GRACE JOHNSON, PRESIDENT

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1 United Methodist Women Faith, Hope, Love In Action August, 2014 Connecting Bridges Bridges District California Nevada Conference United Methodist Women BRIDGES DISTRICT 2014 MISSION TEAM All team members can be reached by going to webpage address above and clicking on team member s name. President Grace Johnson Vice-President Orene Dunzweiler Secretary Martha Parker Treasurer Jan Mathis Secretary, Program Resources Spiritual Growth Phyllis Varney Social Action Lynette Jung Lee Education & Interpretation Martha Gould Membership, Nurture & Outreach Carol Kremer Communications Gloria Imagire Nominations Roberta Smith, Chair Yasuko de la Torre Arinel Greene Andrea Hayes Betty Jo Rose Rosa Washington-Olson Linda P. Wright About Districts Bridges District SAVE THE DATE: Bridges District Annual Celebration, Saturday, , Davis UMC 100 Year Celebration of Mary Elizabeth Inn, Oct. 1,2,3,4 - See inside Conference UMW Annual Celebration, Saturday, , Almaden Hills UMC, San Jose GRACE JOHNSON, PRESIDENT My Dear UMW Sister's, I hope your spring and summer have been great. We have been busy planning our annual Celebration set for September 17 at Davis UMC, and we are looking forward to seeing all of you there. The registration form is in this newsletter so please fill it out and get it in as soon as you can. This will be the last few months of my term as Bridges District President. It has been a joy for me to serve this district for four years and get to know many of you. Serving God is my passion and I will continue to do that as a ClayM minister. I have been so blessed to be on a team that is just the best in every way. We have worked well together and have had fun along the way. The way we find these talented women is through our Talent Bank survey. Each one of you have so much to offer. Oh, I know you think you don't have the right stuff, but let me tell you, you do. We need women of all colors, sizes, shapes, education, languages, and ages. I know we constantly hear that we need younger women, and we do, but experience should never be overlooked. You will be one among many women that lend their talents joyfully because they love God.

2 Please remember to get in your Five Star, Mission Today and Reading Program information in quickly, as well as a list of the saints that have passed on this year, so everyone can be honored at the district and conference Celebration on October 18th in San Jose. I can never thank everyone enough for all of the kindness and help that has been offered to me during my tenure. I have met so many wonderful people who have enriched my life and made me grateful to serve in this body. I can never say enough about the UMW and the work it does all over our country and our world. What an honor to be called a UNITED METHODIST WOMAN. Thank You all for allowing me to serve. Peace and love, Grace ORENE DUNZWEILER, VICE PRESIDENT As the summer is coming to an end and all of our organizations are gearing up for a new activity year, I can t help thinking about Reverend Dorothy Williams message to us last spring. She spoke about hearing God s call. Are we listening for the phone to ring or a knock on the door? It won t be that obvious, I fear. God calls us to do different tasks in many ways. Sometimes, we resist that gnawing little poke that says, You can do this job - just say Yes! That s the way I felt when I was first asked to serve on a District Team. My first thought was to say, No, I m too busy! But that little poke came and I agreed to serve as E&I for Delta District. As I look back at that term and at my time on the Bridges Team, I am thankful that I listened to that subtle call. I have met and worked with many incredible women and learned much that I didn t know about United Methodist Women. As your Vice President this year, I have helped to organize the District meetings and events and been able to attend Conference activities, including Assembly, representing our District. It has been an honor. Now, as we approach the beginning of a new year, there is a need to fill our slate of officers for Our President, Grace, is terming out and I have been asked to take that position. Again, my first reaction was, NO! But God pokes me at some 2

