No. 3 A Publication of the Mississippi Conference United Methodist Women August 2016 Call to the Twenty-Eighth Annual Meeting A Past to Remember.A Future to Pursue Perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. United Methodist Women of the Mississippi Conference are called to gather Friday, October 7 th, at 7:00 p.m. at Anderson United Methodist Church in Jackson, Mississippi, for a service of praise and worship. The West Jackson District is hosting this year s annual meeting, and it promises to be a beautiful and memorable event. Following Friday s worship service, we will have a reception upstairs at the church. This year s music will be the provided by the Choir of Anderson UMC. If you haven t reserved your rooms at the Cabot Lodge please do so by September 23, 2016. The phone number is 601-957-0757. Our theme this year should remind us that as United Methodist Women we need to remember our past and why we were started and that our future is in the young women of tomorrow. May this year s annual meeting bring us together in the fellowship of Jesus Christ so that we can go out and pursue what the future has in store each and every one of us. ****Please Note: We will be giving gifts cards to our designated Mission Center: Bethlehem Center in Jackson. We are asking all local organizations to brings Walmart Gift Cards to the Annual Meeting and we will present them to the center. These should be $10.00 gift cards but bring as many as you would like so that we can bless this center with our gifts because they are a blessing to so many. Purpose of United Methodist Women The 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.
REGISTRATION FORM Twenty-Eight Annual Meeting of United Methodist Women Friday and Saturday October 7-8, 2016 Anderson United Methodist Church Registration: Friday 3:00p.m. - 6:00p.m. Cabot Lodge Hotel; Saturday 7:00a.m. - 8:15a.m. Anderson UMC Mail Form with checks to: Annie Cassidy, 3163 Love Road, Lexington, MS 39095 Registration Deadline: September 23, 2016 Name: Address: District: Church: Check as many of the following as applicable: Local Officer: Name of Office: District Officer: Name of Office: Conference Officer: Name of Office: Member Conference Leadership Team Past Conference President of UMS, WSCS, or Guild Voting Delegate (See Standing Rule A 1, Page 65) Child Care: How many and what are their ages: $5.00 per child per night (0-10 years old) $30.00 registration fee includes lunch $20.00 registration fee no lunch Cabot Lodge (Primary hotel) 120 Dyess Road Ridgeland, MS 39157 601-957-0757 Room rate: $89.00 Book by: September 23, 2016 Holiday Inn Express & Suites (Overflow hotel) 6485 Frontage Road Ridgeland, MS 601-977-6111 Room rate: $90.00 Book by: September 16, 2016 Hotel Information:
Annual Meeting Schedule Anderson United Methodist Church Jackson, MS Friday, October 7 th Anderson United Methodist Church 3pm 6:00pm Registration Cabot Lodge Hotel 4:00 pm-5:30 pm Book Room Open 4:00p.m.-6:30 pm Exhibits 7:00 pm Praise and Worship Service Following Praise and Worship Reception Hosted by West Jackson District ****************************************************************************************** Saturday, October 8 th Anderson United Methodist Church 7:00am 8:15am Registration @ Anderson UMC 8:00 a.m.-8:45 a.m. Book Room Open Exhibits 8:30am 9:00am 12:30pm Gathering Music Saturday Morning Plenary Business Session Lunch/Sending Forth
MISSISSIPPI CONFERENCE UNITED METHODIST WOMENNECROLOGY REPORT FORM August 1, 2016 to July 31, 2017 District Name of Church Unit or Circle In Memory of (Print Name) Date of Death Please write a short biography of the woman listed above. List positions held, contributions and achievements made in the organization of United Methodist Women. Make copies of this form if you have more than one woman who passed away during this time period. DO NOT USE MORE THAN THIS SPACE. SPACE IS LIMITED IN THE IN MEMORY SECTION OF THE ANNUAL MEETING PROGRAM BOOK. RETURN THIS COMPLETED FORM TO: Linda Stepko, Conference MNO, 185 Anderson Rd., Hattiesburg, MS 39401. OR e- mail to lindastepko@aol.com Information from this form is used to compile the IN MEMORY section listed in the program book for the Annual Meeting in October. Any forms received after August 1, 2017 may not be included in the program book. THIS FORM CAN BE SENT TO ME AT ANY TIME. Do not wait until the last minute. Name of person submitting form: Phone # e- mail address
