A Message from Lila: In Lamentations 3:22-24 we read: The LORD'S unfailing love and mercy still continue, Fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise. The LORD is all I have, and so in Him I put my hope. GNT I am reminded of this scripture often as it is the favorite of a good friend. Just a few weeks ago we were privileged to visit with meredith Burton and hear her life story. We were also blessed by her music. The experience was moving in a number of ways. As I sat and listened, I was reminded of the Lamentations passage. For a few moments every ear was attuned to Meredith. Every heart was filled with love for her and her Mother. I dare say no one person was focused on anything except the sharing of a heart that lives for God. How I pray that I could awake each morning with my heart stayed on Jesus. How I long to remain focused on Jesus for just one hour. Why is that so hard? We were reminded over Easter weekend that even Jesus' disciples had the same dilemma. Did Jesus not ask His disciples the same question? So he said to Peter, 'Can't any of you stay awake with me for just one hour? Matthew 26:40. Then, I think of the love and heartfelt kindness that binds United Methodist Women especially those of the Stones River District. Each time we are together I find it easier to keep my mind on Jesus. I find myself surrounded by people who love God and make Him their focus. How I thank God for each of you! ========================================================================== Thanks to a good friend for suggesting I set up a Facebook page for our Stones River District UMW. This task has been accomplished. Many of you are already members of the group. Please spread the word to all who use F/B. Do not wait for me to post. Let us know what is happening in your unit. ========================================================================= I am looking for someone to accept the role of official Stones River District UMW photographer. We need to capture our times together. Let me know if you are interested. Blessings to you, Lila To contact Meredith Burton: She has a facebook page : meredith burton Also, she is the author of Crimilia. Check it out!.
Zone Leaders Bedford County Linda King (931) 703-1233 Cannon County Phyllis Robinson (615) 631-4166 Coffee County Naomi Tramel (931) 455-7337 Franklin County Jane Ricci (931) 962-1378 Grundy County Rene Brothers (931) 467-3014 Marshall County Dee Stewart (931)364-7642 Moore County Fran Brazier (931) 759-7682 Rutherford County Jean Malone --- (615) 962-7968 (Call your zone leaders to register for district events (book study, Mini Retreat, etc). District Officers 2018: President Lila Beasley Vice-Pres Brenda Crowson Secretary Robbie Hooper Treasurer Rene' Brothers Spiritual Growth Sherry Freeman Social Action Linda Malone & Penny Christoph Program Resources Trish Hubbard Member, Nurture & Outreach Phyllis Smith Communication Linda Stimpson Education & Interpretation Henri Green Nominations Chair Dee Stewart Nominations Virgie Summers - Phyllis Robinson Frances Earle Nancy Warden PROGRAM RESOURCES FROM TRISH HUBBARD I will be bringing study books to the Mission Study at Pleasant Grove on April 21 st. I will have the Missionary Conference study book as well as the study books for Mission U. You may also purchase the book for the Beersheba Conference. It is $8.00 and checks for that book need to be made out to Tennessee Conference UMW. If you are purchasing books for your UMW unit, PLEASE be sure to get a receipt which will be needed for unit audits. I hope you are enjoying the Reading Program Books this year. They are very inspirational and informative. They stretch us to read about topics that we may not know much about but are considered important enough by UMW to include in the Reading Program. Happy Reading!! Trish
SPIRITUAL GROWTH NEWS Lewisburg FUMC is already making plans to host our Mini-Retreat on Saturday, August 18 th. Our theme will be Prominent Ladies in the History of UMW. We will be inspired by the stories of Sadie Tillman and others. If you would like to present a particular lady, please let me know. I look forward to seeing many of you on this special day. Until then, be aware of God's many blessings all around you in creation, among your family, friends, and co-workers-- and especially among UMW members!! You may also notify me anytime of deceased members to be acknowledged at our Memorial Service in November. Sherry Freeman, Spiritual Growth Leader, dsefreeman@aol.com 931-580-6297 call or