PHOENIX UNITED METHODIST WOMEN - DETROIT RENAISSANCE DISTRICT WINTER 2015 NEWSLETTER

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1 The PHOENIX UNITED METHODIST WOMEN - DETROIT RENAISSANCE DISTRICT WINTER 2015 NEWSLETTER Pressident We are ending 2014 with a bang. This year we have been successful in our efforts to fulfill our purpose. It is my hope that 2015 will be a great year for us. Diana Miller s very fine presentation at our annual meeting showed a clear path into the coming year. Vision is what we need and she gave us a vision. We are called to do things and our numbers enable us to do many of those things. We have a full slate of officers and they have come with experience, a willingness to be trained and ability to step into their respective roles. Some were able to attend Leadership Development Days and what an experience that was. I was one of those attending and I learned so much. In fact, my time was devoted to a weekend of training on Domestic Violence Awareness. By doing this I was given a certificate. It is my hope that I will be able to be more effective in taking action in prevention and making you all aware of the roles you can take. As we move forward, let us begin with marking our calendars for the first event of the year which is on February 14, 2015 at First United Methodist Church in Wayne. As it should, the year starts with our prayer breakfast and program. Melanie Carey, our district superintendent will be the speaker. I look forward to seeing you all there. Matthew 20:26-27 tells us that the measure of greatness is not position, power or prestige but rather it is service, and so we serve. Alice Tucker fayerich@comcast.net, Prayer Breakfast Saturday, February 14 First United Methodist Church in Wayne REGISTER by FEBRUARY 6 Post Flyers & Get the Word Out Canary Flyer Inside

2 Vice President The most important part of the district Vice President s job is to plan and help execute the district activities. Activities is a deliberate word choice we, as United Methodist Women, do not do programs, we host activities. The Annual Meeting held on October 11 at Big Beaver United Methodist Church in Troy, reaffirmed our purpose as United Methodist Women. Diana Miller talked about visions and purposes. The United Methodist Women is not a social club, we are women with a 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. A United Methodist Women business meeting was part of the Annual Meeting. The 2014 Standing Rules were reported. A significant point: United Methodist Women must never be abbreviated. The budget was presented and adopted. The United Methodist Women s Reading Program was highlighted as participants were recognized and community gifts were announced. The impact of United Methodist Women in the Renaissance District is significant. The officers, mission coordinators and others of the Leadership Team were elected to serve in They were installed by Diana Miller. The Committee on Nominations was reaffirmed. There is a concern that the diversity of the Renaissance District is not reflected in the Leadership Team. The reason is that a diverse group of women from the Renaissance District are not stepping forward to indicate a willingness to serve. Please reflect on the words of Hymn #153, Here I Am Lord and pray for discernment. The district needs committed women and should reflect the rich diversity of the churches within our district. Prayer Breakfast 2015 Volunteers are needed for the Prayer Breakfast which will he held Saturday, February 14 at Wayne First UMC. We want women who will pray for specific concerns. A script will be provided. Volunteer by ing or calling me. If you volunteer, you need to be present by 8:15 to check in with me. Mission Workshop 2015 The Mission Workshop on March 14 is at Central United Methodist Church. The topic is Domestic Violence: The Victims Look Like Us. Again; the victims and abusers may be our neighbors or church members. if you are interested in helping out call or me. The only requirements are that you will speak loudly and show up. Jeanette Harris harris48@yahoo.com, End of Year Treasurer s Report for 2014 The end of the year Treasurer s Report for the Detroit Renaissance District is showing that are pledge dollars were 89.6% of the total 2014 pledge of $100, The mission giving and mission giving plus dollars were as follows: Mission Giving = $89, Mission Giving Plus = $18, This is short from last year s end of the year report, however, still a fantastic job. The District Executive Team wants to give honor and praise to God first, and to all of you for your continued efforts.

