T H E C R S S W R D UMW HISTORY IN THE MAKING! Atlanta-College Park District Newsletter April 2015, Volume 2 THE PRESIDENT S MESSAGE

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1 T H E C R S S W R D Atlanta-College Park District Newsletter April 2015, Volume 2 Greetings Sisters, THE PRESIDENT S MESSAGE UMW HISTORY IN THE MAKING! by Bonita Swain, CUMC UMW President On March 20, 2015, a band of Central United Methodist UMW and Rev. Yvette Massey, senior pastor traveled to Albany, Georgia to witness history in the making at the investiture service of fellow United Methodist Woman and Central United Methodist member, Leslie Abrams. The service was held at the C.B. King United States Courthouse at 3:00 p.m. The courtroom was filled with Judge Abrams s family, friends, law clerks, her sister, The Honorable State Representative and House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams; senior judge of the United States District Court from the District of Maryland; chief judge and senior judge of the middle district of Georgia; the Honorable U.S. Congressman Sanford Bishop; and other judges and attorneys. Judge Abrams's mother, Rev. Carolyn Abrams of the United Methodist Church, gave the Invocation, and her father, Rev. Robert L. Abrams of the United Methodist Church, rendered the Benediction. I pray that you and your family had an enjoyable Easter! Again, I want you to know that I am truly grateful for your attendance, participation, prayers, financial offerings and overall support for Lenten Day Apart. Additionally, I am humbled beyond measure for the love and assistance from my Ben Hill Family. What an awesome blessing to share in worship together! For a portfolio of pictures of the event, please click here or go to Events page at Reminders: **There is still time to register for Spring Retreat 2015: May 1st & 2nd at Rock Eagle 4H Camp, Eatonton, GA -- A Fresh Wind Blowing: A Spiritual & Social Action Experience / Worship Leader - Rev Bridgette Young Ross, Dean of Chapel, Candler School of Theology, Atlanta GA. PLEASE REGISTER BY 4/15/2015. You may register on-line at **Join the district for a book review hosted by Warren Memorial UMW, the book The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe is available at most booksellers. The review will be facilitated by Patricia Boute of Headland Heights UMW and will be held from 10:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m., Saturday, May 30, Warren Memorial United Methodist Church, 181 Joseph E. Lowery Blvd, SW, Atlanta, Georgia Let s support and uplift one another whenever we can; there is much work to be done, and together, we can do it. God bless and best wishes. I remain In His Service Jessica Godfrey NOTE: The mission project for Annual Conference this year is UMCOR Health Kits. Begin making plans to assemble and bring as many kits as you can to Athens in June. You may download instructions at the UMCOR website

2 We Come To Have Church First, giving honor to God, to the pastor, saints, and friends We thank the Lord for being here and for bringing us safely over the highways Pray for us, pray with us, that the Lord might have His way We ve come to have church in Jesus name Send your anointing, send your anointing Lord send your anointing, Lord send your anointing Lord send your power, Lord send your power We have not come to entertain; we have only come to lift up Jesus s name Pray for us, pray with us, that the Lord might have his way We ve come to have church in Jesus s name Page 2

