Vol. 13 Summer 2017 Diane Faw, President Nanette Presnell, Vice President Robin Hubbard, Secretary Cynthia Green, Treasurer Henrietta Sutton, Program Resources Sue Cook, Spiritual Growth Mary Bell Thomason Social Action Betty Fisher Membership /Nurture/Outreach Elaine Kent Education/Interpretation Judy Jackson, Communications Barb Cely Nominations Chair Jean Minix, Parliamentarian Sue Bradley Historian Inside this issue: Spiritual Growth Retreat Registration / application 12-13 Conference Mission u 15-16 Annual Meeting/Leadership 14 Notes from the Team 4-6 2017 Executive Committee 10-11 President + VPres Notes 1-3 Local Unit Happenings 7-9 Cover Page and 2017 Dates 17 The Gainesville Light President s Notes Greetings Ladies, We had a busy month in June starting with the United Methodist Annual Conference in Athens, GA at the Classic Center. The 3 day event focused on praise and worship, and emphasized the importance of worship planning and preparation. The UMW Breakfast was well attended on Wednesday morning and we heard from Kathy Griffith on Maternal Health. This was the first time that I attended all three days and was amazed at all the work being done in the North Georgia Conference. I was so happy to turn in 52 Layette kits from the Gainesville District thanks to the work of the UMW Ladies at Trinity UMC, New Hope UMC (Gainesville) and Cumming 1 st UMC. Please let me know if you turned in any Layette Kits at the Annual Conference. Action Ministries was one of the ministries that was recognized by the North Georgia Conference which tied in to the Gainesville District Ubuntu Day that was scheduled June 16 in Gainesville. We had 4 participants make 75 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the kids at Ridgecrest Apartments in Gainesville. We then took the sandwiches and supplemented lunches to pass out to the children. We interacted with them playing games with a football, basketball, jump rope and even played hopscotch. There was also sidewalk chalk, coloring books and activity books for after everyone was tired of playing ball. We hope to schedule another day this summer so please call Mary Belle Thomason 706-384-4403 and let her know if you are interested in helping out. Monday thru Wednesday July 3-5 or 10-12 has the greatest need. Please let us know if you are interested in helping one of these days and we will set it up to make lunches. In July Mission u will be held at the Georgia Baptist Conference Center July 21-22 in Toccoa, Ga. The deadline to register has been extended to July 5 th. You can register online or mail it in. The registration form is included in this newsletter. I encourage everyone to attend as Mission u is an opportunity to study current issues impacting society with particular attention to the responsibilities of women in fulfilling the mission work of the church. I will be there and hope you will too!!! I just received a communication that we now have a goal to meet for the Legacy Fund. UMW has raised 17.4 million so far and have set a goal of raising 60 million. $300,000 was raised on March 23 rd, the 3 rd Annual Day of Giving, and thanks to an anonymous donor those funds were matched. These monies will be used to lay the groundwork for our next 150 years in Mission. Please Save the Date for September 8 th and 9 th for the Gainesville District Spiritual Retreat that will be held at Hinton this year. We have several activities planned for that weekend and hope to see everyone there!!! Diane Faw, President 1
Notes From the Vice President Spiritual Growth Retreat September 8-9, 2017 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. I can t help but think of Psalm 121 when I am sitting on the porch of Hinton Rural Life Center. The scenery is outstanding and is the perfect place to sit, relax, meditate, and enjoy God s beautiful creation. When I think of the title of our Gainesville District United Methodist Women s Spiritual Growth Retreat, I actually think more in terms of Spiritual Renewal. It s a very short time out of my busy schedule that doesn t require a great deal of time, but gives me a chance to have a change of pace for 24 hours. The pleasant memories last much longer. The drive through the beautiful mountains of north Georgia just to get there is a treat in itself. The joy of sharing this short time with other devoted United Methodist Women adds to the renewal as we share with one another, pray with one another, raise our voices in song with