Blue Ridge District Newsletter United Methodist Women

Transcription

1 Vol. 30 No. 4 OCTOBER 2016 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 2016 UNIT OFFICERS LEADERSHIP TRAINING For New AND Returning Unit Officers Tryon United Methodist Church 195 New Market Rd, Tryon, NC November 5, :30 Registration, 10:00 Classes This event is not just for unit officers, but for every UMW member. Come and learn new ideas! Love Offering: In Honor of Barbara Campbell, retired deaconess residing at Brooks Howell who was "called, served and serving still." Hands-on Mission Project: School and Health Kits (If child care is needed, please contact Beverly-Hill at beverlyhill19@gmail.com.) Directions: From I-26 East: Follow I-26 E to past Hendersonville to the right to continue on US-74 E (Exit 67), follow signs for Columbus/Rutherfordton/NC-108. Take the exit toward NC-108/Columbus/Tryon. At the traffic circle, take the 1st exit onto NC-108 W/W Mills St. Merge onto N Trade St. Turn left onto New Market Rd. Destination will be on your left. Attending the leadership training fulfills criteria #11 of Mission Today Unit!!!

2 Blue Ridge District United Methodist Women 2016 OFFICERS President Joanie Strohm (Weaverville) 111 Collins Road Marshall, NC (828) Vice President Beverly Hill Miller (Black Mountain) 202 Border Street Black Mountain, NC (828) Secretary Karen Anderson (Skyland) 9 Chestnut Mountain Ridge Asheville, NC (828) ksanderson95@gmail.com Treasurer Carol Bryson (Grace) 14 Buckner Road Leicester, NC (828) csbryson64@gmail.com Spiritual Growth, MC To be determined MC Education & Interpretation Gwen Harris (Windom) 215 Grand View Lane Burnsville, NC (828) hgwen1@frontier.com Social Action, MC Lucy Earls (Oak Grove) 913 Race Path Church Rd. Ellenboro, NC (828) jlearls@att.net Membership Nurture & Outreach Carole Gilham (Groce) 266 Merrimon Ave. Asheville, NC (828) cgilham88@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 Parliamentarian Betty J. Letzig (St. Paul s) 266 Merrimon Avenue Asheville, NC (828) letzig@msn.com Historian Judy Hawkins (Oak Grove) 1491 Oak Grove Church Rd Ellenboro, NC (828) judyhawkins56@yahoo.com Committee on Nominations 2016 Barbara Scott, Chairperson, 10 Piper Drive, Weaverville,nc 2878 (Weaverville) , borb@frontier.com, (Class of 2019) Jackie Rio, nd St, Black Mountain (Black Mountain UMC) , jackierio@bellsouth.net, (Class of 2016) Barbara Blevins, 108 Montford Ave. #7, Asheville, NC (Acton) (678) , barjsep20@gmail.com, (Class of 2016) Eva Farren, 37 Brahma Ridge, Candler, NC (Piney Mountain) (828) , efarren@arcnc.org or evafarren@charter.net (Class of 2017) Dixie Liggett, 8 Springside Park, Asheville, NC (Skyland) (828) , lliggett3@charter.net, (Class of 2017) Doris Morrison, 107 Circle Dr., Morganton, NC (Snow Hill) (828) , dorismorrison@att.net, (Class of 2016) Ann Janzen, 266 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, NC (St. Paul s) , annan100@yahoo.com, (Class of 2019) Member at Large Jo Pyatt, PO Box 1621, Marion, NC (East Marion) pyattjo@gmail.com (828) Western North Carolina Conference District Advisor for the Blue Ridge District Virginia Robinson, 2141 Millstone Drive, Morganton, NC , robinsonva62@gmail.com 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 (828) peggy.sanders0522@gmail.com - 2 -

