MUMC UMW 1ST QUARTER NEWSLETTER APRIL 2017

Diana Revelle, Editor

When the sabbath was over,

Mary Magdalene, and Mary the
mother of James, and Salome
bought spices, so that they
might go and anoint him... As
they entered the tomb, they saw

United a young man, dressed in a white

robe, sitting on the right side;

Methodist
and they were alarmed. But he
said to them, Do not be
alarmed; you are looking for

Women Jesus of Nazareth, who was

crucified. He has been raised; he
is not here.
(Mark 16:1-6 NRSV)

In a time and society when women were devalued, the Gospel writers share beautiful stores of woman in
a valued and positive light. This holds true in the Gospel accounts of the resurrection in which all four
Gospels agree that the first people on the scene to witness the reality of the resurrection of Jesus were
women. Depending on the Gospel account the number of women differs and the names differ, but the
accounts are the same women were first on the scene. These women as seen in these accounts and others
were strong and brave and dedicated. May we as United Methodist Women, echo their strength, their
courage, and their dedication as we work as we can for the kingdom of God in our world. Diana
Revelle, Editor

THE PURPOSE OF 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.

DATES TO REMEMBER
April 5, 2017 --------------------------------------- Executive Committee Meeting, 8:45 a.m.
April 22, 2017 ------------------------- District UMW Meeting, Community UMC, 9:00-2:00
April 26, 2017 ------------------------------------------------------------------- All UMW Wardrobe
April 28-30, 2017 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Geranium Sales
May 3, 2017 --------------------------------------- Executive Committee Meeting, 8:45 a.m.
May 1-5, 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------VIM to Chatham, IL
June 7, 2017 --------------------------------------- Executive Committee Meeting, 8:45 a.m.
June 9-12, 2017 --------------------------------------------- Annual Conference, Springfield, MO
June 10, 2017 ---------------------------------- District Spiritual Growth Retreat, Details TBA
June 11, 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- UMW Sunday
June 23, 2017 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Newsletter Deadline
July 5, 2017 --------------------------------------- Executive Committee Meeting, CIRCLE
8:45NEWS
a.m.
July 27-30, 2017 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Mission u in Fayette

. |1
 MUMC UMW 1ST QUARTER NEWSLETTER APRIL 2017
CIRCLE NEWS
BREAKFAST GROUP By Phillis Miller
Geraniums for UMW Missions Mark Your Calendars!
The Breakfast Circle will again have those gorgeous geraniums
available this Spring on April 28th, 29th and 30th. On Thursday,
28th and Friday, 29th, they will be available from 8 a.m. to 5
p.m. in the Connector. On Sunday, April 30th the geraniums
can be obtained in the Church Parlor from 9 a.m. until all are
gone. Strawberry Hill Farm is supplying these beautiful plants
plus stunning hanging baskets in the usual assortment of bright
colors. Be sure to come early while the selection is good.
ESTHER CIRCLE By Alicia Henderson
Esther Circle has been busy working on our Festival of Sharing
quilt. We are half way through making the blocks and have
everything cut out and pressed so it won't take us long now to
put it together. Ester has started the Confirmation stoles for
the 16 confirmands this year. We also continue to work on the
Patricia Project, and the baptismal bookmarks. We will begin
working on school bags soon.
Barb Sanders works on Esther
Circles FOS quilt while Ester
Mendoza works on the
Confirmation stoles.
SEARCY-FEELY CIRCLE By Diana Revelle
Searcy-Feely is off to a great start for 2017. In January, Julia
Goodell gave an inspirational program sharing her
involvement in the Ludhiana special project to purchase a
brachytherapy machine to aid them in their battle against
female cancers. Since the program, Julia was proudly able to
announce that enough funds had been raised for purchase of
the machine. In February, Sondra Flaker gave a wonderful
program that she entitled, Did You Know. She took us on a
|2
Diana Revelle, Editor
guided tour of the church pointing out historical and
fascinating information about the church. In March, Caryl
Bryan facilitated an informative program that was given by
Marcus Reynolds, Executive Director of Turning Point
Ministries. In April, we will be presented with a program on
Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Direction given by Dr. Kris
Tenny-Brittian who is the pastor of Oakland Christian Church
and a practicing Spiritual Director.
Above points of interest from the
did You Know tour of the church.
Right and below Marcus Reynolds
speaks to Searcy-Feely Circle.
SOPHIA CIRCLE By June DeWeese
Following is the comparative data between last year's
collection for the Festival of Sharing (FOS) Prison Kits and the
result of this year for Prison Kits. Last year when donations
were allowed in the Connector, $886.00 was collected. This
amount allowed us to purchase items to assemble 100
Womens Prison Kits.
This year, money collected was to be filtered through the
church office or donated directly to a member of Sophia Circle
but not collected on an assigned day as had been done in the
past and not in the Connector. Ten dollars was needed for
each kit and our goal was $1,000.00 to donate for the purchase
of 100 kits. This information was shared in an article to be
published in the Messenger. A total of $65.00 was donated
through the church office. Sophia Circle members collected
$295.00 directly from members of the congregation making a
total of $360.00 collected. Some people donate year around,
and the money collected during the months we do not
purchase kits can be used for kits or given to the FOS Office to
use as needed. Those funds along with the money that had
been saved from the remaining money collected last year and
 MUMC UMW 1ST QUARTER NEWSLETTER APRIL 2017
Diana Revelle, Editor

