Greenwood District UMW Annual Meeting Yields Blessings Abound!

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1 Greenwood District United Methodist Women News A Plenty HARRIET CRESWELL, PRESIDENT DECEMBER, 2016 ISSUE LINDA KIDD, EDITOR Greenwood District UMW Annual Meeting Yields Blessings Abound! In her presentation to the attendants at this year s Annual Meeting of Greenwood District UMW, Rev. Valerie Mireb, Pastor of St. Paul UMC in Ninety Six, used the story of the Samaritan Woman in John 4 to help her audience focus on their blessings. Just as the Samaritan woman went out and testified to others how Jesus had caused her to be blessed to be a blessing, so are we to do that today. Page 1 - December, 2016 News A Plenty Taking part in the Annual Meeting program were (left to right) Carol Marse, Greenwood District Vice President; Harriet Creswell, Greenwood District President; Rev. Valerie Mireb, Guest Speaker; and Sarah Deal, Greenwood District Treasurer. During the business meeting, district units were recognized for their achievements in A 2017 budget of $30,000 to the UMW Conference was approved. A special thanks to the ladies of St. Paul UMC in Saluda for their hospitality (left to right): Maggie Wills, Choir Director, for her beautiful solo; Bonnie Sawyer, Nancy Grasso, Mary Ann Bayer, Janice McDaniel, UMW President; and Dianne Easterlin.

2 News from District President By Harriet Creswell, President, Greenwood District UMW I am so proud of the work done by the units in the Greenwood District. I received endof-year reports from 36 units, out of the 81 churches in the district. It was reported that these units have a total of 832 members. This is most likely not the total number of women who are active in our units, as some units did not send in reports. However, the work done by the units who reported is impressive. Donations to the various missions supported by the South Carolina Conference totaled more than $33,000. We did not quite make our goal this year, but will again strive to make it next year. Attendance at our Annual Meeting at St. Paul in Saluda was 69. This was down from previous years. The women from St. Paul did a wonderful job in making us feel welcome. Everything from the breakfast food to the displays of mission projects to the beautiful music to the most hospitable hostesses made the morning perfect. Thank you very much to Janice McDaniel, unit president, for coordinating this for us. At the meeting, we were able to get two women to step up to the plate to serve on our executive team. Thanks to Mary Lynn Polk and Deborah Nantz for agreeing to serve. Thanks also to Mary Ann Bayer for agreeing to serve as cluster leader. We are still in need of others willing to serve in positions of leadership in the Greenwood District. I am hopeful as we move into The units in the Greenwood District are doing extraordinary work. Some units with as few as 6 members are providing supplies for Hospice, for several shelters for the homeless, for the backpack program, for Thanksgiving dinners for the needy, for Christmas gifts for children, and on and on. We are the heart of the United Methodist Church. It is my hope that you will have a joyous Christmas season and come into 2017 ready to continue the great work you do for women, families, and children, to keep faith, hope, and love in action. Merry Christmas! In This Issue Harriet Page 1 Annual Meeting Coverage Page 3 News from VP/Secretary s Request Page 2 President s Message Page 4 & 5 Conference UMW Mission Trip Page 5 Carol Bailey s District Mission Blessing Page 6 Calendar/Reminders/Update from Baileys Page 7 Local UMW Officers Training Notice Page Greenwood District UMW Officers Page 9 Legislative Advocacy Day 2017 Page 10 Spiritual Growth Retreat Information Page 10 Membership-Nurture-Outreach Update Page 11 Spiritual Growth Retreat Registration Page 2 - December, 2016 News A Plenty

3 Important Message From Greenwood District Secretary, Betty Swann The Information Below Is Needed From Your Church As Soon Possible - Thank You! Please Send This Completed Form To: Betty Swann, 164 Ellie Drive, McCormick, SC or to baswann@wctel.net 2017 UMW Officers From Church President: Address: Phone Number: Cell Number Address: Vice President: Address: Phone Number: Cell Number Address: Secretary: Address: Phone Number: Cell Number Address: Treasurer: Address: Phone Number: Cell Number Address: Nominations Chair: Address: Phone Number: Cell Number Address: Spiritual Growth Coordinator: Address: Phone Number: Cell Number Address: Social Action Coordinator: Address: Phone Number: Cell Number Address: Education/Interpretation Coord.: Address: Phone Number: Cell Number Address: News from District Vice President By Carol Marse, Vice President, Greenwood District UMW I pray that all of you will have a special Christmas this year, taking time to enjoy the wonder and peace our Savior's birth brings to the world. In reality, it will be a busy, busy time with baking, shopping and decorating filling our hours! Whatever your holiday brings, I hope you have a wonderful one!! Before we know it, 2017 will be here, and our activities begin again! The Greenwood District UMW Executive Board will have the Officers Training for Unit Officers at Main Street United Methodist Church on January 21, Registration begins at 9:30 and the meeting begins at 10:00. The District Day Apart will be March 4, 2017 at O'Neal Street UMC in Newberry. Thank you to Main Street UMC and O'Neal Street UMC for hosting these events! Carol Page 3 - December, 2016 News A Plenty

