east ohio conference united methodist women keeping...

East Ohio Conference United Methodist Women

KEEPING CURRENT

Volume 33, Issue 1 February 2015

EOC UMW Officers 2015 President Kathy Kuhn 740-537-3523 [email protected] Vice President Rosalyn Barnhill 419-798-4393 [email protected] Secretary Becky Neibarger 740-392-1613 [email protected] Treasurer Sandra Hodge 440-774-1176 [email protected] Nominations Chairperson Dori Kinkoph 330-958-1866 [email protected] Prog. Resources Betty Alvey 740-282-6055 [email protected] Education & Interpretation Gail Alexander 740-848-4002 [email protected] Membership Nurture/Outreach Sue McKay 440-265-4267 [email protected] Social Action Kristina Dubois 440-220-0871 [email protected] Spiritual Growth Betty Spencer 330-686-0245 [email protected] Communications Coor. Vickie Taylor 419-271-4135 [email protected] Webmaster Rosalyn Barnhill [email protected] Historian Jeanette Kraus 740-369-4745 [email protected]

THE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

United Methodist Women Purpose:

An organized unit of United Methodist Wom-en shall be a community of women whose

PURPOSE is to know God and to experi-

ence 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.

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was God. God created

and loved all creation. Humankind was ‘born’ innocent and ignorant of anything but Paradise. When temptation came their way, they yielded discovering guilt and shame. Not fol-lowing instructions usually means not going the right way or getting where you are supposed to be. The garden was gone! There was no chance of returning. Life would never be the same. No longer would there be walks with God in the gar-den or intimate conversations with a close friend. Trouble became a matter of course. Where was the brightness, the smiles, the light heart? Century upon century passed. There were wars, famines, droughts, unbelief, idols, and all matter of mischief. Overall humankind not only did not get better but they also invented new ways to stray and offend God. But God still loved!

So the Word became Flesh through God’s only begotten son. Jesus

was born and grew in faith and stature. He spent His life teaching, healing, and nurturing – shepherding humankind to return to God’s fold. He told of God’s Love, Forgiveness, and Grace. Jesus served as only a true believer can, continually telling all who would listen to “come and follow”. Jesus never sought the spotlight. He did not send the ’unclean’ away but offered His Father’s Love. On the night before Jesus was led like a lamb to the slaughter, he showed the prime example of being God’s true servant. Like a servant or slave would nor-

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East Ohio Conference United Methodist Women Volume 33, Issue 1-February 2015 Keeping Current

President Continued . . .

Jesus gently washed the tired, dirty, stinky feet of those within the Upper Room and gently patted them dry. Could it be that by serving God’s children we are actually serving God?

And the Word spread as the Apostles and new Christians went to the four corners of the world. Now do you

remember where the first groups of Christians met and how they gathered? Some met in secret in the catacombs while others met in private homes – homes owned by rich widows offering hospitality to share and fellowship in Christian love. If you study Saint Paul, you probably notice that he especially found the women ready to open their homes. In short, the women provided a strong foundation for the early Christian Church from the very beginning. Phoebe, a contemporary of and worker with Paul, is usually credited as being the first deaconess. Prior to uniting and becoming the United Methodist Church, both the Evangelical United Brethren and Methodist churches had women serving as both deaconesses and missionaries. In fact many are responsible for starting hospitals/school, improving living conditions, striving for humane treatment and so on.

The Word moves on into the future through United Methodist Women. Each year we elect officers in our

local units, districts, and conferences. Each year at least one Mission Team in your UMW life

changes, bringing new ideas, challenges, and ways of nurturing. Just take a look at our Purpose.

We are to be a community of women whose sole purpose is to know God. In so doing, we will

experience freedom through Jesus Christ. We will develop a creative, supportive fellowship with

each other. With the support, courage, and knowledge of fellowship in Christ we can expand concepts

of mission not only in our own communities but also through participation in the global ministries of

the Church. Isn’t it time we all moved past ourselves and washed someone else’s feet? When we sit

at the feet of God’s child, we are in good company.

