YELLOWSTONE CONFERENCE UNITED METHODIST WOMEN

Transcription

1 YELLOWSTONE CONFERENCE UNITED METHODIST WOMEN STACEY KING, PRESIDENT FALL 2017 What do I say. As I write this, the land is preparing itself for a time of rejuvenation. The leaves have fallen, the fruits harvested, the days grow colder and the nights grow longer. God s creation prepares for a time of rest. As the land prepares to rest, most of our local units of United Methodist Women are shifting into high gear as they prepare for circles, studies, bazaars, craft fairs, fund raising meals as well as Thanksgiving and Christmas programs to help others. A flurry of activity is happening! Each fall we start out with our District and Conference gatherings to celebrate the work we have accomplished together and plan for the year ahead. We set a budget and elect leadership; reflecting what the local units have done. We partner together as we put faith, hope, and love into action on behalf of women, children and youth around the globe. I love this cycle of our work and our celebrations, just as much as I love the cycle of the seasons. There is something empowering in knowing that the cycle renews itself each fall as women in local units across our conference and across our organization get to work. As your president, I have been working with the Rocky Mountain Conference UMW to begin the conversation about how we will work together and organize if and when our two conferences become one new conference. In October, I traveled with Karen Smith, our incoming Vice President, to Murray, Utah. We attended the Rocky Mountain UMW Annual Gathering as their guests. The women there welcomed us with open arms and gracious hearts - they made us feel like part of their team and included us as they worked to empower women, to care about children and youth, to put faith, hope and love into action! I believe that United Methodist Women can lead the way for our conferences to work together because we already are! We have the same heart for God s people and creation. So while we all have fears and concerns about how we will organize, our representation and the distances in such a huge area, I believe that as long as we come together in love as sisters in Christ to accomplish our Purpose, we ll be okay. Seasons change, the landscape changes, we change. Through it all, the same God remains present and active in each of our lives and our world. Enjoy the ride! Feeling grateful for all of you, Stacey King Yellowstone Conference UMW President Keeper of the gavel and tiara Check out for: Fall District Mailing and forms Unit and Individual Membership census Winter Mission u Scholarship Winter Mission u Registration Form Assembly 2018 Scholarship Form Assembly 2018 Registration Form Legacy Fund Donation information UMW Handbook

2 CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE Conference President s Message 1 Mission u invite 2 Treasurer s Report 3 District President s Messages 4 Disaster Relief / Directory 5 Membership / Spiritual 6 Annual Meeting Report 7 Assembly Mission u Reg. Form 8 Unit Report 9 Intermountain Thank You 9 Action Alert Buy the current issue now $2.50 for digital $2.75 for print. United Methodist Women Finance United Methodist Women is trusted with pledges and donations from individual members and local member organizations, as well as mission partners and anonymous donors who have a heart for mission. The national office is committed to good stewardship of our members' generous support. If you would like to know where your money went in 2016, visit the UMW website to see the 2016 Annual Report. It has highlights from the year, financial reports, budgets, resources and many interesting stories. 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. The Flame is published twice a year in April and November for United Methodist Women and Pastors. It will be posted on the Conference Website: Click on Ministries & UMW or News & Newsletter Archives. The Flame is sent by to all UMW units that have at least one officer with an address. Please copy and share with members of your unit. Contact me at grmaclyde@gmail.com or phone: for address changes and additions. Claudia Davis, Newsletter Editor Mission u: Learning Together for Transformation of the World February 2 & 3, 2018 Laurel UMC 307 W. 4th St. Laurel, Montana Studies are: 1. Living as a Covenant Community 2. Missionary Conferences of the UMC in USA More Information on the Mission Studies and books required for the classes can be found on the national UMW website. Books should be read in advance of Mission u. Scholarship and registration forms are available 2