4 SOUTH CAROLINA CONFERENCE UNITED METHODIST WOMEN Mission Trip April 3-6, 2017 Washington, DC The 2017 Mission Trip is planned for a four day/three night trip to Washington, DC. There we will visit the United Methodist Building on Capitol Hill; this is the only non-governmental building on the square capitol. At the UM building we will have a one day seminar on Human Trafficking and we will also have a service day at a mission project recommended by the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society. While there we will have time to visit some historical sites in Washington, DC such as The Roosevelt Memorial, the newly opened Museum of African American Museum which is near the White House, the Cherry Blossom Festival, the Washington Monument, there will be lots of things to see and do. The cost of the trip is $275 per person to include your travel and lodging. Each person will be responsible for their meals. We are seeking lodging in Springfield, VA within 10 miles of Washington, DC. A complete schedule for the trip will be sent after receipt of the second payment. Cost of Trip $275 (See Registration Form on Page 5) Mail form and remittance to: $100 & registration form due December 31 st Mary A. Jenkins $100 due January 31, 2017 P.O. Box 1938 $75 due February 25, 2017 Orangeburg, SC (H) (C) agjenki52@att.net Nominations Committee Needs Volunteers! As you can see from the 2017 Greenwood District UMW Officers listing on page 8 of this newsletter, there are several vacancies for members of the Nominations Committee. This group needs to begin meeting early in 2017 in order to have time to complete the 2018 slate of officers nominations for the September 23, 2017 Annual Meeting. Please contact Harriet Creswell, President, at harrietcreswell@embarqmail.com or (864) if you are willing to serve in this capacity. Thank you! Page 4 - December, 2016 News A Plenty District Officers Attend Officers Training Event Attending the District UMW Officers Training event at Virginia Wingard UMC in Columbia on November 5 were (standing-left to right) Cathy Trevino, Social Action; Harriet Creswell, President; Maureen Spencer, Conference UMW President; Brenda Bruner, Cluster Leader; Linda Kidd, Communications; seated (left to right): Deborah Nantz, Spiritual Growth; Sue Mitchell, Membership; and Betty Swann, Secretary.

5 MISSION TRIP 2017 Washington, DC April 3-6, 2017 Registration for Travel Please complete all information on this form. One form person to be submitted along with necessary registration fee. Additional copies can be made. PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE Name Address City, State, Zip Home phone: Emergency Contact: Phone: Medical problems that we need to be aware of: Cell phone Alternate phone: Doctor s name and phone number: Cost of trip: $275 includes travel & lodging $100 deposit due December 31, 2016; $100 due January 31, 2017 and balance $75 by February 25, 2017 Return form and remittance made payable to SCCUMW to: Mary A. Jenkins agjenki52@att.net P.O. Box 1938 (H) Orangeburg, SC (C) Deadline December 31, 2016 Specific travel information will be sent when all details are completed. Page 5 - December, 2016 News A Plenty Carol Bailey Receives District Blessing It was a special time for the Greenwood District UMW when Carol Bailey of McCormick UMW (right) was recognized at the Greenwood District Annual Meeting. Rev. Valerie Mireb (center) gave a special blessing for Carol s service as a missionary in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Carol and her husband Phil assumed roles of pastoral leadership at the English speaking congregation there in mid October. Looking on at left is Carol Marse, Greenwood District UMW Vice President. For those units interested in keeping up with and supporting the Baileys ministry, their best contact method is through . Their address is plcjbailey@gmail.com. For a message from Carol, please see page 6 of this newsletter.