3 2016 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 Fairview Sharon Beverly Hill Miller East Asheville Oak Hill East Marion Saluda Emma UMC Trinity- Asheville Glenwood Barbara Blevins Abernethy Snow Hill- Morganton Bethel Doris Morrison Addie's Chapel Biltmore Clinchfield Carol Bryson Avery's Creek Jo Pyatt Concord Edneyville First UMC Rutherfordton Reeves Chapel Gilkey Maureen Carr Hope UMC Kistler's Chapel Marion First Nebo St. Timothy Oak Grove Windom Pleasant Grove Lucy Earls First Forest City Pleasant Hill- Marion Lebanon Jackie Rio Acton Mount Hebron Balfour Providence Spindale Tanner's Grove Barb Scott Oakley Trinity- Nebo St. Paul's Eva Farren Pleasant Hill- Candler Peggy Sanders Central Montmorenci Grace Carole Gilham Black Mountain Moores Grove Piney Mountain Joanie Strohm Alexander Chapel/Clark's Chapel Skyland Brevard First Gwen Harris Bald Creek Ebenezer Caroleen Gilboa Higgins Memorial Old Fort Mars Hill Salem Anne Janzen Groce Spruce Pine Weaverville St. Marks Betty J. Letzig Columbus Thermal City Fletcher Tryon Hendersonville First Wells Spring Mills River Leith Tate Asbury Memorial Sardis Swannanoa - 3 -

4 A Message from Your President Congratulations Blue Ridge District United Methodist Women! I just returned from the Conference Annual Celebration and am so proud of each of you and your contributions in every area of United Methodist Women. We were one of the top three districts in the following areas: Walk for Mission Percentage of Units Visited Percentage of Units in the Reading Program Percentage in Increase of Undesignated Mission Giving Per Capita in Undesignated Mission Giving Percentage of Justice Today Units AND being part of the Western North Carolina Conference 15 th Consecutive Year Leading in Mission Giving WOW!!!!! If you attended the Conference Annual Celebration you were blessed by the music, the message, the worship, the beauty of Lake Junaluska and the fellowship. If you didn t attend, put Sept on your calendar to remind you of this powerful celebration of United Methodist Women. Columbus UMW Unit will be receiving the LUV care package filled with wonderful UMW gifts. The names of units who called their Nurturing Partner and requested a visit and received that visit before August 24 were entered in a chance to win the CPR (Committed to Purposeful Renewal) care package. If you requested a visit after August 24, your unit s name will be entered into the 2017 drawing. I challenge each of you to help The Legacy Fund continue to grow. St. Paul s UMW in Asheville has 100% participation and a circle at Skyland UMC has just joined the 100% group. With the foresight of our founders in 1869 who started an organization to help women, children and youth, we are called to think about the future of United Methodist Women. The Blue Ridge District goal is to raise $150,828 by 2019 (our 150 th birthday.) We are now at nearly $10,000. We can reach our goal if each of our 1614 members in the Blue Ridge District gives at least $18.69 a year for 5 years. We are building an endowment for another 150 years of mission. What better investment can you make to insure our legacy will continue? Ubuntu Day of Service is Saturday, October 15. It is a time we can be in service at one of our five national institutions here in Western North Carolina. We begin at 9:00 am and finish at 2:00 pm. Pfeifer University, Bennett College, Bethlehem Centers in Charlotte and Winston-Salem and Brooks-Howell are the sites where we can serve. Please register online by October 1, there is no fee but the institution needs to know how many are planning to come to their site. If you come to Brooks-Howell, bring a bag lunch and any hand equipment you would like to use if you work outside. Drinks and snacks will be provided. One of the most rewarding things I do in UMW is visit with you and hear about what all you do for women, children and youth. I am extremely blessed and honored to be a part of Blue Ridge District United Methodist Women. If you ever need to talk to me: call, or drop me a note. I love hearing from you! Joanie Strohm, Blue Ridge District President - 4 -

