spring 2016 - AWF
Transcription
spring 2016 - AWF
The Connection DOTHAN DISTRICT UNITED METHODIST WOMEN Volume 2016 2016 Dothan District Mission Team President Jolinda Strickland Vice President Jane Dyer Brown Secretary Marilyn Skipper Issue 2 SPRING 2016 PROGRAM RESOURCES ALLELUIA!!!!!!! Greetings to all of my neighbors — love all of you! I am looking forward to seeing all of you April 16 for DISTRICT MISSION STUDY at Enterprise FUMC from 9 - noon. Also, April 30 for DOTHAN DISTRICT SPIRITUAL DAY at Dothan FUMC. Books have been ordered, and hopefully we will receive a high percentage of the order. I am keeping my fingers crossed. Program Resources Joyce Stapleton Two books are being featured — one old and one new. The old one is from 2011 — The Noticer. This is a very good book and well worth reading — even if you have already read it. The new 2016 book is Coffee, Tea, and Holy Water. Several in my circle have read this one and loved it. And now, just pray that we will receive these two books in the order for this month. Spiritual Growth Jean Johnson I am really excited about the two events the District is having in April and really EXCITED about seeing all of you. Membership Nurture & Outreach Debbie Bracewell Blessings, Treasurer Judy Bura Social Action Lynda Biddle Education & Interpretation Nancy Riegle Communications Carolyn McInnis Nominations Joyce Stapleton Volume 2016 Issue 2 Page 2 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Happy Spring Ladies! Can you believe we have completed one fourth of the year already?! Where does the time go? I hope this finds all of you doing well and that each of you had a beautiful Easter, even if it was through raindrops. Well we made it through training and World Day of Prayer. It appears that the Dothan District was not well represented at the Conference Spiritual Enrichment Retreat. We only had seven ladies from our district attend. I was not able to attend due to a commitment with work. We will have to do better at the next event if we are going to win any awards this year! We have plenty to do in April as we have our Mission Study on the 16 th in Enterprise and then our District Spiritual Day on the 30th at Dothan First. Your district team spends a lot of time and energy to put these events on for you, so come and join us! Have you registered for Mission u yet? We need to get our registrations in and book a room as this will be very interesting studies. A number of our conference sisters are heading to Charleston for the Southeastern Jurisdiction meeting in June where they will be electing new officers. Our very own Betty Helms has been nominated for President, so I am asking all of you to pray for her as she goes thru this election process. Ok, ladies I am going to start early talking about new officers for next year. We would love to have you on our team, so start praying and see if this is where God is leading you. This is my last year so if you have every thought about being President….now is your chance. Call me if you need me. Can’t wait to see you in April. Love you lots! Jolinda NOMINATION COMMITTEE For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45 If you want to become more active in a wonderful group of women working to help women, children, and youth have better opportunities through mission giving and work, please complete the talent form (located at the end of the newsletter) indicating your special interests and abilities. Mail to Jolinda Strickland, 512 E. Church Street, Headland, AL 36345, or call 334-791-5530. Positions need to be filled on the 2016 leadership team are the following: Nomination Chair Thank you for prayerfully considering becoming a part of the Dothan District United Methodist Women leadership team. Volume 2016 Issue 2 Page 3 MESSAGE FROM THE TREASURER SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS – WHERE ARE THEY NOW? 2015 Winners Marivec Guerney will graduate in May from Wallace College. She will have completed the Respiratory Therapy Program and hopes to begin work shortly. Marivec sends her thanks to UMW for helping her complete her education. Beth Tew is completing her first year in the Nursing Program at Wallace. She is on schedule to graduate next year. Her plans are to start work as soon as possible and work on her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing via online studies. She attends Blackwoods Church in Headland. Beth attended last year’s Annual Day event and expressed her thanks to the ladies of UMW for the scholarship. Lexie Dunn is completing her first year at Wallace. Right now she is taking general studies while she decides on a career path. Lexie works at Milky Moo’s in Ozark. Lexie expressed her appreciation for the scholarship. 2014 Winner Morgan Rollins has completed the Nursing program at Wallace. She currently works at SAMC and has plans to continue her career working in the ER. In her message to me, she wrote, "Without your generosity, my future as an RN would not have been possible.” 