6 Greenwood District United Methodist Women 2017 Calendar of Events January 21, 2017 Local Unit Officer s Training Main Street UMC, Greenwood February, 2017 News-A-Plenty Articles Due February, 2017 Special Emphasis Month Wallace Family Life Center February 12, 2017 Executive Committee Meeting Location TBA February 21, 2017 Legislative Advocacy Day Epworth Children s Home March 4, 2017 Greenwood District Day Apart - O Neal Street UMC, Newberry, SC April 3-6, 2017 UMW Mission Trip, Washington, DC April 28-29, 2017 Spiritual Growth Retreat, Lake Junaluska, NC May 20, 2017 Come Together, Be Together Cumberland & Central UMC, Florence, SC June, 2017 News-A-Plenty Articles Due July, 2017 Special Emphasis Month Rural Missions, John s Island July 27-29, 2017 Mission u, Spartanburg Methodist College August, 2017 News-A-Plenty Articles Due August 6, 2017 Executive Committee Meeting Location TBA September, 2017 Special Emphasis Month Killingsworth Home September 23, 2017 Greenwood District UMW Annual Mtg-Grace UMC, North Augusta, SC October 27-28, 2017 SCCUMW Annual Meeting, Union UMC, Columbia, SC November, 2017 Special Emphasis Month Bethlehem Center, Spartanburg December, 2017 News-A-Plenty Articles Due Update From Carol and Phil Bailey Greetings to my Greenwood District Sisters in Christ! We are doing well and are finally getting somewhat settled. We have been in our permanent place of living for over two weeks now and are loving it! Things are going well at the church; with many of the challenges of any church. We have had an average of 60 every Sunday since we arrived. After January 1, it will really start to increase quickly. We had a nice Thanksgiving Day dinner at the church with about 70 attending. We are thankful for your prayers for us, and we plan to send updates to you in the News A Plenty so that you can follow and be connected with our ministry. Our contact information is plcjbailey@gmail.com. Page 6 - December, 2016 News A Plenty Blessings, Carol

7 Greenwood District UMW Local Officers Training Event 2017 A New Beginning for United Methodist Women Saturday, January 21, 2017 Main Street United Methodist Church 211 North Main Street, Greenwood, SC Featured Speaker: Dr. Stephen Love, Greenwood District Superintendent Who Should Attend: All 2017 Local UMW Unit Officers & Any Members Who Want to Learn More About United Methodist Women 9:30 A.M. Registration Begins 10:00 A. M. Worship Service Begins 10:30 A. M. Breakout Training Sessions 12:00 Noon Conclusion Lunch On Your Own for All Attendants Each UMW Unit is Encouraged to Send at Least One Officer or Member! Page 7 - December, 2016 News A Plenty

8 2017 Greenwood District UMW Officers OFFICE NAME HOME PHONE ADDRESS President Harriet Creswell (864) McCormick Hwy. Bradley, SC mail.com Vice President Carol Marse (803) Seagull Lane Prosperity, SC Secretary Betty Swann (864) Ellie Drive McCormick, SC Treasurer Sarah Deal (864) Port Royal Drive Ninety Six, SC Communications Linda Kidd (864) P. O. Box 225 McCormick, SC Program Resources Barbara Gates (864) Cothran Avenue Greenwood, SC Social Action Cathy Trevino (864) Siloam Acres Drive Greenwood, SC Spiritual Growth Deborah Nantz (803) Audubon Circle (803) Belvedere, SC Membership Sue Mitchell (864) Virginia Street McCormick, SC Educ/Interpretation Mary Lynn Polk (864) Curl Creek Greenwood, SC Historian Zella Williams (864) Yorke Drive Greenwood, SC Nominations Chair Nominations Linda Woods (864) Ronnie Drive Nominations Greenwood, SC Nominations Cluster 1 Leader Wilma Doyle (864) Woodhaven Court grewil7@embarqmail. Greenwood, SC Cluster 2 Leader Carol Struck (864) Wolf Den Place rstruck1@wctel.net McCormick, SC Cluster 3 Leader Cassandra Daniels (864) Panther Drive cassandradd@embarq Ninety Six, SC mail.com Cluster 4 Leader Joyce Crouch (803) Crouch Drive hmcrouch@peoplepc.com Kinards, SC Cluster 5 Leader Mary Ann Bayer (864) P. O. Box 137 Saluda, SC Cluster 6 Leader Brenda Bruner (803) Border Drive brendabruner100@com (803) Belvedere, SC cast.net com Page 8 - December, 2016 News A Plenty

9 Legislative Advocacy Day 2017 Passion, Vision, Action As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is also dead. James 2:26 NIV Tuesday, February 21, 2017 (Weather make-up day Feb. 28) Epworth Children s Home 2900 Millwood Ave., Columbia, SC :00-9:30 Registration (no on-site registration) 9:30 Welcome 9:45 Greetings 10:00 Invocation 10:10-10:55 Epworth update-rev. John E. Holler, Jr., President, Epworth 10:55-11:10 Break 11:10-12:05 Workshops 12:05-1:05 Lunch 1:05-2:05 Keynote Speaker-Clara Ester, UMW National Board, Vice President 2:15 Tours of Epworth Children s Home - -Cut and Return bottom portion - Registration Fee $20 (includes material, lunch and parking) Postmark deadline Feb. 13, 2017-Late registration $30-space limited to 400 attendees Make checks payable to SCCUMW. Send form and fee to Rebecca W. Eleazer, 5116 Burke Ave., Columbia SC, Name Phone Address City zip Please check and complete all that apply to you: UMW Member and District Non-UMW member Invited your state legislators to attend (list names only if they are attending) Senator Representative Special Dietary Needs Childcare needed Child s age (please bring lunch and snack for your child) Please circle ONE Workshop option Public Education Issues Maternal & Child Health Human Trafficking Awareness Page 9 - December, 2016 News A Plenty

