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ELIZABETH RIVER
DISTRICT
UNITED METHODIST
WOMEN
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.
INSIDE
THIS ISSUE:
Mission
Team 2015
2
Rainbow
Giver Form
4
Event
Calendar
5
Spiritual Life
Retreat
7
Charter for
11
Racial Justice
Seminar
Ferrum
College
UMW Day
13
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March, April, May 2015
President
Greetings United Methodist Women,
I hope this message finds you and your family in good health and spirits.
The Charter for Racial Justice was created and adopted by the Women’s Division in 1978
and successfully adopted by the whole denomination in 1980. General Conference has consecutively readopted it, every eight years since, most recently in 2008. The Charter for Racial Justice
is written statements describing the rights (Because we believe) and responsibilities (We will)
for Racial justice as it relates to everyone. The Charter continues our urgent call for study and
action on the principles and goals of its vision.
The UMW invites you and/or your designee to come and be a part of living the Charter for Racial Justice at the “Making Racial Justice Happen” Seminar on May 15-17, 2015 Blackstone, VA.
During this seminar we will get involved in implementing the charter through bible studies, worship, programs, workshops, displays, issues and action ideas. The outcome will be to live the
charter and promote racial justice in the church, United States and the world.
As the United States of America is a nation of many peoples of different
races, nationalities, languages and cultures; we are challenged to make the
Charter for Racial Justice a charter for everyone. The objectives of the
seminar will be to:
Establish spiritual/biblical understandings of why racial justice matters
Define race and racism, examine how racism operates in the world
Examine UMW and race (history, legacy and present day realities)
Draw links with the UMW Office of Racial Justice's priorities (mass
incarceration/solitary confinement, US-Africa policy, race and class and immigrant rights)
Allow participants to develop and offer ways to implement action plans with their respective conferences
Develop ways to promote racial justice to children and youth
We are very excited about this seminar. Please plan to come explore the Charter for Racial
Justice at the “Making Racial Justice Happen” Seminar on May 15-17, 2015 Blackstone Conference and Retreat Center, 707 4th Street Blackstone VA.
The registration form is on page eleven of the newsletter.
PAGE 2
MISSION TEAM
2015
President
Joann McClung
757-420-9022
[email protected]
Vice President
Marilyn “Lyn” McCandlish
757-420-2982
[email protected]
Secretary
Evelyn Swanberg
757-471-4957
[email protected]
Treasurer
Joyce Thompson
757-430-0365
[email protected]
MISSION COORDINATORS
Spiritual Growth
Mary Kay Miller
757-344-4506
[email protected]
Mission Education &
Interpretation
Marge Roets
757-638-3851
[email protected]
Social Action
Marta Pizzeck
757-483-6491
[email protected]
Membership, Nurture &
Outreach
Nancy Winborne
757-547-8614
[email protected]
Secretary of Program Resources
Janet Day
757-488-2673
[email protected]
Chairman, Committee On
Nominations
Georgia Garrison
757-484-3141
[email protected]
Blackstone Representative
Karen Day
757-488-2673
[email protected]
Communications Coordinator
Julianne Rosas
1(703)963-9356
[email protected]
Vice President
United Methodist Women of the Elizabeth River District will begin
a new year with many changes in leadership roles. I’m one of those changes. My name is Marilyn McCandlish, but most of my friends call me, ‘Lyn,
and I am taking the Vice Presidency from Georgia Garrison. It’s a change
for all of us.
Stepping out of retirement into a leadership role once again is a
big challenge and change for me, but my life has been all about change.
One very big change was when I met a guy in my first year of college and
got married. The big change? Not only was I just out of high school but I
was a Catholic and he was, you guessed it, a Methodist. We married during the height of the Vietnam War when guys in the service were being
shipped out at a moment’s notice. So, we married quickly to the surprise
of the 350 friends who came the day after Christmas to celebrate with us.