2013 Winners Chelsea Brunson is currently a junior at University of West Florida majoring in Music Education. She should complete her studies in May of 2018. She is employed by the First UMC of Pensacola. Chelsea wrote, “The Mattie Kolb Scholarship was very beneficial to furthering my education, and I am grateful to the generosity of United Methodist Women. Zakia Walton is currently attending Oakwood University, a Christian school, in Huntsville, Alabama. She is scheduled to graduate in May 2018 with a degree in biology and plans to be a medical missionary. Zakia will be going on a mission trip to Haiti this summer with an organization focused on alleviating hunger and starvation at home and abroad. If you are interested in helping fund her mission trip, you may do so by going to the website www. NAPSOC.ORG. Please mark your contribution with her name so she will get credit for the funds. Zakia is frequently in the Dothan area if you wish to have her speak to your circle or unit. Blessings, Judy Bura Mattie Kolb Scholarship The Mattie Kolb Scholarship is a $500 scholarship awarded yearly by the Dothan District United Methodist Women. Anyone interested in applying for the Mattie Kolb Scholarship can go to our website http://www.awf-umw.org/dothan.html to download Volume 2016 Issue 2 Page 4 MESSAGE FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT Our Role as United Methodist Women In our busy lives, we sometimes forget our roles, responsibilities, and how we can and do serve our church. So the question for the day is “What do we do?” The United Methodist Women: Equip Leaders by teaching women and girls around the world to be leaders in communities, agencies, governments, and churches by providing and supporting leadership development of its members to give women of all racial, ethnic, language and economic groups the opportunity to realize their full potential and to participate in the life of the church and society. Education for Transformation which provides educational experiences that lead to personal change in order to transform the world through Mission u, books and publications, reading programs, Ubuntu Explorers program, and National Events. Service and advocacy which works for justice by focusing on four (4) propriety areas: climate justice, maternal & child health care, racial & gender justice, and economic inequality. Spiritual growth which provides many opportunities and resources to grow spiritually, to become more deeply rooted in Christ, and to put faith into action through seasonal devotions, spiritual growth studies, Bible readings in response, our annual reading program, and training events. National Outreach through engagement in mission on a daily basis through prayers, volunteer support, and mission giving. Global Outreach through our Women's Pledge to Mission which supports projects and organizations around the world. These partners address health, literacy, income generation, peace and many more issues that affect women, children and youth. We also provide international scholarships, internships higher education initiative, regional missionaries, Ubuntu Journeys (short term missionaries), women’s Bible studies, global justice, and social action programs. May the Lord Bless You and Keep You, Jane Dyer Brown Volume 2016 Page 5 Issue 2 EDUCATION AND INTERPRETATION NEWS FOR APRIL Just a reminder we have our District Mission Study coming up at Enterprise First on Saturday, April 16 th. The study is Created for Happiness: Understanding your Life in God. Pastor Tonya Elmore from Enterprise will lead the study as she did last summer at Mission u. We will have registration at 8 am and begin the study at 8:30 am. We will be done by noon. Please come join us for a morning of fellowship and growing in our faith! Happy Spring and God Bless! Nancy Riegle The early Methodist tradition used the language of happiness often. Not only did John Wesley preach and teach about happiness, but his brother Charles wrote hymns about happiness that the early Methodists sang. The happiness they sought was happiness in God. This study examines the understanding of happiness and how to live the life that God calls us to. All members are invited to participate in this study as Pastor Tonya Elmore leads us to examine what the Bible has to say about happiness, to define happiness in the sacred and secular spaces so we will know it when we see it, and to link John Wesley’s philosophy of happiness, wholeness and holiness to how we choose happiness in today’s society. SPIRITUAL GROWTH I hope your Lenten season was a meaningful spiritual journey to the cross and that your Easter was a time of celebration and joy! There is something about this time of year that makes our hearts leap with joy, especially in the celebration of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Listed below are two UMW events happening this spring in the Dothan District and the AWFUMC Conference: The District Mission Study on “Happiness” is April 16th at Enterprise First United Methodist Church. District Spiritual Day is April 30th at Dothan First United Methodist Church. There is a reception in the parlor at 9:30 a.m. and the memorial services begins at 10:00 a.m. We are very fortunate to have Pastor Tonya Elmore as the key