ECHOES!northgaumc.s3.amazonaws.com/96BC864150B84408978F... · ECHOES! ... 1 3
Echoes Fall 2016 - NGUMCfall+2016final.… · !! ! 3! Treasurer’s%Report!! ! ! ! !...
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1 ECHOES The Newsletter of Atlanta6Emory District Fall 2016 From the President by Sue Ownbey ([email protected]) In This Issue From the President Welcome, Bishop Sue & Family Treasurer’s Report Social Action Report Special Vote November Page Program Resources Report Nominations Report Communications Corner District Spiritual Growth Event Upcoming Deadlines & Events Local Group Reports Upcoming Shared Local Events pp. 1 & 2 p. 2 p. 3 p. 3 p. 4 p. 5 p. 5 p. 6 p. 7 p. 8 pp. 9 S 14 p. 15 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 ChristY to develop a creative, supportive fellowshipY and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church.” So far, it has not felt much like fall, but upon looking out, I see a few leaves are beginning to change and fall from the trees. We know it will be here very soon. What does that mean? It is time for United Methodist Women to unite conferenceSwide and districtSwide. Let’s look forward to getting together. We send a big thank you to John Wesley UMWomen for opening their doors to our Spiritual Growth Event in August. For those of us there, we came away with many feelings, thoughts, ideas and a fresh wind blowing in our minds and hearts. Opening our session, Susan McDaniel from Friends of Refugees in Clarkston opened our eyes to what refugees and especially those in the Clarkston area go through. Susan lives right here in Tucker and has taken this ministry to heart. Then, being at John Wesley with their UMWomen members, many of whom were refugees brought to America, brought it very close to home for me and to the rest of us. These women have been very supportive of our district events and I have come to know them. Anna Siaway, who is serving on our District Executive Board, is a refugee and shared her story with us at our Executive Meeting. She leads the children’s ministry at John Wesley, begun with the help of Matthew Initiative. This being said, your Executive Committee would like to see us focus on refugee needs especially around Clarkston UMC in 2017. (continued on next page)
Transcript of Echoes Fall 2016 - NGUMCfall+2016final.… · !! ! 3! Treasurer’s%Report!! ! ! ! !...
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! ECHOES! The!Newsletter!of!Atlanta6Emory!District!
Fall!2016!
From%the%President!! !! ! ! by#Sue#Ownbey#([email protected])!!
In%This%Issue%!From!the!President!Welcome,!Bishop!Sue!&!Family!
Treasurer’s!Report!
Social!Action!Report!
Special!Vote!November!Page!
Program!Resources!Report!
Nominations!Report!
Communications!Corner!
District!Spiritual!Growth!Event!
Upcoming!Deadlines!&!Events! !
Local!Group!Reports!
Upcoming!Shared!Local!Events!
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pp.!1!&!2!
p.!2!
p.!3!
p.!3!!
p.!4!
p.!5!
p.!5!
p.!6!!
p.!7!!
p.!8!
pp.!9!S!14!
p.!15!
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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!ChristY!to!develop!a!creative,!!
supportive!fellowshipY!and!to!expand!concepts!of!mission!through!participation!in!the!
global!ministries!of!the!church.”!!
So!far,!it!has!not!felt!much!like!fall,!but!upon!looking!out,!I!see!a!few!leaves!are!beginning!to!change!and!fall!from!the!trees.!We!know!it!will!be!here!very!soon.!What!does!that!mean?!It!is!time!for!United!Methodist!Women!to!unite!conferenceSwide!and!districtSwide.!Let’s!look!forward!to!getting!together.!!!We!send!a!big!thank!you!to!John!Wesley!UMWomen!for!opening!their!doors!to!our!Spiritual!Growth!Event!in!August.!For!those!of!us!there,!we!came!away!with!
many!feelings,!thoughts,!ideas!and!a!fresh!wind!blowing!in!our!minds!and!hearts.!Opening!our!session,!Susan!McDaniel!from!Friends!of!Refugees!in!Clarkston!opened!our!eyes!to!what!refugees!and!especially!those!in!the!Clarkston!area!go!through.!Susan!lives!right!here!in!Tucker!and!has!taken!this!ministry!to!heart.!Then,!being!at!John!Wesley!with!their!UMWomen!members,!many!of!whom!were!refugees!brought!to!America,!brought!it!very!close!to!home!for!me!and!to!the!rest!of!us.!These!women!have!been!very!supportive!of!our!district!events!and!I!have!come!to!know!them.!Anna!Siaway,!who!is!serving!on!our!District!Executive!Board,!is!a!refugee!and!shared!her!story!with!us!at!our!Executive!Meeting.!She!leads!the!children’s!ministry!at!John!Wesley,!begun!with!the!help!of!Matthew!Initiative.!This!being!said,!your!Executive!Committee!would!like!to!see!us!focus!on!refugee!needs!especially!around!Clarkston!UMC!in!2017.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(continued!on!next!page)!