text. ************************************************** CHRISTMAS SHOEBOXES - Brenda Crowson, Christmas Shoebox HUB Contact As I am writing this article for the district newsletter, I realize spring just arrived and we are planning Christmas Shoeboxes! It is time to check out your box(es). I will have them for you to pick up along with instructions at Mission U and the Mini Retreat (will not be able to attend the Mission Study on April 21 st as I will be at Sager-Brown in Baldwin, LA but the supplies might find their way there!). Call me at 931-247-3010 with any questions that come up. We are doing the Spanish translation of the Christmas Storybook again this year. Remember: 1) return your box(es) to Wesley Heights UMC, 2101 E. Lincoln St, Tullahoma. DEADLINE to have the boxes back to the HUB church is September 4 th but please call me so I can make sure someone is at the church for drop off 2) do not overfill and make them bulge but do not under fill! 3) list the age and sex of the child and list all items you pack in the box 4) do not cover the Custom form on the sides of the box, but you can decorate the ends and the top with crayons and old Christmas cards 5) bring cash or your check ($5.00 per box) when you return the boxes, please make sure your check is written to STONES RIVER DISTRICT UMW Thank you for helping to make Christmas an enjoyable holiday for a lot of children Brenda Crowson, Stones River District UMW, Christmas Shoebox HUB Contact
Reading Program correction: President, Diannah Carrington from Murfreesboro First UMC reports: Their Reading Program Participants were somehow omitted from the newsletter in January, but it is too good to not tell you. FUMC has over 25 women participating in the program. Not all of the members completed Plan 1 (reading 5 books) but in 2017 they read a total of 125 books with some of the women completing their goals of 5, 10, 15, and 20 books read. They reported 3 readers for Plan 1, 1 reader for Plan 2, 3 readers for Plan 4. What an inspiration to all UMW!! I need to read faster. News From GROW of Murfreesboro UMW: Upcoming events Friday, May 18 th Yard Sale at Salem UMC Garage (4072 Old Salem Rd, Rockvale, TN) 7-11AM and 3-6PM; Saturday, May 19 th, 7am-1pm. Located corner of Old Salem Rd/ Rucker Lane. Proceeds to fund Community Feeding Program. Sat. June 9 th Pancake Breakfast at Farris Chapel Fellowship Hall (2914 Barfield Rd, Murfreesboro. Proceeds will fund the Old Leb UMC building fund (located corner of Barfield Rd and Veteran's Parkway. CORRECTIONS: 2018 DIRECTORY (Going on To Perfection) from Robbie 1) Bethel Rutherford: Information for President and Vice President Reversed. 2) Smyrna First: Phone number for Norma Hawk - 615-330-4608 3) St. Johns UMC: Church Address is 17300 Cainsville Rd, Lascassas, TN 37085; Treasurer Annie Murray's Phone Number: 615-896-3561 4) Dee Stewart's corrected e-mail: padstewart1942@yahoo.com 5) Robbie Hooper's new e-mail: hooper.robbie.m@gmail.com Send future corrections and admonishments to hooper.robbie.m@gmail.com Paul's Labor for the Church Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become a servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. Colossians 1:24-28
TN Conference News: Rise Against Hunger Sat. May 5 th 9:30 AM Smyrna FUMC They will be putting together about 10,000 meals for the hungry! There is no age restriction for participation. Come and help. Mission U Update July 12-13 th St. Marks UMC, Murfreesboro. Peggy Owen will be leading the What About Our Money Class. Register now for July. Forms are included in your 2018 DIRECTORY Material. ########################################### Stones River Mission Book Study #2 Saturday April 21, 2018 Missionary Conferences Pleasant Grove UMC 1597 Highway 130 West, Shelbyville, TN 37160 Teacher: Joyce Clark Registration: 9:00 AM - Study Begins: 9:30 AM 2:30 PM Co-hosts Rich Valley/Pleasant Grove/Flat Creek Lunch Provided - $7.00 Units notify your zone leader with names of those attending and staying for lunch by Thursday, April 12 th. Zone leaders notify Cheryl Jackson cagnesj@aol.com 931-680-6320 or 931-639-0313 by Friday, April 13 th. Stones River District Mini-Retreat Saturday, August 18, 2018 Lewisburg First UMC McKnight Center 416 West Church Street, Lewisburg, TN Speakers- Prominent Ladies in the History of UMW Registration: 9:00AM Meeting: 9:30 AM til 11:30 AM Breakfast will be provided - cost $3.00 Units notify your zone leaders by Thursday, August 9th Zone Leaders Notify Shelby Gomez 931-359-1182 by Friday August 10 th.
