The Clarion M A Y 2 0 1 8 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: A Message from our President 2 Social Action Day Flyer 3 Annual Day Update form the Vice-President 4 Spiritual Growth Retreat Update 5 Mission U Update 7 A Word from the Nominations Chair 9 Education and Interpretation Report 10 Conference Calendar 11
P A G E 2 A Message from our President
P A G E 3 The Memphis Conference Social Action Day August 25, 2018 Jackson First in Jackson, TN. Registration begins at 9:00am, The Program will be held from 9:30am to 2:00pm. Our hope is to keep all of the churches in the Memphis Conference aware of these important issues that so many people face, what can be done about it and where they can get help. We plan to have handouts for everyone to take back to their churches to give out when they do their workshop for their group. The registration forms will be on the Memphis Conference UMW page soon. For more information contact Robin Mathews by phone 901-949-2891 or by email mathews.robina@gmail.com.
M A Y 2 0 1 8 P A G E 4 Annual Day Update from our Vice President City Lights Spreading Faith, Hope, and Love in Action is the theme for Annual Day 2018. Planning committee members attending the Spiritual Growth retreat at Lakeshore participated in the initial planning meeting for the event to be held Sept. 29 at Covenant United Methodist Church. Metro Mission Market will showcase items for sale to support United Methodist Women s missions. Talented ladies are encouraged to design, construct, and donate items for purchase by those of us who appreciate their work. The planning committee will meet in August to finalize plans for Annual Day. Anyone who has suggestions for consideration, please send them to donmyra@wk.net. In Christ s Service, Myra Cleaver, Conference UMW Vice President
P A G E 5 Spiritual Growth Report from Pat Dunker Hello! Hope this finds everyone doing well! We ve had our annual Spiritual Growth Retreat at Lakeshore. And it was wonderful. Our speaker, Amanda Westmoreland was so good! The theme was Guest of Grace; Cultivating Habits of Hospitality. She not only told us that we are God s guests, but showed us how to extend that grace to others. She showed us, through the Bible, how Jesus sent his disciples out to be guests of grace. It s certainly going to be something I take with me through life. And there were a couple of things missing; Gary wasn t there to greet us! This is the first retreat I ve attended that he wasn t there. He and his wife, Vicki are on a well-deserved cruise. Gary we missed you and we hope the two of you had a wonderful time - see you next year! Due to circumstances beyond her control, Joyclyn couldn t make it this year. She sent regrets and prayers for a grace filled retreat. We send you our prayers, Joyclyn. We missed you! I really would like to thank Virginia Turnage and Marsha Clayton for graciously stepping up for the music. We were very blessed with their gifts and graces. And while the level of Spirit was very high, attendance was way down. We only had 42 there. We didn t have any children register. I d like to ask why people didn t come. And I ll give you the opportunity to answer that privately. You can send the emails to patdunker@bellsouth.net, or send a letter to Pat Dunker, 220 Frankie Lane, South Fulton, TN 38257. I promise all of you that, while reasons and comments may be shared at a later date, your names will not. Also, please consider this; we might go back to a Saturday/Sunday retreat. Our younger women mostly work during the week; how about giving them an opportunity to enjoy this? I understand some may have obligations at Church. Do you think they could cover for you one Sunday out of the year so you can recharge? Pray about this, Ladies this retreat is a needed time of renewal, fellowship and Spiritual Growth. How can we recharge it? Talk about it in your Unit meetings. Let me know of any suggestions you have. We have Mission U coming up, and it promises to be a great event. Hope to see you there! Always remember; God is near; you may be by yourself, but you re never alone.. Grace and peace, Pat