5 Vice- President Recently I just left the business world. I never thought that I would have a business of my own. I felt I was better suited toward public service. But when the opportunity presented itself, I took the plunge and went into my own business. Having had no formal training, some thought that I would not succeed. However 12 years later, I had managed to take a small business into a large, successful one. How? Using the principals I learned as a United Methodist Woman! I have learned so much that I was able to use in the way I worked with my staff as a team as well as the financial principles. Leadership development is essential to the mission of United Methodist Women. United Methodist Women equips women and girls around the world to be leaders in communities, agencies, governments, and churches. UMW offers the opportunity for us all to share in leadership. It requires a commitment of time, energy and effort. But in return you: develop a deeper understanding of mission, grow spiritually and make a difference in the lives of women, children and youth. Please take the time to attend Blue Ridge District s Leadership Development at Tryon UMC on November 5th. Beverly Hill, Blue Ridge District Vice President Secretary As another successful year for the Blue Ridge District winds down, and our leadership training approaches in November, it s a good time to reflect on our secretarial duties. Here are some good points to remember: Prepare the minutes as soon as possible after each meeting and ask the president to look them over for accuracy, then distribute them to the unit executive committee. It s a good idea to get this accomplished within 10 days, while the meeting s actions and events are still fresh on everyone s mind. Since most people are computer savvy and prefer to receive communications via , our jobs are becoming more streamlined. Also it may be simpler for you to take your laptop to the meetings and jot notes in a template. Then polish them up afterward Include the unit s name, date, time and location of the meeting at the top, followed by a listing of those present and absent. Note any guests or speakers in attendance. Follow the agenda as you take minutes. Don t get too detailed, but include motions, who made and seconded them (including first and last names), and whether passed. State the adjournment time and conclude with two lines for your and the president s signatures. Karen Anderson, Blue Ridge District Secretary - 5 -

6 Treasurer It seems almost impossible, but our 2016 UMW year is almost over. We have had a wonderful year in giving to mission. I urge each unit to celebrate your UMW year. The giving of each unit is important as we move toward reaching our $79,000 Pledge to Mission. It was wonderful to be at Conference Annual Celebration at Lake Junaluska this year. To have Blue Ridge District recognized in the top three in giving in many areas made me so proud. Our Units are amazing. Our total amount sent to Conference Treasurer through third-quarter of the year is $66, Undesignated giving totaled $50,455.44, which is applied to our yearly pledge to mission of $79,000. As you can see, we can make our goal. Let s close out 2016 with a bang. Remember that UMW fiscal year ends December 1 st. Your Unit Treasurer will be sending all reports and monies to me by that date. Fourth quarter is historically our largest quarter in undesignated giving. As all units seek to complete the five channels of undesignated giving, world thank offering, and walk for mission. Be in prayer that the Blue Ridge District again exceeds our yearly Pledge to Mission. Encourage your unit to meet and exceed their Pledge again this year. I am very proud to congratulate you for contributing $5, to the Legacy Fund through the third-quarter. Western North Carolina Conference United Methodist Women led the nation in Legacy Fund contributions in A large part of that recognition is due to the prayers and contributions of Blue Ridge District United Methodist Women. Let s keep up the good work and insure United Methodist Women Missions will survive to serve future generations. Many of our units may be small in the number of members, but we are all big in heart and in working for United Methodist Women. I am very proud to be serving you as District Treasurer. It is a pleasure to meet many of you at District and Conference events. I encourage you to contact your Nurturing Partner for a visit to your unit meeting or to discuss any issues you may have. Carol Bryson, Blue Ridge District Treasurer Spiritual Growth Lucy Earls will be our Blue Ridge District Mission Coordinator for Spiritual Growth for Education and Interpretation We of the Western North Carolina Conference UMW and the Blue Ridge District are gearing up for our final conference/district events for Ubuntu Day and leadership training. Ubuntu Day enables us to serve at one of five National Institutions and other sites across our conference. Leadership training provides an excellent opportunity for next year's officers to learn about the duties of their office. The training is valuable, even for people who have served in their office for years because it gives all of us an opportunity to stay abreast of any new information and allows us to share ideas with our counterparts from other units. This year's district leadership event is on November 5 at Tryon UMC in Tryon, NC

