was good to meet with some of you at the district annual meeting in Ogden in September. For those of you who were not able to attend, your president should have received a packet with some of the handouts we used during the LOTE (Local Officer Training Event). If you have not received them, please ask your unit president, you might find them useful. If no one from your unit was able to attend, then District President Myra Gochenouer mailed the information to your unit president. One of the responsibilities of the local unit secretary is to send me the form Local Unit Officers 2017 which was included in the August newsletter. Most of you (or someone from your unit) have done so, however, I have not heard from more than half the units in the North Central District. If your unit has not sent this in, please do so right away. This information was shared with the district UMW officers via this year, so changes will be easy to make. You can also me with the information or let me know if there are no changes. PLEASE include addresses for those that have . If you use last year s form it is missing a space for phone numbers. Please include phone numbers. As secretaries this is a good time to catch up on filing, purge unneeded papers, etc. If you retired from being secretary, and have not yet turned your files over to the new person, please take time to put your files in order. You need to keep minutes and anything that is legal or historical but don t clutter your files. If you are a new secretary, hopefully the previous person has passed on the files to you, or will soon what a great time to familiarize yourself with what is in them. You are the custodian of the written history of your unit. One of the items that every unit should have is a copy of the UMW Handbook for the current quadrennium a new version is in the making, so you will want to wait for them to be available. This is my last article as your District Secretary. It has been a pleasure to meet many of you during my four years serving the North Central District United Methodist Women. I look forward to seeing you at the many district UMW events in the future. Sharon Boen (continued) Boen.sharon@gmail.com Your Outgoing Secretary 720 Kellogg Avenue, # Ames, IA Thanks to Myra Gochenouer, Bonnie Florke and Sharon Boen for the many, many hours you have served the North Central District United Methodist Women while on the Executive Board serving as an officer. We all hope that we will continue to see you when we get together at our many district events!. Thanks again from the bottom of our hearts for your service! JANUARY 2017 NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER 6

7 >>>>>>COMING MARCH 13, 2017<<<<<< RACE: The POWER of an ILLUSION RACIAL EQUITY AWARENESS LEARNING EXCHANGES WHY? * Jesus calls us to love God and love neighbor. WHAT? TIME? COST? WHO? * Racial justice is an ongoing focus of United Methodist Women mission work. * We are called to live out the Charter for Racial Justice in our communities. * Racial disproportionality and disparity occur in Iowa. RACE: The POWER of an ILLUSION (RPI) is a one-day guided educational experience that brings people from various backgrounds together to begin courageous conversations as they explore intersections of race, equity, and child welfare guided by trained facilitators using a variety of resources. 8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m. on Monday, March 13th Learning Exchange is FREE! PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED & LIMITED TO THE FIRST 35 TO CONTACT RITA CARTER! There will be a free-will donation for lunch (or bring your own). Faith community pastors, staff & members not limited to United Methodists or United Methodist Women.; foster parents, child advocates and professionals; other interested community members are welcome! (0.5 UMC CEUs, SW CEUs, & foster parent credit hours are available.) WHEN & WHERE? Monday, March 13, 2017 Trinity United Methodist Church, Fort Dodge 838 N 25th Street West of Fort Dodge Senior High School Between 6 th Ave N and 10 th Ave N Local church contact: Delores Soppeland ( ) SPONSORED BY: Iowa Conference United Methodist Women in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Human Services CO-SPONSORED BY: Iowa Chapter-Methodist Federation for Social Action, Southeast District (UMC) Latino Task Force, Iowa Conference UMC Board of Church and Society, Iowa Conference UMC Commission on Religion & Race, AFSC Immigrant Justice Program >>>>>>FOR RESERVATIONS<<<<< Contact Rita Carter, ritaac@mchsi.com or by March 3 rd. JANUARY 2017 NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER 7