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President’s%Message%(continued*from*previous*page)*!Let!us!know!your!comments,!please,!as!to!what!you!see!our!District!might!do.!Let!us!show!how!our!being!connected!as!the!United!Methodist!Women!of!Atlanta!Emory!District!can!make!things!better!for!those!refugees!living!in!our!District.!!!Following!this!message,!Phylissis!had!set!up!two!workshops!–!and!we!had!to!choose!one!–!with!a!couple!of!great!facilitators.!When!we!came!back!together!as!a!group!to!share,!wow!!!!I!chose!to!go!to!the!one!on!hospitality!led!by!Maxine!Fears!from!Impact!Church.!Impact!has!grown!so!rapidly,!and!Maxine!shared!some!of!their!terrific!ideas.!Those!who!attended!Gary!Fuller’s!session!on!prayer!were!filled!with!what!prayer!can!do!and!will!do!and!should!do.!I!grabbed!a!copy!of!his!handouts!and!look!forward!to!reading!them.!We!have!excellent!United!Methodists!in!our!conference!!!!!!October!16!is!the!Sunday!afternoon!where!we!will!gather!at!2:30!pm!for!our!annual!district!meeting!at!Grayson!UMC.!We!are!so!appreciative!and!thankful!that!our!District!Superintendent,!Dana!Everhart,!sets!up!his!cell!group!charge!conferences!around!our!annual!gathering.!Be!sure!and!spread!the!word!about!the!16th!as!we!finish!up!our!year.!At!the!meeting,!we!will!elect!new!officers,!accept!a!proposed!budget!and!all!that!kind!of!stuff!after!we!worship!and!sing!and!hear!a!message!from!Sharon!Yancey,!Matthew!Initiative!Founder,!about!reaching!out!to!children!in!our!communities.!!!Well,!yes,!fall!is!coming!upon!us!and!I!look!forward!to!seeing!you!at!any!of!the!places!we!will!gather!in!the!coming!weeks.!Amazing!works!are!being!done!by!Atlanta!Emory!United!Methodist!Women.!!How!blessed!I!feel!to!be!a!part!of!this!group!!!Love!and!Peace,!Sue!!
Welcome,#Bishop#Sue#&#Family!!#!Atlanta!Emory!District!United!Methodist!Women!celebrates!with!the!North!Georgia!Conference!the!assignment!of!Bishop!Sue!HaupertSJohnson!and!welcomes!Bishop!Sue!and!her!family!to!Georgia.!!The!service!of!celebration!September!18th!at!Peachtree!Road!UMC!was!magnificent,!and!Bishop!Sue!showed!her!humor,!her!poise,!and!her!compassion!as!she!handled!with!loving!grace!the!sounding!of!the!fire!alarm!and!the!several!attempts!to!disarm!it!during!her!sermon.!When!informed!that!a!person!in!another!part!of!the!building!had!experienced!a!medical!emergency!that!caused!them!to!pull!the!alarm!to!call!for!aid,!Bishop!Sue!led!us!in!a!prayer!for!that!“friend!who!needed!aid”!and!then!finished!her!excellent!sermon.!!!May!Bishop!Sue!and!her!family!find!North!Georgians!to!be!warm,!welcoming,!friendly,!and!helpful.!May!God!bless!her!assignment!here,!and!may!the!Holy!Spirit!work!within!her!and!all!whose!lives!she!will!touch!here.!May!she!and!her!family!find!true!community!here,!and!may!their!time!here!be!a!blessing!and!a!joy!to!them.!
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Treasurer’s%Report! ! ! ! ! ! !!!!!by#Linda#Parrett#([email protected])!!
Echoes! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Fall!2016!!
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As!most!of!you!know,!the!Executive!Committee!of!the!North!Georgia!United!Methodist!Women!approved!the!realignment!of!the!remittance!and!award!quarters!to!run!July!1!through!June!30!of!every!year.!!Because!we!are!in!the!middle!of!one!of!our!"strange"!quarters,!we!began!the!new!fiscal!year!August!1.!The!first!quarter!(this!year)!is!August!1!S!September!30!and!the!second!quarter!will!be!October!1!S!December!31.!
Beginning!in!January!2017!we!will!be!on!a!regular!3SmonthSperSquarter!basis:!!!!!JAN!S!MAR!is!3rd!quarter!!!!!APR!S!JUNE!is!4th!quarter!(This!will!be!when!end!of!year!reports!and!award!reports!are!due.)!!!!!JUL!S!SEPT!is!1st!quarter!!!!!OCT!S!DEC!is!2nd!quarter!!Quarter!reports!are!always!due!to!me!by!the!last!day!of!that!quarter's!ending!month.!!If!you!have!any!questions,!please!feel!free!to!contact!me.!!Peace!and!Love,!Linda!Parrett,[email protected]!404S368S5168!or!404S292S9278!!!
Social%Action%Report! ! ! !!!!!!!!!!by#Stephanie#Suggs#([email protected])!!
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Did!you!know!that!our!national!organization!issues!Action!Alerts!on!issues!at!the!heart!of!what!United!Methodist!Women!does!to!put!Faith!Hope!and!Love!into!Action?!I!recently!read!one!about!a!lack!of!services!for!homeless!women!and!families.!(See!it!at!http://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/news/homelessSwomenSfamilies.)!In!each!action!alert,!United!Methodist!Women!shares!information!about!the!issue,!facts!and!causes,!and!UMWomen!also!shares!what!
we!can!DO!to!help.!