7 Many units throughout the district are completing Mission Today criteria, which are so much more than a check list to earn recognition. Mission Today provides an organized opportunity to serve God by ministering to women, children, and youth; educate ourselves about UMW missionary efforts at home and around the world; and support these efforts with our prayers, money, and volunteer work. If units do not participate this year, now is an excellent time to begin preparing to participate next year. I am so excited to update you on UMCOR kits at Annual Celebration. Our district donated 37 health kits at a value of $444.00, 1 sewing kit at a value of $28.00, and 108 school kits at a value of $ We also donated $ in cash/checks. In addition, we received some empty school bags that we can fill next year! Over the Celebration week-end, the conference collected 96 birthing kits ($768.00), 456 health kits ($5,472.00), 45 layette kits ($1,260.00), 14 sewing kits ($392.00), 1 bedding kit ($50.00), 1,581 school kits ($17,391.00), and $ in cash/checks for a grand total of $28, For the first time I can remember the truck was so full that volunteers agreed to take surplus kits to the Mission Response Center in Terrrell, NC! With such a huge response, units are being encouraged to volunteer at the Terrell location to prepare the kits for shipping to other locations. We are, indeed, putting faith, hope, and love into action in service to women, children, and youth! Gwen Harris, Blue Ridge District Mission Coordinator for Education and Interpretation Social Action What a wonderful year 2016 has been for United Methodist Women! We are so blessed to be a part of such a fine organization. It has been such a privilege to serve as your Mission Coordinator for Social Action these past four years. Thank you for everything you do to advocate for women, youth, and children. Please keep the many issues affecting these groups in your prayers and mission focus. We are fortunate to be a part of a group that for nearly 150 years has sought God s guidance in seeking ways to help those that have needed special assistance. God bless each of you as your units seek to put faith, hope, and love into action. Lucy Earls, Blue Ridge District Mission Coordinator for Social Action Membership, Nurture, Outreach It is hard to believe that the end of September is here and the holidays are just around the corner! I don t know where the time has gone! I am finishing up my first year as your Mission Coordinator for Membership Nurture and Outreach and I would like to thank everyone for their help in this because this was very new to me. I am very appreciative for all the information you have shared with me and look forward to next year with excitement. I d like announce that we had a total of 65 attendees at our Annual Meeting held at Trinity United Methodist Church in Asheville on August 20 th. Those 65 attendees represented 22 Units, one Conference member and 3 outside our district. Thank you to the ladies of Trinity UMC for a wonderful job of hosting that event. Another Thank You to everyone for sending in all your Feel the LUV information in time for the drawing at the Annual Celebration held Sept 9 11 at Lake Junaluska. Congratulations to all the winners! Carol Gilham, Blue Ridge District Mission Coordinator for Membership, Nurture, and Outreach - 7 -