But, that was not allowed in the Catholic Church back then. So, yes, I became a Methodist to the utter shock of my parents. I learned a lot from
my best friend who was also a
Methodist and had been working
on me to ‘see the light’ for quite
some time. We both joined the
adult choir at the local Methodist
church, her church. We were in
college, we were adults and I was
a vocal performance major so it
was a good fit. We were both so
busy, Women’s Society of Christian Service was not a possibility.
Besides, there were no circles for
19 year olds.
After duty in Italy and
orders came for San Diego. So at
the ripe old age of 22, I was invited to join WSCS at Wesley UMC
in East San Diego. No opportunities for service presented themselves as I went home to San Fernando and
Jim went to Vietnam. It wasn’t until we moved here that I was able to become immersed in what was now United Methodist Women. I had 2
small girls, a husband at the School of Music and no car. Luckily, my circle
took turns picking me up for meetings. My circle, bless their hearts, had
no one my age. Undaunted I asked if I could form a group of young moms
like me into a circle. The Executive board wasn’t to hopeful it would
work. Did we fool them! After about a year of participating fully in all the
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activities including the big yearly bazaar, our circle got so big it had to split in two. To this day they are still a
big part of that unit. After being circle leader here and in other places, we came back and I served as president of a unit back here in Virginia Beach.
Now you’re saying why the long story? Two reasons, as an introduction to get know who I am and
where I come from and reason two, because there is a need to look beyond how we conduct business. We
need to open up, reach out, and gather in. As UMW focuses on our legacy and gets ready to celebrate 150
years of Faith, Hope and Love in Action, we need to look back to what was, and try to bring those things
that made Methodist Women everywhere active in the areas of service to women, youth and children
around the globe. We need to tell our individual stories of faith and service. We need to strengthen what
we have and move forward to meet the challenges presented to us in the upcoming years ahead. So, I challenge you to look into your congregations, no better yet, look into your neighborhoods and bring in those
who could use a place to learn about the love of Christ and learn to love their neighbors everywhere as
much as they love their families. We need to offer them a place to be a blessing to others. Who knows,
when we open our doors, we may find a new UMW vice president waiting to serve.
Communications
Hi everyone, let me know what you want to see included in the newsletter or on our part of the
Elizabeth River District website (elizabethriverdistrict.org/UMW), or if you see something that needs to
be corrected. Please double-check the contact info in the handbook if your church is hosting an event—
they will be used in the newsletter and our calendar on the website.
I’d appreciate it if you would share your local UMW events/stories and
in them, where they are, and what they’re doing)!
photos
(tell me who’s
Make sure your local units got their 3 copies of the 2015 directory/handbook, I’ll have them at
the monthly events. They are also available to download in the UMW section of the district website.
[email protected]
email me
-Julie
Corrections to the
2015 Elizabeth River District United Methodist Women handbook:
The Calendar of Events on page 3 should
have 10:30 AM as the start time for all prayer
luncheons instead of 10 AM.
Nancy Winborne’s address on page 5
should be “Waters Road”, not “Walters Road”.
PAGE
4
Become a Rainbow Giver
The Virginia Conference United Methodist Women
started the Rainbow Giver Program in 2010. This is
an opportunity for you, as an individual, to personally give to the 5 Channels of Mission Giving, whether or not you are a member of United Methodist
Women:
Just fill out the form and turn
in to your unit treasurer with
a check for $60.00. The form
and the $60.00 should be given to your treasurer at one
time, not spread out over the year.
Your gift of $60.00 will make you a Rainbow Giver:
On the form please specify which Gift to
Mission Card you want and the name of
the recipient of the Special Mission
Recognition pin.
$40.00 to give someone special a Special Mission
Recognition Pin
$5.00 to give a Pledge to Mission (in addition to
your regular pledge)
$5.00 for a Gift to Mission Card
$5.00 for a Gift in Memory Card
This award is not to replace your Pledge
and World Thank Offering, but is giving
you, as an individual, an opportunity to
contribute to all the areas of Mission Giving.
$5.00 for a gift to World Thank Offering (this
can be in addition to your change box)
Anyone can
become a
Rainbow Giver;
this is an
opportunity for
church members,
spouses, or
Rainbow Giver Form
RAINBOW GIVER’S NAME:
Special Mission Recognition Pin in Honor of:
friends to
participate in
Name of Recipient (Please Print):
Mission Giving.