3 Treasurer s Report Final Quarter Remittance and Legacy Fund Treasurers: Local Units - please have your 4th quarter remittance to your district treasurer by December 11th. That will give your Treasurer 2 weeks before Christmas/New Year holidays to finalize her reports. District Treasurers - Please have your final reports submitted on-line and the check in the mail to me by January 8th. Then I can get my final 2017 reports done on-line and remittance in the mail to National by the 15th. As of the deadline for this article - 3rd quarter remits have not been received so don't really have a feel for how our final givings will match our pledge... will report in the next Flame. Legacy: Remember our goal is for each member to contribute $18.69 per year for 5 years and each local unit to contribute $100/yr/5yrs toward the Legacy fund. This Fund will allow all future donations to go 100% to Missions by having this endowment pay for the costs of running UMW (regional missionaries, technology, utilities, insurance, staff, etc). We know not everyone is able to give this amount every year but we also know many are able to give more - so if you can - cover some of your senior or inactive members or others unable to donate. Remember to pass your "150 jars at every meeting to raise your Unit giving. GO UMW - LET's WORK for MISSIONS. Roxanne Roehl Conference Treasurer and Legacy Liason Budget Budget 2018 Income Big Horn District 37,000 Western Mtn District 31,000 Conference (Love Off'g) 1,000 Other Giving Channels - BH 5,000 Other Giving Channels - WMtn 4,000 78,000 Note: Legacy Giving to date 15,921 Expense Officer Resc.&Literat. 50 Flame 50 Directory & Books 500 Audit&Filings 200 Jurisdictn Lder Tm 1.5%xpledge 850 Mission Team Planning Mtgs 2,000 Annual Mtg 2,500 Leadership Dev 3,625 Mission u Training 3,500 Mission u 2,000 Racial Justice 25 Nominating 75 Standing Rules 50 Membership 50 Finance Committee 125 Program 0 Historian 150 BigHorn Admin&MbrDev 2,500 WMtn Admin&MbrDev 2,500 D-Lte - Dist Ldrshp Tr Event 500 Unanticipated (BUMP) 50 Legacy Committee 150 Assembly Scholarships 1,200 Juridsiction Scholarships 850 OTHER (to Trfr From Sav) 300 Other (Women's Event) Subtotal 23,800 Pledge to Mission 44,200 Giving Channels 10,000 78,000 Pldg to Mission 44,200 Other Channels 10,000 Total Pledge to Nat'l: 54,200 3

4 Western Mountains District President s Message During 2017 the Western Mountains District UMW focused on Ministries Beyond the Local Church. Our Spring meeting was held April 22 at the beautiful Flathead Lake UM Camp. Then on September 9, thirty-nine women representing 10 church local units gathered at the Intermountain Conference Center in Helena. The room was filled with energy and song. We took care of business that included a $10,000 increase in mission giving on the proposed budget. It was explained that the local units had been exceeding the budgeted giving during recent years, and it was appropriate to have that reflected in the 2018 budget. The slate of officers for 2018 was presented and elected. They are President Laurie Ball; Vice President Belinda Alkula; Secretary Vicky Miller; Mission, Education and Action- Marcia Prather; Membership, Nurture and Outreach-Peg Plimpton; Secretary of Program Resources-Janet Ulrich; Nominations Committee Chair Tammy Wieweck and Nominations Committee members Claudia Davis and Abbie Thompson. Our host for the day was Ralph Yeager, Sr. Development Officer for Intermountain. He presented a history of Intermountain and how its mission has changed over the years to the present day model. The conference center where we met is also a facility where children and families can receive outpatient services. After lunch we carpooled across town to the Intermountain campus for a tour. We want to thank Ralph for an inspirational day and for increasing our understanding of the Intermountain mission. Closing worship, communion and the love offering were led by Pastor Patti Agnew of the Helena United Methodist Ministries (HUMM) Clergy Team; assisted by District Superintendent Jan Wittman. As we move toward the end of 2017, please watch for an in early November with deadlines and reporting instructions. They will also be posted on the YACUMC/UMW website. Membership reporting has changed this year and Kay Duffield has instructions in this newsletter. We ll be ready to assist you. Many Blessings, Laurie Ball Western Mountains UMW President Laurie Ball Big Horn District President s Message As we near the end of 2017, it has been a very busy year. In February there was Mission U at Laurel United Methodist Church. Originally Mission U was scheduled at Shiloh but due to weather had to be rescheduled. Thanks to Diane Martin everything went well. She even prepared the meals. In March I went to the Women's Event at Fairmont. Fantastic event with Dave Merkel. April was Bighorn District Spring District Meeting in Roundup. It was a Mission study and a nice program. The Roundup ladies did an excellent job because there were a lot of other activities taking place that Saturday and workers were limited. Eight ladies travelled to Salt Lake City in May to work at UMCOR. It was a fantastic experience. We put together Medical kits or sewed baby items, We had extra time to visit local sights. Also, one evening we went to listen to The Morman Tabernacle band practice and the next night we went to listen to the choir practice. In July several ladies went to Luccock Park for a retreat weekend. Always fun to visit the mountains. September was our Fall District Meeting in Fort Benton. Many of us had never been there before and it was great with a little bit of tourist activities also. The program was Pastor Calvin and Sheri Hill from Browning. It was very interesting and they are making a huge effort to make the reservation self sufficient. Ellen Hill, President Big Horn District 4

