President's Message: Hi Girls I hope you all are enjoying this fall weather! Many of us have recently returned from Beersheba where we attended the Conference Spiritual Retreat. It was, as usual, wonderful, and I hope we all took the opportunity to refresh and renew our souls! We missed those of you who couldn't go and hope we will see you next year. Last year, when you did the evaluations of our district annual meeting, several of you mentioned that you would like to have a question and answer session from your district officers. We have also had some stumbling blocks with our district training in February with snow fall, causing us to use our snow date and wreaking havoc on our host churches and your schedules. We are, therefore, going to try something new regarding this: 1. At our Annual Meeting (Nov 8 th ), we will recognize you all for the work you have done, but we will not be handing out certificates during the meeting. We will have a table set up in the narthex with your awards. You may pick them up as you come in. 2. We will use some of the time we have used for presenting certificates for your officers to come down front and we will have an informational session. Please be sure to bring any questions you have for us and if we don't have the answer-- we will find it for you!! 3. JoyLea Robertson, our Chair of Nominations, along with her committee, will have a table in the narthex with talent blank forms. Please prayerfully consider filling one out if you would like to be involved as a district officer or volunteer in some other capacity for 2015. Can you believe we are already having to think about this? We hope these changes will help to positively respond to your input and make the best use of your time. And, as always, please don't hesitate to contact any of us if you need information, assistance, or a visit! On another note, while we know we still have two months in order to get our pledges in, at this time, we are running around $10,000 short of what we as a district pledged for 2014. We hope, of course, that we will all catch up in time for Lila to send our money to Conference, but I just wanted to encourage all of us to be informed. We hope all of our units will prayerfully consider this as we march on toward the end of the year. Our district has always been so good about making our pledge and going a little above and beyond and we thank you for that and for what you will give in the future. In more news, Joyce Clark and I are working hard to plan Mission U for 2015; please keep us in your prayers as we go about our work. Agains, thanks for all you wonderful women do for the mission of women and children - I look forward to seeing you November 8 th at Murfreesboro FUMC!! Blessing to you and yours, Nita
Glenda McBee needs your 2015 Officers lists including Names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses. This is essential in preparing the 2015 Directory. This will also be used to mail Newsletters, information, etc. PLEASE GET THIS TO HER IMMEDIATELY. gmcbee25@hotmail.com or 2422 Highway 82 South, Shelbyville, TN 37160 (931-695-5443) Zone Leaders Bedford County Martha Hitt (931) 684-7607 Cannon County Phyllis Robinson (615) 563-8540 Coffee County Naomi Tramel (931) 455-7337 Franklin County Jane Ricci (931) 962-1378 Grundy County Rene Brothers (931) 467-3014 Moore County Alice Gray ---- (931) 759-4429 Rutherford County Jean Malone ---- (615)-962-7968 District Officers 2014: President Nita Wright Vice-Pres Phyllis Smith Secretary Glenda McBee Treasurer Lila Beasley Spiritual Growth Dianne Davis Social Action Rene Brothers Program Resources Cheryl Jackson Member, Nurture & Outreach Brenda Crowson Communication Linda Stimpson Education & Interpretation Judy Gambill Nominations Chair Joy Lea Robertson Nominations Fran Brazier, Betty Nelms, Sandy Hill, Jane Cortner Do you have something of interest that might inspire another unit with what you are doing for missions near and far? Send the editor, Linda Stimpson or Mission Coordinator, Rene Brothers a note and we will share your good news!!