3 Treasurer 2015 Renaissance Team Greetings in Christ to my fellow Michigan UMW sisters. As we begin this new year, we find ourselves challenged by the powers that be in restructuring our Districts. My home church, Waterford United Methodist Church, is changing to the Crossroads District on July 1, I will serve the full year term I was elected for, but I will need to serve other places by January 1, Please consider working with me so YOU can take over as this District s treasurer next year. Let me know how I can work with your unit to better understand our financial role as United Methodist Women. We can find solutions and lives to touch with our work done together. So, use me But also remember I am human and so far have not been able to move mountains I look forward to getting to serve my Lord and Savior through the United Methodist Women. Women before us created the opportunity we have now to make a difference in His Blessed name. May we all work together in the PURPOSE of our UMW organization throughout the year before us. This organization embodies the power of prayer in action. Pray for me and our team, find people and issues that need our help, bring them to light for us, and work with our team to develop UMW into our modern future. The time is now and of the essence. Our world is troubled and must have Christ present and working in every home and community. Please feel free to contact me with , by phone or snail mail. My home address is: 4003 Midland Rd. Waterford, MI Sharing God s Grace, Cappy Murphy capricia.cappy@gmail.com, Spiritual Growth Greetings Sisters in Christ, As I was looking over our purpose, one portion stood out. That part was whose purpose is to know God We can turn this statement into a question and ask ourselves How can we foster our relationship with God? There are a number of ways that can help us but, prayer is the focus we will take. The type of prayer I am speaking of is not the hastily prayed prayer when there is a tense situation or the prayer that is said before bedtime but, purposeful, intentional prayer. We take time and make preparation for many of the things we do so why not prepare for prayer? Take time to quiet yourself. This can be done by just sitting quietly and allowing your mind to clear. This action will allow you to focus on the prayer and not things that are going on around you. Remember to find a place for prayer, wait quietly before the Lord, become dependent upon the Holy Spirit, and open yourself to God. Reflect on what it means to stand in the presence of God. Pray daily. I am reminded of the chorus of the traditional hymn Just a Closer Walk with Thee.! Just a closer walk with Thee. Grant us Jesus if you please.! Daily walking close with Thee. Let it be dear Lord, let it be.! I am weak but Thou art strong. Jesus keep me from all wrong.! I ll be satisfied as long, as I walk, Let me walk close with Thee. Amen Anika Bailey puppetpower28@aol.com,

4 Education & Interpretation Greetings Everyone! A New Year - A Renewed Spirit Doesn t a fresh start just energize you all over? Don t you feel Mission Pep in your step? There are so many resources to help us educate ourselves and others. Especially officers and to some extent members too should read and use the Handbook. There are numerous materials that keep us focused on mission in our hearts and actions. Use the Prayer Calendar in your meetings. Use Response and New World Outlook magazines and Mission u study guides and resources to stimulate ideas for presentations. Programs in the Program Book can be used as written or give us ideas for our general membership meetings. Plan a joint meeting with one or more other units. Attend district events and invite your members to join you. Give special invitation to all women of the church, especially young women. Pray for each other, officers and members and encourage one another He has given us work to do and tools, gifts and the spirit to sustain us. Let s Make It Happen! Nellie Brown Tessmer Ct, Madison Heights, 48071, Mission Today Unit Objectives Strive to meet the Objectives Find the new revised form on the Detroit Conference Web Site Social Action I would like to take the opportunity to extend a hearty and blessed New Year to each and everyone of you. The time has just flown by, it is already 2015 with most of January gone. The good thing is this winter is not like last year. On behalf of the Detroit Renaissance District Leadership Team, I would like to thank all United Methodist Women and their units for their generous givings and support of the Ingathering project. We were blessed to have donations to agencies and charities of choice which was in an excess of over $ This is an increase from the past year. So again thanks for all you do and I look forward to your continued support of mission for women, children and youth. Please make sure you mark the calendar for the upcoming events: Mission/Ministry Workshop on Domestic Violence, Saturday March 14, 2015 and Keep Making Peace April 11, 2015 at the University UMC in East Lansing. It has been a pleasure serving you in the past and I look forward to a great Tina Campbell ecampbe16@yahoo.com, UNITED METHODIST WOMEN IN MISSION registrar I would like to introduce myself, I am Linda Pittman. I accepted the position as Registrar for United Methodist Women Detroit Renaissance District after Margaret Trombley lost her battle to cancer in I am a member of Beverly Hills United Methodist Church. My current duties there are usher, finance secretary, audio/video media person, and treasurer for United Methodist Women. Outside my church duties my passions include my family, sewing and golf. I'm looking forward to continuing as your registrar. Linda Pittman deedeepittman@gmail.com, NOTICE ELECTED LEADER CARD Correction Taylorie Bailey is a delegate to United Methodist Women (national) She was elected as an alternate delegate to United Methodist Women (national) at Jurisdictional