Kathy

Looking Forward to Seeing You at Mission u 2015!


From our Vice President . . .

By the time she was 14, Cathy Stone's family had moved 12 times. Each time it was because her family was evicted. Cathy tells her story: "When I was in second grade, my school teacher was a United Methodist Woman and the church was right next to the elementary school. My teacher probably saw things I didn't realize about myself as a child- that I was dirty, that I was hungry. My teacher was able to take leftovers from the lunchroom every day and brought it to the church to feed the homeless. Eventually she would have her friends pick me up wherever I lived. I never missed church. Every time the doors opened I would be there. That one woman changed my life." Cathy Stone is now the Executive Director of Cornerstone UMW Support Center in Tampa, Florida. Cornerstone goes back to 1892, when Tampa was full of immigrants working in the cigar factory. The immigrant children were not allowed to attend public schools and were often left unattended at home or brought to work with their families. A local woman, Rosa Valdez, started a school for the children. Ms. Valdez appealed to the Woman's Home Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She knew the organization was sending missionaries around the world and she let the organization know its help was needed in Tampa as well. This was the beginning of Rosa Valdez Center - an early learning center serving children from birth to age 5. Cornerstone Children Nutrition Connection helps other child care centers provide meals for 28,000 children over a 5 county area. From the RESPONSE magazine Sept. 2014 - Cornerstone of Mission in Tampa, Florida

ANNUAL CELEBRATION OCTOBER 23-24, 2015 Missions will be hi-lighted at our "Annual Celebration" this October 23-24 at Norwalk First. Kevin Schaner will bring her stories from participating in Ubuntu Journeys to the Ivory Coast in Belfast, Lithuania, Cambodia, and Zimbabwe on Friday night. Saturday we have Thelma Tucker speaking on "Opportunities for Service in Cap Haitian" and Luigi Perez in the afternoon. Perez is Pastor at Willard Grace and has a passion to serve the Lord that was awakened by the mission group to his hometown in Cuba.

Do everything readily and cheerfully- no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving message into the night so I'll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You'll be living proof that I didn't go to all this work for nothing. Love, Paul (Philippians 2:14-16)

Rosalyn Barnhill, Vice President

Greetings from the United Methodist Women, national office!

March 23

A Day of Giving to The Legacy Fund

March 23 will be a big day in United Methodist Women’s 150th anniversary celebrations as we build up The Legacy Fund with A Day of Giving. March 23, 1869, was the day a small group of women gathered at Tremont Methodist Episcopal Church in Boston, Massachusetts, and organized for mission. These faithful women raised money to send a doctor, Clara Swain, a teacher, Isabella Thoburn, to India as missionaries to serve the women of that nation, and they organized the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society, a predecessor of United Methodist Women. They left us a priceless legacy. Let women in your area know that we will be celebrating the dedication and fore-sight of these foremothers in mission by building up the legacy we will leave to future generations of United Methodist Women by giving a special gift on A Day of Giving, March 23. A Day of Giving gifts will go to The Legacy Fund, a permanent endowment that will support future genera-tions of United Methodist Women and ensure that they will be able to continue in mission addressing the needs of women, children and youth of their day. A Day of Giving will be a 24-hour giving festival. Members and friends may give:

Online at www.unitedmethodistwomen.org A “click” on “Day of Giving” will take visitors to The Legacy Fund donations page where they may safely give to the fund on a secure server.

By telephone at 212 870-3743. United Methodist Women Treasurer’s Office staff will take information for A Day of Giving gifts by phone.

By mailing a check to United Methodist Women, Treasurer’s Office, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115.