Social Action Update - Linda Malone John 14:12 Jesus Said, Very truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the work that I do and in fact, we do greater works than these. As United Methodist Women, we strive to answer the call that Jesus gave his disciples. March 5 th, 6 th, and 7 th, our Stones River District UMW units were represented by volunteers at the UMCOR facility in Decatur, Alabama. These three days were very productive. We verified health kits, birthing kits, layette kits and flood buckets. Each kit packed by local units must be opened by volunteers to make sure that they meet shipping regulations. The group also sorted and boxed a half ton of linens that had been donated and will be shipped to hospitals in Haiti. Great fellowship was shared by the group!! You do not have to be in a group to volunteer. Call the UMCOR facility in Decatur at 256-341- 9961. On March 17 th, the Lynchburg Unit hosted 109 ladies for Day Apart. The units donated 212 health kits, 73 school kits and $1244.00 which is $522.00 in cash donations over the postage required for all the kits and the toothpaste for the health kits. After sharing a delicious breakfast, we were blessed by the witness, in word and song, of our speaker Meredith Burton from Cedar Grove UMC. A very blessed day was shared by all!! Being part of United Methodist Women teaches us how to be the hands and feet of Christ, offering Christ to a hurting world. ************************************************************************** Don't forget to sign up for Mission U and Beersheba Spiritual Life Retreat. Where are the forms?? IN YOUR DIRECTORY MATERIAL. If you have not picked up your Directory and all the wonderful stuff in it, contact Robbie Hooper.!! Shout out to Pastor Keith Caldwell what an awesome job teaching the book Covenant Community. When God makes a Covenant, He never changes his mind. He is Forever and His Covenants are Forever. +++++++++++ Do you have something of interest that needs to be announced to the District? Please send Linda Stimpson (lastimpson@gmail.com) news, information on activities, how God is working in your unit, how God has blessed you.
Murfreesboro District UMW Financial Statement 1 st Quarter 2018 Beginning Check Book Balance (12-31-17) $ 966.72 INCOME A&MD (4th Q 2017 ) $1533.28 Pledge to Mission $6071.75 Gift to Memory $ 200.00 Gift to Mission $ 60.00 Special Mission Recognition $ 240.00 World Thank Offering $ 100.00 Abbe Stubblefield Cancer Research (A Day Apart Offering) $1150.00 Bethlehem Center $ 394.00 Birthday Dollars $ 209.00 Bless the Children $ 150.00 Book Sales $ 586.00 Call to Prayer and Self Denial $ 676.50 Legacy Fund $ 50.00 Miriam's Promise $ 150.00 Red Bird Mission $ 25.00 UMCOR $ 5.00 Uncategorized (includes $44.10 for 2 cancelled 2017 Officer travel checks and $40 SMR deducted in error) $ 84.10 Total Income $11,684.63 EXPENSES Anne Stubblefield Cancer Research(Includes $75.00 Honorarium from A Day Apart Speaker, Meredith Burton) $1225.00 Day Apart Supplies $ 16.48 Speaker Honorarium (Mission Study 2-21-18) $ 75.00 Speaker Lunch (Mission Study 2-21-18) $ 7.00 Office Supplies (Unit Directories & yearly forms) $ 156.54 Officer travel $ 49.77 Total Expenses $1529.79 Check Book Balance 3-21-18 $11,121.56 Rene' Brothers, District Treasurer +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+= A word to all members of UMW: It takes a special person to be the hands and feet of Jesus. You give of yourself so often and so willingly. May you each be blessed enormously you cannot out-give God. He ALWAYS wants the very best for you.
Stones River District 2018 Calendar of Events 4-21-18 Mission Book Study Pleasant Grove UMC, Shelbyville, TN 5-5-18 Hands On Workday Rise Against Hunger Smyrna FUMC 7-12 7-13-18 Mission U St. Mark's UMC, Murfreesboro, TN 8-18-18 Mini Prayer Retreat Lewisburg First UMC, Lewisburg, TN 9-7 9-9-18 Spiritual Life Retreat Beersheba Springs, TN 10-13-18 TN Conference Annual Meeting Murfreesboro FUMC, Murfreesboro, TN 11-10-18 District Annual Meeting and Officer Training Shelbyville FUMC, Shelbyville, TN