3 strange times and in odd surroundings. So, I will say, Yes, I can be Bridges President. I do, however, need a team to lead and we have a few openings. Please read Roberta s article on what positions need to be filled. Let God s call come through to you and answer it! If you know you can do one of the available jobs, think about it, pray a little, talk to one of us about the commitment and the job description and let the Nominating Committee know that you are willing to serve. We need you! Orene MARTHA PARKER, SECRETARY My main emphasis for this newsletter is to encourage members of Bridges District to attend the Gala Celebration at the Mark Hopkins Hotel on Friday, October 3, It would be a wonderful opportunity to share our UMW heritage with our daughters and granddaughters by inviting them to this event. United Methodist Women is the foundation of Mary Elizabeth Inn and has been for 100 years. It would mean so much to the Inn, the staff and board, if your UMW Units were to come visit the Inn and attend the worship service. It would be wonderful to have a few tables of United Methodist Women at the gala Bridges District has committed to sponsoring 6 attendees and we need 4 more to contribute $125 each to make it a table for 10! We would also like pages of the program book filled with congratulatory messages from United Methodist Women who have supported this mission over the years. This is how every UMW Unit can participate: 1. Visit Mary Elizabeth Inn every day is open house for United Methodist Women, just call first. 2. Help increase Mary Elizabeth Inn s visibility and name recognition by sponsoring a banner for $150 which you will receive in early Hold a fundraiser and send two or more women from your unit (or from a group of neighboring units) to the gala (tickets $150 each) and worship service; Purchase a tribute ad in the program book for the gala (from $150) for an 1/8 page to $400 for ½ page) 4. Be a Faith Sponsor ($250) and send a woman to the gala and have a tribute ad too. 5. Host a tea for friends and neighbors and Mary Elizabeth Inn will provide the program, a speaker, a reader s theater about the women served over the decades, or a dramatization of Lizzie Glide. 3

4 Please send names of those interested in attending to Andrea Hayes as soon as possible, no later than September 1, 2014 and if you are able to contribute $125 to complete the table of 10, that would be appreciated. More information can be obtained by contacting the conference UMW Chair Mary Elizabeth Inn 100 th Committee, Connie Hunter at (408) or Martha In 1914 the Mary Elizabeth Inn was founded by Mrs. Lizzie Snyder Glide. As a woman of vision, Lizzie also built Glide Memorial United Methodist Church. Lizzie's legacy has provided a safe haven for women and her commitment to the community is still evident today. With an awareness of the great need for affordable safe housing for single women who were coming to San Francisco seeking employment, schooling, or leaving behind family turmoil, Lizzie Glide worked to make such a home a reality. In 1914 Mrs. Glide built and furnished the building at 1040 Bush Street and named the building after her two daughters. Mrs. Glide then donated the Inn to the United Methodist Church. The Women's Division of the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church still holds the deed to the Inn today. The Mary Elizabeth Inn is part of the Caring Connection of institutional ministries of the United Methodist Church. (From 4

5 JAN MATHIS, TREASURER Hello! My name is Jan Mathis - I'm the newly appointed UMW Bridges District Treasurer. I am a retired Network Engineer and am looking forward to assisting with UMW. I have really admired the UMW effort they do so much. Please send all future financial vouchers, remittances and requests to: Jan Mathis 7373 Pritchard Road Sacramento, California Cell: Home: Please make all checks payable to: Bridges District UMW Please do not make the checks payable to Grace Johnson or me. Jan PHYLLIS VARNEY SPIRITUAL GROWTH Planning ahead with the Great Commission In Mark 16:13, we are instructed to Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. We read this and think, Who me? How will I ever do that? Through UMW, we have the opportunity to do exactly that. Our work heals the sick, educates the poor, witnesses to the word, shares and serves in every corner of the world. That is exactly why we support United Methodist Women and United Methodist Committee on Relief. Even our smallest efforts count! In our work and planning for the fall and on into 2015, let us keep these things in mind. It is hard to get caught up in our heavenly mission when our hardened hearts and muddled minds are focused on earthly things. That s not what God intended. From the very beginning of time, the beauty of creation has given us a glimpse of heaven...god has employed the tangible to help us grasp the intangible, the common to help us get in touch with the holy. In our work, we must set our sights on the gifts and Giver! Phyllis 5

6 MARTHA GOULD, MISSION COORDINATOR, Education & Interpretation Greetings to all, By the time you read this newsletter, the Mission u events for the summer will be over. If you were able to attend, I hope you learned something new and interesting, and enjoyed the experience. I always welcome letters from anyone who wants to write about their experiences, including related activities at your home church. If you missed Mission u this year, look forward to the events in the coming year. You can visit the website for the CA-NV UMW Conference to see ongoing events. I am attaching the form for anyone needing information about becoming a Mission Today group. It is a new and updated form made by the E&I coordinators from the 4 districts in the Cal-Nevada Conference. It gives guidelines for any UMW group for activities during the year. Each group can pick and choose activities that fit the interest of their members, and groups are recognized at the annual district meeting in the fall. In addition, a UMVIM-UMW trip to UMCOR Depot West in Salt Lake City, Utah took place May (with a weekend component for May 23-26). This was a real opportunity to see and help UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief). This organization is a constant presence in areas needing help in disasters. Judy Church, our CA-NV UMW Conference Education and Interpretation leader, organized the trip and you can read about the trip on the Conference website listed above. Please contact me if you need any information and thanks for a great year, Martha marthalee@aol.com Galatians 6: 9-10 So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith 6 NRSV