__________________________________________
_____________________________________
__________________________________________
_____________________________________
RAINBOW GIVER’S ADDRESS:
Please send the pin to:
__________________________________________
_____________________________________
__________________________________________
_____________________________________
RAINBOW GIVER’S PHONE:
_____________________________________
__________________________________________
Which Gift to Mission Card?
RAINBOW GIVER’S CHURCH:
_____________________________________
__________________________________________
_____________________________________
__________________________________________
All Rainbow Givers will be recognized at your District’s Annual Meeting and will receive a Rainbow
Giver pin. If you have any questions, please contact your District Treasurer or the Virginia Conference
Treasurer.
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 1
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Please register for prayer breakfasts/lunches with the contact
at the host church by the
Monday before the event.
Sat Mar 28
9am Prayer Breakfast $4
Fri Apr 24
Where:
Wesley Memorial UMC
288 East Little Creek Road,
Norfolk, VA, 23505
(757) 587-2996
http://www.wmumcnor.org/
Contact or president:
Joann McClung
10:30am Prayer Luncheon $4
Where:
Beech Grove UMC
4251 Driver Lane,
Suffolk, VA, 23435
(757) 538-8353
http://www.beechgroveumc.org/
Contact or president:
Penny Reynolds 757-488-0444
Description:
Speaker: Wayne Snead, District
Superintendent Elizabeth River
District
Description:
Speaker: Red Bird Missionary Conf
Mission Project: Prison ministry
cards & stamps
Sat May 16
9am Prayer Breakfast $4
Where:
Salem United Methodist Church,
2057 Salem Road,
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
(757) 471-2406
http://www.salemumc-va.org/
Contact or president:
Deborah Grabeel 757-471-9468
Description:
Mission Project: Prison ministry
cards & stamps
Fri May 1—Sun May 3
Conference
Spiritual Life Retreat
Where:
Blackstone United Methodist Conference Center (VUMAC),
707 4th Street, Blackstone, VA 23824
Registration form on page 7
Fri May 15—Sun May 17
Sat, June 6, 2015
Charter for Racial Justice
Seminar
UMW Day at
Ferrum College
Where:
Where:
Blackstone United Methodist
Conference Center (VUMAC),
707 4th Street, Blackstone, VA
23824
Ferrum College
10021 Franklin Street
Ferrum, VA 24088
Registration form on page 11
Registration form on page 13
PAGE 6
Spiritual Growth
Mary Kay Miller,
Spiritual Growth
Coordinator
Margaret Spencer and
Wesley Chapel’s United
Methodist Women
making cards for
prison ministries
Photos by Ileana Rosario
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Blackstone Representative
Greetings Ladies,
As your newly appointed Elizabeth River District Blackstone Representative I look forward to this challenge and with your help
I think we can do an outstanding job in supporting VUMAC with our "Dimes and Dollars" from our District. I have a few trivia
questions for you:
Have you ever heard about "Blackstone Day"
--Who attended the event and why-How about Dimes and Dollars?
How often have we heard the story about how in the year 1869 on a cold rainy night in Boston when six ladies got together? How often have we heard the following--An Official Call from the Virginia Conference President was extended to United
Methodist Women across Virginia to come to a Special Conference-wide Meeting to discuss how as a group they could assist
in the development of the Virginia Conference Assembly Center. And come they did-- more than 700 women--came by bus
and carpool for "Blackstone Day" that was held on April 17, 1975. After much fellowship, discussion and tours of the grounds
and buildings where they saw peeling plaster, bare light bulbs hanging from the ceilings, etc--they also saw the possibilities for
this becoming and attractive and inviting Conference Center. To get the renovations started each district pledged $2500.00 or
more and immediately started sending "Dimes and Dollars". What a challenge that must have been 39 years ago! This year
marks the 40th Anniversary for "Dimes and Dollars" what better way to celebrate than to 'PASS THE SOCK FOR DIMES
AND DOLLARS' and increase our donations from last year.
