The Newsletter of the UMW January * Volume 2017 No. 1 Message from Our President Our Purpose The organized unit of United Methodist Women is 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. In This Issue Our President s message 1 International UMW message 2 Spiritual Growth Report 2 Nominating Committee Report 3 Beersheba Springs Clean-up 4 Corrections to 2017 Yearbook 4 Membership, Nurture, Outreach 5 Member Census Info 5 Mission u 6 Mission u 2017 Study Books 7 Communications The CALL 7 Nashville District Happenings 8 Tennessee District Presidents 8 Officers 9 T-Shirt Order Form 10 Mission u Registration Form 11 Micah 6 8 He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Hello ladies and Happy New Year! As I begin my term as your Conference President, I want to thank Margaret Fisher for her time, talents and service in all that she has done for our Conference UMW. She has been a wonderful mentor and influence to me and I am sure she has to you as well. Margaret, we love you and are so very proud of you as you move on to represent us at UMW National in the Program Advisory Group! Lent will be upon us before we know it. We do, of course, usually give up something we love for that period of time as we remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us. As I think about this, though, I am also reminded of all the wonderful things Jesus gave others as well I think he would be a 5-star member of UMW! While we are giving up something, there are some things we could give as well during this time. Examples would be: Give your time to those who can t get out by going to a nursing home or assisted living and visiting with the residents. Give your time by going to a school or after-school program and reading to young children. Volunteer at a local food bank or food pantry. Now, these are just examples and I am certain that you all can come up with others as well. During Lent, I am going to try to step out of my comfort zone and give some time and service that I do not usually do. While I will be giving of myself, I think I will receive a blessing as well and remember the blessing Jesus is for me. As I meet all of you, I know I will see the Holy Spirit working in all the ways you work together for the mission of women and children. Thank you for all you do. As we begin Lent together, may we be ever mindful of trying to follow in our Savior s footsteps as give ourselves as well. May your Lent be meaningful and spirit filled. Blessings to you and yours Nita Wright President, UMW nita_wright@bellsouth.net January 2017
A Report from our National United Methodist Women Program Advisory Group Ephesians 2 10 For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. We are ready, we are leaders, and we share a faith and a purpose. United Methodist Women is doing small things somewhere, which leads to big things everywhere. Celebrate your United Methodist Women s story. Be connectional and intentional. Be on the lookout for unexpected blessings. We do not work alone. Is the old way working? Please do not see the boundaries of our offices, our conferences, our locations. Please see opportunities and take a chance to learn from someone new, a chance to find out that our conference is working on a similar issue as another. It is scary to make that first phone call or send that first email, to make that initial request for help, but remember we are strong United Methodist Women with unexpected blessings. Christian Social Action leads the organization in a focus on four new priority areas as we begin this quadrennium. : They are: Criminalization of Communities of Color Climate Justice Economic Inequality Maternal and Child Health Encourage and insist that more and more are using the internet and checking out everything on line. This is where you can find out and read so much more about what The United Methodist Women organization stands for and what we are doing. Work has begun and is in full swing planning the 20 th Assembly on May 18-20, 2018 in Columbus Ohio. Be thinking ahead about it now. The early registration fee is $295 if paid by November 30, 2017 and regular registration fee is $330 with an April 9, 2018 deadline. I truly enjoyed the meeting in Houston, Texas on August 27-29, 2016 and we have our next meeting at Scarritt Bennett, March 3-6, 2017. I truly missed being with you at the Training Meeting at Smyrna UMC, but know that you had