You!can!sign!up!to!receive!Action!Alerts!on!the!following!issues:!!
Women’s!Human!Rights!! ! ! ! U.S.!Foreign!Policy/United!Nations!!Health!Care!and!Wellness!! ! ! ! Racial!Diversity!and!Inclusiveness!Women!in!the!Developing!World! ! ! Education!!Children!and!Family!WellSBeing!! ! ! Climate!Protection/Environmental!Justice!!Poverty!Alleviation/Women’s!Economic!Security!! Global!Finance!and!Economic!Development!Food!Security!!! ! ! ! ! Mass!Media!
!Sign!up!to!receive!Action!Alerts!on!the!issues!you’re!most!passionate!about!at!http://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/actionalerts.!!Steph!
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!On!this!November’s!ballot,!Georgia!voters!will!vote!on!constitutional!amendment!#2!to!create!a!Safe!Harbor!for!Sexually!Exploited!Children!Fund!from!fines!levied!on!convicted!sex!traffickers!and!a!tax!on!certain!businesses!in!the!adult!entertainment!industry.!This!ballot!initiative!is!the!culmination!of!years!of!advocacy!by!Georgia!citizens,!churches,!and!nonSprofit!groups.!If!passed,!the!Fund!is!expected!to!provide!as!much!as!$2!million!in!dedicated!funding!annually!to!ensure!that!the!child!victims!of!domestic!minor!sex!trafficking!receive!the!restorative!services!and!support!that!they!need!to!recover.!!For!more!information!about!the!amendment,!and!how!it!came!to!be!on!November’s!ballot,!see:!https://gacommissiononwomen.org/2016/02/23/provide;safe;harbor;for;dmst;victims;by;voting;yes;in;november/!and!http://www.safeharboryes.com/amendement;faq/.!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!Are!you!registered!to!vote?!Do!you!know!where!to!vote?!Do!you!know!what!districts!and!precincts!you’re!in,!so!you’ll!know!for!whom!you’ll!be!voting?!Check!out!https://registertovote.sos.ga.gov/.!!Want!to!see!if!candidates’!positions!reflect!your!values?!Check!out!the!United!Methodist!Women’s!2016!Election!Checklist!at!http://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/news/2016electionchecklist.!!!
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Ladies!of!the!UMW,!
Here!we!are,!into!another!Reading!Program!year.!!Maybe!some!of!you!have!already!begun!reading!on!your!Reading!Program!plan.!Be!sure!to!check!the!national!website!for!a!list!of!the!2017!Reading!Program!books.!The!2016!books!seemed!to!be!more!interesting!and!inspirational!than!ever!and!covered!a!wide!variety!of!topics,!including!mission!trips,!sex!trafficking,!nutrition,!and!aging.!You!can!check!books!out!at!your!local!library.!!
Program%Resources%Report! !! ! !!!!!by#Sue#Schnock#([email protected]) !
!And!check!out!the!September!issue!of!response!magazine.!This!issue!celebrates!United!Methodist!Women!as!we!observed!150!years!of!faith,!hope,!and!love!in!action!at!the!General!Conference!in!Portland,!Oregon.!I!especially!enjoyed!the!article!on!the!consecration!of!deaconesses!and!home!missioners.!!If!you!have!questions!about!the!Reading!Program,[email protected]!or!at!(770)934S7711.!!Let's!read!!Sue!!
Dear!Friends,!
It's!that!time!of!year!when!we!really!need!to!fill!positions!on!the!Atlanta!Emory!District!UMWomen!Board.!There!is!no!greater!fulfilling!experience!than!knowing!we!work!together!to!further!the!positive!impact!we!can!have!on!women!and!children!throughout!the!world!by!working!together,!serving!on!our!Board.!It!all!begins!at!our!
Nominations%Report!!!!!!!!!!! ! by#Barbara#Garrison#([email protected])!!
!local!and!district!levels.!!!!it!is!important!that!we!stay!strong!in!this!most!excellent!United!Methodist!Women's!organization.!So,!please!say!yes!when!our!nominations!committee!calls!and!asks!you!to!fill!one!of!our!vacant!positions.!The!open!opportunities!for!you!to!serve!are!listed!here:!!Communications!Spiritual!Growth!Secretary!!If!you!will!fill!one!of!these!positions!or!recommend!someone!for!a!position,!please!contact!me!by!October!5.!I!will!appreciate!it!very!much.!!!Barbara!Garrison!770S978S3005!!garr2298@bellsouth.net!!
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Communication%Corner! !!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!by#Judy#Campbell#([email protected]) !
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Ladies,!
Do!you!love!United!Methodist!Women?!Do!you!get!excited!when!you!get!together!to!have!fellowship!and!Do!Good?!Have!you!grown!spiritually!because!of!your!membership!in!UMWomen?!If!so,!have!you!shared!that!love!and!excitement!with!someone!else!lately?!