3 UBUNTU Let Us Heal the World with Love and Unity Taliah Reid Membership, Nurture & Outreach Patricia Kenly Social Action UBUNTU (I am what I am, because of who we all are) Under Ubuntu, we can create for ourselves a new Earth. Where all beings are honoured for their individual worth. Become once again a planet of equal sharing. With abundance for all and compassionate caring. United we will evolve into a species at peace. Treating each other with pure love and respect will have the enlightening, transforming effect. Unity between all people will ensure that our beautiful blue planet survives. Poem Excerpts by Michael Tellinger Ubuntu is a Zula word and concept that captures the concept: I am human because you are human. Each person is part of a community. Above all Ubuntu describes a coming together of God s people to celebrate God s presence and prompting to act on behalf of our neighbors. Ubuntu exemplifies our connections to one another. It is the foundation of what United Methodist Women members understand as mission through community action and service that exemplifies faith, hope, and love in action. ACPK District Faith, Fun and Everyone & Ubuntu Day of Service East Point First Mallalieu UMC Saturday, August 22, 2015 There will be: an opportunity to serve women and children in our metro Atlanta community; and food, fellowship, and dancing (so bring your fun shoes). CENTRAL'S UMW CELEBRATE ANNUAL PRAYER BREAKFAST by Bonita Swain, CUMC UMW President Page 3 The United Methodist Women of Central UMC embraced the theme of "A Fresh Wind Blowing" at their annual Prayer Breakfast on Saturday, March 15. More than 260 women gathered for a time of prayer, information, food and fellowship. One of Central's own, the Honorable Judge Leslie J. Abrams served as the keynote speaker. In her speech, she shared her personal journey, from her childhood in Mississippi to becoming a federal judge in the middle district of Georgia and the first African-American woman to become an Article III federal judge in the State of Georgia. She used the theme of "A Fresh Wind Blowing" to demonstrate how God breathes life into us, both physically and spiritually. The breakfast also featured a video presentation highlighting the work of Rev. Priscilla Jaiah, a United Methodist missionary. She is currently working to fight Ebola in her native Liberia. Central member Pamela Carn presented information on the other mission focus: human trafficking. She explained how young girls are being sold as sex slaves, and she urged support for bills before the Georgia legislature to combat the problem. Because of the tremendous support for the breakfast, at least $750 will be donated to both the Ebola project and the Interfaith Children's Movement's fight against human trafficking. Central's Senior Pastor, Rev. Yvette D. Massey congratulated the UMW on the success of the event and told them to start planning for next year's breakfast. We hope to see you there! Central UMC UMW Prayer Breakfast 2015 Make Plans Now to Join Us!

4 HEADLAND HEIGHTS UMW PUTTING FAITH IN MOTION by Kortney Lewis, HHUMW President This past quarter the women of Headland Heights UMW racked our brains on how to raise funds to do more missions. We finally got it! We decided to do a wellness walk and with this walk we will be able to do more missions supporting disaster relief while working out physically to celebrating being a healthier you! We are encouraging everyone to get involved and walk for a great cause! Please join us! Page 4

5 NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE by Jackie Sykes, Chair of Nominations Committee The Nominations Committee is developing a "Talent Bank" and thanks to everyone who completed an I Have Talent card at the Lenten Day Apart Service during our registration and refreshment hour. All persons who completed a card received a gift from the Committee. It was fun meeting all of you during this time. Thanks to all who donated gifts for this event. If you did not complete a card during that time or were not present please complete the I Have Talent card on the Resources page of the ACPK Web site We need to hear from you. Your completed card will be submitted to Jackie Sykes, Nominations Committee Chair. WELCOME AND THANKS to Mildred Gunn who has accepted the Secretary's position and will serve on the Executive Committee. Mildred is a member of Central UMC. She will be in contact with all local unit Secretaries soon. T H E C R S S W R D Page 5 HOOSIER MEMORIAL UMC WOMEN S DAY Rev. Gary Dean and the women of Hoosier Memorial United Methodist Church would like to invite family, friends and guests to attend their 2015 Women s Day Celebration Service on Sunday, April 26, The service will be held in the church sanctuary during the 10:45 am service and will feature Hoosier s own, Minister Donnella B. Cranford, founder of Women After God s Own Heart Ministry, Inc. (WAGOH). Hoosier Memorial United Methodist Church is located at 2545 Benjamin E. Mays Drive, SW, Atlanta, GA Blessings, Jackie Sykes and the Nominations Committee BEN HILL UMW EXTENDS WELCOME AND EXPRESSES THANKS by Bernadette Hartfield, President Ben Hill UMW welcomed the new year with the installation of officers and the traditional Prayer and Self Denial program. Senior Pastor Byron Thomas installed the officers following a unique charge to the officers by nominations chair Emma Dumas. Emma used the symbolism of the items in a sewing kit to focus on the duties of each officer in working together to sew the fabric of UMW. She presented an actual sewing kit to each officer and to the pastor. At the same meeting, the Prayer and Self-Denial theme of "A Gesture of Gratitude" offered an opportunity to learn about the call and work of deaconesses and missionaries, to pray for them, collect funds, and to reach out to them with a note. Each UMW member wrote a personal note to retired missionaries, thanking them for their service. At least one recipient wrote back that the note was a blessing. In February, Ben Hill hosted informational coffee receptions following two services to introduce more women to UMW. The effort resulted in our welcoming many new members at our annual membership and nurture meeting the following week. ACPK UMW Share Give Grow Serve Love Thanks to all ACPK UMW members who attended the Lenten Day Apart service at Ben Hill in March. We were so glad to have you and trust that you were blessed, as we certainly were!

