The Call Volume 1, Issue 3 September 2014 Pg. 1 Pg.2 Pg. 3 Pg. 4 Pg. 5 Pg. 6 Inside This Issue A word from the President A word from the Vice- President Proposed changes to Accepted Policies 2015 Slate of Officers Annual meeting registration form Joyce Sohi, Scarritt-Bennett Center. Pg.7 Save the dates for 2015 Pg. 8 Our Purpose Proud to be a United Methodist Woman I am so proud to be a United Methodist Woman and what we as United Methodist Women stand for. We have so many who are studying, working, serving, and living the call to feed hungry people, support people who are homeless, and provide networks of care around people who need our support such as in domestic violence, human trafficking, and racial justice. I hear from all the districts in the TN Conference and wonderful differences that are being made and know that we are living the purpose of the United Methodist Women. God does multiply our efforts. I think that sometimes we feel we are a very small part or unit and really can t do much and we can t by ourselves; however, when we unite, we can do so much. The churches need United Methodist Women committed to carry on the legacy of service started nearly 150 years ago by our foremothers. It is time for all of us to tell our stories. What is your story? We all know that God is with us and has called us to do this work. We as sisters in Christ are committed to growing in faith and action and to make a difference for women, children and youth and will do what it takes to build new ways of being together. This is a changing world and we must be ready to meet the needs of a changing world. Whatever the future brings, our purpose must remain the same: to be united in prayer together and to act together in mission while improving the lives of women, children and youth around the world. The studies that are provided each year at Mission u are very timely and wonderful studies and if you were unable to attend Mission u in July, I hope you will take the opportunity to go to your district study or unit study. You will be blessed. (Continued on pg.2) The Call 1
Proud to be a United Methodist Woman continued Also, we want to remember to support our national mission, Bethlehem Centers of Nashville with our time, prayers, and giving. Come to our annual meeting at First United Methodist Church of Springfield in the Clarksville District, on October 18, 2014. Bring your items and your offering for Bethlehem Centers of Nashville on this day. Items are listed on the registration form. Those of us that went to Assembly earlier this year were refueled to Make it Happen and Just do it. Don t give up. Continue to say yes to Christ s command that you do it then get it done, and do it now! We must march forward and serve together. We will receive, we will be filled and the world will be transformed. We can get it done! One of my favorite Bible verses is Micah 6:8 do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God and another of my favorites is Matthew 28:16-20. Jesus said, "Therefore, Go and make disciples." We can be assured that the Lord will enable, equip and empower us to do everything He asks us to do with the help of Christ who gives us the strength, authority and power. In Sisterly Love Margaret Fisher, President, Tennessee Conference UMW *************************************************************************************** Greeting, Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Galatians 1: 3-5 We have had a great summer and I ask myself where have the time gone. We have accomplished much in our work for God. It has come to that time that we share with one another how God has blessed us in our mission in serving him. We re getting ready for our annual meeting so mark your calendar for the great event October 18, 2014. Our annual meeting will convent in Springfield at First United Methodist Church. Our Speaker is Ms. Andris Salter. She is the Assistant General Secretary for International, National Ministries with Women Children and Youth at Women s Division. Ms. Salter is a dynamite speaker. So get ready to be inspired and motivated. Make your reservation now while it s on your mind. Looking forward to seen each and every one of you in Springfield. Yours in Christ, Jerlean Bass Vice President, Tennessee Conference UMW The Call 2
Proposed Changes to Accepted Policies of the Tennessee Conference United Methodist Women Jerlean Bass, Chair Accepted Policies Committee IV. Financial Policies A. Administration and Membership Development Fund Delete (1) The conference Administration and Development Fund shall not exceed 30%of the undesignated pledges. H. Meetings, Events and Other Agency Expenses 4. Mission u expenses i. Honoraria for staff shall be (4) Teachers $200 j. Mission u being held at a church. (1) The host church will be given the following honoraria listed. When fees are accessed, this honoraria will not be paid. (a) Host church full day $250 per day (b) Host church half day $100 per day 5. Spiritual Life Retreat Expenses (4) Retreat Leaders $250 (5) Child/Youth Worker $ 75 The Call 3