5 October 19 Update: Support National Mission Institution Recovery By Yvette Moore The powerful late-summer hurricanes that left a trail of destruction through parts of the Caribbean, Florida and Texas affected United Methodist Women-related National Mission Institutions; several sustained damage and those able served as emergency service centers for local residents. All the staff of the seven National Mission Institutions are accounted for and safe. Emergency grants are being provided to centers to support the immediate emergency needs of residents in their service area. To date, a total of $27,500 has already been sent to Cornerstone Family Ministries, Wesley Community Center, Houston and Wesley Community Centers, Robstown/Corpus Christi. United Methodist Women's board of directors have voted to create a designated fund for hurricane relief and recovery. Donations to this fund will support grants that assist in direct service to the communities, as well as property grants to repair the buildings as needed. Online donors can choose the "Hurricane Relief Fund" option at Donors giving by check should note # in the memo line. Members can give through their conferences or mail checks directly to: United Methodist Women 15th Floor: Office of the Treasurer 475 Riverside Drive New York, NY Background: In August, United Methodist Women sent $19,000 in emergency grants to Wesley Community in Houston and Wesley Community Centers of Nueces County, Texas, to provide food and financial assistance to local residents in crisis in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. Hurricane Irma, a category 5 storm, tore through the Florida Keys, Miami and up the state s west side, damaging Wesley Community Center in Key West and Cornerstone Family Ministries in Tampa. Irma weakened as it moved north, but it maintained enough power to cause the flooding of offices and cable wire damage at Rural Mission on John s Island, South Carolina, and roof and gutter damage at New Bethlehem Center in Augusta, Georgia. Rural Mission will receive a $9,500 emergency relief grant from United Methodist Women. The Bethlehem Center has not requested a grant, as it is filing an insurance claim. The Rosa Valdez Early Learning Center and Lab School was without power for over a week creating a hardship for families needing care for their children, many also without power, reported Cathy Capo Stone, executive director of Cornerstone. Thanks to United Methodist Women we were able to meet with each family very quickly to distribute gift cards to provide replacement food and gas. Each family received $100 $140 for food and $40 for gas. Posted or updated: 10/20/ :00:00 AM The affected National Mission Institutions are: Cornerstone Family Ministries, Tampa, Florida Wesley House Family Services, Key West, Florida New Bethlehem Community Center, Augusta, Georgia Rural Mission, Johns Island, South Carolina Wesley Community Center, Houston, Texas Wesley Community Centers of Nueces County, Robstown and Corpus Christi, TexasRobinson School, San Attention UMW Unit Officers! Yellowstone Conference UMW Directory Each unit will be receiving forms from their district president asking for the name of your officers, their address, phone and . This information is used in the Conference UMW Directory. Grace Matthaes will be putting the directory together and hopes to have it completed and printed by the end of January. The sooner you can get her your officer or contact person information, the sooner she can finish the directory. Her address is: Graceawm@aol.com Thanks for your help with the directory! 5