6 MISSION TODAY UNIT REQUIREMENTS Requirements for a unit with a membership of 14 or less: Mission Today: Complete 5 items, 3 must be asterisk items Silver Mission: Complete 6 items, 3 must be asterisk items Gold Mission: Complete 9 items, 5 must be asterisk items Requirements for a unit with a membership of 15 or more: Mission Today: Complete 10 items, 5 must be asterisk items. Silver Mission: Complete 12 items, 5 must be asterisk items. Gold Mission: Complete all 17 items. *1. Use the Prayer Calendar at each general meeting of the unit to pray for people in mission and for our mission work with women, children and youth. *2. The unit will make and meet its pledge to mission. *3. The unit will add at least two new members to its roll. *4. The unit will have at least two members subscribing to Response magazine. *5. The unit will have at least two programs from the program book during the year. *6. The unit circle or subgroup will conduct at least one mission study a year. *7. The unit will implement the charter for racial justice policies in at least two ways during the year. Some suggested plans of action: Plan a joint unit meeting with a unit of difference racial/ethnic background using programs from the program book. Develop bi-racial/cultural or multi racial/cultural Koinonia groups. Or Hold a joint Vacation Bible School. Hold pulpit exchanges. Share joint worship services on special occasions. Encourage the church to sponsor a refugee family. 8. At least one member of the unit (other than Conference or District officers) will attend the Conference or District Mission Education Event. 9. At least two members (other than Conference or District officers) will attend the District or Conference Annual Meeting. 10. The unit will have a t least one person join the United Methodist Women s Action Network to receive and respond to legislative information. 11. Members shall write to five people listed in the prayer calendar at least twice a year. 12. The unit will participate in the Campaign for Children in two ways. Help sponsor a church or community program related to children and youth needs. Sponsor a children s Sabbath promoted by the Children s Defense Fund. Get involved with children in mentoring, tutoring, and Big Sisters programs. Write letters or call a congregational representative and or others in government regarding children s issues. 13. The unit will be a 5 Star unit contributing to all 5 channels of undesignated giving. 14. The unit will contribute to a mission project, such as UMCOR (United Methodist Committee On Relief), RRISA (Refugee Resettlement & Immigration Services of Atlanta), or other United Methodist Women National Mission Institutions. 15. Each unit, circle or subgroup meeting will include a Response Moment where an article from the Response magazine will be lifted up as a way to tell the mission story. 16. Have at least two people from the unit circle or subgroup complete one of the Reading Program plans and report on one of the books. And encourage all members to complete Plan one. 17. The unit will have invited a District or Conference officer other than a member of that unit to one or more of the unit meetings during the year. T H E C R S S W R D 2015 Page 6 Spiritual Growth Study -- "Created for Happiness" Geographic Study -- "Latin America" Issues Study -- "The Church and People with Disabilities" See list of persons willing to lead mission studies ( ) on Page 8. You may receive your UMW program book and prayer calendar when you attend district and conference events. Call the resource center at or order on-line at WARREN MEMORIAL UMC WOMEN S DAY Warren Memorial UMC will celebrate Women s Day 2015 A Fresh Wind Blowing on Sunday, April 26, 2015, 10:30 am. The church is located at 181 Joseph E. Lowery Blvd. SW, Atlanta, GA ( ). Rev. Donald K. Reed, Sr., Senior Pastor. Speaker: Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers Special Guests: Mrs. Sue Raymond, United Methodist Women President, North Georgia Conference; Adult Liturgical Dancers, Central United Methodist Church; Word Made Flesh Ministry, Ben Hill United Methodist Church. All women are asked to wear white and your favorite spring hat. The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. John 3:8 NRS

7 Page 7 Cascade United Methodist Women Presents A Geographical Mission Study of The Roma of Europe This book will introduce you to the Roma with an emphasis on Eastern Europe. Explore their history up to and including the twentieth century. Look into the ways they are treated in contemporary European culture. Learn about their lifestyle and spirituality and investigate ways the church and other organizations are working alongside the Roma. Saturday, May 30, :00am 1:00pm Rev. Eric Powell, Study Leader To assist with planning, please RSVP your attendance to Annie Coleman at anniecole3551@comcast.net or no later than May 20, 2015.