I!have!a!confession!to!make.!I!didn’t!want!to!join!United!Methodist!Women.!I!resisted!God’s!call.!Well,!I!kind!of!fought!it.!You!know!how!that!can!go.!Like!most!of!you,!I!stay!pretty!busy,!and!I!thought!I!didn’t!have!time!for!something!else!in!my!life.!But!you!know!how!persistent!God!can!be!when!God!has!something!God!wants!you!to!do.!Eventually,!I!heeded!the!call!and!joined.!And!God!has!blessed!me!beyond!measure!through!the!women!I!would!never!had!known!had!I!not!heeded!that!call!!!I!had!that!same!resistance!to!joining!the!district!Board!at!first.!And!then!I!joined!and!began!to!be!in!relationship!with!some!of!the!most!spiritually!mature!women!I’ve!ever!met.!God!worked!through!them!to!help!me!grow!in!my!faith!and!in!my!attitudes,!and!I!am!so!very!grateful!that!I!said,!“Yes,”!when!I!was!asked!to!serve.!!We!have!some!openings!on!our!district!Board.!You!can!see!the!list!in!Barbara’s!Nominations!report.!My!current!position,!Communications!Chair,!is!one!of!those!openings,!as!I’ll!have!finished!serving!my!limit!of!two!terms!in!this!position!at!the!end!of!this!calendar!year.!!!I!didn’t!really!know!what!I!was!doing!when!I!began,!but!I’ve!learned!many!useful!skills!and!had!fun!along!the!way!just!by!doing!the!job!anyway.!And!the!women!in!our!district!(and!conference)!have!been!so!very!kind!and!supportive,!even!and!especially!before!I!knew!what!I!was!doing.!I’m!telling!you!that!getting!outside!of!my!local!unit!has!been!a!huge!blessing,!and!yes,!I!resisted!it.!!!Don’t!be!like!me!!Don’t!resist!the!blessings!God!has!in!store!for!you!through!United!Methodist!Women!!Embrace!the!opportunity!to!serve!beyond!your!local!unit,!and!be!prepared!to!be!in!awe!of!the!love!and!support!God!will!send!your!way!through!some!amazing!women.!!I’ve!said!“Yes”!once!more!to!another!position,!but!we!do!need!new!folks!to!join!our!district!board.!I!ask!you!to!pray!and!discern!if!God!is!calling!you.!And!if!God!is!nudging!you!in!our!direction,!contact!Barbara!Garrison!by!October!5,!and!tell!her!you’re!saying!“Yes,”!too.!I’ll!look!forward!to!serving!with!you!and!being!blessed!by!you!and!maybe!even!occasionally!being!a!blessing!back.!!Peace,!Judy!!
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Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another
with whatever gift each of you has received. (1 Peter 4:10 NRSV)
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District#Spiritual#Growth#Event##John!Wesley!United!Methodist!Women!did!a!fabulous!job!hosting!our!district!Spiritual!Growth!event!Saturday,!August!20.!Our!district!ViceSPresident,!Phylissis!Ransom!planned!the!very!successful!event,!which!had!over!25!attendees!of!all!ages.!Each!woman!who!attended!received!a!prayer!journal!with!both!blank!pages!for!writing!and!adult!coloring!pages!for!mindful!coloring!as!she!prays.!Many!of!us!started!coloring!immediately!!!!Our!keynote!speaker!was!Susan!McDaniel!from!Friends!of!Refugees!in!Clarkston.!Ms.!McDaniel!gave!an!excellent!talk!about!the!process!refugees!go!through!before!being!admitted!to!the!United!States!or!another!resettlement!country!and!about!the!many!difficulties!in!the!lives!of!refugees!in!refugee!camps.!She!then!told!us!about!the!various!services!offered!by!Friends!of!Refugees!to!those!refugees!who!have!resettled!in!our!very!own!district!and!about!how!little!time!these!families!have!to!become!selfSsupporting!before!they!have!to!pay!back!the!cost!of!the!resettlement.!!!Ms.!McDaniel’s!talk!and!the!sharing!of!her!own!refugee!experience!by!one!of!our!very!own!board!members!at!our!board!meeting!following!the!event!led!the!board!to!declare!that!2017’s!focus!will!be!on!helping!refugees!in!our!district.!We!already!started!by!collecting!over!2,500!diapers!for!the!food!pantry!out!of!Clarkston!UMC!at!this!one!event,!and!we’ll!accept!more!diapers!at!our!district!annual!meeting!October!16!at!Grayson!UMC.!Thanks!to!our!district!treasurer!and!Clarkston!UMC!member,!Linda!Parrett,!for!heading!up!the!diaper!drive.!Kudos!to!New!Church!UMWomen!members!for!donating!over!1,500!diapers!themselves!!!If!you’d!like!to!know!more!about!the!work!that!Friends!of!Refugees!does,!visit!their!website!at!https://friendsofrefugees.com/about;friends;of;refugees/.!There!are!many!ways!to!help!!!Following!the!excellent!presentation!by!Ms.!McDaniel,!we!divided!into!two!breakout!sessions,!one!on!hospitality!and!the!other!on!prayer.!Maxine!Fears!from!Impact!Church!led!the!energizing!session!on!hospitality,!and!Gary!Fuller!led!the!wonderful!session!on!prayer.!We!were!all!wishing!we!could!have!attended!both!sessions.!Many!thanks!to!both!of!our!facilitators!!