5 SECRETARY of PROGRAM RESOURCES Greetings to all. I was warmly greeted and given encouragement at United Methodist Women Detroit Conference Annual Celebration in Owosso in October, when introduced as the new Secretary of Program Resources for Detroit Renaissance District. I have accepted the challenge and with your help and God s blessings I will give my very best. Having just completed four years as President of the Hope United Methodist Women, Southfield, I thought I would take a break, not so, for there is always work to be done. This year, we want to focus on the importance of reading for information that will help us along this life journey, for we are all Life Long Learners. We want to read for the pleasure that we get when it s time to relax. And most of all we want to provide opportunities to share what we have read. If this sounds like I am teaching, I was a high school librarian for forty years. Although there was no designated person in this position for the past two years, we are thankful for our district team for filling in and making sure that the Renaissance District s reading program was still in place. I am looking forward to meeting all local Program Resource readers of United Methodist Reading Program books at our next district event. If I can be of any assistance to you, my contact information is below. God Bless, Alberta Garret fictionag@aol.com, READING PROGRAM Omission The following Oak Park UMW readers did complete a RP Plan last year Plan i: Dot Carter - Carol Mann Plan II: Blosel Gordon - Theresa Jefferson - Vickie Collins Due to unavoidable circumstances they were not recognized at the Annual Meeting Communications Coordinator I am Linda Ann Walker, your 2015 Communications Coordinator and editor of The Phoenix. I m a lifelong member of St. John United Methodist Church in Pontiac. I graduated from Pontiac Schools and attended Oakland Community College and Oakland University. After 39 years I retired as a Manufacture Engineer from General Motors. In 2005 I became the Administrative Assistant at Pontiac St. John. I have served as finance chairperson, youth leader, and choir member. I am a member of the Finance Committee, and active in the United Methodist Women. My husband and I have an adult son and a grandson. I look forward to being part of the United Methodist Women Detroit Renaissance District Leadership Team as the Communication Coordinator. Linda Walker st.johnpontiac@sbcglobal.net,

6 NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIR HELP WANTED: Three United Methodist women to be Detroit Renaissance Leaders in We know now three positions will be open. Two because their churches will be in a new district in July. The third position will open due to term limits. Leaders are limited to four years in a position.we all want everyone to help fill these positions. Serving on the district Leadership Team can be a very positive experience. The open positions will be Treasurer, Education and Interpretation and Communications Coordinator. The Waterford and Pontiac churches are being switched to the Crossroads District. We thank Cappy Murphy, treasurer and Linda Walker, Communications Coordinator for being willing to serve the full year in their new positions. Thanks to Nellie Brown for faithful service as Education and Interpretation Mission Coordinator for four years. The treasurer is responsible for district finances. The communications coordinator is responsible for the district newsletter and other communication responsibilities. Education and Interpretation promotes Mission u and the Mission Today Objectives. She might also promote programs and ideas to encourage and help local units stay active and grow. To ensure things keep going well it is important to find out who is interested and willing as soon as possible. Please consider the skills you and others in your unit have. If you believe that you are a person who can do either or you know of someone who can please contact Joan Allison, , 500 Catalpa, Birmingham 48009, me or any member of the district nomination committee, Marge Simpson marjorie3109@att.net United Methodist Women Detroit Renaissance District Every Local Officer SHOULD Receive The Phoenix! The local Secretary is to let the DRD Secretary know of any changes in Local Leadership s Name, Address, Phone Number and Address The Local Presidents Help make this happen; we all need reminders now and then Mission u Mission u of the South Novi UMC, Saturday, July 18 Advance Registration: June 30 H.O.M.E. Hands on Mission Experience, (H.O.M.E.) Lake Huron Area, Thursday, August 13 Mission u Study by the Lake Lake Huron Retreat Center, Friday-Saturday, Aug All attend Pursuit of Happiness Choose from The Church and People with Disabilities or Latin America Mission u of the North Gaylord UMC, Monday-Tuesday, October Flyers/registration forms on The Detroit Conference Website or in The Conference News Scholarships may be available for those attending for the first time. Contact Linda Schramm, lars@greatlakes.net or