8 Persons willing to lead mission studies ( ) Page 8 How Is It With Your Soul? (English language) Janine Bethel bethel@uga.edu Mary Anne Brannon bbrannon1940@att.net Kathy Cook heykay75@hotmail.com Glenda Creasy gcreasy@bellsouth.net (local unit) Suzanne Crossan suzannecrossan@yahoo.com Brett DeHart blessrev@gmail.com L. Dorothy Edmond ldoroed@bellsouth.net (local unit) Martha J. Guy marthaguy1@bellsouth.net (local unit) Lou Ann Harris harriskb@bellsouth.net Donna Hinson methodistmom333@yahoo.com Patricia Johnson pajhn8@yahoo.com Cindy Jones/Debye Baird tcbjones@bellsouth.net (local unit) Judy Kelley jkelleyt56@att.net Debra McCullum bolife@bellsouth.net (local unit) Mary Lynn Merkle merkle1651@att.net (local unit) Tonya Murphy tmmam@bellsouth.net Mary E. Ragland rmarygoldragland@aol.com Barbara Rankin bprankin@bellsouth.net Etta Reid etta.reid1@comcast.net (local unit) Addie Shopshire-Rolle rgamt@aol.com Cande Taylor cande@eastcobbumc.org Lynda Teague lrteague@att.net (local unit) Vanessa Warner jwarner@charter.net (LaGrange District) Cathy White whitecbe@att.net Yolanda Womack yolwom@hotmail.com Sara Worden swworden@bellsouth.net How Is It With Your Soul? (Spanish language) Hilda de Leon hilda_m_deleon@hotmail.com Mayra E. Escoberdo mayraeh@gmail.com Diana Flechas dianaflechas77@hotmail.com Rosy Flores de Cruz rosy_flores29@hotmail.com Marissa PerezdelaFuente marissaperez40@gmail.com` Laura Quintanilla lauras.quintanilla@gmail.com Maria Rodriguez juanbgonzalez2010@live.com Yuriria Soto yurisoto39@gmail.com The Roma of Europe Dorie Hill orndodp@hotmail.com Eric Powell eric_powell@bellsouth.net The Church and People with Disabilities Kathryn Barb kbarb30215@yahoo.com Jean Bouts bbouts2650@aol.com` Cindy Campbell cindy@eastcobbumc.org Takeisha Dixon takeishadixon@comcast.net Jacqueline Evans jacquelynaevans@gmail.com Diane K. Faw dianefaw@windstream.net Iris Green greenlilburn@bellsouth.net Marilyn Robinson mostvaluablepersonn@hotmail.com Marilyn Savage marilyn.savage@bellsouth.net Jasmine Smothers jasmine.smothers@ngumc.net Tryphenia Speed spee2422@bellsouth.net V. Ricki Stroud valenciastroud@bellsouth.net Linda Wheeler jdw417@excite.com Lynne M. Wheeler wheelert@windstream.net Marian Wilder marianwilder@att.net