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Upcoming%Deadlines%&%Events%! Saturday,!October!1,!2016,!8:30!a.m.! ! Cumming!First!UMC!! ! Conference!UMWomen!Annual!Meeting!
! !! Saturday,!October!15,!2016,!9:00!a.m.! ! Embry!Hills!UMC!! ! Paint!It!Forward!Event!(see!page!15)!!
Saturday,!October!15,!2016,!2:00!p.m.! ! New!Church!at!Candler!Park!! Tea!Party!FUNdraiser!(see!page!9)!!Sunday,!October!16,!2016,!2:30!p.m.! ! Grayson!UMC!
! ! District!UMWomen!Annual!Meeting!!! Saturday,!October!22,!2016!7:00!p.m.! ! Tucker!First!UMC!! ! Bluegrass!Concert!FUNdraiser!(see!p.!15)!
!Saturday,!November!5,!2016!!8:15!a.m.! ! Duluth!UMC!
! ! Conference!UMWomen!Leadership!Development!! !
Saturday,!December!10,!2016! ! ! [email protected]!!! Deadline!for!Winter!2016!Echoes!submissions!
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LoveInAction!
Can%You%Host%a%District%Event%in%2017?%Are%You%Ready%to%Open%Your%Doors?%
Yes,!it’s!only!just!now!autumn,!but!the!new!year!will!be!here!before!we!know!it!!Your!executive!board!needs!to!plan!our!January!training!and!other!events!for!next!year.!The!following!dates!are!somewhat!flexible,!but!we!do!have!to!work!around!other!events!of!the!conference!and!district.!!!Check!your!church!calendars,!and!let!our!esteemed!president,!Sue!Ownbey,!know!if!you!can!host!any!of!the!following!events:!!
Brunch,!Leadership!Development:!! ! January!21,!28,!or!February!4!District!Day!Apart!/!Mission!Work!Day:!! ! a!Saturday!in!March!Executive!Committee!Meeting:!! ! ! April!22,!9:30a.m.!–!noon!Spiritual!Growth!Event!/!Mission:!!! ! Saturday,!August!26,!9a.m.!–!noon!District!Annual!Meeting:!! ! ! ! Sunday,!October!15,!2:30p.m.!Executive!Committee!Meeting!/!Gathering:!! Sometime!in!December!
!Let’s!keep!that!fresh!wind!blowing!throughout!our!fantastic!district!in!2017!!Say!“Yes!”!today!!!!
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New%Church%at%Candler%Park%News# #by#Mary#Lynn#Merkle##!
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The!new!local!unit!at!New!Church,!Candler!Park!will!be!holding!our!very!first!“fun!fundraiser”!on!Saturday,!October!15th,!2:00!to!4:00!p.m.!in!the!Fellowship!Hall!at!1561!McLendon!Ave.,!Atlanta.!We!are!having!a!Tea!Party!with!special!teas,!fancy!savory!snacks,!delicious!desserts,!and!good!company.!!A!freeSwill!offering!will!go!to!helping!cover!the!educational!expenses!of!three!students!we!support!who!attend!a!Guatemalan!school,!Ingrid!(age!7),!Estuardo!(age!12),!and!Heidy!(age!16).!School!in!Guatemala!begins!in!January,!so!it’s!important!for!us!to!have!a!successful!Tea!Party.!!We!are!extending!an!invitation!to!ALL!interested!women!to!come!and!enjoy!fun,!food,!and!fellowship.!We!will!have!a!special!table!for!our!younger!attendees,!too.!To!help!us!plan,!we!just!ask!that!you!contact!New!Church’s!coSpresident!Kristin!Turgeon!if!you!will!come!(phone!number!(404)[email protected].!!Fancy!hats!will!be!welcomed!but!are!not!necessary.!Dress!is!casual.!Come!enjoy!tea!with!us!and!help!us!fund!the!educational!costs!for!our!Guatemalan!students.!See!you!there!!!