Arlean Hall Retreat Center, Inc. 2016 Arlean Hall Mission Grants The mission grants are available to Mississippi United Methodist churches and agencies. Each applicant must demonstrate a project or need for ministry for women, children and families. Grants are based on the interest of a short term account at the Methodist Foundation. Grants range from $500.00 to $1,840.00 with a total award of $18,755.00. Brookhaven District Columbia Valley United Methodist Church 3 rd Thursday Suppers East Jackson District Christ United Methodist Church Susanna Stitchers Sewing Ministry Crossgates United Methodist Church Back Pack Buddies Ministry McLaurin Heights United Methodist Church Back Pack Ministry Greenwood District Revels United Methodist Church I Challenge You, Inc. Hattiesburg District Parkway Heights United Methodist Church Beyond the Lunch Table Back Pack Program Williamsburg United Methodist Church Field House for the Homeless Meals & Spiritual Growth Meridian District Choctaw Mission Dreamcatchers Philadelphia Frist United Methodist Church God s Closet New Albany District Belmont United Methodist Church Helping Methodist Children s Home of MS Wheeler United Methodist Church Diakonia Outreach Ministries
Frances Perry Scholarship A Brief History The Frances Perry Scholarship is a scholarship fund of the United Methodist Women in Mississippi. The fund was set up in 1978 by Mr. E.V. Perry to honor his late wife, Mrs. Frances Perry of Rolling Fork, Mississippi, a past president of the former Mississippi Conference. It was originally set up for women going into the mission field of the Methodist Church. The program has evolved through the years with donations from United Methodist Women across the state. Scholarships up to $1,500 are now available for women and men in the junior, senior and graduate years of college who are interested in working in projects or institutions of the United Methodist Church. It is renewable for three additional years if a grade point average of 3.0 is maintained at an approved institution. The chair- person and members of the Frances Perry Scholarship Committee are appointed by the UMW Conference President. The United Methodist Women of Mississippi are asked to donate at least $4 per member to keep the scholarship program going beyond the original amount donated. The Scholarship Account has approximately $41,000.oo. We are awarding $15,000.00 in Scholarships this year leaving a balance of around $26,000.00. Your donations are relied upon to keep the scholarship fund going. God s blessings have abounded and the fund has been able to keep up with the need because of the generosity of UMW. Please continue to send in your donations to help up provide scholarships to pastors in the Mississippi Conference. Thanks for your support, Mary Dalton, Chairperson Frances Perry Scholarship Committee 2016 Dorothy Carter (1) Conference President Annie Cassidy (2) Conference Treasurer Marilyn Rowland (4) Maudie Benton(2) Elaine Tinsley (1) Cindy Long (1) Kathleen Smith(1) Diane Reynolds(2) Conference Secretary
Frances Perry Scholarship Recipients for 2016-2017 Recipient College Home Church Haven Boyd University of MS Oxford Calvary UMC Kristina Crabtree Asbury Theological Seminary Meridian Central UMC Michelle Dailey Gammon Theological Seminary Oxford Providence UMC Nick Georgian Emory University Wiggins First UMC Katherine Giedd Asbury Theological Seminary Hattiesburg Parkway Heights UMC Amber Gray Candler School of Theology Southaven First UMC Chelsey O. Hedglin Vanderbilt Divinity School Oxford University UMC Wayne Hill Memphis Theological Seminary Senatobia First UMC Caleb Holder Memphis Theological Seminary Cleveland First UMC Trey Skaggs Asbury Theological Seminary Columbus First UMC
UMW Tee Shirts still available! Our pink UMW tee shirts turned out so well, we are offering them for sale again at Annual Meeting. The cost is $12. You may pre-order to reserve your shirt or shirts by sending your check to Mary Dalton by September 15. You may pick them up at Annual Meeting in Jackson October 7th and 8th Indicate size and quantity. Small Med Large Extra Large 2x Large 3x Large Your Name Your Email Your Address Amount enclosed Make checks payable to MS Conference UMW Send check to: Mary Dalton 9520 Attala Road 4167 Sallis, MS 39160 Securing The Mississippi UMW Legacy -Scrapbooking 101 Celebrating 150 years of United Methodist Women Guidelines We are asking that each District have their cover page done for this Annual Meeting, you will also need to provide an easel to display your board. Each District is asked to do 2 Poster boards (for the front and back of the book), highlighting District Activities. Each Local Organization is asked to do a Poster board (1 side only to highlight local activities Please leave a 3 inch space on the left or right side of poster board for binding area. Coordinators will tell local organizations which side to leave the 3 inch margin on. Each district will purchase the poster boards for the local organizations. District Scrapbook Coordinators are asked to make sure that churches complete pages by providing materials needed. Please remember to use copies only of pictures, documents, etc. because we cannot ensure that they will be returned. Each District is asked to have their book completed by next year s Annual Meeting (2017) Contact Person: Mary Simpson