By text using a “smartphone.” Texting information will be available online in early March. Conference United Methodist Women Liaisons will be notified of contributions from women in their area — but the amount of the gift will always remain confidential. Gifts in any amount are welcome. In recognition of our upcoming 150th anniversary, United Methodist Women members and friends may consider giving $15 or $150 or even $1,500, in recognition of our upcoming 150th anniversary, or $18.69 or $186.90 or even 1,869, in recognition of the year of United Methodist Women’s founding. A Day of Giving gifts are 100 percent tax deductible. Contributors will receive an immediate thank you and a printable tax receipt for 100 percent of their donation. Spread the word! As with our foremothers in 1869, in the 21st century, women still need to organize for mis-sion. Make it happen with a gift to The Legacy Fund on March 23, A Day of Giving. For more information, email [email protected] or call us at 212-870-3743. _____________________________ Simone Wilson Administrator of Professional and Organizational Development United Methodist Women, national office 475 Riverside Drive | New York, NY 10115 T: 212.870.3764 | [email protected] http://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org


http://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org




From our Treasurer . . . When I was young my family would comment, “Sandy, where is your patience”? At the time, I was baffled by what they meant, because I thought I was patient except for everyone around me who just didn’t get it…Wow was that naïve. Over time I have become more aware of “…in everything we do we must treat and love others as we want to be treated: The Golden Rule”— Mathew 7:12. The more I drew closer to God; I began to understand what my family meant about patience. Today, I strive toward taking into consideration the circumstances which someone else might be facing and I try to be more sensitive to how life may be affecting them. I think frequently of WWJD (what would Jesus do), for He has been so patient with me. So nowadays I try to focus on “who needs me to be more patience?” Sisters in Christ, we all struggle a little bit with something…I liken it to we are all traveling through life’s journey, but the distinction is; we have the assurance of God who is watching over us. So no matter what concerns, issues, or worries we have, He has a plan for us, when we seek him. In Ephesians 2, Paul tells us as believers, we are a part of God’s workmanship; created in Christ Jesus to do good works, and God never does a sloppy job. The hand of the Craftsman is at work shaping us to be more Christ like. So now I sincerely try to be more sensitive to “who needs me to be more sensitive”. As your new treasurer, I too ask you to be patient with me as I grow in this role. I am reminded that God doesn’t care how much we give, but how we give – from the heart, joyfully reaching out to aid the women and children who need our support. We exhibit our faith, worship, prayer, service, and witness to others as we give as a natural expression of our thanks to Him who gives to us. God bless you as we all draw closer together in 2015.

Sandra L. Hodge East Ohio Conference Treasurer

Currently, the East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Women’s website does not exist. Our new Webmaster, Rosalyn Barnhill, is working diligently to restore the website. Any correspondence in reference to the website should be sent to Rosalyn at [email protected]

Hello Ladies! I am Vickie Taylor, your new Newsletter Editor. Please excuse whatever errors or omissions you may find in this issue of Keeping Current. I will strive to improve the content and appearance of the newsletter as we go along. It will take me a little time, but I hope to have it a bit more “polished” eventually. Any suggestions are appreciated. Vickie Taylor, Newsletter Editor [email protected]


PLEASE, copy this newsletter and share with others in your district and local units. Don’t keep UMW a secret. SPREAD THE WORD!



A former minister at the church I attend challenged us to ADD something to our lives, not give up something for Lent. I like this idea since I like my ice cream and chocolate and these seem to be the most common things we give up. So what could we add since I am sure all of you are as busy as I? Well, the first thing to jump into our minds is to read additional scripture or devotions or per-haps spend a little longer talking to God. But, how about all of those things you would like to do and do not find the time to do: Call someone on the shut in list from church, visit someone in the hospi-tal, send a thinking of you card to someone in need of a lift, send a birthday card, say thank you to someone, somehow include an act of thoughtfulness in each day. The rewards are great for you as well as the recipient. With Love Betty Spencer, Spiritual Growth

All district teams, local unit presidents and treasurers should be receiving this conference newsletter for UMW. If you know of someone that has not received it either by email or snail mail, please contact me with correct information. The post office charges us for each returned newsletter. To be good stewards of our money, if an address correction is not received, the name is dropped for the next mailing. We want everyone to receive the up to date information. Please help us get the correct information. Thank you. Vickie Taylor, Newsletter Editor [email protected] 419-271-4135

Membership Nurture Outreach

Dear Sisters,

Happy New Year to all of you. I hope that you are surviving this very cold winter. But, the red cardinals real-

ly stand out at my bird feeders and the snow is sometimes very pretty on the trees.