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Duluth%News# #by#Cathy#Haas#For!the!fifth!year!now,!Duluth!UMWomen!continues!to!provide!healthy!weekend!snacks!to!school!children!in!need!in!our!community.!We!call!this!outreach!program!HAPPY!SACKS,!and!we!are!partnering!once!again!with!five!local!schools.!Each!school!is!offered!up!to!25!sacks!per!week,!and!we!work!with!the!school!counselors!who!determine!which!students!are!in!need.!Volunteers!pack!between!75!and!100!sacks!on!Wednesday!night!in!conjunction!with!our!Wednesday!night!supper.!Each!group!provides!10!packers!per!week!for!the!month!they!sign!up!to!pack.!The!sacks!are!delivered!to!each!school!on!Friday!morning!by!a!member!of!the!driving!team!assigned!to!each!school.!Last!school!year!we!packed!and!delivered!2,747!Happy!Sacks.!Our!first!week!this!year!we!delivered!81!sacks.!The!need!is!definitely!out!there.!We!are!blessed!that!God!has!called!us!to!help!meet!that!need.!If!your!unit!is!interested!in!hearing!more!about!our!Happy!Sacks!program,!we!will!be!glad!to!come!and!share!our!story!with!you.!You!can!contact!Terrie!Adkins!at!770S476S7981!or!ttadkins@sprynet.com.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!The!JAM!Circle!(Jesus!Among!Mommies)!ladies!stay!very!busy!with!various!UMW!activities.!A!lovely!and!busy!mom,!Victoria!Ladd,!is!the!President!of!the!JAM!Circle.!Victoria!says,!“Besides!meeting!once!a!month!for!devotion!and!lunch,!we!try!to!participate!in!many!other!projects!around!the!church.!We!take!one!month!a!year!to!pack!Happy!Sacks!for!underprivileged!young!students,!meeting!once!a!week!to!do!this.!We!try!to!participate!in!providing!meals!for!Family!Promise!families!as!often!as!we!can.!We!also!organize!and!head!up!Baby!Recognition!Sunday!in!May,!honoring!the!babies!born!into!our!church!throughout!the!year.!JAM!ladies!get!together!and!pack!Operation!Christmas!Child!shoe!boxes.!We!write!and!collect!thank!you!letters!to!send!to!our!troops!thanking!them!for!their!service.!One!of!our!favorite!missions!is!collecting!toys!and!wrapping!them!for!orphanages!located!in!poor!areas!of!South!America.!This!is!our!favorite!mission!because!we!are!able!to!see!pictures!of!the!children!opening!and!receiving!these!presents.!The!JAM!circle!stays!SO!busy!throughout!the!year.!We!have!plans!coming!up!to!start!working!more!with!the!youth!at!our!church,!which!is!something!new!and!exciting.!Our!JAM!circle!tries!to!contribute!to!UMW!as!often!and!in!any!way!we!can!”!!
! !Agape!UMWomen!Circle!Gets!to!Work!! Christian!Beginning!kindergarteners!celebrate!!
! !Victoria!Ladd,!Sarah!Buchanan,!
Julie!Realbuto!LSR!Jennifer!Taylor,!Ann!Dykes,!
Victoria!Ladd!LSR!
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Duluth#UMWomen#Announces#February#Retreat##!!The!United!Methodist!Women!of!Duluth!First!United!Methodist!will!be!hosting!a!wonderful!spiritual!retreat!February!10S12,!2017!at!Pinnacle!Retreat!Center!in!Clayton,!GA.!The!retreat!will!be!in!gorgeous!mountain!surroundings!!Visit!http://pinnacleretreatcenter.com/!to!see!photos!and!information.!We!will!drive!up!Friday!night!February!10!and!return!Sunday!after!chapel.!Ladies!outside!of!Duluth!First!Methodist!are!invited!to!attend!this!retreat,!whether!or!not!you!are!in!United!Methodist!Women.!!!Rev.!Sheri!Smith!will!lead!us!as!we!explore!“Expectations:!When!Life!Doesn’t!Turn!Out!the!Way!You!Hoped!”!The!retreat!cost!includes!three!meals!on!Saturday!and!one!on!Sunday,!plus!two!nights!of!lodging.!Cost!varies!depending!on!how!many!women!you!bunk!with.!Costs!for!rooms,!inclusive!of!food!and!all!amenities,!are!as!follows:!!!Triple!occupancy!is!$135.!! ! Double!occupancy!is!$150.!! Single!occupancy!is!$215.!!!A!deposit!of!$25!is!due!by!November!15,!2016!with!the!total!due!by!January!15,!2017.!!!For!more!information,[email protected].!Hope!to!see!you!there!!!!
NGUMW#Leadership#Training:#November#5#at#Duluth#!!!!!!!!!!Duluth!First!United!Methodist!Church,!located!at!3208!Duluth!Hwy.!120,!Duluth,!GA,!is!honored!to!host!the!North!Georgia!Conference!United!Methodist!Women!Leadership!Development!meeting!Saturday,!November!5.!This!meeting,!sponsored!and!led!by!our!Conference!UMWomen!executive!team,!will!provide!training!for!leaders!and!future!leaders!in!local!and!district!UMWomen!organizations.!Tryphenia!Speed,!our!Conference!Vice!President,!has!planned!a!wide!variety!of!informational!breakout!sessions!to!address!our!many!leadership!areas.!!!This!meeting!is!open!to!all!interested!officers!and!members.!Registration!begins!at!8:15!AM,!followed!by!a!Continental!breakfast!and!Opening!plenary!session.!Breakout!sessions!will!complete!the!morning.!A!soup!and!salad!lunch!will!be!served!to!end!the!meeting.!Stay!tuned!for!information!from!the!Conference!about!registration.!!Mark!your!calendars,!and!plan!to!come!and!spend!a!lovely!Fall!morning!learning!about!how!to!take!your!local!unit!to!a!new!and!improved!level!!!!!