one another. The first year I attended, I did not walk the labyrinth. But the next year I did, and now it is one of the highlights of my time spent at Hinton. It is a blessed time of reflection and meditation, even though others are making the same walk along with you. The peaceful silence gives everyone the opportunity to center down and face the concerns and/or praises that are going on in your life. Friday night is a time of fellowship, singing, crafts, snacks, and making new friends with other UMW women. It is a chance to share what your units are accomplishing, maybe do some problem-solving, and learn of ideas that you might use in your unit. There will be several crafts to test your skills as well as adopting * 20 infants for the layette kits we will be assembling for UMCOR. *Editors Note: Units may want to team up to adopt an infant and bring the items needed to complete one layette kit, or may contribute to the cause by bringing any one item listed as needed for the kits.) Continued next page>>>>>>>> 2
Saturday morning will began with Morning Watch on the porch, once again with God s beautiful creation of the lake and the mountains as the setting. Following breakfast, Rev. Michelle Rawdin-Strall from Antioch UMC will be our speaker. Michelle is a delight to be around and I look forward to hearing her speak. We are also fortunate to have again this year Donna James from Cornelia UMC to lift our spirits with her music. Donna was such a delight to all who attended last year and I look forward to seeing her again. One of the favorite activities at this retreat is choosing Prayer Partners for the next year. What a blessing it is to know you have someone praying for you throughout the next year and that you in turn are praying for them. After lunch, our time together will close with Communion. I pray that this will truly be a renewal time for you as you head back home to the real world. But may you have good memories to carry you forward and may your burdens be a bit lighter for having attended the Hinton Spiritual Growth Retreat. Did I mention DOOR PRIZES???? The deadline for registering for Hinton is August 25 th. The registration form is available in this issue of the Gainesville Light. Pages 12-13 There is also a Scholarship Application form if you or anyone you know might need a little help with the cost of attending. Please fill out and return to Sue Cook whose information is on the bottom of the form. It is my hope that many first timers will join the seasoned ladies who enjoy this Retreat yearly. Maybe it will become a yearly tradition for you, too! Nanette Presnell, VP, Executive Committee An Irish Blessing May God grant you always. A sunbeam to warm you, a moonbeam to charm you, A sheltering Angel so nothing can harm you. Laughter to cheer you. Faithful friends near you. And whenever you pray, Heaven to hear you! 3
Notes From the Team - Nominations Answering God s Call Has God been nudging you to become more involved in doing His work? Well, the Gainesville District Executive team have an opportunity for you! January 2018 will start a new year and the chance for you to become the district's secretary! There is also an opportunity to either apprentice or take over the publication of this newsletter by becoming Communications Coordinator. Show off your talent! The ladies on the Executive team are a great bunch of ladies to work with in planning how to keep our United Methodist Women informed and inspired. Please consider taking one of these positions. Feel free to talk to the current secretary (Robin Hubbard 770.539.2251), our publisher (Judy Jackson 770.869.7758), myself (706.499.1299), or any other executive team member. Thanks for your consideration, Barb Cely, Nominations Chairman 4
Notes From the Team - Education and Interpretation Gifts to the Legacy Fund can be made in several ways: Online: unitedmethodistwomen.org/legacyfund By Phone: 800-278-7771 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 am 6:00 pm. EST) By Mobile Phone: Text LEGACY150 to 41444 By Mail: Make checks payable to United Methodist Women 475 Riverside Drive, Treasurer s Office New York, NY 10115 Write The Legacy Fund in the memo section. Meet The Challenge!!! 5
