United Methodist Women Cape Atlantic District News

Transcription

1 United Methodist Women Cape Atlantic District News Publisher Lou Hyson President s Message Scripture. Mark 4: 3-9 "Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn't have deep roots, it died. Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!" Then he said, "Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand." Reflections As we head into the new year let us be the seeds on fertile ground spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let us be the salt of the earth showing the world the wonderful gift of Jesus lying in a manger. God coming to the world in human form. Prayer My prayer for you this new year is that you will become stronger in your faith. Thoughts Let the seeds of Christ grow strongly within you so you can let your light shine for Jesus. Holly Holly Cyrus Volume 1 January 2017 Inside this issue: Vice-President s Message 2 Communication Message 3 Education & Interpretation 4 Treasurer s Message 6 Spiritual Growth Message 7 News Around District 8 Secreatary s Message 9 Event Dates 10 Officer Training Flyer 11 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.

2 Page 2 United Methodist Women - Cape Atlantic District Vice-President s Message Rosemary Dowling THE LIVING MISSION By Rosemary Dowling It hasn t always been this way, I remember brighter days before the dark ones came and stole my mind, wrapped my soul in chains. Now I live among the dead Hoping someone hears me Is anybody out there hearing me? Set me free CASTING CROWNS, Set Me Free We are at war with an enemy that is not prejudice. It attacks the elderly as well as the newborn, and all ages in -between. It doesn t care about your ethnicity, race or religion. It doesn t discriminate against gender, sexual preference, nor if you are married or single. It doesn t ask if you are rich, middle class or poor, it greedily wants whatever it can grasp. Its goal is to mislead you, sneak in and enslave and finally destroy all it touches. This enemy we are facing is gaining stronger ground and it affects every one of us. This enemy is called AD- DICTION and DRUG ABUSE. This last year way too often I have sat with friends, coworkers, youth and young adults and heard their heartbreaking cries over the loss of family members and friends to drug overdoses. I have read way too many horror stories on abuse, violence, and crimes all connected to substance abuse. I have listened to dozens of angry hurt mothers publically speaking to bring awareness. Yes this enemy is living and thriving amongst us trying to destroy all within its reach. And we all need to armor ourselves, our families and churches in this fight because this is not an individual s battle; this is a Community Uniting to remove an unwelcome presence. In order to achieve winning results we must first remove the stigma of shame and secrecy that surrounds addiction and drug abuse. We must educate ourselves, our children, our parents and grandparents. We must equip our church leaders with tools and resources. Most of all, we must become the helping hand of Jesus, reaching out to those in need, and embracing the hopeless.

3 Volume 1 Page 3 Communications Message Lou Hyson Well here we are again first newsletter of the new year. Did any of you make a New Year's resolution? I have resolved to do some self evaluations this year. I am currently doing the War Room bible study and it asked some questions I found hard to answer. In the very first lesson I was asked to evaluate how close I am to God right now with zero being you are freezing cold and far away, and ten being you are on fire and extremely close? Where am I? Well I am not freezing cold, but well...i am not on fire either. Does that put me in the middle at lukewarm? I DON'T WANT TO BE LUKEWARM FOR MY LORD! In the same chapter we were asked these additional questions. Regarding closeness to God, where do you want to be one year from now? Are you currently moving at a pace to meet your goal one year from now? What major decisions/adjustments do you need to make to help you grow? Well for me, I marked myself at the middle 5 on the evaluation of how close I am to God right now then dropped it down 1 to 4 to make sure that I placed myself at the right number. Then, I resolved to be 4 steps up in one year's time. A BIG advancement which will need a lot of work, determination, and God's grace to achieve. One of the things needed to do this is the last question in the list above - What major decisions/ adjustments do I need to grow? The biggest decision to grow closer to God is to put God first in everything I do. To pray, meditate, read the Word, praise, worship, and learn more about Him every day. To learn what he wants from me, my purpose. Then work to fulfill my purpose the best I can. Trying to LOVE Him even a little bit as much as He LOVES me. For that purpose, I will be evaluating myself on a monthly basis to see how I am doing not only in my personal walk with God, but also in the jobs/positions I take trying to fulfill God's purpose. On our flyer for the CAD Officers Training you will see a scripture quote from Romans 8:28. It is the same one we used for our Annual Meeting. But so meaningful to us His workers fulfilling His purpose. So I believe I need to learn as much as I can, wherever, whenever, however the opportunities are presented. So, at the end of this month I will be going to the LDD training in Charlotte, North Carolina for the position I took of Communication Chair in the Greater New Jersey United Methodist Women. Even though I have been doing the same job for Cape Atlantic District United Methodist Women for many years now. I believe I should take every opportunity to learn more. God has given me this new opportunity, there is something He wants me to learn. What about you? Whether you are brand new in your position with the United Methodist Women; have been in your position for a very long time; or don't currently have a position but would like to know more; come on out and learn something you didn't know before. Get to know your district team. Learn what is going on all around you. You will find the flyer on page 11. The date is February 4th and