a great meeting and training session because you are all the best. Margaret Fisher, National United Methodist Women Program Advisory Group (PAG) mboyde@clarksville.net Spiritual Growth Give light and people will find their way home. Copied from Channel 5 TV Ladies of the Tennessee Conference, here we are ready to put our heads together to plan our Spiritual Life Retreat. Mark your calendars now for September 8-10, 2017. I will be contacting people to fill positions for the weekend. Please pray about your desire to make the retreat a wonderful experience for those who attend. If called to help, think how much what you are asked to do could maybe make a difference for that weekend. We know it takes a village to raise a child; it also takes all hands on deck to make a retreat on a beautiful mountain top one that will inspire them to return. I am looking forward to September 8-10, 2017, to once again see God s beautiful majesty. God is always with us. In prayer for all people, Olive Davenport UMW Spiritual Growth Coordinator treenorris07@gmail.com 2 January 2017
Social Action Jill Rutter with End Slavery Tennessee, along with an Agent from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, will be our guest speakers You Are Invited to a Social Action Event Human Trafficking Saturday, April 8, 2017 Bellevue United Methodist Church 7501 Old Hardin Pike, Nashville, TN \ Fellowship and Coffee: 9:00 ~ 10:00 am Event Program: 10:00 am ~ 12:00 Noon www.endslaverytn.org The mission of End Slavery Tennessee is to promote healing of human trafficking survivors and strategically confront slavery in our state. An offering will be taken for End Slavery Tennessee. Please make plans to join us for this important event! Box EM UP to Stop Human Trafficking The football phrase "in the box" is used to describe a rectangular formation that the defense employs to prevent the offensive team from intercepting. During this Super Bowl season, United Methodist Women wants to create a box of protection around the victims of human trafficking who have been boxed into a life of despair and a belief that there are no possibilities for freedom. We're using boxes - open or closed, decorated or plain, stacked or alone to symbolize the ways in which we are intercepting criminal trafficking and providing support to its survivors. Join our virtual barricade of boxes! Take pictures of your boxes and share them with other United Methodist Women members through social media with the hashtag #UMWBoxEmUp. During your next event, stack boxes to represent United Methodist Women acting in solidarity with others to intercept the traffickers. Organize a flash mob of box holders United Methodist Women style. Join your boxes in a partnership event with organizations headed by women from different cultural or faith communities. For additional information, visit http://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/humantrafficking Aquilla Lillard Mission Coordinator for Social Action United Methodist Women annaquilla77@gmail.com Cell 615-308-6505 Home 615-368-7268 3 January 2017
Mission for Education and Interpretation Calling everyone who would be willing to spend some time gardening and painting to make our spot on the mountain more beautiful! We will gather on Saturday, April 22 at 9:00 am. Bring garden tools, gloves, paint brushes if you can or just bring yourself, friends and family. Come when you can, stay as long as you can. Lunch will be available so let me know if you plan to have lunch. If anyone would like to stay for dinner, the cost will be $12 and I will need a count for that as well. A Work Day at Beersheba Springs IMPORTANT REMINDERS One day only Saturday, April 22 (Earth Day) 9:00 am. Lunch $9.50 per person. I will need a count of those who plan on attending by April 12. Everyone welcome. Encourage youth groups and men to join us women of UMW. See you on our beautiful mountain Beersheba Springs Donna Dilts Mission Coordinator for Education and Interpretation donnadilts@gmail.com 931-787- 9229 cell 931-787-3873 home. Secretary s Note of Corrections to 2017 Yearbook At the recent leadership training day I passed out the Conference Directory to all Conference & District officers. The following corrections were given to me and I have updated my directory. I have listed them by page number to make it easier for you to find them. Page 5: Olive Davenport s e-mail should be: treenorris02@gmail.com Page 9: Valerie Lavery s e-mail should be: vwlavery@hotmail.com Carol Rose Ashcraft s phone number should be: 931-358-9409 Page 11: Dee Stewart s e-mail should be: padstewart1942@yahoo.com Page 13: Remove Peggy Kilgore as she has had to resign. That position is vacant Page 15: Remove Ann Boone as she has had to resign. That position is vacant Suzanne Winton s e-mail should be: swinton@umcdiscipleship.org Page 17: Robbie Hooper s address should be: 1103 Glasgow Drive, Murfreesboro, TN 37130 Linda Malone s e-mail should be: llmalone41@yahoo.com Page 19: The secretary s position has been filled so please add: Helene Kreigh, 860 Murfreesboro Pike, Apt. H24, Nashville, TN 37217 Phone number 260-402-9501. She is the Class of 2018 and her e-mail is: helene.kreigh@yahoo.com\ Linda Smith s e-mail should be: beadweavr1215@yahoo.com Mary Helen Marigza s phone number should be: 615-269-6852 Page 20: Remove Mary Dunn as she has had to resign. That position is vacant Page 21: Beverly Duke s phone numbers should be: (H) 931-762-4342 (C) 931-629-0457 Again thank you and please keep me updated about any other corrections or additions. Eileen Horton UMW Secretary 931-433-0075 ehorton194272@gmail.com 4 January 2017
Membership, Nurture, Outreach Attention all District Membership, Nurture and Outreach Coordinators: The Census is due from each individual Local Church UMW Unit on March 30, 2017. The web site to enter the information for the 2016 Census is: Log on to www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/myumw and when it comes up scroll down to Survey-Membership Log-United Methodist Women. Please delete any other information that was passed out at Leadership Training in January. The Web Addresses For Videos with information and instructions are as follows: https://youtu.be/zaznoml6+4 https://youtu.be/hyfhj9cdp4g https://youtu.be/ozrqo1+71mw Webinar: UMW Assembly 2018 (9/30/16) Each Local Church UMW Unit is to complete the Census by going on line, follow instructions and complete the report. Email a copy to their District Membership, Nurture and Outreach Coordinator, who will in turn email their District Census to Mary Swafford at swaffos@att.net We need to continue to keep our records locally. Thank you Mary Swafford Membership, Nurture, Outreach Coordinator United Methodist Women swaffos@att.net Nominating Committee A Call to Leadership What if someone offered you a two-year program of education free of charge? What if they said you would receive not only traditional learning but hands-on training as well? What if they told you that the "class" would be a close supportive community of women who care deeply about the same things you care about and that the work would be part of the long continuing story of women involved in mission? YOU have a chance to share such an opportunity with the women in your conference. Not only will there be good training, excellent resources and a supportive community, but they will be putting their faith into action. PLEASE pray and think about sharing your talent with the mission work of the Tennessee Conference UMW. We are prayerfully waiting to hear from YOU! A Nominating Committee Member will get back to YOU Please send us the following information: Tell Me How to Share My Talent with United Methodist Women Name Phone E-mail Please send the above information to: Katie Harris 2981 Beasley Road Chapel Hill, TN. 37034. or email to: kh14@united.net text to: 931-637-1778 or call 931-364-7330. Blessings, Katie Harris UMW Chairperson of Committee on Nominations 5 January 2017
What is Mission u? Mission u July 12 15, 2017 Wednesday Saturday St. Mark s UMC, Murfreesboro Mission u is Engaging Studies, Community Building, and Dynamic Worship. Mission u brings us together to explore the implications of our Christian faith in today s contexts. Participants learn and discuss together study topics related to spiritual growth, a geographic area and a current issue. Who attends Mission u? What are the 2017 Studies? Women, Men, Youth, and Children Spiritual Growth Living as a Covenant Community This study examines major covenants throughout the Bible and what they reveal about God s character and eternal love for us. It will enhance your understanding of how God works with us, in us, and through us. Geographic The Missionary Conferences of the United Methodist Church The aim of the study is to give an