Notes From the Team - Social Action/MNO Ubuntu Day of Service Probably due to lack of communication (and commitments that came up at the last minute), the only people that served today were myself, Diane Faw, and 2 St. Paul UMW ladies. The 4 of us (and our 7 loaves of bread) made PB and J sandwiches at thei Action Ministries office in Chicopee. Somebody else had prepared the sack lunch to go with it. We could have provided all sandwiches (meat, cheese, wraps, whatever-but I was told to bring bread). We then delivered them to Ridgecrest Apartments and played with the children as they came to get their lunch. We arrived around 9:45 to make sandwiches and left around 1 but could have stayed longer. Just wanted to fill you in on the day. Perhaps it will work for some of you to get in on the action next time. This is a Monday-Friday opportunity and as I still work, Friday is my day off in the summer. This is the Smart Lunch Smart Kid program through Action Ministries and an opportunity for us to serve these young (mostly African American) children (mostly boys). I'd suggest meeting in a church and go from there as their office wouldn't have held more than a couple more of us anyway. They still need make and serve help next Tuesday, June 20, the following Tuesday, June 27, and Monday-Wednesday July 3-5, and Monday-Wednesday July 10-12. If interested, let me know and we'll get it set up. There are other dates that they need help also, but these are the greatest needs. Thank you and Blessings, Barb and Mary Belle UMCOR United Methodist Committee ON Relief This year NG Conference will work on Layette Kits! Many women do not have swaddling clothes with which to welcome their child into the world. Layette kits provide basic supplies for their baby's needs. Layette Kit Value: $45 per kit More information is available on the website http://www.umcor.org/umcor/relief-supplies/relief-supply-kits/layette 6
Local Units at Work. Cornelia UMW UMCOR LAYETTE KITS During the Sunday morning worship service on June 11, Cornelia United Methodist Church dedicated and blessed 30 Layette kits. The kits are on their way to the Sager Brown Depot in Baldwin, LA, which is the collection depository for UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief). The church wide mission project was spearheaded by the Mission Committee, chaired by David Clark, and the United Methodist Women, chaired by Jean Minix. The United Methodist Women from New Liberty UMC and Alley s Chapel UMC were also involved in this effort as part of the Cornelia UMW Unit. UMCOR reaches people in more than 80 countries including the United States, providing humanitarian relief when war, conflict or natural disaster disrupts life to such an extent that communities are unable to recover on their own. One hundred percent of all donations are spent on designated projects. Compelled by Christ to be a voice of conscience for the people called Methodist, UMCOR works globally to alleviate human suffering and to advance hope and healing 7
Local Units at Work. Trinity UMW Trinity United Methodist Women Prepare Craft Workday is held on the third Tuesday of each month except June and July. Throughout the year, the ladies work on arts and crafts projects that are sold at the Annual Christmas Bazaar held each year on the Saturday before Thanksgiving (November 18, 2017). Proceeds go toward local Family and Children Ministries supported by Trinity United Methodist Women. 8
Local Units at Work Gainesville First UMC Great Day of Service Team Chooses Pregnancy Care Center This is a community service project for the Gainesville Area our church has every year. This was our seventh year. It involves over 17 charitable organizations, sending in their request for "help". GFUMC Great Day of Service Golf Tournament sponsors all of the services furnishing all of the supplies, we furnish the labor. We had ten volunteers, nine workers, one was sick. The GFUMW chose to do the work for Choices Pregnancy Care Center. Choices is celebrating their "30th" year anniversary this year. They have two facilities, in Gainesville and Oakwood. Ann Gainey, Executive Director of Choices, had requested cleaning inside, yard work, and outside painting. It was a Great Day, starting at GFUMC, 7:30AM, with a lite breakfast, blessing and communion by our Pastors, Scott Hearn and Jamey Prickett, 9:00AM off to work finishing at 12:30PM. Hard work, good fellowship, job well done! 9