from donations from Sophia members will allow us to meet
our goal of $1,000.00 for 100 prison kits this year.
Sophia's involvement in kit collection dates back to the
ministry of Carolyn Anderson. During the early years of Jim
Bryan's ministry, Carolyn Anderson moved to Columbia. She
had been involved in FOS in Springfield at Schweitzer UMC. At
that time, MUMC was not involved as a congregation in FOS,
so Carolyn began taking donations and making kits by
herself. When she became ill and knew that she would not
recover from her illness, she came to a Sophia Circle meeting
and explained the process of taking donations, communicating
with the congregation, buying the supplies, making the kits
and delivering the kits. She asked that we take over and we
agreed. We see our role at this time as two-fold. Helping a very
important mission project in the Missouri Annual Conference
and honoring Carolyn Anderson. It is an honor to do this in her
memory.
UNIT NEWS
SOCIAL ACTION By Caryl Bryan
UMW is emphasizing 4 areas of concern for the next 4 years:
Mass Incarceration, Maternal Health, Climate Justice and
Economic Justice. When planning programs for your circle,
you may want to present information in one of these areas.
You can find resources at the National Office website,
www.unitedmethodistwomen.org and click on the blue box
that says National Seminar Videos, Webinars, and
Resources. Also remember that there are so many well-
informed people in our community who could come do a
program one any one of these issues.
Concerned about gun violence? There is an active local group
that shares your concern and you can become informed and
work to gain some control over gun violence by joining it.
Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense in America. You can find
them on the web and on Facebook. If you sign up, you will be
notified of upcoming meetings and events. Meanwhile, let
your state legislators know how you feel about House Bill 630
which will allow guns to be carried on college campuses, in
public schools, and other public venues.
NEW MEMBER INFORMATION SYSTEM By Diana Revelle
The church office will be replacing the Church Community
Builder with a new membership information program. The
hope is to have the system up and running in the very near
future. I will be trained on the system on Monday, April 3 to
be able to keep coordinating information to the unit. When it
is available for use by the congregation, I will be available to
assist you with it if needed.
UMW HOSTS CWU By Diana Revelle
MUMC UMW hosted Church Women United on Sunday
January 22 at 2:00 in the afternoon. Following a greeting by
Rev. Kendall Waller, a very informative program was given by
Jenny Flatt, Director of the MU Family Impact Center located
at 105 E Ash St. The center began in January of 2014 and
provides a variety of neighborhood programs for children and
adults. If your circle is looking for a good program that features
a wonderful community opportunity, I can highly recommend
this. For questions, to volunteer, or to schedule a program,
contact Jenny Flatt: flattj@missouri.edu; 573-882-2428. For
more information about the center itself, visit:
mufamilyimpact.org or email mufamilyimpact@missouri.edu
Church Women United has existed nationally for 76 years and
in Columbia for 72 years. This years program theme is
Kindling New Fires.
Church Women United in Missouri State Assembly will be held
April 24-25 at Community UMC here in Columbia. For more
information, contact our unit representative, June DeWeese or
CWU secretary, Rene Rau.