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Updates from the Dean of Mission U Hey Y'all, everyday we get closer to our 2018 Mission u event. Before you know it July 20th will be here and we can't wait to see you!!! Our studies are set, study guides available, and our study leaders have been trained and are excited to share with you. We hope you're ready to be apart of Education that will Transform the World. Please come expecting: Great Worship and Joyful Singing; Super Class time of Learning, Studying and Sharing; Fantastic Fellowship, Food and Fun. When you leave Mission u you will be equipped to share what you have learned with others. You will be ready to put what you have learned into ACTION so that we together can make a difference in our communities, country and around the world. WOW, what an awesome opportunity!!! See the attached registration form. Heads up, hotel deadline for the Hyatt is June 28th. (Their date, due to limited availability of rooms and at that rate). We Can Hardly Wait to See Each of You. We begin at 9 am on Friday and end at 2:30 pm on Saturday. Deborah Poole, Dean Email: dpoole52@bellsouth.net Cell # 901-834-3253 Joyclyn Wilson, Assistant Dean Email: Joyclyn.wilson@gmail.com. Cell # 901-378-6190 P.S. 1st Don't forget to invite your Pastor (easy continuing Ed Hours-8 hours of study time), friends, youth and children. We will have classes available from 1st Grade through 100... 2nd Please bring a small handful of soil from your yard or your favorites place, this will enhance our opening Plenary (Worship time). See You Soon
2018 Memphis Conference Mission U July 20-21 2018 Crossroads UMC P A G E 8 Conference Contact: Dean, Deborah Poole (901) 834-3253 Assistant Dean, Joyclyn Wilson (901) 378-6190 Registration forms and information on the Memphis Conference Website
P A G E 9 A Word from the Nominations Chair The Nominating Committee is currently working on securing a slate of officers for the Memphis Conference United Methodist Women Executive Committee for 2019-2020. I hope, if you are called, that you prayerfully consider serving. The benefits are great in working with and getting to know some wonderful, awesome Methodist women. You will learn new skills, gain confidence, and most importantly, will be a significant part of the United Methodist Women in Mission. Our biggest need now is to enlarge our nominating committee. We do a lot of work by telephone and meet only 2-3 times a year at Conference meetings. If you feel you could serve on the nominating committee, or know of someone who might, please contact me at 901-465-1364 or at Methodistwoman61@gmail.com.
M A Y 2 0 1 8 P A G E 10 Education and Interpretation Report from Marilyn Ramsey From the desk of Marilyn Ramsey, E & I Coordinator It is a glad day when spring has finally arrived! I know you all are tired of drab o l winter. It is time to gear up for all that is good in God s kingdom. One of those things is to check and make a list of all the activities your unit is accomplishing this year. In doing so, your unit will receive a Mission Today certificate at your District Annual Meeting. We have made some changes to the criteria even since last yea so if you have an older Mission Today form please recycle the paper and use the newer forms that are on the FORMS page of the Clarion. Part of my job is to inform and educate UMW members on what is happening in the Conference. I am going to list some of the Conference events for you to plan on participating in. If you need more info please don t hesitate to call me or your District E & I Coordinator. Mission U is in Collierville at Crossroads UMC on July 20 and 21. Conference Annual Meeting is at Covenant UMC on Sept 29 Both of these events have pre-registration forms so look for them on the FORMS page or in the Clarion itself. These reports are to be sent to your District E & I by the dates needed. Mission Studies reports by June 15. Candle Burning reports by Aug 15 Mission Today report by Aug 15 Being a Green Unit report by Aug 15 You might also remind your program resources person that the Reading Program report needs to be turned in by Aug 15 also. You are important to the kingdom of God here on earth. Thank you for being faithful to the task. Marilyn Ramsey 731-414-8461 (I like texting best) marilynramsey@me.com
Conference UMW Calendar Month/Date Name Time Church May 18-20 Assembly 2018 Columbus, Ohio June 3-6 Annual Conference Paducah, KY June 30 Mission study info to Marilyn Ramsey July 20-21 Mission u Crossroads UMC August 1 Clarion Deadline August 11 Mission Team 9:30 AM Milan UMC Committees: Membership, Finance, Program Lunch 11:45 AM August 25 Social Action Day 9;30 AM Jackson First August 15 August 15 August 55 Mission Today to Marilyn Ramsey Reading Program to Deborah Vaughn Candle burning to Marilyn Ramsey September 30 Annual Day Covenant UMC November 3 MNO TBA November Leadership Development Days TBA November 1 Clarion Deadline HAVE AN INSPIRING STORY? Please send you pictures in Jpeg or PNG format and your articles in Microsoft Word or rich text form by the appropriate Clarion Deadline. I have list my information below so please don t hesitate to contact me. JOYCLYN WILSON (Metro) 901-378-6190 62 North Main St., Apt. 1003, Memphis, TN 38103 joyclyn.wilson@gmail.com