I hope to be able to share more trivia information in our next newsletter. Until then, please share with me your success stories on how your Circles/ Units 'PASS THE SOCK FOR DIMES AND DOLLARS'.
Karen M. Day
Secretary of Program Resources
Dear Local Unit Presidents,
Please share this newsletter article with your Secretary of
Program Resources.
As part of the District training held on Saturday, January
24th, I taught a class for the Secretaries of Program Resources from the local units within our district. If you were
unable to attend and have some questions, please contact
me at [email protected].
The following topics were part of the training session:
Books read from the years of 2011 through 2015 are eligible for participation in this year's Reading Program. Only
2010 books read from September 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014 can be included in this year's report.
Discussed other recommended books eligible for credit listed in the Reading Program catalog bur not available
from UMW Mission Resources.
Obtaining books from:
Purchasing at District and Conference Annual Meetings
Virginia Conference UMW Lending Library
District Resource Center
Local Libraries
Purchasing from UMW Mission Resources and other
online sites.
The History of the Reading Program
The District Reading Program Report
Subscriptions to Response Magazine and New World Outlook
We discussed the different ways the Units in attendance
store, display and promote their books... all for the same
common goal of participating in the Reading Program. Ideas
were discussed on Units sharing with each other as to what
works in your Unit may be beneficial to other Units in our
District. I hope to have more information on that in the next
newsletter.
Janet L. Day
Elizabeth River District UMW
Secretary of Program Resources
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10
Committee on Nominations
Are you a member of the nominating committee for your local unit? If so, begin your
work early. Finding leaders should be a year-round task in that you should always be
on the lookout for persons who work well as a team and have leadership qualities and
skills.
It is important that you understand the responsibilities associated with each of the
United Methodist Women’s offices as they relate to the purpose of our organization.
Your unit should have a copy of the United Methodist Women Handbook 2013-2016,
where you will find much information, including the responsibilities of each local officer.
Georgia Garrison,
Committee On Nominations Chairman
Your leadership
team may at
minimum consist
If your unit is small, keep in mind that your leadership team may at minimum consist of
a president, vice-president, treasurer, secretary, chair of committee on nominations,
member at large and pastor (ex-officio). Other persons may be recruited to plan programs of spiritual growth, mission education and advocacy work according to the needs
of your group or community, without holding an elected position.
Keep your eyes and ears open for potential leaders for your unit and the district as
well. Please let me know of anyone from any church who you feel has the gifts and
graces to serve at the district level. Your input will be greatly appreciated.
Consider these contrasting myths and realities when asking members to serve in leadership positions:
of a president,
vice-president,
treasurer, secretary,
chair of committee
“Give her a title. She’ll understand
what to do. It is quite obvious.”
Unless responsibilities are clearly defined,
there may be conflicting understandings of
the job to be done.
“It’s too bad she was not interested
enough to follow through on her job.”
Lack of follow through can often be traced
to lack of clarity about the job or not seeing how the job relates to the total mission
team task.
“The president ought to be able to tell her
what the job is all about.”
Presidents do not automatically have adequate knowledge of every job under their
direction even when they have frequent
contact with other elected leaders.
“Oh, you won’t have to do very much in
this job!”
A person who is asked to do a job has the
right to know the full responsibilities. Persons who have been enticed into taking
positions often feel they were misled.
Such situations will not help a person grow
in leadership skills.
on nominations,
member at large
and pastor.
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Return Service Requested
Elizabeth River District
UNITED METHODIST WOMEN
P.O. Box 12654
Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage PAID
Norfolk, VA
Permit No. 332
Norfolk, VA 23541-0654
District Resource Center
Located in the library of
Heritage UMC
815 Baker Rd. Virginia Beach, 23462
(same building as District Office )
Contact the district office, 473-1592
to schedule a time.
Newsletter articles for the
next issue of The Current
are due May 15th.
It will cover events for
June, July and August.
Send to Julianne Rosas
[email protected]
www.elizabethriverdistrict.org/UMW