speaker this year. Music will be provided by Michael Keeley from Dothan First United Methodist Church. Refreshments prior to the service will be provided by the Dothan UMW. Remember to get your 2016 Prayer Calendar to use at meetings and throughout the week. Stay informed in order to better serve your local unit by subscribing to response magazine (the voice of United Methodist Women). Subscribe to New World Outlook (the mission magazine of the United Methodist Church) to better understand our mission efforts. God bless you, and I’m looking forward to seeing you all soon! Jean Johnson Volume 2016 Page 6 Issue 2 Mission u: Learning Together for Transformation of the World July 29 — 30, 2016 Millbrook First United Methodist Church Issue Study Spiritual Growth Climate Justice: Call to Hope & Action The Bible & Human Sexuality Study Leaders Study Leaders Debbie Bracewell Sue Owens Julie Taylor Dr. Judith Pierre-Okerson Geographic Study Latin America: People & Faith Study Leader Susan Hunt For additional information, contact Betty Helms, Dean of Mission u, at betty@fumcdothan.org. Registration form is available at http://www.awf-umw.org/mission-u-2016.pdf Study books available at http://www.umwmissionresources.org/ Scholarships are available. Please see the registration form for more information. For participants, Mission u is an opportunity to study current issues impacting society based on current mission study topics with particular attention to the responsibilities of women in fulfilling the mission work of the church. Participants grow in understanding the mission of the church in the current world context; conference events are open to members and non-members of United Methodist Women. Mission u events also include: Worship & singing Interest Groups around current issues Officer training Audiovisual presentations Fellowship events Mission u events are held each summer in every United Methodist conference and are organized by conference United Methodist Women leadership. Volume 2016 Volume 2016 Issue 2 Page 7 Issue 2 Mission u Study Leaders Debbie Bracewell is a retired teacher, executive, editor, speaker and cheer judge. She currently is a tutor, president of the Recovery Organization of Coffee County, independent Young Living Distributor, and a volunteer for church and community. Debbie has been a member of the Enterprise First United Methodist Church Circle 6 since 2004 and is the current president of the United Methodist Women unit at Enterprise First United Methodist Women. She is the Dothan District chair for Membership Nurture and Outreach. She has taught the Immigration Mission Study, the Roma of Europe study, the Church and People with Disabilities study, and the Latin American study for the Dothan District. Debbie is a widow with 2 sons, 2 stepsons, and 10 grandchildren. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening. Susan Hunt grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. She graduated in 1995 from Auburn and worked for several years in Birmingham. After hearing a call into full-time Christian ministry, she served as a young-adult missionary in Oklahoma City, OK, for two years. She then worked for a large United Methodist Congregation there as the mission outreach coordinator. She returned to Alabama in January 2009 to begin her current position as Director of Mission and Advocacy for the Alabama-West Florida annual conference. She was commissioned a Deaconess of the United Methodist Church in March 2004. She lives in Montgomery and is a member of Montgomery First UMC. Sue Owens will be teaching Climate Justice: Call to Hope and Action. More information to follow. Dr. Judith Pierre-Okerson grew up in the Methodist Church in Haiti where she was very involved in the ministry of the church. She immigrated to the United States in September 1988 and joined Grace Haitian United Methodist Church in the Miami District of the Florida Annual Conference. A year later she became involved with the United Methodist Women organization. Elected to the Miami District Mission Team in 1991, Judith held offices for 11 years including Mission Coordinator for Christian Social Involvement, Mission Coordinator for Education and Interpretation, and District President. At the Conference level Judith served on the Membership Committee, as Registrar, Assistant Dean, and Dean of the School of Christian Mission (now Mission u). In 2008 she was elected a Director of Women’s Division and chaired the Committee on Nominations. Re-elected in 2012, she currently chairs the Governance Committee. During her involvement with United Methodist Women, Judith has taught mission studies, led retreats, workshops, training events and Bible studies at the national, conference and district levels. A member of Miramar United Methodist Church, Judith is the co-Lay Leader for her congregation and the co -secretary of her local United Methodist Women’s Group. Judith and her husband, Doug, have one daughter, Grace, who is a United Methodist Women Limitless member. Dr. Pierre-Okerson teaches and advocates for students with autism and their families in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools. She