9 Page 9 HOOSIER UNITED METHODIST WOMEN S HEART TO HEART TEA The United Methodist Women invited all Hoosier women to a Heart to Heart Tea, on Sunday, February 15th. Over 50 women attended, making the event a success! The tea was prepared by the United Methodist Women s leadership team to provide information on the organization s purpose, activities and mission funded projects. The UMW planned the tea for a Sunday afternoon to encourage all Hoosier women to stay for tea, hot apple cider and light refreshments while learning more about the United Methodist Women organization. Gerri Heard, secretary, welcomed the guests and provided a brief overview of the organization s goals and purpose. Sherrie Wilson, president, introduced the local officers, and highlighted the areas where UMW need support, and more participation with mission projects that benefit children, youth and women in our community, city and nationally. Alethea Billingslea, treasurer, shared where and how the organization s giving is spent via a short video on mission related funding. Pledge cards were distributed and everyone was asked to prayerfully consider making a pledge. Pastor Dean also stopped by to lend his support and thank the United Methodist Women for their service within the church and the community. Alethea Billingslea and Belinda White, this year s Women s Day co-chairs, shared a calendar filled with exciting and well planned activities! Belinda provided this year s theme, Hoosier Women, Preparing for a Time Such as This, the color scheme, shades of purple and lavender, and all of the planned activities! While the meeting was brief, it was filled with exciting plans for the upcoming months, as well as information on the United Methodist Women of Hoosier. If you missed this event, please check the Sunday bulletin for Sherrie Wilson, UMW President Pastor Dean, C. Crew, P. Dean & Annie Milner Janice Jones, UMW-VP, G. Perry, D. Edmond; G. Heard, Secretary

10 TREASURER S REPORT Ways of Giving Minute Woman - Candleburning is an individual that personally gives one minute of gift of missions ($40) above their regular mission pledge. This giving can be a combination of in honor or in memory giving but be done at one time. The amount given will be added to your district s total mission giving minutes. A candle will burn at the Conference Annual Meeting for the total time your district has given to all candleburning avenues. Blessings, May 18 2nd Qtr Financial Report to ACPK Treasurer Bettye Cornelius ACPK UMW Treasurer T H E C R S S W R D Page 10 HEADLAND HEIGHTS UMW GIVING, SERVING, SHARING by Kortney Lewis, HHUMW President This past Easter, the United Methodist Women of Headland Heights put together lovely Easter baskets for the kids. They were filled with all types of goodies! Children were so excited to see what goodies had been placed in their basket. HHUMW had the opportunity to host breakfast for Fulton County Schools Middle School Math Tournament at our partner school, Paul D. West Middle School and Math Fair at our partner school, Hamilton E. Holmes Elementary for approximately 150 people. Paul D. West hosted all South Fulton County Middle Schools in a math competition. We are proud to have our own president, Kortney Lewis, as a teacher to help lead the winning school of the entire competition. Our schools called on us and we happily obliged them. Both events were very successful, and we are proud that we are able to continue doing what we were called to do: advocate for women and children. We are looking forward to more partnerships with our schools. Have you visited the Web site of the NGC United Methodist Women? You can find information on upcoming events, mission projects, national news and much more. You can access copies of the Crossword and the Reflector check it out at

11 T H E C R S S W R D Page 11 May 1-2 Conference Spiritual Growth & Social Action Event, Rock Eagle, Eatonton May 16 ACPK Executive Meeting, 9am - 12pm, Bethel UMC May 18 2nd Qtr Financial Report to ACPK Treasurer June Annual Conference, Classic Center, Athens June 17 UMW Breakfast, 7am - 8am, Classic Center, Athens July 5 Deadline for CROSSWORD Newsletter articles July Mission u, Fayetteville First UMC July 13 3rd Qtr Financial Report to ACPK Treasurer (this is the last report for the 2015 Have you recognition visited the Web year) site of the NGC August United 22 Methodist ACPK Faith, Women? Fun, and You Everyone can find / Ubuntu information Event, on upcoming East Point events, First Mallalieu mission UMC September projects, 12 national ACPK Executive news and Meeting, much more. 9am - You 12pm, can access Warren copies Memorial of the Crossword UMC and the October 3 Conference Annual Meeting, LaGrange Reflector check it out at UMC October 5 Deadline for CROSSWORD Newsletter articles October 12 4th Qtr Financial Report to ACPK Treasurer October 18 ACPK Annual Meeting, 1:30pm, Headland Heights UMC October 24 Wesley Walk for Others, Stone Mt. Park November 7 Conference Leadership Development Training, Chamblee First UMC November 10 ACPK Executive Meeting (conference call), 8pm 9:30pm December 5 ACPK Leadership Development Training, 9am, Central UMC JUNE 3-5, 2016 SEJ QUADRENNIAL MEETING Robin Dacus, Cascade UMW, winner of the Southeastern Jurisdiction Quadrennial logo contest. Congratulations, Robin! For more information and pics, check out our ACPK Web site at