Just like income taxes, it is time for each unit to do their UMW membership totals. Each unit sends those re-

ports to their district MNO, who in turn does a report which needs to come to me by May 1st. I will then do

my report and send it in to New York.

Also be thinking of what you can be doing at your unit meetings—changing the times you meet during the

winter months; providing a ride and bringing a new person to your gathering; having day care available at

your meetings, etc. Then you can discuss ways to help in your very own area—collecting school supplies;

donating food to the food pantry; visiting UMW members who are shut ins or in nursing homes; making pray-

er shawls and baby blankets, etc.

Hope to be able to meet more of you during this coming year. Remember the old wives' tale—three snows

on the crocuses and winter will be done—but first we need warmer temps and the snow to melt so we can

see those little flowers pop up!

Many blessings to you,

Sue McKay, EOC MNO


A Mission Moment . . . As we have celebrated 145 years in mission, we recognize the saints that have gone before us leav-ing us a legacy of serving local, national and worldwide ministries. We are proud of our heritage and service. We are also challenged as we go into the 21st century toward our 150th year with new purpose and dedication. We are learning new ways to serve as our challenges broaden into new ministries: Persons with disabilities Persons of different races and nationalities Persons with drug and alcohol abuses Men and women in prisons Persons in poverty and homelessness Victims of domestic abuse Victims of human trafficking Sandy Wilder wrote in the January 2015 Response magazine, “All resources, natural and financial, are from God and it is our responsibility as women of faith to ensure that these resources meet the needs of all.” This is surely and enormous task but we have met such challenges in the past. To begin to meet these challenges it will take all of us working together. Each individual unit must be challenged to find at least one new ministry in which to be involved. Increasing our knowledge is a way to begin. Reading our magazines, Response and World Outlook, using our prayer calendars and resource material for our unit meetings is our way to strengthen our units as well as ourselves. We need to begin to find new visions. Encourage women and girls in your congregation and community to join your unit. Ask your minister to share minutes in mission in worship services. Celebrate UMW Sunday every year. Be more vocal about your service and mission work and let people know who you are and what you do. Most of all---deepen you own spiritual growth by developing daily Bible reading, prayer time and meditation to learn where God is leading you. Pray for the others in your unit and in your church. Pray for the children in your church and community. Let us make the next five years as we work for our 150th anniversary a time of learning and renewal, dedicating ourselves anew to the ministry of the UMW. God be with you. Gail Alexander, East Ohio Conference UMW Education and Interpretation Chairperson

SOCIAL ACTION REPORT

As Social Action Coordinators we are charged with assisting women in study, action and reflection regard-ing current and emerging social, economic, environmental and politi-cal issues. We need to identify pri-ority issues and promote and inter-pret their biblical basis for action utilizing the Social Principles. I challenge each of you to identify at least one area of focus for your District and share your on-going work on it. I urge you to connect with a local advocacy and action group in your community. There are organizations all over addressing issues of domestic violence, immi-gration, hunger, poverty, public ed-ucation, etc. If you need any help or want more information about the issues I urge you to visit the UMW website at www.unitedmethodistwomen.org or feel free to contact me.