Gainesville District Executive Team 2017 President Social Action Diane Faw Mary Belle Thomason 38 Pinewood Drive 2233 Prospect Rd. Dawsonville, GA 30534 Carnesville, GA. 30521 706-265-3780 706-384-4403 dianefaw@windstream.net Vice President Nanette Presnell 57 Mann Rd 3164 Lynncliff Dr. Cleveland GA 30528 Gainesville, GA 30506 Education & Interpretation Elaine Kent 7063486771 770-561-6624 ladypresnell@gmail.com gaheirhead@aol.com Secretary Robin Hubbard 828 Park Creek Ct 5262 Forest Cove Gainesville, GA 30504 Gainesville, GA 30506 Membership, Nurture & Outreach Betty Fisher Winkowski 770-539-2251 404-375-8523 Rbnhubard4@gmail.com bettyfisher5262@msn.com Treasurer Program Resources Cynthia Green Henrietta Sutton P.O Box 344 P. O. Box 887 Clayton, GA 30525 Cleveland, GA 30528 706-782- 3921 706-892-4340 ckgreen@windstream.net yonahskies@yahoo.com Spiritual Growth Communications Sue Cook Judy Jackson 2906 Antioch Church Rd. P. O. Box 507 Gainesville, GA 30506 Lula, GA 30554 678-294-0515 770-861-8962 Cook2906@charter.net judyjcksn1@gmail.com 10
Gainesville District Executive Team 2017 Historian Parliamentarian Sue Bradley Jean Minix 9 Stone Creek Lane 236 Poplar Mill Rd Dawsonville, GA 30634 Demorest, GA 30535 H 706-216-1949 706-754-1586 C 678-517-6234 cozbuddy1@aol.com Nominations, chair Barb Cely 275 Pine Wood Lane Cornelia, GA 30531 706-499-1299 celys1@windstream.net Nominations Nominations GeDelle Taylor Betty Bell 605 Tom Watson Andrew Rd 3755 James Ed Rd. Toccoa, Ga 30577 Gainesville, GA 30506 706-282-7651 678-622-0591 gedelleptaylor@gmail.com bbell31421@aol.com Nina Burdette Becky McDougal 5264 Mize Rd. 5005 Blooming Ct. Toccoa, GA 30577 Cumming, GA 30028 706-886-0202 404-317-1350 nburd@windstream.net beckymcdougal@gmail.com 11
Gainesville District Spiritual Growth Retreat September 8-9, 2017 Hinton Rural Life Center, Hayesville, NC Please register before 8/25/17 No refunds-substitutions OK No childcare is available, Teens are welcome! Name: Circle Age Group (Teen) (20) (30) (40) (50) (60) (70) (80 +) First Time Attending UMW District Event? (Y) (N) Address: Phone: Email: Church: Emergency Contact/Number: [ ]Top bunk OK [ ]Must have bottom bunk [ ] Stairs OK [ ] No Stairs Special Needs/Special Requests: Roommate(s): Checks payable to: GNSV District UMW $80 FRIDAY AND SATURDAY (includes 3 meals and overnight stay) $40 SATURDAY ONLY (Includes lunch) Mail to Registrar: Nanette Presnell LadyPresnell@gmail.com 57 Mann Road (706) 348-6771 Cleveland, GA 30528 12
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Gainesville District United Methodist Women Leadership Training and Annual Meeting Cornelia United Methodist Church 275 Wyly St, Cornelia, GA 30531 November 18, 2017 9:30AM 3:00PM Please RSVP by Nov 13, 2017 Leadership Training and Annual Meeting Name: Address: Phone: Email: Church: Emergency contact/number: 9:00-10:00 a.m.: Registration 10:00-11:30 a.m.: Annual Meeting and Recognitions Legacy Moment, Love Offering, Memorial Moments Installation of 2018 Officers 11:45-12:45p.m: Lunch and Fellowship 1:00 p.m.: Leadership Training: Please circle 2018 office: [President] [Vice President] [Secretary] [Treasurer] [Education & Interpretation] [Spiritual Growth] [Social Action] [Program Resources] [Communications] [Nominations] [Membership/Nurture/Outreach] [Historian] [Parliamentarian] [Mission Project] Checks payable to: GNSV District UMW $8.00 (includes lunch) Mail to : Jean Minix (706-754-1586) cozbuddy1@aol.com 236 Poplar Mill Road, Cornelia, GA 30535 14
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Volume 13 Summer Gainesville District United Methodist Women Judy Jackson, Editor Phone: 770-861-8962 P.O Box 507 Lula, GA 30554 This Gainesville District UMW Newsletter is published 2-3 times a year and is sent at no charge to all churches in our district. Specifically it is sent to Pastors and UMW Presidents. Others may subscribe for FREE BY EMAIL by sending an email to the editor: judyjcksn1@gmail.com Subject: Gainesville Light Save the Date. North Georgia Conference The Gainesville Light PURPOSE The organized unit of United Methodist Women shall be 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. Gainesville District April 28-29 Spiritual Growth Event/Social Action Rock Eagle, Eatonton, GA March 4 Mission u Antioch UMC, Gainesville June 13-15 June 14 July 21-22 October 7 November 4 NGC Annual Conference UMW Breakfast Classic Center, Athens, GA Mission u Georgia Baptist Conf. Center Toccoa, GA Annual Meeting Griffin 1st, Griffin, GA Leadership Development Ousley UMC, Tyrone, GA April 1 Lenten Day Apart Dahlonega UMC, Dahlonega September 8-9 Spiritual Growth Retreat Hinton Rural Life Center Hayesville, NC November 18 Annual Mtg/Leadership Dev Cornelia UMC, Cornelia 17