is currently a Deaconess candidate. As the Executive Director of National Farm Worker Ministry (NFWM), Julie Taylor helps to guide the organization in its mission as a faith-based organization committed to justice for and empowerment of farm workers. Previously, Julie was the Executive for Spiritual Growth at the National Office of United Methodist Women and first came to the organization of UMW in 2000 as the Executive for Child and Family Advocacy. In this position, she directed their Initiative on Domestic Violence in partnership with United Methodist Men. The issues addressed by her office also included public education, child labor, farm worker conditions, reproductive justice and older women’s concerns. She received her master’s degree in Christian Spiritual Formation and Leadership from Spring Arbor University, Michigan and has a bachelor’s degree in Christian Education from Asbury University, Kentucky. Originally from Eclectic, AL, Julie currently lives in Raleigh, Volume 2016 Volume 2016 Issue 2 Page 8 Issue 2 HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, UNITED METHODIST WOMEN! We're celebrating our 150th anniversary in 2019, just a few short years from now. The oldest of our predecessor organizations was founded in 1869. Like anniversaries of a marriage or school or university graduation, this anniversary is an opportunity for us to celebrate, to renew connections, to marvel at what has been accomplished in a century and a half, and to make new commitments for the work ahead. Our predecessors established a strong, vital mission organization and left that legacy for us. During the 150th anniversary era, our challenge is to leave our legacy for this organization we love and for the United Methodist Women members who'll come after us in 2019 and on into the future. Our challenge is making sure that the direct service, advocacy, education and leadership development we've been doing for our first 150 years continue for at least the next 150. We'll leave our legacy by permanently underwriting the vital mission work of United Methodist Women. Join us as we celebrate 150 years of mission work by preparing for the next 150. Gifts to the Legacy Fund endowment will lay the financial foundation for future generations of United Methodist Women. On March 23, 2016, NEW gifts to the Legacy Fund will be matched at 50%. For every $2 donated, another $1 will be given to ensure the future of women in mission. Consider the following as part of YOUR legacy: More about the Legacy Fund Legacy Fund Gifts: Donations to this endowment fund allow more Mission Giving dollars to go straight to mission. Planned Giving on umwgift.org: United Methodist Women members are encouraged to leave a legacy through wills or estate planning. Major Giving: Members who have the means to make significant contributions to The Legacy Fund can structure these gifts over the next three to five years. Call 212-870-3743 to discuss options. To Donate by Check: Legacy Fund United Methodist Women 475 Riverside Drive 15th Floor-Finance New York, NY 10115 Project # 3001147 Make your check payable to United Methodist Women and note the project # on the memo line. More will be shared about this program in the next few months. If you would like to donate now, click this link: http://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/donate/umwprojects/legacy-fund Volume 2016 Issue 2 Page 9 MEMBERSHIP NURTURE & OUTREACH I came so they may have life and have it abundantly—John 10:10 I have just returned from Mission u training for Climate Justice. The training was intense, but the information I received about the lack of women’s health care was just as intense. United Methodist Women is committed to ending maternal deaths and promoting abundant health for women and children. Women are the backbone of most societies and yet governments often fail to give priority to women’s health. An example is maternal deaths: a woman’s death relating to pregnancy or childbirth. Maternal death is the second most common killer of women of reproductive age (15-44) worldwide. An estimated 300,000 women die every year from causes such as severe bleeding and lack of access to healthcare. Nearly 80% of those deaths are preventable with skilled care and social support. Maternal death is increasing in developed and developing countries. In 2013, 650 mothers died in the United States, which is more than double the rates of the late 1980’s. Women are not dying because the health community doesn’t know how to prevent their death; women are dying because the world is failing to help. From 2016 to 2019, United Methodist Women ask all to join us in action: 1. Make reusable feminine hygiene kits for girls. Did you know that girls miss up to 2 months of school every year because they lack proper sanitary menstruation materials? Around the world girls use leaves, mattress stuffing, newspaper, corn husks, rocks or anything they can find because they cannot afford or access pads. Days for Girls is an award-winning non-profit that sews washable sanitary pads and assembles hygiene kits for girls. You can help