4 Page 4 United Methodist Women - Cape Atlantic District (Continued from page 3 Communications Message) it will be held at Seaville UMC. Registrations are due in just a few days, so please HURRY. There is no cost for this training, we just need a list of names for the number of people coming and the food that will be needed. Maybe, you are not the one who is suppose to learn, maybe you are going to nourish, support, or/ and love your sisters. Do come. Again I am going to add a few links that you might be interested in below. Please give them a try. United Methodist Women United Methodist News GNJUMW United Methodist Communications Cape Atlantic District UMW Education and Interpretation Joan Morris Let's Box 'Em Up and Stack 'Em Up! Intercept the Traffickers United Methodist Women leadership and support is unmistakable throughout the United Methodist Church. by Yvette Moore, director of communications for United Methodist Women Get ready for Super Bowl LI on February, 5, 2017 In football, the phrase "in the box" is used when the defense puts its players in a rectangular formation to stop the offensive team's run play in its tracks. For those playing in the box, the goal is to stop the run or confuse the offense. When in a box alignment, there are more defenders to shut down the offensive game of the opponent. Some have said it's like being in a situation where the odds are stacked against you, but you had the foresight to use your strongest defense to overcome what is facing you. This phrase also applies to real life. You can use this when you are going above and beyond to prevent something from happening. We want to gain control of the game. Traffickers run a game on the vulnerable and we aim to stack the box against them, to intercept their game and to box 'em up for prosecution. We want to take control of the box that is human trafficking and open it for the survivors who have been boxed into a life full of despair where they come to believe there are no possibilities for escape. To box someone or something in means to put someone in a bind, to reduce the number of someone's alternatives, to trap or confine or prevent from acting freely. We can think of the boxes as a way to create the defensive walls of a city, to signifying protection from danger. As a verb, we can think of the box as a way to wall up, wall off, close up, and surround with a fence or hedge.

5 Volume 1 Page 5 (Continued from page 4 Education & Interpretation) Have you ever been in a box, not knowing how you were going to get out? Or maybe you have felt in need of protection, of a hand to reach inside the box to help you out. Those victimized by human trafficking can also feel as though they are in a box. The causes of trafficking are complex, but at its root is a globalized economy resulting in poverty that contributes to joblessness, inequality, discrimination and violence around the world. Children and youth are at risk of traffickers because of homelessness, the lack of stability in their living situations, foster care or a juvenile justice system that often criminalizes instead of providing a safe harbor. Women and girls fall prey to traffickers who take advantage of their economic and social vulnerabilities by promising a job, education, or better life. After you thought, "I might be stuck in there forever." Have you ever said to someone, "You really saved my life," only to hear them say, "No problem, I've been there. I know what it's like?" For we are called to faithfulness, to respond by acting out the command to love one another. We can never prevent all the exploitation of traffickers or their control over the lives of those they traffic, but we can intercept them. We can stop the treatment of people as cargo or commodities. Boxes can be opened. We can be the hands that lift the trafficked out of the box of their oppressors into a place where souls are fed and a new life exists. In doing so, we all will be transformed. Walls, fences and hedges were physical barriers to unauthorized entry. While walls and hedges can help provide physical protection, that is not enough. People and nations need spiritual protection as well as physical protection. God is omnipresent, providing protection always to those at-risk. We are called to action as co-laborers, committed to helping protect the vulnerable. For we can be the vigilant and active agents of compassion and protection wherever we find ourselves confronting the crime of human trafficking. Stacking the boxes will symbolize United Methodist Women intercepting the traffickers who bind the vulnerable within boxes of imprisonment. Our boxes will also embody our commitment to be in communion with survivors of trafficking. As the United Nations has observed, "Addressing human trafficking cuts across all fundamental issues It is about human rights, peace and security, development and family health. In the most basic sense, it is about preserving the fabric of society." With acts of justice, with words of comfort and with hearts of healing and hope, we will walk with survivors on a journey to wholeness and new life. So, Let's Box 'Em Up! What You Can Do: Join our virtual barricade of boxes: Open boxes, closed boxes, and tied boxes! All kinds of boxes can be held, decorated, stacked, left open or sealed. Stack up your boxes with others or simply hold a box yourself, but let's box 'em up! Get a box to: Box up those who hurt and harm.