8 GREETINGS FROM OUR NCD TREASURER Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests. Luke 2: NIV This is coming to your Christmas and New Years has passed, but I pray that peace can be found in your heart. We certainly cannot find it in our circumstances or in our world, but only in the child who was born to be our Savior! Happy 2017 to you! Once again welcome treasurers! If you are new, I want to make sure you have everything you need. I can send forms by or regular mail, and instructions as well. Please contact me if you need anything. If you d like a print out of your unit s complete 2016 giving, please let me know. I can also send this by or regular mail. If a treasurer changes in the course of the year, please let me know that too, so I can update my list. National has given district and conference treasurers new instructions regarding sending Legacy Fund donations. If you have the ability, they first prefer you to give online. Go to and click on the Legacy Fund picture. It will tell you all the different ways you can give, including credit card, by phone or online, or by check and how to send it in yourself. I will also be accepting Legacy Fund donations from your units as well. Just add Legacy Fund to a spot on your remittance form, and include who it is from. (Example: UMW unit or individual & contact information.) Either way, we are helping to support our UMW missions for years to come with these donations. I have told several of you that I will not have Gift in Mission Christmas cards anymore. During a conversation with Mission Resource, I may have been misinformed. I currently have an order in, so if you would like some in 2017, please let me know and I can tell you if I received them or not. Sorry for the confusion. I can only go by what they tell me! Another issue is Special Mission Recognition pins. There were many pin orders in November and December. National contacted us that they had changed vendors for the pins and that we could expect delays. I would give them at least double the time (6 to 8 weeks) and if you have not received it yet, let me know. I am sorry for the delay, but it was out of my hands. At this writing there were 48 units that earned a 5 Star certificate for Thank you for your diligence in serving women, children and youth around the world! Even if you were not a 5 Star unit, you have helped in these giving totals for mission. Our heartfelt thanks for all the work you do every year in your unit. Here is a sample of our district s giving for 2016: Pledge to Mission received more than $82,000. World Thank Offering received more than $87,000. Bidwell Riverside received more than $3,900. Hawthorn Hill received more than $4,700. Mission u was supported by more than $2,400. Share with your unit articles from Response magazine. We need to encourage one another with what is already happening and work in our local units to make sure that mission continues in the future. Kathy Sautter 1041 S. Illinois Avenue Mason City, IA ksautter64@gmail.com JANUARY 2017 NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER 8

9 GREETINGS FROM OUR NCD SPIRITUAL GROWTH COORDINATOR By now you have said and heard the greeting Happy New Year many, many times! But in December I discovered a short story by Henry Van Dyke, an American author, educator and clergyman, who lived from The name of the story is Keeping Christmas. In this story, we are asked to reflect on many things, including whether we have done enough to earn the right to keep Christmas. Have we put others before ourselves; have we considered the hearts of others and what they might need; have we tried to help meet the needs of those less fortunate than ourselves; have we replaced our mean thoughts and words with kinder ones; do we believe that love is the strongest thing in the world and that Jesus is Eternal Love? The author believes that if we can honestly answer yes to these questions (and more!), then we can keep Christmas! He also states that most of us can keep Christmas for a day after all, ONE DAY isn t that difficult. But can we do it all year long? That is our challenge. He also reminds us that we cannot do it alone. Our February 2017 Bible Verse is from the New Living Translation, 1 John 5:21, Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God s place in your hearts. In this new year, let us concentrate on Keeping Christmas, that the love among us may continue to strengthen us as we go about being faithful UMW members in the North Central District. Praying God s blessings on all of you, Deb Gillespie 2504 Delaware Drive Webster City, IA (319) deb.harlan.gillesp@gmail.com PLEASE SEE THE ENCLOSED FLYER & SAVE THE DATE Spiritual Day Apart, Thursday, April 27th, Slater UMC! YES, I know this is in the southern part of our district, but all highways from the north (65, I-35, 69, 17, 4) lead to Hwy 210 where Slater is located. Slater United Methodist Women are ready to welcome us! GREETINGS FROM YOUR NCD SECRETARY OF PROGRAM RESOURCES I am pleased to report the 2016 Reading Program was a success with 84 readers from 28 units. Included were 63 plan one readers, 13 plan two readers, 2 plan three readers, and 2 honorable mention with at least one first time reader. Now it is time to think about 2017 and what we will accomplish in our local units. Resources important to UMW, in addition to the Program Book, include the Prayer Calendar and RESPONSE Magazine. These are wonderful sources of information and provide program material for local units. CONTINUED on PAGE 10 JANUARY 2017 NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER 9