6 Spiritual Revolution? Spiritual Growth is at the heart of UMW. It is an act of engagement. It is not static or stagnant; it moves, is pushed against, molded and shaped in our hands and our hearts. The revolution in the world begins with a revolution within us. Alisha Gordon, UMW Executive for Spiritual Growth. Are you and your unit engaged in this revolution? At our Mission Team Executive meeting in March, we engaged in this revolution by changing the title of my coordinator position to more clearly define the work. In combining Membership Nurture and Outreach and Spiritual Growth, we have named the new position Spiritual Nurture and Outreach. As your conference spiritual nurturer it is my responsibility to encourage individual members and the local units to be more intentional in their growth; to answer the call to revolution. To accomplish this I encourage you to subscribe to Response magazine and to have a Response report at each meeting; to also use the Program Book at your meetings, and to use the national UMW website for new ideas and resources. I also encourage the use of the Prayer Calendar at each meeting, If you are doing all these things, hooray! If not, step up to answering the call to be less static or stagnant. Each unit should send at least one person to Mission u, or at least use the Spiritual Growth Study in the local unit. The study book this year is Living as a Covenant Community by Evy McDonald. It is a very educational study of the many covenants found in the Bible. And finally, as your outreach coordinator, if your unit is experiencing struggles or stagnation, please contact me. Let s see what we can do together to create a revolution! I would even attend one of your meetings if at all possible. These used to be called Love Visits. I would love to see you! The greatest challenge of the day is: how to bring about a revolution which has to start with each one of us? Dorothy Day Tish Herries or tishsaffron@gmail.com MEMBERSHIP CENSUS FROM LOCAL UNITS News Flash! All presidents of local units will be asked to submit their 2017 membership numbers online this year. Sometime between December 31 st and March 1 st your unit will need to access the online link and complete the questions on the health of your unit. The Census Link is: To assist local leaders with completing the census, there is an instructional video and attached printable instructions on how to complete the 2017 census. Go to the link and enter your church name. The questions should pop up and you can see what you will need to fill in. The system doesn t allow you to save information so when you are ready, fill in all the blanks, print a copy and then hit submit. If you as president don t feel comfortable entering your information online, ask someone in your unit to assist you. If you don t have anyone in your unit that can help, you can ask your district officers to assist you. If your unit does not enter the information by March 1 st, the district Membership Coordinator will be in touch to see how they can help to get the information sent in before March 31 st. Thanks for your willingness to try this new method of reporting on your unit! Kay Duffield, Conference Secretary, , opus@montana.com WHEN WOMEN AND YOUTH THRIVE, WE ALL THRIVE! 6

7 Online Resources UNITED METHODIST WOMEN WEBSITE This is our primary website. Here you will find the latest news and information about United Methodist Women members, programs and initiatives. You ll also find promotional and educational items for download, as well as links to our other sites and our Mission Resources e-store. UMWONLINE This is the social networking site for United Methodist Women. UMWOnline is more like Facebook and is the place to connect one-on-one with other United Methodist Women members. Visit, set up your account, friend your sisters and begin networking for mission. FACEBOOK If you re on Facebook, be sure to like United Methodist Women so that our regular posts will appear on your home page. TWITTER Do you tweet? So does United Methodist Women! Use the link to find our Twitter Follow us, tweet with us and become part of the continuing conversation around faith, hope and love in action. YOUTUBE Need a video for a presentation? You ll find it on YouTube. Check out the video resources available by following the link. New videos are posted often. FLICKR Need a photo for your newsletter or PowerPoint? Follow this link and you ll find terrific images illustrating United Methodist Women s work. PINTEREST Pinterest is a pinboard-style photo-sharing website. You can find links to articles and images related to justice priorities, spiritual growth, infographics and more. INSTAGRAM instagram.com/umwomen in-app: UMWomen Instagram is a mobile social networking service for sharing photos and videos. Follow UMWomen to see photos of events, inspirational quotes, behind-thescenes pics of the office and more! Assembly 2018 United Methodist Women will be meeting for Assembly May 18-20, 2018 in Columbus Ohio. United Methodist Women Assembly 2018 is a time for fellowship, equipping for service and collectively experiencing God s call to mission with women, children and youth. Through moving worship, inspiring speakers, engaging exhibits, riveting workshops and town hall-style meetings, participants will leave Assembly with knowledge, courage and determination to change the world as part of a daring and compassionate 150-year-old movement of women committed to turning faith, hope and love into action. To find out more about Assembly please look at the Registration Form and other information at Assembly Scholarships Yellowstone Conference UMW has four scholarships available for the meeting. Two scholarships are for those who are first time attendees one will be given in each of the two districts of Yellowstone Conference and two scholarships are for those 40 and under. Scholarships are each $750 and will pay your registration fee of $330 ($295 early registration), shared room expense and some travel expenses. The scholarship application form is posted on the webpage. If you have any questions on registration, rooms or travel, please contact Roxanne Roehl: roxroeste@gmail.com (h), (c) 7