I have heard from District Coordi-nators that issues of domestic vio-lence, drug abuse, and unemploy-ment are of great importance in our conference. Please let me know what issues are affecting your dis-trict. As you know by now, the Confer-ence area of focus is gun violence prevention. As a member of a coali-tion to bring common sense legisla-tion to our Assembly I am specifi-cally working on a bill aimed at re-stricting access to firearms by do-mestic abusers. According to the FBI, there were 383 domestic vio-lence homicides in Ohio from 2003 to 2012, which include both male and female victims. Of those homi-cides, almost half were killed with guns. Ohio has no laws specifically aimed at restricting access to fire-arms by domestic violence abusers. We are currently involved in draft-ing the legislation and contacting potential legislators to sponsor our bills. In addition, the coalition is

working on child access prevention (CAP) legislation. Please contact me if you are interested in partici-pating in our coalition. Kristina DuBois, Social Action Co-ordinator East Ohio Conference 440/220-0871 [email protected]


Our United Methodist Women of EOC donated $222,000 toward our

$255,000 pledge, plus an additional $15,000 toward second mile

giving. The pledge amount includes Pledge, Special Mission

Recognition (pins), Gifts in Mission cards, Gifts in Memory, and World

Thank Offering. Supplemental giving includes Prayer & Self Denial,

gifts to UMCOR, World/National projects, and the Legacy Fund.

Nice Work UMW of EOC


Keeping Current

East Ohio Conference United Methodist Women

2015 Mission u

Mission u One-Day Sampler July 17th

Mission u Three-Day Event July 17th-19th

Created for Happiness: Understanding Your Life in God 2015 Spiritual Growth Study

Happiness has become a dominant topic in our culture. For many years now, it has been common for Chris-tians to think of happiness as an unimportant goal, reserving the word “joy” for the true satisfaction of Chris-tian life. This study will examine the understanding of happiness and how to live the life that God calls us to.

Study Leader: Stan Purdum

Latin America: People and Faith 2015 - 2016 Geographic Study

This study is an invitation to enter the land called Latin America. Latin America is a concept created in the economic and political realm. The definition and list of countries that form the region change depending on the intended goal. The text presents colonization and culture, waves of independence, immigration, challenges the region faces, and the role of Church in Latin America.

Study Leaders: Rev. Nestor Nazario and Tammy Kuntz

The Church and People With Disabilities 2015 Mission Study

The study text increases awareness of issues around disability awareness. A wide range of accessibility measures are addressed that can be implemented in the local church. Some measures are costly, but others cost nothing. The book covers ways to enhance full participation of persons with vision and hearing loss and people with mobility loss. The companion Leader’s Guide, as well as the study text, highlight key scriptural passages that help participants understand how texts have been used to support and harm persons with disabili-ties. More importantly, readers learn how an inclusive reading of the texts makes clear the central place that persons with disabilities play in the kingdom of God.

Study Leader: Rev. Dr. Beverly Hall

Keeping Current

Rev. Nestor Nazario was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1959. He has a Bach-elor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Puerto Rico and a Master’s degree in Divinity from the Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico. He was or-dained Elder at the East Ohio Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1987. Rev. Nazario has served as pastor of First Hispanic and Christ UM churches in Cleveland. He has also served as an active duty US Navy Chap-lain for twenty years. He is currently pastor of Hope UMC in Bedford, member

of the Board of Ordained Ministry, Committee of Church and Society, and Commission of Reli-gion and Race. Rev Nazario also has a Master’s of Science in Counselor Education from Mis-sissippi State University and one year of Clinical Pastoral Education from Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC.

Tammy Kuntz is the East Ohio Conference UMVIM Coordinator and in on the UMVIM board for the North Central Jurisdiction. She serves the Firelands District as Peace with Justice Advocate and Youth Work Mission team leader. Local church responsibilities include choir director, UMW vice president, and youth co-leader. She is on the board of directors of United Christian Minis-tries at Kent State University where she works as an Assistant Professor in Music Education. Her favorite mission sites include the Akron-Canton Food-Bank, Midwest Mission Distribution Center, and Manos Juntas Mission in Rio Bravo, Mexico.

Stan Purdum is a freelance writer who specializes in articles and books on bicy-cling, travel, biblical knowledge, Christianity and family humor. A versatile word-smith interested in a broad range of topics, Stan writes on many subjects as well as authors short fiction.