8 Program Resources Have you ever wondered how the United Methodist Women Reading Program got started? Can you guess when it started? Just as there were predecessor organizations to United Methodist Women, so were there predecessor publications to response magazine. The magazine of the Women s Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church was called The Heathen Woman s Friend. (Now that s a catchy title, isn t it?) In 1870 the editor of that publication challenged every circle of the women s society to start a missionary reading circle. By 1900 the program went ecumenical when the United Brethren adopted the Missionary Society s Reading Course, a program of 10 interdenominational mission study books selected by a committee for all to read. Within a few years, more than 100 missionary libraries had sprung up, providing books to 538 local reading groups. As UMW predecessor groups branched out, merged together, expanded or disbanded, the Reading Program remained intact and lively, providing mission studies as individual learning courses, or offering a variety of books to reflect the categories of Spiritual Life, Christian Social Relations and Missionary Education. When the Evangelical United Brethren and Methodist Churches united in 1968, both aspects the single mission study, and the varied reading selections became a part of the ongoing educational offerings and studies of United Methodist Women. Today Brenda Thompson, our Women s Division Reading Program Specialist, heads up the Reading Program Committee, which reviews around 100 books each year that have been submitted as potential Reading Program titles. Well we all know the rest of the story we as United Methodist Women participate in the Reading Program to empower ourselves with information about social issues concerning race, class, and gender, and most importantly, reading program books educate and motivate us to take action against injustice, inequality, and the disenfranchisement of women, children, and youth around the world. The UMW Reading Program is nearly 150 years old and still going strong. I am proud to be a participant, and I know you are too. (See page 19) Leith Tate, Blue Ridge District Secretary of Program Resources Historian I am happy to serve as your Historian. Please be sure to get me any pictures or articles that you would like me to put in our scrapbooks. Many thanks! Judy Hawkins, Blue Ridge District Historian Communications Coordinator I did not get to attend our conference annual meeting, but I did attend our District Annual Meeting and tooks lots of pictures. Please note pages Also, I love getting info from other units in our districts showing the wonderful things they are doing to help women, children, and youth in our area or around the world! Please do send me info you would like to share with the District. I prefer it in a digital format, but will take it anyway you can get it to me. My contact info is on page 2. Thank you so much! 2017 Deadlines for information for the District Newsletter are: January 15, 2017 (Newsletter ed or mailed first week of February) March 15, 2017 (Newsletter ed or mailed first week of April) June 15, 2017 (Newsletter ed or mailed first week of July) Sept. 15, 2017 (Newsletter mailed first week of October) Peggy Sanders, Blue Ridge District Communications Coordinator - 8 -

9 Committee on Nominations Thanks to nominations members who spent much time and prayer to fill positions. As of this writing, we are still working to fill the positions for the Nominations Committee. I am hoping this is old news by the time you read this. Our annual meeting welcomed our new members and thanked those who have served. Please take the time to thank everyone who serves. I have gained new energy and have had the opportunity to better know my UMW family. Keep that can do spirit and share it with others through your willingness to serve. Barbara Scott, Blue Ridge District Nomination Committee Chair Don t Forget to Vote! Did any of you know there is an election coming up? If not you've had your head in the sand somewhere! We all have been "smothered" with ads and debates and political posturing from both parties until most of us are tired of the entire thing. However, in preparing for a program I'm doing tonight I was going through the pictures and other information I had collected on our Civil Rights Tour from last October and was reminded that in the struggle for rights for all people a great deal of it was connected to voting rights. Men and women of all races died for this very right and knowing this humbles me and makes me mentally shake myself and tell me not to take so lightly that I can stop off on my way to wherever I might be going and cast my ballot without fear of injury or even death. Please exercise your right to vote this coming election. In doing this we not only are participating in what most of us take for granted but we honor those who fought so hard that we have this right. In the words of President Lyndon Johnson from the Voting Rights Act; "The vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by man for breaking down injustice and destroying the terrible walls that imprison men because they are different from other men..." Jo Pyatt, Blue Ridge District Member At Large - 9 -