6 Page 6 United Methodist Women - Cape Atlantic District (Continued from page 5 Education & Interpretation) Box up the criminal traffickers. Box up laws that criminalize the victims. Decorate a box. Keep your box open as a sign of invitation and hope for survivors. Decorate an open box as a symbol of a doorway to new opportunities and to the openness of your heart to receive survivors with love and grace. Stack the boxes to represent United Methodist Women acting in solidarity with others to intercept the traffickers and to block trafficking criminals from survivors, be they women, men, girls and boys seeking a future of promise. Stack the boxes up to build a wall of boxes. Organize a flash mob of box holders UMW-style. Build a fence of boxes. Join your boxes in a partnership event with organizations headed by women from different cultural or faith communities. Join your boxes in an event with local football teams or your local business community. Acting Together we can box 'em up and stack 'em up to intercept human trafficking. Send your photos! Use #UMWBoxEmUP to share your photos and show how we help to intercept human trafficking by raising awareness that this crime affects families and communities everywhere. For picture ideas, visit Send your pictures to your district communications officer to share on websites and in newsletters. Share on social media. Tag United Methodist Women on Facebook or Twitter (@UMWomen) and use #UMWBoxEmUP wherever you share. Come on send those photos. Happy New Year to all of the UMW Treasurers. I want to thank you all for your patience with this first time District Treasurer. We had an excellent year for the 5 Star Units with 9 units. We have some extra Program Books if any units need them. The cost is $10.00 each. I will have them at our Training on February 4 th. I will also have copies of the forms that are to be submitted in case anyone needs them. Please make sure that you RSVP for the training by January 28th so we can let the hosting church know how many to prepare for. If you have questions, you can reach me at or by vicaitgabster@msn.com. Have a wonderful and Blessed New year. Treasurer s Message Candy Wyand

7 Volume 1 Page 7 Spiritual Growth Message In my home church, Good Shepherd UMC in Northfield, we have several opportunities for Bible studies, different times, different facilitators, different locations, even one in a diner, but often using the same study. I belong to the Tuesday evening study group led by our Pastor, Rev. Thomas Stark, During the Advent season and actually just recently concluded, we have been using a study book entitled The Redemption of Scrooge. Based on Charles Dickens, "A Christmas Carol", well known, loved and still these many years later, filled with excitement, anticipation, perhaps moments of concern, even fear as the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future make their appearances bringing scenes of what has been, what is, and what may come. Each Sunday, we have used a short musical piece entitled Ring Out. Ring out Your truth, ring out Your love, reverberate in our lives, Come, Lord, Come. To me this represents a challenge to share, reaching out to others with the "good news", a deeper understanding of God's love for everyone. A wonderful realization that in truth anyone, everyone can be changed redeemed. Also, each Sunday in "passing the peace, we have done so with a phrase appropriate to the sermon. Christmas Eve, we greeted one another with those famous words from Tiny Tim, God Bless Us Everyone! Depending on the inflection of one s voice, the condition of the individual heart and Christian Walk, this phrase can be a message all its own. We discovered a new, deeper meaning for these wellknown words! I felt that it would be a most appropriate theme for a Family Christmas Letter so this was originally written for my personal family four generations of us, lots of little ones. I further adapted it for our Study Frances Hagins Group. It is ready to go to my family of friends living away from New Jersey and some other friends that make up another family group for me. In considering my message for our CAD-UMW Newsletter, I thought it would also be appropriate for us.. our team and our UWM membership. To our CAD-UWM Team, I trust that you accept this version of my letter, along with my sincere love for each of you and appreciation for the way you influence my life and spiritual growth. To all of our members, may you find a way that is appropriate for you, using your own gifts and graces, to reach out ring out, and share the message that we are all a family members of the Family of God! I want to encourage, and yes, even challenge you, to consider every day how God has indeed already blessed you. Then pass this thinking along in some appropriate manner, perhaps to a member of your church family, to a neighbor, to your children or little ones in your family grand-children, nephews, nieces, maybe as a part of bedtime prayers, or table grace, or a family list where each can add a blessing they understand. What an exciting way to "train up our children" remembering, we are all children of our Heavenly Father and never done growing. Music is so much a part of my life that I want to add a couple of songs that might help us identify our blessings. Counting Your Blessings, Make Me a Blessing, Jesus Loves the Little Children and the chorus of one of my favorites... Count Your Blessings, name them one by one, count your blessings, see what God has done, count your blessings, name them one by one, count your many blessings see what God has done!