7 NOTICE THESE REPORTS ARE DUE NOW My apology for not getting this newsletter done earlier. Kay Korns Membership Nurture and Outreach Hope everyone had a good holiday and is ready to put in some UMW work. Perhaps you have already submitted the 2014 membership report for your local unit to me. The report form is contained in this. This report can be submitted by your local Membership Nurture & Outreach Mission Coordinator, Secretary or President. The due date has passed. If you are uncertain it has be submitted call me or fill it out and get it to me right away. You may mail it to me at 5722 Centralia, Dearborn Heights, MI, or call or it to me. I am counting on every local unit in the District. If you have any questions, call me. If I don't answer, please leave a message, and I will get back to you. Lorraine Murdoch, lmurdoch@wowway.com, Local Membership Census Form Local Unit Name: Unit President: District Name: Detroit Renaissance District Address: Conference: _ Detroit Conference City: Reported by: State: Zip: Phone: Number of Members Jan 1, 2013!! Type of Unit!! New members added! Local, Cluster/Charge, District or Online Number lost to death or!! other reasons!!!! Send copy by January 30 to:!! Lorraine Murdoch!!!!!!! District Mission Coordinator for 5722 Centralia Total Members Dec. 31, 2013!! Membership Nurture & Outreach Dearborn Hts MI 48127!!!!!!! Outgoing Communications Coordinator I m really sorry for getting The Phoenix out so late. But I do have the mailing list updated to my satisfaction. It meant several phone calls and I may still have missed getting the officer lists from some active units or may still be sending to those who no longer hold a position. It is so important for the officer lists to be sent every year. I ve enjoyed serving you the last three years and getting to know so many of you. Will be seeing you at DRD meetings. Pray for me as I move on to serving as the Conferences secretary. Kay Korns

8 United Methodist Women Non-profit Detroit Renaissance District Prsrt. Std Syckelmoore U.S. Postage Paid Trenton Mi Trenton MI PERMIT NO. 6 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED United Methodist Women - Detroit Renaissance District Newsletter 2015 Winter United Methodist Women - Detroit Renaissance District 2015 Dates to Remember! February!! 14,! Sat.!! DRD Prayer Breakfast!! Wayne First UMC! March 14, Sat.!! DRD Mission Workshop!! Central UMC, Detroit! April 11, Sat.!!! Keep Making Peace!! University UMC!!!!! Social Action Event!!! East Lansing! May 8 & 9, Fri. & Sat.! DRD Spiritual Life Retreat!! Lk Huron Retreat Center! May 14-17, Thur.-Sun.! Detroit Annual Conference!! Adrian! July 18, Sat.!!! Mission u of the South!! Novi UMC! August 13, Wed.!! H.O.M.E. & One Day!Sampler! Port Huron are! August 14-15, Fri.& Sat.! Two Day Mission u!!! Lk. Huron Retreat Center! October 10, Sat.!! DRD Annual Meeting/Celebration! Troy First UMC! October 24, Sat.!! Detroit Conf. Annual Celebration! Ferndale First UMC! November 14, Sat.!! DRD Elected Leader Training! TBD! District Leadership Team Monthly Meetings: The second Monday of each month at Beverly Hills UMC at 6:00 p.m. except June, July, & Aug, NOTE: If you no longer hold office in your local, district or the conference, please pass this newsletter to your successor.