overview of the three missionary conferences in The United Methodist Church: The Alaska United Methodist Conference, Red Bird Missionary Conference, and the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference. What does the future look like for these conferences? Social Issue Climate Justice: A Call to Hope and Action Invites you to understand climate justice which means setting right our relationships with each other and the earth. Youth In Mission Together: A youth Study on Missionary Conferences 2017 Mission u Tentative Day Schedule Thursday: Registration 8:30 10:00 am Opening Session 10:00 am Dinner 5:30 pm Friday:. Morning Praise and Plenary 8:30 am Dinner 5:30 pm Saturday: Class 8:45 10:45 am Closing Plenary and Communion 11:00 am Mission u Registration Form 2017 attached. See Page 7 for study book information 2017 Mission u Tentative Night Schedule Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: Dinner 5:00 5:45 pm Class 5:45 7:45 pm Saturday: Class 8:45 10:45 am Closing Plenary and Communion 11:00 am Lila Beasley Mission u Dean United Methodist Women landbbeasley@united.net Cell 931-580-5557 6 January 2017
Mission u 2017 Study Books These books may be order from: http://www.umwmissionresources.org Or from your District s Program Resources Secretary. Communications The CALL IMPORTANT INFORMATION!! The CALL will be delivered by email only to those members whose email addresses have been sent to the Communications Coordinator. We will not send the newsletter via USPS. We suggest that each President of local units print the Newsletter as a black and white document then copy it for all those who would like to have their personal copy of The CALL. We hope that this will work for your UMW members. If you have questions regarding this, please contact Nita Wright, President of TN Conference UMW. 7 January 2017
Nashville District Happenings Spring District Meeting Saturday, March 25 9-11:30 AM Belmont UMC 2007 Acklen Avenue Nashville, Tennessee Carpooling is highly recommended. Growing in Community Let us build bridges in our community; Fellowship with Sister UMW Units; sing, worship, learn. Child care will be available. Our speaker: Shaikh/ Yasser S. Arafat About Mr. Arafat : Peace Ambassadors USA, President. Former Board Member & Dir. of Education @ Islamic Center of Nashville. Former vice president and cofounder of the Islamic Center of Tennessee Born in Yemen, Yasser Arafat migrated to the US in 1991. After living in Brooklyn NY, in 1995 he moved to Nashville and worked with Nashville Metro Schools as an ESL Parent Liaison. He also taught English and translated books primarily for Metro Schools, the Tennessee Department of Education, and NPT. In 2000, Mr. Arafat became a Board Member and Director of Education at the Islamic Center of Nashville. Towards the end of 2010, he participated in founding the Islamic Center of Tennessee (ICTN). Today, ICTN is one of the largest Islamic Centers in the U.S. In 2012, stepping down from his role as vice-president, Mr. Arafat founded Peace Ambassadors USA. Mr. Arafat has traveled extensively, nationally and internationally, expounding on religious matters and engaging in interfaith dialogue. He is a widely known public speaker in the college/university circuit, churches, and mosques where he delivers Friday sermons at local and national Mosques. Mr. Arafat holds a Master degree in Islamic Studies and pursuing his doctorate in the same field. His undergraduate degree is in Political Science with concentration in Law and a minor in International Relations. Margaret Cornell, President Nashville District UMW mfmcornell@gmail.com Bellevue UMC Tennessee UMW District Presidents Clarksville District Terry Guertin 1581 Dotsonville Road Clarksville, TN 37042 mrstguertin@gmail.com Columbia District Vonna Sue Nelson 125 Sunnyside Lane Columbia, TN 38401 nelsonlynn@att.net Cookeville District Charlene Richardson 26 Holly Court Crossville, TN 388 charlene40@frontieret.net Cumberland District Demetra Poelinitz 647 North Blythe Street Gallatin, TN 37066 demetrapoelinitz@yahoo.com Murfreesboro District Lila Beasley 14 Virgil Beasley Road Chapel Hill, TN 37034 landbeasley@united.net Nashville District Margaret Cornell 753 Albar Drive Nashville, TN 37221 mfmcornell@gmail.com Pulaski District Joy Shackelford 1184 E. Jefferson Street Pulaski, TN 38478 931-363-9519 National United Methodist Women Program Advisory Group (PAG) Margaret Fisher 1558 Barrett Drive Clarksville, TN 37043 mboyde@clarksville.net margaret.fisher@printxcel.com Cell 931-338-5537 Work 931-431-4947 8 January 2017