8 Page 8 (Continued from page 7 Spiritual Growth Message) Start your day with a thanksgiving thought for the blessing of the night, close each day with thanksgiving for the blessings of the day. Soon you will find joy and blessings in every phase of your life and with a smile of joy, feel moved to share that excitement, even as you walk to your car leaving the grocery store. United Methodist Women - Cape Atlantic District Each year, as we close our Christmas Eve services with the singing of Silent Night, my mind is always filled with the beauty and joy of this celebration and tradition. May you share many such occasions realizing always that you are one of a kind, a unique and wonderfully made individual and that you are already blessed, and designed to be a blessing for others in God s time and according to His plan. In the words of a dear friend, Too blessed to be stressed! frannie Area Unit Coordinators News From Around the District Port Elizabeth United Methodist Women President: Lou Hyson We had a Christmas program in December. We went to dinner at the Maurice River Diner then went to our Cluster Hymn Sing at Dorchester UMC. We got to sing a lot of the Christmas hymns we don t usually get to sing. We have meetings every fourth Friday of the 6:30 pm. Members Attended: The last meeting we attended was the Annual Communion Breakfast Meeting which was held at Linwood Central UMC on October 1, We had a really good time. Fundraising: We will be planning our events for the year at our next meeting. Then we will send them to the CAD Communications officer to be included in the newsletter and on the website. Hoping to have some fundraisers and of course our Yard Sale/Bake Sale in May or June. Social: The church and UMW events attended by our members are beautiful social events. Traveling to and from each event as we car pool becomes a social event. Most events include refreshments and it is a blessing to socialize with our brothers and sisters in God. Our church also has a second Sunday lunch every month (even though it is not always on the second Sunday) are also a part of our social events. Spiritual: Some of us are planning to attend the UMW Officers Training on February 4th. Also, we will be attending the Spiritual Day Apart on April 8th. We wouldn t miss these events. We come away renewed, refreshed, and informed. Projects: We will be discussing the projects to work on for this year at our first meeting this year. Upcoming: Some kind of fundraising sales are being planned. CAD UMW February 4 UMW Officers Training, Seaville UMC, April 8 - Spiritual Day Apart the location hasn t been announced yet. There is no other news from around the district as no one else submitted anything. If you would like to have your unit or circles information listed here please send your information to Lou Hyson by or regular mail before the deadline for the next newsletter (deadlines are located on page 10). Or you can submit it for the website at anytime.

9 Page 9 United Methodist Women - Cape Atlantic District Secretary Message Joyce Pratt Government of the People, by the People, for the People Abraham Lincoln spoke for only a few minutes on November 19, 1863 when he delivered his Gettysburg Address. Orator Edward Everett later told him, I should be glad if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion, in two hours, as you did in two minutes. A quote from his two-minute speech says it all: that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. But have we continued to embrace Lincoln s resolve? If not, what can we do? The United States is a federal republic in which the president, Congress, and courts share powers reserved to the national government according to our Constitution. At the same time, the federal government shares sovereignty with state governments. In theory, Americans vote for a specific candidate instead of a particular political party; but on a national level, the President and Vice President are elected indirectly by the people through an Electoral College. The elections of 1876, 1888, and 2000 produced an Electoral College winner who did not receive at least a relative majority of the nationwide popular vote. This year has been the same. Just as we must accept the decision of the popular vote in an election, we must also accept the decision of the Electoral College. It is then no longer who won or lost, but how we can work together as a nation. Otherwise, we have chaos. Our bible teachings were written to give us encouragement, hope for the future. In Romans 5:4-13 we are told that God s promises to the Jews are offered to the Gentiles as well so they too may glorify God for his mercy. We are also promised a glorious leader! The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope. Romans 5:12 Christians speak of the three comings of Christ: in the flesh in Bethlehem, in our hearts daily and in glory at the end of time. We have been promised a leader who will govern the earth with love and fairness for all. This Advent season, we celebrate the birth of Christ, the Root of Jesse his ancestor, as we await Christ s second coming. Until then, we must pray as a powerful, spiritual group and ask God, through Jesus Christ, for a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Submitted by Joyce Pratt