8 Mission u February 2-3, 2018 Laurel UMC 307 W 4th Street Laurel MT Phone: Living as Covenant Community And Missionary Conferences of the USA Directions to Laurel UMC From 1 90 E Take EXIT 433 on the right Turn RIGHT onto Old US Highway 10 (I 90 Business) Continue onto West Main Street (I 90 Business) Turn LEFT onto 5th Avenue Turn RIGHT onto West 1st Street Turn LEFT onto 3rd Avenue You have arrived at your destination, on the left Mail Registration to: Roxanne Roehl 8205 Double Tree Lane, Missoula, MT Dean : Diane W. Martin 845 Road 4, Powell, WY biblio2teca@gmail.com Study leader Peg Plimpton is a former YAC Lay Leader, and is a graduate of U of Montana with Master and PhD in Psychology. Peg is a Lay Speaker who has completed the Academy for Spiritual Formation. She has served on numerous committees within her local congregation, Missoula 1st and been an alternate and delegate to General Conference and Western Jurisdiction. Living as a Covenant Community This study examines major covenants throughout the Bible and what they reveal about God s character and eternal love for us. It will enhance your understanding of how God works with us, in us, and through us. Anita Turner, Jurisdiction Chair of Nominations & former Yellowstone UMW secretary, has current and previous connections with all three of the Missionary conferences. She has been a medical technologist, quilt shop employee and is grandmother to three delightful children. Married to Rev. Terry Turner, retired, Anita runs a pseudo B-n-B in Helena. Missionary Conferences of The UMC in the United States This study is an overview of the three missionary conferences, Alaska United Methodist Conference, Red Bird Missionary Conference, and Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference in The United Methodist Church, the contexts out of which they grew and their current engagements as hybrids of home and international missionary work. What does the future look like for these conferences? The General Board of Global Ministries and the missionary conferences are exploring best operational and structural options for maximizing mission and ministry going forward in these unique locations. Different dialogues in each case, have begun and will continue through the quadrennial. The objective is mutuality in mission partnership and collaboration, providing the heartbeat of all productive mission within the United Methodist connection. NAME ADDRESS PHONE ( ) Food allergies: Gluten issues Diabetic If postmarked by January 26, 2018: Friday only includes 1 lunch for $28 Postmark after the 26th - $30 Sat. only includes 1 lunch for $28 Postmark after the 26th - $30 Both studies Fri & Sat for $50 Postmark after the 26th - $60 Lay Speaking credit only with both day option. Please order and read Study Book(s), bring your Bible, a sense of adventure and fun. Collection will be received. 8