2017 Conference United Methodist Women Officers President Nita Wright Class of 201 203 Brookhaven Trail Murfreesboro District Smyrna, TN 37167 Cell 615-828-9279 nita_wright@bellsouth.net Home 615-459-9279 Vice President Jerlean Bass Class of 2017 4965 Alexis Drive Nashville District Antioch, TN 37013 Cell 615-390-6870 jerleanb@hotmail.com Secretary Eileen Horton Class of 2018 366 Duck Branch Road Murfreesboro District Fayetteville, TN 37334 Cell 931-808-0402 ehorton194272@gmail.com Home 931-433-0075 Treasurer Karen Maynard Class of 2017 1600 Lakeshore Drive Murfreesboro District Murfreesboro, TN 37130 Cell 931-580-1366 karenabmaynard@gmail.com Mission Coordinator for Education and Interpretation Donna Dilts Class of 2018 72 Beverly Hills Circle, Apt. 1 Cookeville District Crossville, TN 38555 Cell 931-787-9229 donnadilts@gmail.com Home 931-787-3873 Mission Coordinator for Membership, Nurture, Outreach Mary Swafford Class of 2017 353C Cummings Lane Cumberland District Gallatin, TN 37066 Cell (615) 584-0532 swaffos@att.net Mission Coordinator for Social Action Aquilla Lillard Class of 2017 6700 Arno Allisona Road Columbia District College Grove, TN 37046 Cell 615-308-6505 annaquilla77@gmail.com Home 615-368-7268 Mission Coordinator for Spiritual Growth Olive Davenport Class of 2018 710 Hill Avenue., Lot 7 Cumberland District Nashville, TN 37310 Home 615-244-5443 treenorris07@gmail.com Secretary of Program Resources Esther Sims Class of 2017 204 New Rock Creek Road Murfreesboro District Tullahoma, TN 37388 Home 931-455-2668 auntejs@yahoo.com Communications Coordinator Cassandra Sloop Class of 2018 1211 Hickory Point Road Clarksville District Clarksville, TN 37043 Cell 931-249-2163 cassandra.sloop@gmail.com Chairperson Committee on Nominations Katie Harris Class of 2018 2981 Beasley Road Columbia District Chapel Hill, TN 37043 Home 931-364-7330 kh14@united.net 2017 Committee on Nominations Committee Members LaSonia Scantling Class of 2017 1013 Blue Mtn Lane Nashville District Antioch, TN 37013 Cell 615-364-3963 favor1624@gmail.com Home 615-868-7735 Kimberly Murray Class of 2017 4272 Chesney Glen Drive Nashville District Hermitage TN 37076 Cell 615-232-8130 kimberly.murray@bellsouth.net Home 615-319-1227 Rochelle Geyer Class of 2018 1514 Buckingham Drive Murfreesboro District Murfreesboro TN 37129 Cell 615-624-1649 bradgeyer61@comcast.net Home 615-962-8330 Diane Baird Class of 2018 1199 Salem Road Clarksville District Clarksville, TN 37040 Cell 931-216-7234 mdnbaird32@charter.net Home 931-645-3269 Gayle Likens Class of 2019 14 Dockside Drive Cookeville District Fairfield Glade, TN 38558 Home 931-456-2448 rongayle@frontier.net Jane Ann Slaughter Class of 2019 1744 Darks Mill Road Columbia District Columbia, TN 38401 Home 931-380-8960 janeslaughter0@gmail.com Dixie Waters Class of 2019 312 East Hill Avenue Columbia District Lewisburg, TN 37091 Home 931-359-9661 dswdew@bellsouth.net Kathy Booker Class of 2020 P O Box 11194 Nashville District Nashville, TN 37222 Cell 615-714-3327 bookerk2@aol.com Home 615-889-0881 Mission u Dean Lila Beasley Class of 2018 140 Virgil Beasley Road Murfreesboro District Chapel Hill, TN 37034 Cell 931-580-5557 landbbeasley@united.net Mission u Assistant Dean Melva Nunnery Class of 2018 125 Abby Lane Cookeville District Byrdstown, TN 38549 Cell 931-445-4271 munnery@twlakes.net Home 931-864-3515 9 January 2017
The UMW is selling shirts with the conference logo. Any profit made from the sale of the shirts will go towards Legacy Fund Fundraiser. Please contact Karen Maynard with any questions. Shirt Order Form Date Option 1: Navy Blue Polo with logo as below: Sizes: XS 4XL Size: Price: $20 Add $1 for each size above XL Total: $ Option 2: Navy Blue ¾ Sleeve Button Down with logo as below: Sizes: XS 4XL Size: Price: $25 Add $1 for each size above XL Total: $ Total Submitted: $ for # of shirts Name Address Telephone Email: Please mail all order forms with payment to: Karen Maynard, 1600 Lakeshore Drive, Murfreesboro, TN 37130 SAVE THE DATE March 23 3rd Annual United Methodist Women Day of Giving Karen Maynard Treasurer United Methodist Women 1600 Lakeshore Drive Murfreesboro, TN 37130 Cell 931-580-1366 karenabmaynard@gmail.com 10 January 2017
11 January 2017