7 ROBERTA SMITH, NOMINATIONS REPORT Summer Greetings to All, I hope you ve been enjoying this summer, even with the lack of water. I think we re all trying to conserve water. I know we are only watering twice a week now and for a shorter time. The nominating committee has been hard at work trying to fill our empty positions. I think we really need a Program Resources Secretary, more ladies to serve on the nominations committee and someone to do communications. We would love to have more ladies volunteer to help out with our Mission Team. If you want to serve or if you know someone who would like to serve, please contact me or anyone else on the nominating committee. We re grateful that some people will continue in their position, but we still need more people. I know Gloria Imagire, though she does such a great job on our newsletter, would like to give the job to someone else. Right now the position of Program Resources is also vacant! Since Betty Jo Rose is now a conference officer, we have a vacant position on the nominating committee too. The National UMW tells us, we can go on with fewer officers, but we do need more officers. Hope you can search your brain and your heart to help us find volunteers. Stay cool and have a great rest of the summer. Hope to see many of you at Mission U. Blessings, Roberta userkidd@comcast.net

8 CAROL KREMER, MISSION COORDINATOR, MEMBERSHIP, NURTURE & OUTREACH Even though it is the middle of summer, it is time to think of the fall activities of the United Methodist Women. I will be corresponding with each unit in August to get a list of the Saints we lost since last September. There will be a time to recognize and honor all those who were so precious to us over the years and have gone to be with our Lord. They will be honored at a special time during the Bridges Annual Meeting on September 27,2014 at the Davis United Methodist Church and again at the CANV Conference Annual Celebration on October 18, 2014 at the Almaden Hills United Methodist Church. I am working with a group of Fijian Women who have formed a cluster unit throughout the Bridges District. Several other inactive units are ready to renew their Charters. What a joy to see women becoming active in our great organization! I was happy to see many of you at Mission U in Sacramento. Carol Since we do not have a District Program Resources person, here is a note from Dianne Moody, Conference Program Resources. I just found out on Facebook this morning that United Methodist Women is notifying everyone that the Program Book, 2015 Prayer Calendar, and the 2015 Reading Program books and catalog are now available online at umwmissionresources.org. So go online, download your catalog and start picking out your books. If you are a Facebook user, you should LIKE United Methodist Women and then get all of their notifications of upcoming events and publications. Today: Program Book, 2015 Prayer Calendar and 2015 Reading Program books and catalog are now available at Blessings always, Dianne 8

9 LYNETTE JUNG LEE, SOCIAL ACTION This past week has been a very special time of my life as my son was married on Saturday to a beautiful and loving young woman. The outdoor venue and weather were perfect and the guests were happy and having a great time. My house was filled with relatives and we had time to chat over meals and get ready for the big day. So many times I thought how blessed we were to live in a neighborhood and country where we could gather in such a manner and not have to worry about hunger, violence, and staying alive. Such is not the case with people living in Gaza, Syria, Nigeria and too many other places around the world, even some neighborhoods here in the U.S. I think, too, of how quickly we can forget about an issue when it disappears from the news, such as the 200 girls in Nigeria who were kidnapped over 3 months ago from their school and who are still waiting to be rescued. There are many things to despair about in this world but I also am grateful for the activism and passion of United Methodist Women. This year we have many issues to work on. To support Israel getting out of Gaza and stopping the bombing of civilians, homes, hospitals and schools, you can sign the petition on Avaaz at: israel_palestine_this_is_how_it_ends_loc/?bnbsjab&v= To support the many immigrant children from Central America who are being detained here in U.S. detention centers, go to and write a letter to a child. I have also heard that the City of Los Angeles is working to welcome such children by preparing centers for their humane housing. We can also support the 100 th anniversary of Mary Elizabeth Inn, housing homeless women in San Francisco, by making announcements and putting out donation baskets at our local churches, as modeled by Betty Dickey at her home church. The Buena Vista UMW will be planning a fundraiser to support both Mary Elizabeth Inn and Gum Moon/Asian Women s Resource Center. Finally, please don t forget that each of our churches should report on what we are doing to fulfill the Charter for Racial Justice, which is due on September 15 th. I have previously forwarded a letter from Anna Noble in regards to this. Working with you towards a more just world, Lynette 9