sew, assemble, or distribute kits around the world. Learn more at www.daysforgirls.org or email for more information— mailto:dakuamoah@unitedmethodistwomen.org 2. Host a Mother’s Day/International Day of Maternal Right Program on Redefining Motherhood. For Mother’s Day, we invite you to recognize and affirm those who are often stigmatized and excluded from traditional definitions of a mother (e.g. women facing infertility, loss, incarceration, migration, divorce, adoption, as well as grandmothers, aunts, and caretakers). Develop programs that support the needs of such mothers. Possible programs are mom’s night out, infertility/loss service, support for women in prison, baby showers and more. Resources for Mother’s Day programs will be available on our website: www.unitedmethodistwomen.org Keep the work going—your gifts matter. In 2015 alone, United Methodist Women gave over 1 million dollars to women and children’s health projects worldwide. Projects ranged from training for traditional birth attendants in Haiti to a midwifery school in Zimbabwe. Let’s continue our support for women, children and youth! Debbie Bracewell Volume 2016 Issue 2 Page 10 2016 Calendar of Events April 16 District Mission Study At Enterprise FUMC 8 -12 April 30 District Spiritual Day At Dothan FUMC 9:30 - 12:00 June 3 - 5 July 29 - 30 Southeastern Jurisdiction Charleston, SC Mission u Millbrook FUMC October 21—22 September 22 Dothan District Road Trip To Vashti Center Thomasville, GA Conference Fall Event Blue Lake November 12 District Mission Study At Denton Road UMC 8 - 12 Journey through the Beatitudes together in this program year. Explore what it means to not only live in blessedness, but also to practice and work towards extending blessedness to all. In each program you will have the opportunity to determine how you can best reach out to meet all kinds of needs within your church, community and world. Order the new program book here: http://www.umwmissionresources.org/ products/2015-2016-program-book-growing-in-blessedness Volume 2016 Page 11 Issue 2 REPORTING DUE DATES Local Officer to District Officer FROM Treasurer’s Report Unit Treasurer TO By the 5th of each month Judy Bura, District Treasurer *Name of Deceased Members Unit Secretary By December 31th Jean Johnson, Spiritual Growth *Local New Unit Report Unit Secretary By December 31st Debbie Bracewell, Membership Nurture & Outreach *Social Action Report Unit Social Action Coordinator By December 1st Linda Biddle, Social Action *Reading Program Reports Unit Program Resource By December 1st Joyce Stapleton, Program Resources *Mission Study Participants Unit Education & Interpretation By December 1st Nancy Riegle, Education & Interpretation President’s Report/Evaluation Unit President By December 1st Jolinda Strickland, President New Officer Lists Unit Secretary By December 1st Marilyn Skipper *Can be included in the Consolidated President’s Report United Methodist Women: Faith • Hope • Love in Action We are women with a Purpose! "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." The Connection Page 12 Dothan District Training Day Headland FUMC Carolyn McInnis 213 W. Sand Creek Road Enterprise, AL 36330 TALENT BANK INFORMATION ON PROSPECTIVE LEADERSHIP (To be completed by prospective leader) Type or Print (attach additional sheets as necessary) Date Name Address Telephone Home Local Church Age Email Spoken Professional skills, job experience Office(s) Work Cell District Racial Ethnic Group Office(s) Held in United Methodist Women Dates of Service Local District Conference Jurisdiction Additional Experience on the local, district, conference or general church level (other than United Methodist Women) or in the community Special Talents or Skills Areas of Special Interest or Concern ___ secretarial ___ recruiting members ___ communications ___ social issues ___ computer ___ creativity ___ accounting/bookkeeping ___ recording minutes ___ organization of details ___ public policy ___ nominations ___ public relations ___ program planning ___ community building ___ administration ___ inclusiveness/pluralism Do you wish to serve on which level (circle): Local District ___ publicity ___ workshops ___ newsletters ___ retreats ___ music ___ youth ___ children ___ other (specify) Conference Which office(s) on the United Methodist Women’s Team would you most like to hold given the opportunity to serve? ___ President ___ Vice President ___ Secretary ___ Treasurer ___ Chair of Nominations ___ Education & Interpretation ___ Membership Nurture & Outreach ___ Social Action ___ Spiritual Growth ___ Program Resources ___ Communications Why are you interested in this position and what qualifications do you feel you have for your office(s) of choice? Would you be able to use your gifts and talents to uphold and strengthen United Methodist Women through the PURPOSE of the organization? Is it possible for you to be away from your home or employment for: Full Day Weekend Yes or No Extended Time Yes or No Yes or No __________ I am sorry but I am unable to accept an office this year. Please keep my name on file and contact me in ______________________.