10 CONTINUED from PAGE 9 The first District Mission Study is March 14 at Mason City Grace and the second is March 16 at Gilmore City Faith. It is at these District events that you will have an opportunity to check out new reading program books as well as the ones now in our library. Some books for purchase will also be available. (NOTE: Please return books you have checked out at this time.) I hope to see many of you then. NOTE: To learn more about resources available, go to - you can place orders for your unit by (cs@umwmissionresources.org) or by mail (Mission Resources, 1650 Bluegrass Lakes Parkway, Alpharetta, GA 30004) or by calling If you have questions, you can me at imchick@netamumail.com or call Wishing each of you a very special Blessings, KEEP READING.IT S YOUR WINDOW TO THE WORLD Iola Chickering N. Roan St. imchick@netamumail.com Algona, IA HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM OUR NCD CO-VICE PRESIDENTS We hope you had a wonderful holiday season. It s always such a special time of year celebrating our Lord s birth and visiting with family and friends. We would like to say Thank You! to the ladies of the Community UMC in Ogden for doing such a super job of hosting our annual meeting! We were happy to see so many ladies in attendance that day. Our speakers were very inspirational and uplifting. We hope you found it to be meaningful as well. We would also like to mention a change to the 2017 annual meeting. It will be in Webster City at Faith UMC, rather than at Garner UMC, on September 16. Mark your calendars now and make plans to join us! Please remember to send your unit program book to your district friend. This will enable everyone to stay better connected gives us a new opportunity as United Methodist Women to remember what our purpose is: To Know God and to do HIS work in helping women, youth and children around the world. Blessings to all, Your NCD Co-Vice Presidents Myra Bowman 911 Golfview Avenue Britt, IA jlmkbowman51@comm1net.net Barb Trulson 667 6th Street SW Britt, IA russbarb1946@comm1net.net JANUARY 2017 NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER 10

11 MEET OUR NEW NCD SOCIAL ACTION COORDINATOR Christmas is such a blessed and happy time of the year. Hopefully each of you was able to spend quality time with your family. The New Year is dawning and I will have more challenges in my life. I have accepted the position of District Social Action Coordinator. I know I have a lot to learn. I was not able to attend the December 6 meeting. I know it would have been helpful for me to be there. With your help and God s help, I will be able to figure everything out. Just a little bit of information about myself. I joined the Titonka United Methodist Church in I joined their United Methodist Women three years ago, after I retired from Snap-on Tools Cooperation. Since my retirement I have been spending time with my family and also quilting and crafting. I work one or two days a week at the Titonka Care Center. I have three sons: Donda and wife, Wanda; Shane and wife, Danielle, and Derrick. I have four grandchildren whose names are Alec, Zach, Timothy and Emily. Gail Hill PO Box 214 Titonka, Iowa gailhill@netins.net UNITED METHODIST WOMEN PURPOSE 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. GREETINGS FROM OUR NCD EDUCATION AND INTERPRETATION COORDINATOR I hope you had a blessed Christmas. I m looking forward to a New Year, wondering what adventures God has planned for me. Are you ready for more adventure? Speaking of adventure, there are several mission events planned for our district that are going to be just that, adventure. The good Lord has led me to two wonderful people who have agreed to lead us through an interesting study of Climate Justice:. Presenting at Mason City Grace on March 21, 2017 (snow date March 21) is Reverend Dick Clark. And presenting at Gilmore City UMC on March 16 (snow date March 23) is Joyce Norton. Both of these people are passionate about the topic of Climate Justice. I m really anxious for all of us to hear these two presentations. Look for the flyer in this issue to get more specific details regarding our North Central District Mission Events. (Continued on Page 12) JANUARY 2017 NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER 11