10 Gloria Imagire, District Communications Coordinator I have always been so proud of being a United Methodist Woman because I thoroughly support their beliefs and activities, and UMW has always been at the forefront of issues involving women and children. I ve enjoyed meeting all of you at the Bridges District events and learning what wonderful things you are all doing! In May my husband Art and I went with Judy Church s VIM group to UMCOR West in Salt Lake City, and what an experience that was! Art agreed to go but asked me at the beginning of the trip whether other husbands were going, and my response was, I m sure they are. Luckily, Don Scott of Modesto UMC went on the trip with his wife Diana and grandson Devon so my answer turned out to be true! Art enjoyed it so much he is looking forward to going with Judy in May, In August I attended Mission u at the Clarion in Sacramento, the first time I had done so since last going to Santa Nella many many years ago when it was known as School of Missions. I thoroughly enjoyed the learning experience and re-connecting with UMW I knew and new ones I had the pleasure of meeting. I ran into Austin Tam of Buena Vista UMC, the Disability Advocate at Buena Vista who was attending since his pastor, Rev. Michael Yoshii had encouraged him to attend the section dealing with disabilities. It was a joy to see this young man among all the UMW who seemed at ease enjoying himself. I also saw Joan Dockendorf of St. Andrew s UMC and asked my routine question of whether she was receiving her newsletters and learned she was not! She gave me her address which I checked when I got home and learned it was incorrect! I try sending them out to everybody so please either forward or make copies for anyone you know will be interested. Also, if you know folks who should be on my list but are not receiving their copies, please let me know.i may have an incorrect address! Blessings, Gloria gimagire@gmail.com, (916)

11 California - Nevada Conference United Methodist Women 2014 Calendar of Events Monday, Sept. 1, Reports MUST be received by Dist. Officers by September 1 E & I, Memorial Mission Today & UMCOR Data (Kits & $$) MN & O, Names (Members who passed away in the last year) Treasurer, Five Channels of Mission Giving, 5 Star Secretary of Program Resources, Reading Program Forms Bridges Dist. to send info. to Dianne Moody instead of to Grace Johnson. Saturday, Sept. 20, Great Northern District Annual Celebration, Marysville UMC Saturday, Sept. 27, Bridges District Annual Celebration Davis UMC Saturday, Oct. 4, Central Valley District Annual Celebration, Visalia UMC Friday, Oct. 17, 2:45 p.m.- 7:00 p.m. District Leadership Training (D LTE), Almaden Hills UMC, San Jose Saturday, Oct. 18, 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Conference UMW Annual Celebration, Almaden Hills UMC, San Jose Saturday, Oct. 25 El Camino Real District Annual Celebration, Hope UMC, South S.F. Rev. AUGUST,

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16 Five Channels of Mission Giving Through their generosity United Methodist Women members help empower and improve the lives of women, youth and children in the United States and around the world. About 70 percent of Mission Giving funds from members go to programs and projects supporting women, children and youth. Around percent stays with the local, district, and conference organizations of United Methodist Women for local mission. Only 9 percent covers administrative costs. Pledge to Mission An individual member's Pledge to Mission is the amount a woman gives to her local unit to help fulfill the Purpose of United Methodist Women. The conference United Methodist Women pledges a specific amount to United Methodist Women's national office for mission with women, children and youth and retains a designated percent to be used for district and conference administration and membership development expenses. World Thank Offering Spontaneous additional gifts can be given out of gratitude for God's abundance and in celebration of the joys of life. The World Thank Offering is an opportunity for individuals to respond to God's abundance and grace with spontaneous gifts of gratitude. The funds collected are used in the total program of mission carried on through United Methodist Women's national office in the United States and around the world. Special Mission Recognition Pins and Certificates These pins offer a meaningful way to honor members who have dedicated so much time and effort to service. Gift amounts range from $40 to $2,000. Gift to Mission Make a gift in honor of someone and send a card to the honoree. The following cards are available: Congratulations, Thank You, A Baby, In the Service of Christ, A Special Day, Thinking of You, Happy Birthday and assorted Christmas cards. Gift in Memory Give a gift in memory of a member, a friend or anyone, in any amount of $5 or more. Gift in Memory cards, available free, may b sent to the family of the deceased. 16