2015 Slate of Officers President Margaret Fisher, Class 2016 Clarksville ** Vice-President Jerlean Bass, Class 2015 Nashville Secretary Eva Byard, Class 2016 Clarksville ** Treasurer Eileen Horton, Class 2015 Murfreesboro Mission Coordinators Education & Interpretation Beverly Duke, Class 2016 Pulaski ** Membership, Nurture & Outreach Mary Swafford, Class 2015 Cumberland Spiritual Growth Olive Davenport, Class 2016 Cumberland * Social Action Charlene Richardson, Class 2015 Cookeville Secretary of Program Resources Esther Sims, Class 2015 Murfreesboro Communications Coordinator Caroline Martin, Class 2015 Murfreesboro Chair, Committee on Nominations Donna Dilts, Class 2016 Cookeville * Committee on Nomination Committee Members Katie Harris, Class 2018 Columbia * Rachel Pace, Class 2015 Clarksville Aquilla Lillard, Class 2015 Columbia Geraldine Heath, Class 2016 Nashville Vicky Lancaster, Class 2017 Pulaski LaSonia Scantling, Class 2017 Nashville Kimberly Murray, Class 2017 Nashville Rochelle Geyer, Class 2018 Murfreesboro * *Nominated for first term **Nominated for second term The Call 4
REGISTRATION FOR 2014 ANNUAL MEETING Clarksville District First United Methodist Church Springfield 511 South Oak Street Springfield, TN 37172 SATURDAY, October 18, 2014 Registration 8:30 to 9:25 a.m. (Must mail prior to October 10, 2014 (Please Copy This and Distribute to Local Units) Name: Address: City/State: Zip: Phone Number: E-Mail: District: Church: Are you a VOTING DELEGATE? ( ) Yes ( ) No Are you a District Officer/Office Held? CHILD CARE NEEDED? ( ) Yes ( ) No Names and ages of Children attending if Yes: Will you bring a unit display? ( ) Yes ( ) No Make checks payable to: Tennessee Conference UMW Mail checks to: Eileen Horton, Treasurer 366 Duckbranch Rd. I am enclosing: Fayetteville, TN 37334 ( ) $15.00 Registration Fee (Includes lunch) (931) 433-0075 ( ) $10.00 for child needing child care eileen@cafes.net Total: ATTENTION ATTENTION PLEASE NOTE: REGISTRATIONS RECEIVED BY THE DEADLINE WILL BE GUARANTEED A PROGRAM BOOK AND LUNCH WALK IN S MAY NOT!!!!!!!!!! SPECIAL PROJECT LOVE OFFERING WILL GO TO BETHLEHEM CENTER -AND- WE WILL BE COLLECTING CAPS, GLOVES, SCARVES, JACKETS, ETC. for the children at Bethlehem Center The Call 5
Fresh Approach to Reading the Bible for Transformative Spirituality This retreat explores fresh approaches to reading the Bible. Participants will learn to engage in contextual Bible studies by exploring how the key themes, characters, points, and concerns of the stories help raise awareness of the issue at the heart of the community/communities involved in the narratives. Using a nesting doll as a tool, we will explore ways to receive gifts from the margins as we listen to voices from the margins. We will also listen to the voice of God in the stories, as God speaks to us in our own contexts. The goal of the retreat is to learn what transformative spirituality is by way of contextual Bible studies, and seek to integrate it in our individual reading of the Bible or in small groups. Dr. Glory Dharmaraj is retired director of spiritual formation and mission theology for United Methodist Women. She is an author and co-author of several books including Concepts of Mission, Mutuality in Mission, and A Theology of Mutuality: A Paradigm for 21 st Century (2014). Glory has led workshops, mission studies, and retreats at various levels for United Methodist Women. She served as a delegate of the World Methodist Council to Edinburgh 2010 World Missionary Conference in Scotland, and chaired a session on interfaith there. Recently she presented a paper on interfaith at the Oxford Institute in England. Her PhD is from Loyola University, Chicago and she has done special studies at Harvard University, San Francisco Theological Seminary and Ecumenical Theological Education at the World Council of Churches, Geneva. She is married to a United Methodist clergy person serving in the New York Conference. Title of Retreat: Fresh Approach to Reading the Bible for Transformative Spirituality Date/Time: Saturday, November 8, 9:00-3:30 including lunch Cost: $50 including lunch Place: International Room, Scarritt Hall, Scarritt-Bennett Center, Nashville If you have any questions, the contact is below. Joyce Sohl Laywoman in Residence Scarritt-Bennett Center 1008 19 th Avenue South Nashville, TN 37212 (615) 340-7540 866-420-5486 www.scarrittbennett.org jsohl@scarrittbennett.org The Call 6
Save the Dates 2015 THEME: Welcomed by God Welcoming All Jan 23-25: Executive meeting and Leadership training Smyrna First UMC Jan 30-31: Snow Date Tentative date: March 21: Social Action Event Cookeville First UMC April 25: Executive meeting Key Memorial UMC, Murfreesboro May 1 & 2: Hands on Work Day UMCOR Decatur, AL June 7-10: TN Annual Conference June 14-17: Mission u training at St. Louis July 15-18: Mission u St. Marks United Methodist Church, Murfreesboro August 8: Executive Team Meeting Chapel Hill UMC Sept 11-13: Spiritual Life Retreat Beersheba October 17: UMW Conference Meeting Chapel Hill UMC Columbia Dist. *** Dates and locations are subject to change. The Call 7
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. We re on the Web!!! See us at: www.tnumw.org 440 Lilly Lane Murfreesboro, TN. 37128 BULK RATE US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 00000 ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED The Call 8
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