9 Thank You from Intermountain Dear Yellowstone Conference United Methodist Women What can I say?! Your support, love, and prayers continue to be an amazing testimony to the work God has done (and still does) since Intermountain s founding by the Deaconesses over 100 years ago! We are blessed to have your partnership in healing hurting children with hope and love. Chaplain Chris Hughes Read more here about how Hunger and Malnutrition Threaten Women and Girls Around the World and what you can do to help! Roberts UMW Unit Happenings Spring for the UMW in Roberts began with our Senior Luncheon in May. Every year it has been our tradition to invite the graduating seniors from Roberts High School and their parents for a dinner or luncheon during their final week as senior students. This year we held it on May 23 rd and invited the group for lunch, including handing out Bibles & Bible Promise Books to the graduating seniors. We are participating in our social action agenda of Maternal-Child Health by sewing kits as prescribed in the Days for Girls website. These are kits for addressing hygiene for girls around the world. One of our longest standing members, Mary Alice DeVries, has spear-headed this project with her output of kits and is continuing. She has offered direction on sewing the kits to all of our members. She also has crocheted doilies and afghans for silent auction items for the Legacy Fund as well as many hats and scarves for our Harvest Dinner bazaar table. We continued serving at our funeral lunches this summer, sadly, one of which was for a UMW member in longstanding, Dona Ladvala. She has been a member of our group throughout her retirement years and had dedicated time and endless service to our group and will be surely missed. As fall approached, we began planning for our annual Harvest Dinner, our largest fund raiser for our group. This event involves all of our small community with volunteers from throughout the community. We also hold an auction and a bazaar table with items donated by church members and the community. We served 265 people our infamous turkey dinner and all the trimmings the first day of October and are already planning next year s event. Our unit contributed jams, jellies, canned foods, crocheted, knitted, and artistic items to the auction and bazaar table. It is a wonderful fund raiser with much socializing, fellowship and sharing with the community of ROBERTS Cherie Mondragon 9

10 Yellowstone Annual Conference UMW Annual Celebration October 6-7, 2018 at Bozeman United Methodist Church The Bridge of Love 58 women and men registered. They represented 24 churches Friday night Teresa Henry led us in an ice breaker, community building and a spiritual development exercise that focused on supportive, caring fellowship. We closed with worship and communion led by Rev. Waveland King and each person was sent home with a candle to take their light into the world. The business meeting was opened with devotions by Tish Herries. She read from the prayer calendar and spoke about the Bridge of Love. She encouraged us to connect people and ideas with a bridge of love. The Memorial Service by Laurie Ball and Ellen Hill honored 39 women from Big Horn and 29 women from Western Mountains District and 8 pastors who passed away during the past 12 months. Elections: Karen Smith presented the slate of officers on behalf of the Nomination Committee. PRESIDENT: STACEY KING VICE PRESIDENT: KAREN SMITH SECRETARY: KAY DUFFIELD COORDINATOR FOR MISSION, EDUC. & ACTION: TERESA HENRY CHAIR OF NOMINATION COMMITTEE: CHERIE MONDRAGON NEW MEMBERS OF NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE: MARY BICK AND BARBARA NIELSON Continuing in office: Treasurer: Roxanne Roehl Coordinator of Spiritual Nurture and Outreach: Tish Herries Nominations Committee: Molly King and Elouise Rossler Robin Ridenour & Bishop Karen with Tish Herries (center). Deaconess Robin Ridenour spoke on her journey as a deaconess. Our first deaconess arrived in Great Falls in Deaconesses and Brother Van built the Montana Orphan School in Helena, which became Intermountain. They also started the Powell, WY UMC. Lay people can join the movement as a deaconess (woman) or home missioner (man). They take five theology classes that are paid for by UMW. They are under the Women s Division of the UMC. We discussed ways our churches are involved in education, justice and advocacy. As we are disciples of Jesus Christ we are called to build bridges, to study and love justice. Bishop Karen Oliveto The Bridge is Love She began by saying God is calling you to engage in known and unexpected mission. You are made for a time like this. We shared stories of Robin Ridenour Shirley Warehime & Gloria Zimmer enjoying the meeting Karen Smith, Songleader Kay Duffield, Secretary & Stacey King, President Bishop Karen inspiring the group Bishop Karen installing 2018 UMW Conference officers bold actions by UMWomen and how their actions have touched us. Discussion followed on the bridges we are building and the work we are doing. The Crow Reservation had its water system contaminated and after research we decided to give money to give it to the repair of water treatment plant. A way to build bridges between Bozeman and the Crow Tribe. The bishop invited us to contact her anytime at bishop@mountainskyumc.org she wants to build bridges with all of us and our churches. Closing worship with communion by Bozeman UMC Pastor Deborah Christine. The day was closed with Stacey wishing us farewell and sending us forth with prayers for safe travel. 10