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Tucker%First%News# ## by#Evelyn#Burkett!!The!United!Methodist!Women!of!Tucker!First!UMC,!with!help!from!our!VBS!kids,!our!congregation!and!coSworkers!of!one!enthusiastic!church!member,!collected!a!total!of!140!book!bags!and!numerous!school!supplies!during!our!annual!churchSwide!drive.!We!provided!twentySfive!book!bags!containing!a!generous!collection!of!supplies!to!students!in!the!Vision!of!Faith!congregation!that!meets!on!our!campus.!Twenty!book!bags!went!to!students!at!Northlake!Inn,!a!nearby!extended!stay!hotel.!Ten!bags!were!given!to!students!in!our!ESOL!program,!ten!to!students!in!our!Tucker!First!congregation,!and!twentyStwo!to!Gwinnett!County!DFACS.!Some!of!the!book!bags!and!supplies!donated!during!VBS!will!be!given!to!students!at!Tucker!Middle!School.!Approximately!thirty!book!bags!and!supplies,!were!donated!to!the!NETWorks!“Good!Neighbor!Back!2!School!Shop."!This!program!offers!neighbors!in!the!NorthlakeSEmbry!HillsSTucker!area!who!are!facing!financial!challenges!the!opportunity!to!purchase!school!supplies!at!discounted!prices,!letting!them!provide!for!their!families!in!an!affordable!and!respectful!manner.!The!Tucker!First!UMW!are!grateful!to!all!those!who!helped!our!area!children!start!the!school!year!with!the!supplies!they!need!to!learn!and!succeed.!!!!!!!!!!!!Tucker!First!United!Methodist!Women!members!gathered!in!August!for!our!annual!"stuff!and!tie"!pillow!party.!Volunteers!previously!cut!out!the!heart!shapes!for!the!pillows.!Everyone!then!came!together!to!stuff!and!tie!them!together!into!pillows.!The!heart!shape!of!the!pillows!serves!two!purposes:!to!ease!the!pain!after!breast!cancer!surgery!(the!shape!fits!under!the!arm!in!just!the!right!way)!and!to!remind!the!recipient!they!are!loved.!Before!they!were!delivered!to!DeKalb!Medical!Center,!the!pillows!were!placed!in!front!of!the!altar!rail!in!the!Sanctuary!where!they!were!prayed!over!and!blessed!during!worship.!A!handful!of!the!pillows!have!been!kept!back!for!members!of!our!congregation!to!share!with!persons!in!our!community.!!
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!Judy!Vestrand,!TFUMW!book!bag!drive!coordinator!&!Stephanie!Suggs,!NETWorks!Cooperative!Ministry!Program!DirectorY!members!of!the!Vision!of!Faith!and!Tucker!First!UMC!congregations!working!together!to!fill!the!book!bags!!
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Prospect%News# #by#Kathy#Harris!!Prospect!United!Methodist!Women!has!been!undergoing!some!major!changes.!Kathy!Harris!is!the!new!President!and!Lisa!Sizemore!is!now!the!Vice!President.!We!have!grown!from!having!one!group!of!ladies!meeting!on!the!second!Monday!of!the!month!to!three!Circles!of!wonderful!United!Methodist!Women!–!presently!totaling!54!ladies.!!!The!Circle!of!Hope!is!newly!named!but!has!been!around!for!a!very!long!time.!It!is!the!original!group!of!Prospect!UMW!and!had!done!mission!and!ministry!in!the!church,!community,!national!and!the!world!for!over!65!years.!This!group!is!led!by!Lori!Davis!and!has!always!been!a!vital!part!of!the!church.!It!has!planned!fundraisers,!i.e.,!annual!yard!sale,!bake!sale/fall!bazaar,!crock!pot/cobbler,!etc.!–!with!all!monies!going!to!missions!within!our!community!and!country!and!beyond.!The!Circle!of!Hope!meets!at!7:00!pm!on!the!second!Monday!of!each!month!(after!the!first!Sunday)!in!the!fellowship!hall.!The!Circle!of!Love!started!meeting!in!February!2013!and!is!led!by!Kathy!Blocker.!They!begin!with!coffee!and!refreshments!and!a!time!of!meet!and!greet,!followed!by!announcements,!prayer!concerns,!and!updates!on!the!Random!Acts!of!Christian!Kindness.!Then!they!have!time!for!a!program!with!a!broad!range!of!topics!to!help!with!their!growth!as!Christians.!Some!of!their!topics!have!been:!Women!Who!Matter,!Gratitude,!the!Will!of!God,!Freedom!is!Not!Free,!Seven!Deadly!Sins,!God’s!Amazing!Grace,!and!Music!in!Worship.!During!Lent,!they!provide!40!daily!devotions!for!all!the!UMW!ladies!to!do!together.!The!Circle!of!Love!meets!the!second!Friday!of!each!month!at!10:00!am!in!the!fellowship!hall.!The!Gathering!Circle!is!our!newest!circle.!You’ll!find!these!ladies!meeting!at!7:00!pm!at!Panera!Bread!by!the!Mall!of!Georgia!on!the!third!Friday!of!each!month.!The!concept!for!naming!this!circle!came!from!Matt.!18:20!(“For!where!two!or!three!are!gathered…”),!and!it!is!a!great!way!for!women!in!the!church!and!community!to!praise,!learn,!laugh,!encourage,!support!and!enjoy!the!fellowship!of!others.!They!connect!women!through!interesting!discussions!on!a!variety!of!spiritual!and!biblical!topics,!as!well!as!current!events.!