10 Blue Ridge District United Methodist Women Nominating Committee Report for 2017 In accordance with the By-Laws and Constitution of United Methodist Women, the Committee on Nominations submitted the following nominees for Office on the Blue Ridge District Executive Committee for at the annual meeting. They were all approved and installed. (New nominations in Bold.) In accordance with the By-Laws and Constitution of United Methodist Women, the Committee on Nominations submits the following nominees for Office on the Blue Ridge District Executive Committee for (New nominations in Bold.) President Joanie Strohm (Weaverville) 111 Collins Road Marshall, NC (828) Vice President Beverly Hill (Black Mountain) 202 Border Street Black Mtn, 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 Gwen Harris (Windom) 215 Grand View Lane Burnsville, NC (828) hgwen1@frontier.com Social Action, MC Kathy Kennedy (Grace) PO Box 2556 Leicester, NC (828) cell (828) kenkat12003@yahoo.com Membership Nurture & Outreach Carole Gilham (Groce) 266 Merrimon Ave. Asheville, NC (828) cgilham88@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 Parliamentarian Betty J. Letzig (St. Paul s) 266 Merrimon Avenue Asheville, NC (828) letzig@msn.com Historian Judy Hawkins (Oak Grove) 1491 Oak Grove Church Rd Ellenboro, NC (828) judyhawkins56@yahoo.com Committee on Nominations 2017 Barbara Blevins, 108 Montford Ave. #7, Asheville, NC (Acton) (678) , barjsep20@gmail.com, (Class of 2018) Eva Farren, 37 Brahma Ridge, Candler, NC (Piney Mountain) (828) , efarren@arcnc.org or evafarren@charter.net (Class of 2017) Anna Hull, 600 Summit Road, Tryon, NC, (Tryon UMC) (828) , aph2@windstream.net (Class of 2020) Ann Janzen, 266 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, NC (St. Paul s) annan100@yahoo.com, (Class of 2019) Member at Large Jo Pyatt, PO Box 1621, Marion, NC (East Marion) pyattjo@gmail.com (828)

11 Blue Ridge District Annual Meeting August 20, 2016 Held at Trinity UMC Trinity provided delicious refreshments and beautiful flowers Lots of resource materials were available thanks to Leith Tate G o o d T u r n o u t

12 More pictures from the Blue Ridge District Annual Meeting Tonya Lanier, Conference UMW President, was our guest speaker. Her husband and nephew attended also. Delores Meadows led the music with Nolan Anthony playing the piano. Kay Cooke, Trinity UMW President along with Joanie Strohm, Blue Ridge District President Virginia Robinson, Conference Representative to the District, installed the Blue Ridge District Officers

13 Some of our United Methodist Women leaders that participated in the Blue Ridge District annual meeting Gwen Harris, Mission Coordinator for Education and Interpretation Blue Ridge District Beverly Hill Miller, Blue Ridge District Vice-President Betty Letzig with Joanie Strohm, Blue Ridge District President Betty talked about the Legacy Fund. PLEASE SUPPORT! Dr. Margaret Whitt, Alumni Pfeiffer University Left: Dixie Liggett and Maureen Carr. Dixie is serving on the Program Advisory group for the United Methodist Women. This group gives voice from the membership directly into the working programs and initiatives of the organization and provides new connection across the denomination. Maureen Carr is past president of the Blue Ridge District UMW and currently president of the Central United Methodist Women

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16 We all can do something As United Methodist Women, we make mission possible for women, children and youth. We live out our purpose: 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. Some ways YOU can make a difference:! Send birthday cards to members of your local unit and people listed in the Prayer Calendar! Send Gift to Mission cards (these could be supplied by your local unit) such as New Baby, Thinking of You, etc.! Pray for United Methodist Women everywhere, our staff, mission personnel, and mission focuses lifted up in the Prayer Calendar! Make phone calls to remind members of upcoming events (contact a district or conference officer for details)! Sign up for United Methodist Women Action Alerts and respond to them! Read response magazine! Participate in the Reading Program (large print books available)! Write a book report for your local unit about a book you read from the Reading Program