10 Page 10 United Methodist Women - Cape Atlantic District 2017 Cape Atlantic District Dates Saturday, Date: February 4, 2017, Officers Training Location: Seaville UMC see flyer Saturday, April 8, 2017 Spiritual Day Apart - 9:30 am to 1:30 pm Location: TBA Sunday May 7, 2017 Neighborhood Center Tea 3 pm to 5 pm Location: TBA Saturday October 7, 2017 Annual CAD UMW Fall Meeting 9:30 am to 1 pm Location: TBA 2017 CAD Team Meeting dates Saturday, April 22, 2017 Location: Emmas 9:30 am Saturday, August 5, 2017 Location: 9:30 am Saturday, December 2, 2017 Location: 9:30 am 2017 Newsletter Dates Deadline for Articles & Information Monday, March 13, 2017 March 6, 2017 Monday, August 14, 2017 August 5, Conference DATES Saturday, Date: TBA Conference Spiritual Retreat. Location TBA Saturday, April 1 Conference Spring Meeting. Location: TBA July 7-9 Mission U (Full weekend) Location: Georgian Court University, Lakewood, NJ July 22 Mission U (One day) Location: TBA Saturday, October 21 Conference Annual Fall Meeting Location: GNJ Conference MRC Saturday, November 18 Officers Training Location: TBA United Methodist Women Assembly 2018 May 18-20, Columbus, OH Early registration begins in November

11 UMW Cape Atlantic District Officer Training with Lunch 9:30 am to 1:00 pm SATURDAY, February 4, :30AM Registration Seaville United Methodist Church 3100 Shore Road Seaville, NJ (609) Agenda Officer s training for each discipline, President, Vice-President, etc. Website training and review of Conference and National UMW. Just starting or long time officer, it doesn't matter. Lots of information to help you do your job. Bring your Pastor for support or to learn more about what their UMW women do. BREAKFAST Snack and LUNCH Please provide reservation to assure enough food will be available. No Cost at the door. The Unit Is Responsible for Number Reserved. Please provide list of names. Love Gift and Ingathering Recipient: Canned goods for Seaville UMC pantry Cut here MAIL REGISTRATION Reserve your seat(s) for this annual event by mail or phone. DEADLINE is January 28th. ALL RESERVATIONS REQUIRED BY JANUARY 28th. UNIT NAME NUMBER ATTENDING: CONTACT NAME and PHONE NUMBER CHECK # AMOUNT Make Check Payable to: CAD UMW Mail to Candy Wyand or Mary Anne Cannuscio, UMW District Treasurers Candy Wyand, 542 South Shore Rd, Marmora, NJ 08223, (609) , vicaitgabster@msn.com Please list names of attendees on the back of slip.

12 우리의목적은 연합감리여성의조직단위는그리스도예수사람을통해 전체적으로되어야한다자유를여성의사회경험과하나님을안다는목적, 활동을지원하는개발창의, 그리고참가를통해작전의개념을확장교회의 La unidad organizada de Mujeres Metodistas Unidas es una comunidad de mujeres cuyo PROPÓSITO consiste en conocer a Dios y experimentar libertad en la totalidad de sus vidas mediante Jesucristo; desarrollar un compañerismo creativo y de apoyo, y ampliar los conceptos de misión mediante la participación en los ministerios globales de la iglesia. The Purpose of the United Methodist Women 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. UMW Cape Atlantic District News Lou Hyson 192 Hesstown Road Millville, NJ Atlanticdistrictnews@comcast.net