12 (continued from Page 11) As well as being able to catch up with many good UMW friends, and eat some of those delicious salads, you ll be able to see some of the new reading resources. Iola Chickering will be at both Mission events. I m really excited about the mission events this year. Put the dates on your calendars. Hopefully you can make it to at least one of these events. Another reminder: Please remember to look in your President s packet that you received at the annual meeting for your Mission Today report forms. Take them to each UMW meeting so that you can check off items as you complete them. I look forward to seeing many of you again at our Mission Events in March and at Day Apart in April. It s always a good time when UMWs get together. Diane Nall 206 Linn Street Corwith, IA diane_nall@hotmail.com MEET OUR NEW NCD SECRETARY Greetings to all North Central District United Methodist Women officers and members. Please bear with me as I begin a new journey as your District Secretary. I feel I have no idea what is expected of me so far as I was unable to attend the first of what I was told is to be four District meetings when asked to fill this position. I have been the Secretary of the Titonka UMW local unit for a number of years but I am also sure that being District Secretary carries far more duties than I can imagine now. I was assured that the other officers are there to help me and I look forward to learning and working with them. I was also asked to tell all newsletter recipients a little about myself. So here goes: - I was a farm wife and cake decorator for about 30 years, and then a librarian for almost 20 years. I still substitute at the Lakota Public Library once in a while. I have two children and four grandchildren. My son lives a couple miles away and my daughter lives at St. Mary s. The two grandsons keep me busy going south to watch their sports events. I am also blessed to have the two granddaughters living just a couple miles away. I volunteer at the Kossuth Regional Health Center twice a month which I really enjoy. My hobbies include stitching Hardanger doilies, crosses and angels and crocheting prayer shawls. And of course I enjoy reading but I don t seem to have as much time for reading as I did before I retired. As a member of the UMW, we are kept busy with programs and serving at the Care Center, our Annual Christmas Tea, and this year we will be doing the community World Day of Prayer program. When we are few, we are kept busy with the monthly and yearly UMW responsibilities. I also take my turn cleaning church a month at a time through the year. Wishing you all a Happy and Healthy New Year! Sharon Uken Box Titonka, IA suken@netins.net JANUARY 2017 NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER 12

13 NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT MISSION STUDY MARCH 2017 TOPIC is CLIMATE JUSTICE MASON CITY GRACE UMC MARCH 14, 2017 (Snow date March 21, 2017) Presentation by Rev. Dick Clark OR GILMORE CITY FAITH UMC MARCH 16, 2017 (Snow date March 23, 2017) Presentation by Joyce Norton 9:00 a.m. 9:30 a.m. Registration and Coffee 9:30 a.m. 12:00 p.m. Morning Session (Climate Justice) 12:00 p.m.. 12:45 p.m. Salad Luncheon (Each carload to bring one large salad.) 12:45 p.m. 2:15 p.m. Afternoon Session (Climate Justice) 2:15 p.m. 2:30 p.m. Closing JANUARY 2017 NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER 13

14 GREETINGS FROM OUR MEMBERSHIP NURTURE & OUTREACH CO-CHAIRMAN Happy New Year! We hope you had a blessed Thanksgiving and Christmas with family and friends. Now is the time to start getting ready to report our membership for This year you will be able to do that by . It is due by March 30, 2017 to the National office. The form that was in the Presidents packets at the annual district meeting is just a guideline to go by. Please refer to the link with this article for instructions, or you can or call either one of us. If you don t have , maybe your church office would complete it for you if you supply the information. Here are the websites to use: (this is to create an individual member profile.) Have a good and safe winter. Sue Thomas Until next time, your friends, Rebecca Leigh 1615 E. Elm Street 620 E. Call Street Algona, IA Algona, IA thomas3@netamumail.com dleigh@netamumail.com HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM YOUR COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR I did not think I had space to write something this time in the newsletter but when I just sent it out to a few people I had lost the page that I had the Membership Nurture and Outreach article on so I guess I now don t have an excuse not to at least write something! I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas celebrating the real reason for the season as well as with family and friends. Now we are in a new year and everything goes back to normal and hopefully everyone has a healthy You will notice that I have added pictures to the articles. I thought it would be fun for you to see the people who write to you in each newsletter and it will help you to know them when you see a familiar face at the district meetings you attend. I saw it done in some of the other district newsletters and liked it and it only took a year to finally get the pictures of everyone and get started with it in this issue. Please keep the changes of s coming in to me when you have a change. The mailing of the newsletter mostly through is saving the district about $500 a year which we in turn can use for missions here in Iowa and around the world.. Sally Redenius NCD Communications Coordinator (hm) (cl) East Iowa Avenue, Gilmore City, Iowa sacuthbe@msn.com JANUARY 2017 NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER 14

15 NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT SPIRITUAL GROWTH - DAY APART CREATED IN GOD S IMAGE Based in part on the book from 2016 Mission u Spiritual Growth Study, The Bible and Human Sexuality Claiming God s Good Gift Thursday, April 27, 2017 Slater United Methodist Church 401 Story Street, Slater, Iowa 9:00 AM 2:30 PM Each carload please bring one large salad JANUARY 2017 NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER 15