17 Implement the Charter for Racial Justice in Your Unit!

18 The purpose of promoting a Mission Today Unit is to: Energize United Methodist Women to be more involved in mission through prayer, study and action. Increase contacts between units and mission personnel and mission projects so the United Methodist Women understand where their money goes. Encourage the use of mission resources through United Methodist Women. Expand concepts of mission, including social justice as mission. What is a Unit? A unit is any organized group of United Methodist Women within a church or district. Some units are composed of several circles, which periodically get together for a unit meeting. How Do We Become a Mission Today Unit? In order to be recognized as a Mission Today Unit, UMW groups must complete a minimum of twelve of the following criteria, including six of those marked with an asterisk (*). #1 of the Criteria is not optional. You must complete this one to become a Mission Today Unit! Activities conducted between January 1-December 31, 2015, will be recognized at annual meetings in This is an ongoing program, so strive to become a Mission Today Unit! Criteria for a Mission Today Unit: *1. The Unit will make and meet its Pledge to Mission. (Must be completed) *2. Use the Prayer Calendar at each general meeting of the unit to pray for persons in mission and our mission work with women, children and youth. *3. The unit will use at least two programs from the Program Book during the year. *4. The unit or circle will conduct or participate in at least one mission study each year. Contact your district or conference Mission Coordinator for Education & Interpretation to learn what the studies are for each year. (If members of your unit, other than a conference or district officer, attend MISSION U or your District Mission Study and your unit takes an action growing out of the study...gift to Mission, ministry related to the study, etc., your unit will meet this criteria.) *5. The unit will have at least two members subscribing to response. (1 member subscribing with units less than 15 members.) *6. The unit will implement the Charter for Racial Justice in at least two ways during the year. *7. Become a member of the Western North Carolina UMW Justice Today. *8. The unit will add at least two new members (one member for units with less than 15 members) to its roll. *9. The unit will have one program from the Social Principles of the United Methodist Church At least one member of the unit (other than a conference or a district officer) will attend MISSION U (formerly School of Christian Mission) and report back to the unit on classes and events they experienced. 11. At least two members (one member for units with less than 15 members), other than a conference or district officer, will attend the district or conference annual meeting and report back to the unit on classes and events they experienced. 12. The unit will have at least one person joining the United Methodist Women's Action Network to receive and respond to legislative information at least three (3) times a year. (To join, contact Women's Division Washington Office, 100 Maryland Ave. NE, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20002). (Attach to Mission Today report what you responded to and what action was taken.) 13. Members will correspond with five persons listed in the Prayer Calendar at least once a year. 14. The unit will co-sponsor, with the local church, a Children's Sabbath. (This is a worship service highlighting the needs of children. )The United Methodist Women National Office and the Council of Bishops support this effort. Contact Children's Defense Fund for materials at 25 E. St. NW, Washington, DC Telephone The unit will contribute to all five channels of Mission Giving. (See page 10) 16. Each unit or circle meeting will include a "Response Moment" where an item from response magazine will be lifted up as a way to tell the mission story. 17. The unit will sponsor one teen member (ages 12 to 17) and/or one young woman member (ages 18 to 39) to at least one Conference event during the year. 18. At least two members (one member for units with less than 15 members), other than a conference or district officer, will attend a district Prayer Breakfast, district Day Apart or conference Spiritual Growth Retreat. 19. At least two members (one member for units with less than 15 members) other than a district or conference officer will complete Plan 1 of the Reading Program and give a report to the unit on one of the books read. 20. The unit will invite a district or conference officer, other than a member of the unit, to one of the unit meetings during the year and/or for their United Methodist Women's Sunday. 21. The unit will add one new teen (ages 12 to 17) and/or one young women (ages 18-39) circle during the year, or one new teen member (ages 12-17) or one new young woman member (ages 18-39) during the year. 22. The unit will be responsible for supporting at least one local mission project and participate in one Conference Hands On Mission Project during the year. The local project should be listed on your Mission Today report

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20 %CENTRAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 27 CHURCH STREET ASHEVILLE, NC Blue Ridge District UMW Events for 2016: Oct. 15 Ubuntu Day of Service, Brooks-Howell Home, Asheville and other various locations (see page 17) Nov. 5 Blue Ridge District Leadership Training, Tryon UMC, Coming Together in Service March 18 April 1 Blue Ridge District UMW Events for 2017: Blue Ridge District Prayer Breakfast, Weaverville UMC Western North Carolina Conference UMW Events for 2017: Legislative Day and Event, Location: TBD 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!