Upcoming Community Events:

April 18, 7:00, location TBA Community discussion
on Homelessness in Columbia Organizer David
Webber
MUMC UMW members greet and serve refreshments.
Friends, our nation is in such turmoil. Theres no way to go Jenny Flatt presents the program.
into all the issues in this article. Sometimes it can be
discouraging and frustrating. Try to stay as informed as
possible and take the time and effort to let those in power
know your opinion on so many issues, especially those that
impact the lives of women, children and youth.

|3
 MUMC UMW 1ST QUARTER NEWSLETTER APRIL 2017
Diana Revelle, Editor

UMW IN SERVICE geared for children and youth. The three mission study titles
for the 2017 educational experience at Mission u have been
THE WARDROBE By Evette Nissen announced:
Thanks to those who helped with changeover at The Spiritual Growth: Living as a Covenant Community. This study
Wardrobe. We are now fully stocked with Spring/Summer examines major covenants throughout the Bible and what they
apparel. reveal about Gods character and Gods eternal love for us.
Geographic Study: Missionary Conferences of the United
Methodist Church in the United States. This study offers a
foundational understanding of mission and ministries of the
three U.S. missionary conferences of The United Methodist
Church: Alaska United Methodist Conference; Red Bird
Missionary Conference; and the Oklahoma Indian Missionary
Conference.
Issus Study: The Issue study this year continues to be on
climate justice.
The Wardrobe is neatly organized and ready for spring.

Diana Mooney, Marie

Powell, Judy Heffernan,
and Betty Dillard work
at the Wardrobe with
another volunteer from
the community.

FELLOWSHIP OF THE LEAST COIN

While Church Women United has celebrated 75 years of
existence, the Fellowship of the Least Coin has celebrated 60
years. In 1956 Shanti Solomon traveled through Asia, seeking UMW WEBSITES
reconciliation among women from war-torn countries. She
prayed for guidance for healing relationships among women of SOCIAL ACTION
different cultures and countries. She envisioned women Mai Gray Charter for Racial Justice
praying for each other across boundaries and setting aside a www.moumethodist.org/unitedmethodistwomen
coin as a symbol of their sincerity. The Fellowship of the Least
Coin has flourished as a global ecumenical womens prayer UMW Action Alert websites
movement for peace and justice. Its name refers to the http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umw/act/network/
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umw/act/alerts/
smallest coin in the local currency. Money collected supports
projects for women and children around the world in the form
of grants, scholarships, special projects and other financial DISTRICT AND CONFERENCE
support. Its mission is to promote and support efforts of Mid-State District United Methodist Women
peace and reconciliation around the world and to actively pray www.midstateumw.blogspot.com
for that mission and for the women and children involved.
(Information from CWU publications from Columbia and St. Louis.) Missouri Conference United Methodist Women
www.moumethodist.org/umw
MISSION u 2017 STUDIES
Mission u offers studies in three areas each year: a study South Central Jurisdiction United Methodist Women
www.umw.scj.org
centering around spiritual growth, a study centering on a
geographic region, and a study centering on a particular issue United Methodist Women National Site
of concern. Included with the adult studies are versions www.unitedmethodistwomen.org

|4