Report on MINI RETREAT at Lynchburg First/Brandon Chapel UMC What a great time we had a Lynchburg First. We came dressed in our pearls, hats, gloves and fancy dresses and explored what it means to be a part of the King's Royal Family. Our Retreat was led by Cassie Urban in a Royal-Tea and she did a GREAT job. Thanks to the Lynchburg First UMW and Brandon Chapel UMW for being wonderful hostesses. We all enjoyed looking at and buying the beautiful teapots that were on display. I just love mine! Thank you to all that came to experience this great time of fun and worship. If you missed the retreat this year, I hope you will be able to join us next year. Your sister in Christ, Diane Davis, Spiritual Growth Coordinator BETHEL UMC (Rutherford) TOY STORE Bethel UMC will be hosting our toy store again this year. Last year we helped over 200 kids - around 75 families. God is calling our church to step out in faith once again, to reach out to our neighbors in need, by helping those families whose children may not have a Christmas this year. We are asking your unit to take this step with us by donating new toys, books, games and stuffed animals for boys and girls from birth to 18 years old. Items will be collected until November 30 th. The date of this event will be Saturday, December 13 th from 9:00 AM til 5:00 PM at 4286 Sulphur Springs Road, Murfreesboro, TN. Tickets will be given out to qualified families on Friday, December 5 th from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. To participate in the program, families will have to provide proof of residence in Rutherford County and proof of each child with birth certificate. If you need further information or you would like to talk to someone about other areas your unit may help, please contact Cassie Urban at 615-217-6313 or 615-289-0575. If your unit is not able to help this year, we ask that you be in prayer for Bethel UMC that all our needs will be met and that the families we help will see the love of Christ through us. Thanks for any help your unit can give to help the children and youth of Rutherford County. Your sister in Christ, Diane Davis, Bethel UMC
Gift to Mission Ladies, remember to honor someone with an undesignated Gift to Mission. This is a wonderful way to show appreciation for someone special in your life and increase your Mission Giving. Would you not welcome a card saying money had been donated in your honor?!?!?!? Cards are available for: Christmas Congratulations In Christ Service New Baby Peace Special Day Thank you Minimum Donation - $5.00 Available through District Treasurer, Lila Beasley SOCIAL ACTION UPDATE Thirty-nine women participated in the field trip to Thistle Farms on Wednesday, 9/10/14! Thistle Farms is a residential program and social enterprise of women who have survived prostitution, human trafficking and addiction. Our trip included a tour of their facilities where candles, body and lip balms, lotions, and geranium sprays are made, packaged, and shipped. We learned that the geranium products keep mosquitoes away and relieve hot flashes, too! We also visited the studios where paper products, like greeting cards and hard bound journals, are constructed from recycled items and the sewing room where fabric coasters and hot pads are made. We concluded the morning with a delicious lunch at the Thistle Stop Café. It, too, is manned by the program participants. If you would like to help this life-changing ministry, visit their website at www.thistlefarms.org or their Facebook page. We had the opportunity to purchase their products, and you can too! Rene Brothers, Social Action Coordinator H (931) 467-3014 or C (931) 841-5437
District Annual Meeting Murfreesboro First United Methodist Church 265 West Thompson Lane, Murfreesboro, TN Saturday, November 8, 2014 Speaker: Rev. Paula Smith Registration: 9:30 AM Meeting: 10.00 AM Lunch: $7.00 Call Zone Leaders by Saturday, November 1 st Please submit names of those attending. (If you submit your name, you are responsible for the cost of lunch even if you do not attend) Zone Leaders, call Rochelle Geyer at 615-962-8330 by Sunday, November 2 nd. 2014 Conference Annual Meeting First UMC Springfield Registration form enclosed in this newsletter or go to TNUMW.org and download a copy You must mail the form prior to October 10 th to be registered! Think on this: When I think about God's love I tend to dwell upon all the good things He has done for me. But then I must stop and realize that even when circumstances have been hard or the way unclear, God has still surrounded me with His love. God's love is just as real and just as powerful in the darkness as it is in the light. And that is why we can have hope! Every day I turn to the Bible to give me strength and wisdom for the day and hope for the future. Its words have seen me through good times and bad through times of happiness and grief, health and sickness, victory and disappointment. God's Word can do the same for you. Rev. Billy Graham from Hope for Each Day I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20