It!is!taking!some!getting!used!to,!but!we!are!excited!about!our!growth!and!the!new!challenges!that!await!us!around!every!corner.!I!am!very!proud!of!the!ladies!who!have!stepped!up!to!be!Circle!Leaders.!Their!dedication,!compassion!and!desire!to!focus!on!our!PURPOSE!is!so!greatly!appreciated!by!all.!!Some!of!the!activities!we!have!been!involved!in!over!the!past!few!months!are:!The!annual!yard!sale!(which!brought!in!over!$3000),!a!churchSwide!school!supply!donation!for!the!United!Methodist!Children’s!Home!(delivered!Aug!1,!2016),!children’s!birthday!boxes!and!personal!hygiene!items!for!the!women!and!children!at!the!Lawrenceville!Food!CoSop.!We!also!continue!to!knit!and!send!preemie!baby!caps!to!the!hospitals!in!the!North!Georgia!area!and!collect!manufactured!coupons!for!the!military!bases!in!Japan.!!!!We!are!women!with!a!purpose!and!we!are!finding!more!and!more!ways!to!put!God’s!love!into!action!!!
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%Embry%Hills%News# #by#LeyAnna#Messick#and#Judy#Campbell#!Embry!Hills!United!Methodist!Women!members!have!had!a!very!productive!spring!and!summer,!and!we’re!gearing!up!for!another!exciting!year!of!putting!our!faith,!hope,!and!love!into!action.!We!held!a!Mission!Study!on!Latin!America!and!had!members!from!other!nearby!churches!join!us.!We!held!our!annual!Bake!Sale!in!conjunction!with!the!men’s!BBQ,!and!we!raised!over!$1500!to!support!our!mission!work!!Tara!Hall,!Executive!Director!of!Refugee!Women’s!Network,!spoke!at!our!annual!Prayer!&!SelfSDenial!meeting,!where!we!also!put!together!goody!bags!for!Tara’s!team!to!give!out!to!refugee!women!as!rewards!for!their!hard!work.!!We!served!lunch!twice!at!the!Women’s!Community!Kitchen,!the!first!using!leftover!BBQ!which!was!very!wellSreceived,!and!the!second!serving!with!our!church’s!youth!group!during!Youth!Week.!For!our!Father’s!Day!celebration!during!church,!we!presented!readings!and!poems!and!gave!the!men!gift!bags.!!Some!of!our!members!served!as!rotation!or!classroom!leaders!during!VBS,!and!others!took!care!of!the!Friday!hot!dog!lunch!for!all!of!the!volunteers,!children,!&!families.!EHUMW!took!the!lead!on!our!church’s!efforts!to!feed!hungry!children!over!the!summer!by!spearheading!our!Smart!Lunch!Smart!Kid!lunchSmaking.!We!made!424!complete!lunches!and!many!extra!sandwiches!over!two!Sundays,!and!it!was!another!interSgenerational!service!project!success.!One!of!our!circles!held!several!hatSknitting!service!days.!The!hats!made!will!go!to!the!homeless!women!and!children!served!by!the!Women’s!Community!Kitchen.!We!held!a!school!supply!and!book!bag!drive!that!enabled!us!to!take!book!bags!&!school!supplies!to!three!local!schools.!!We’ve!kicked!off!our!new!year!by!holding!our!quarterly!general!meeting!Sunday,!September!11.!Stephanie!Suggs,!Program!Director!at!NETWorks!Cooperative!Ministry!in!Tucker,!spoke!about!her!work!there.!Stephanie!is!also!a!creative!artist,!and!she!led!us!in!a!type!of!Lectio!Divina!on!a!verse!from!Proverbs!in!which!we!drew!what!the!Spirit!was!leading!us!to!learn!from!the!multiple!readings!of!the!scripture.!We!collected!a!good!number!of!$5!gift!cards!for!use!in!the!NETWorks!Good!Neighbor!Christmas!Shop!in!December.!!!We’re!looking!forward!to!another!exciting!&!fun!year!!!!
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Upcoming#Local#Unit#Events#You’re#Invited!#
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Your!Event!Flyer!Could!Have!Been!Here!!
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Have!an!event!coming!up?!!
Want!help!spreading!the!word?!!
at!least!two!weeks!before!your!event.!!
We’ll!send!it!to!the!district!UMWomen!members!&!post!it!on!Facebook!for!you!!
!It’s!more!fun!when!we!go!to!!
each!other’s’!events!!
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!The!deadline!for!submissions!!for!the!Winter!edition!is!!December!10th!
!Email!your!submissions!to!
!Judy!Campbell!!at!
[email protected]!!or!!
Mail!your!submission!to!2869!Umberland!Drive!Doraville,!GA!30340!
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!!ECHOES!
Echoes!is!the!official!newsletter!of!Atlanta!Emory!District!United!Methodist!Women.!!It!is!published!four!times!a!year.!
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