10 Greetings fellow UMW Sisters, New It is now time to prepare to come together in unity at the beautiful lakeshores of Lake Junaluska, NC. The lake is wondrously crafted with calm waters and scenic mountain tops to enhance your spirituality. It is an atmosphere filled with God s love and grace. This year s spiritual retreat will offer a community of diverse fellowship, dynamic spiritual worship services, communion service, a spiritual treat from our very own Limitless Team, Morning Watch at the foot of Junaluska Cross and a spiritual walk along the stunning flowery path of the lakeshore. This walk will be spiritually engaging as we march onward observing God s uniquely handcrafted mountains. We will be led by His spirit, allowing His peace to come upon us. Additionally, the Junaluska Cross is a place where you can rest, meditate, and worship. The 2017 SCCUMW Spiritual Growth Retreat will be held on April 28 th 29 th. Our theme for this year s retreat is One In Charity. The keynote speaker will be Rev. Pattie Gordon from Aiken, SC. Come be a part of a spiritual experience that s life changing and restoring. Past guests have referenced this retreat as a rejuvenator and a preparer for servitude. If you want to partake of this wondrous experience please refer to the registration form on page 11 of this newsletter. You may also visit our South Carolina Conference UMW website to find additional information or contact Elizabeth Duncan, the registrar, at or contact me at Membership-Nurture-Outreach By Sue Mitchell, Membership-Nurture-Outreach Coordinator Thank you to all of you who were able to report your membership numbers last year. The UMW s across the nation did such a good job that this year s reporting has been changed again. You will not only fill out a form that is slightly longer than last year, but you will also be asked to have each member of your unit to get on a computer and fill out a form about herself. Of course, you can ask her the questions and enter the information yourself, if you prefer to do so. The most important thing for you to do is to report about your unit. You can report at: census2016 The instructions for filling out these forms is too long to include in the newsletter. My goal is to send the instructions to each of you in the next few days. The reporting is due March 30, I will be happy to try and answer questions prior to December 24, After that date, I will not have phone or computer availability. We appreciate all you do for the UMW and your patience with this new form. Blessings, Sue sueamitchell41@gmail.com Evelyn Pauling Conference UMW Spiritual Growth Coordinator Page 10 - December, 2016 News A Plenty

11 2017 Spiritual Growth Retreat Registration Form South Carolina Conference United Methodist Women April 28-29, 2017 Lake Junaluska Conference Center-Lake Junaluska, NC For Registration Information, contact Elizabeth or THEME: ONE IN CHARITY Name (please print name as you wish it to appear on nametag) Address City zip Phone # District Church address YOU MUST MAKE YOUR OWN HOTEL RESERVATION Call for hotel reservations Check all of the following that apply: First time Under 40 NOT staying at the Lake Junaluska Conference Center In case of emergency please contact Phone ONLY 1 retreat this year. Registration deadline is April 15, 2017 FEE $10 Registrations postmarked April 16 or later-fee $15 *** FEE $20 if commuting (not staying at LJ Conference Center) Make check out to: SCCUMW CUT HERE AND RETURN TOP PORTION TO REGISTRAR LISTED BELOW Friday, April 28- Registration: 1:00-3:45pm 4:15pm-5:30pm 5:30-7:00pm 7:30-8:45pm 9:00pm 9:00-9:35pm 7:00-7:30am 7:30-8:30am 8:00-8:45am 8:30-9:00am 9:20am 1:00pm-4:00pm In the Bethea Welcome Center Retreat registration after 4pm in Stuart Auditorium UMW Resource Room-Room 202 Harrell Center Session I-Stuart Auditorium-Room 202 Harrell Center Dinner-Meal Ticket Required Session II-Stuart Auditorium Evening Workshop-Bistro Room Harrell Center UMW Resource Room-Room 202 Harrell Center Saturday, April 29 Morning Watch: Spiritual Walk-Memorial Chapel and at the Cross Inclement Weather-Lambuth International Room Breakfast-Meal Ticket Required UMW Resource Room-Room 202 Harrell Center Suggested Hotel checkout and key return at Front Desk Session III-Stuart Auditorium Send Registration along with fee (payable to SCCUMW) to: Elizabeth Duncan 45 Foreman Hill Rd. Bluffton, SC Hotel & Retreat registration will be in the Bethea Welcome Center. Take Exit 103 and drive about 1 mile until you see Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center front entrance gate on the right. Turn right and Bethea Welcome Center will be on your left. Page 11 - December, 2016 News A Plenty

12 Greenwood District United Methodist Women c/o Linda Kidd, Editor P. O. Box 225 McCormick, SC We re on the web: Click on Greenwood District A good place to find forms when needed. 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. Page 12 - December, 2016 News A Plenty