Mississippi Conference United Methodist Women District Officer s Training/Update Saturday, November 5, 2016 Parkway Heights United Methodist Church Hattiesburg, Mississippi Saturday, November 12, 2016 St. Mark United Methodist Church Tishomingo, Mississippi Two opportunities for training and updating the work of each UMW officer will be offered again this year. You may attend either one of these training sites. When your Conference counterpart contacts you, let her know which you will attend. These sessions are VERY important as we begin to put new ideas into place to update the work of United Methodist Women. Those who are continuing in their positions should make an extra effort to attend to update the work they are already doing. ALL District Officer s, whether new or continuing, should take advantage of this opportunity to learn about the responsibilities of your position, to receive information to use in training your local organization officers, and to interact with your District counterparts. Your Conference officers will be prepared to assist you in any way they can. They will share information with you about the responsibilities of your office. You will have an opportunity to tell what you are doing in your District and to share your successes and concerns. Registration is at 9:00 a.m. with the opening session beginning at 9:30 a.m. The meeting will conclude by noon. DISTRICT OFFICERS WE WILL SEE YOU EITHER IN HATTIESBURG OR TISHOMINGO!! 13
From Your Editor Definition of Communication (From Merriam-Wbster): 1. the act or process of using words, sounds, signs, or behaviors to express or exchange information or to express your ideas, thoughts, feelings, etc., to someone else 2. a message that is given to someone: a letter telephone call, etc. 3. the ways of sending information to people by using technology. Please communicate the PURPOSE of UMW, don t assume all the women of your church know what UMW is and what we do. Put articles in your church newsletter and feature meetings in the Sunday bulletin, don t forget to post flyers inviting others to special events. You may want to create a Facebook page for your unit. and always use written invitations for special UMW events. Share our PURPOSE!!!! Get your pastor(s) involved with the PURPOSE of UMW. The Mississippi Conference of UMW has a great web page, don t forget to send information to Cheryl Farr so that it can be highlighted on the web site. And last but not least personally invite a woman to a meeting or event. Cynthia Willis Communications Coordinator danddw@hotmail.com (h) 601-681-4155 Publish Month Article Deadline Distribution Date February January 31 February 27 April March 31 April 27 August July 31 August 27 To Subscribe to the Beacon, send $5.00 to Conference Treasurer and indicate that you would like to subscribe to the Beacon by January 15 of 2017. This a yearly subscription.
Mississippi Conference of United Methodist Women 2016 Officers President-Dorothy Carter 113 108th St. Amory, MS 38821 (662)-256-5857 dotcarter0004@yahoo.com or dcarter@amoryschools.com Vice President-Teresa Bankston 1717 Stillwater Dr. Gautier, MS 39553 (228) 217-0635 nslsutigers@yahoo.com Secretary-Diane Reynolds 3248 Mountainview Place Meridian, MS 39301 (601) 616-0240 reynoldsmdf@bellsouth.net Treasurer-Annie Cassidy 3163 Love Road Lexington, MS 39095 (601) 613-1931 cassidy_e@bellsouth.net Secretary of Program Resources-Tela Collins P.O. box 445 Winona, MS 38967 (662) 417-1565 telacollins@gmail.com Communications Coordinator-Cynthia Diann Willis 206 Joseph St. Meridian, MS 39305 (601) 681-4155 danddw@hotmail.com Mission Coordinators Education and Interpretation- Suzanne Guthrie P.O. Box 1313 Wiggins, MS 39577 (601) 408-3493 suzy@jgguthrieandsons.com Membership Nurture and Outreach Linda Stepko 185 Anderson Rd. Hattiesburg, MS 39401 (601) 585-9417 lindastepko@aol.com Social Action-Dot Portis 786 Jasmine Court Jackson, MS 39206 (601) 362-8666 dhportis@bellsouth.net Spiritual Growth-Janice Stenmark 112 Devereaux Dr. Madison, MS 39110 (601) 853-00459 jansten20@gmail.com Chairperson, Committee on Nomination Cindy Mason 100 Overlook Drive Brandon, MS 39042 (601) 825-0708 cndygm2@aol.com 2017 Mission u Dean- Jackie Pennington 707 Tenth Avenue Cleveland, MS 38732 (662) 843-8139 15
17