17 Mary Elizabeth Inn Centennial Celebration & Fundraiser Thursday, October 2, 2014 Mark Hopkins Intercontinental Hotel San Francisco, CA TRIBUTE AD PRICE LIST & REPLY FORM Please purchase your ad to show your appreciation of Mary Elizabeth Inn - Celebrating its Centennial Its Leadership Work on Behalf of our Community Members 8.5 width x 11 height AD SIZE DIMENSIONS PRICE m Full Page 7.5 w x 10 h $750 Half Page 7.5 w x 5 h $400 Quarter Page 3.75 w x 5 h $225 One-Eighth Page 3.75 w x 2.5 h $150 Listing Up to TEN words $75 FORMAT: All advertisements must be BLACK & WHITE in camera-ready format. Electronic files in Acrobat, Illustrator or Photoshop as eps, PDF, tiff or jpeg files are preferred (all fonts should be embedded or outlined). Printed out hard copy is acceptable. Word files should be printed out and/or scanned. DEADLINE: All artwork must be received no later than September 18, 2014 FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT Earp Events & Fundraising at (510) Thank you! Your contribution is tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Mary Elizabeth Inn is a 501(c) (3) organization, Tax I.D. number YES, I/We will participate! Enclosed is my payment of $ for a [size] tribute ad. Please check one: I am enclosing my ad I will forward my ad prior to September 18, Enclosed is my check made payable to Mary Elizabeth Inn. Please charge my contribution to my : VISA M/C American Express Card No. (please print clearly): Card Verification Code (CVC)* Exp. Date / Name on Card: Signature: Contact Name: Organization: Name as you would like to be listed (for special listing): Address: 17 City/State/Zip: Phone: FAX:

18 Mary Elizabeth Inn Centennial Celebration & Fundraiser Thursday, October 2, 2014 Mark Hopkins Intercontinental Hotel San Francisco, CA Community Sponsor Reply Form Vision ($5,000) Table of 10* with Reserved Seating - Half page ad in program book - Sponsorship listing of name or logo in all publicity & printed materials - Empowerment Level Benefits Empowerment ($2,500) Table of 10* with Reserved Seating - Quarter page ad in program book - Achievement Level Benefits Achievement ($1,500) Table of 10* with Reserved Seating - One-eighth page ad in program book - Sponsorship listing of name in all publicity & printed materials - Event Signage - Acknowledgement in Mary Elizabeth Inn s Newsletter - Listing on Event Page on Mary Elizabeth Inn s website * All Sponsors at the Achievement Level or higher will have 8 seats for their guests at their sponsored table and underwrite the attendance of two Mary Elizabeth Inn residents, volunteers, or staff members who otherwise would not have been able to attend the celebration. Thank you! Independence ($500) 2 Event Attendees - Preferential seating during program - 10-Word Special Listing in program book - Independence Level Benefits Faith ($250) 1 Event Attendee - Preferential seating during program - Quarter page ad in program book - Sponsorship listing of name in all publicity & printed materials - Event Signage - Acknowledgement in Mary Elizabeth Inn s Newsletter - Listing on Event Page on Mary Elizabeth Inn s website DEADLINE FOR NAME TO APPEAR IN EVENT INVITATION: August 3, 2014 DEADLINE FOR NAME AND AD ARTWORK TO APPEAR IN EVENT COLLATERAL: Sept. 18,2014 For more information, please contact Earp Events & Fundraising at 510/ OR events@earpevents.com YES! I will sponsor Mary Elizabeth Inn s Centennial Celebration & Fundraiser! Enclosed is my payment for the following sponsorship level: $5,000 $2,500 $1,500 $500 $250 No tickets will be sent prior to the event; all names will be held at the door. PLEASE LIST GUEST NAMES ON THE REVERSE SIDE, OR FORWARD TO EVENTS@EARPVENTS.COM. Enclosed is my check made payable to Mary Elizabeth Inn. Please charge my contribution to my : VISA M/C American Express Card No. (please print clearly): Card Verification Code (CVC)* Exp. Date / Name on Card: Signature: Contact Name: Organization: Name as you would like to be listed: Address: City/State/Zip: Phone: FAX: Please mail to, Mary Elizabeth Inn c/o Earp Events & Fundraising, 4200 Park Blvd., #128, Oakland, CA 94602, or fax to _(510) Thank you! Your contribution is tax-deductible 18 to the fullest extent of the law. Mary Elizabeth Inn is a 501(c) (3) organization, Tax I.D. number