Rev. Dr. Beverly Hall is a native of Youngstown, OH. She received her Masters of Christian Ed-ucation and her M.Div. from METHESCO. She received her D. Min. from Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City. She did independent research at Ox-ford Brookes University in Oxford, England. She has been married to Jerry for twenty years. She has two daughters. She enjoys Science Fiction, writing, puppetry, and is a member of the Wesleyan Theological Society and The So-ciety for the Study of Psychology and Wesleyan Theology. She is active in Em-maus. She currently chairs the Conference Committee on Disability Con-cerns. She serves as pastor of Pleasant Hills UMC on the North Coast District.

East Ohio Conference United Methodist Women Mission Today Unit Goals for 2015

Each year, to become a Mission Today Unit, the Unit must meet 8 of the following criteria, including 4 of those marked with an asterisk (*).

1. Use the Prayer Calendar at Unit meetings to pray for mission workers and projects. * 2. Make and meet the Unit’s Pledge to Mission. * 3. Add at least 2 new members to the Unit’s roll. * 4. At least 2 members subscribe to Response magazine. * 5. Use 2 programs from the UMW Program Book. * 6. Conduct at least 1 mission study OR 4 of your Unit members attend the January District Winter Retreat mission study. * 7. Implement the Charter for Racial Justice Policies in at least 1 way .* Suggestions: • Plan a joint unit meeting with a unit of a different racial/ethnic background; use the Charter/programs in a Unit meeting; prominently display the Charter. • Develop bi-racial/cultural or multi-racial/cultural Koinonia groups. • Hold a joint Vacation Bible School and/or pulpit exchanges. • Share joint worship services on special occasions. • Encourage the church to sponsor a refugee family. 8. At least 1 member (other than conference or district officers) attend a School of Christian Mission. Scholarships are available. 9. At least 2 members (other than conference or district officers) attend the district or conference Annual Meeting. 10. At least 1 member join the UMW Action Network to receive and respond to legislative information. Go to http://www.umwmission.org - under Quick Links click on Action Alerts; click on Network Registration Form; complete the form. By mail: Washington Office of Public Policy, GBGM-Women’s Division, 100 Maryland Ave NE, Room 530, Washington, DC 20002. 11. Unit members write to 5 persons listed in the Prayer Calendar. 12. Participate in the Campaign for Children in at least 2ways. Possibilities: • Sponsor a church or community program related to needs of children, youth; • Sponsor a Children's Sabbath, promoted by the Children's Defense Fund; • Get involved with children: mentor, tutor, and “big sister” programs; • Write letters, e-mail, or call Congressional reps/others regarding children’s issues; • Visit your local schools and/or attend a school board meeting; • Learn how public schools are funded. 13. Be a Five Star Unit by contributing to all five channels of Mission Giving. 14. In Unit meetings include a Response magazine moment to tell a mission story. 15. At least 2 members complete a Reading Program plan and report on a book read. Encourage all to complete Plan 1; create interest with a book review program. 16. Invite a district or conference officer (other than a member of the unit) to one of the unit meetings during the year. 17. Pledge to care for God’s creation and become a “Green” UMW Unit. (Get information at or contact the Women’s Division Office of Community Action. 18. Hold a Mini-Spiritual Growth Retreat; prepare by watching the video “Resurrection Road” and get the accompanying study guide “Resurrection Women.” Get additional information from the Women’s Division Office of Spiritual Formation.

East Ohio Conference United Methodist Women Volume 33, Issue 1-Februar;y 2015 Keeping Current Page 9

Mission Resource Center Phone: 800-305-9857 Website: www.umwmissionresources.org E-mail: [email protected]

PLEASE PRINT/COPY THIS NEWSLETTER AND GIVE TO ALL. WE NEED YOU TO HELP SPREAD THE NEWS!!

Newsletter of the East Ohio Conference United Methodist

Women, Kathy Kuhn , President. Published two times yearly:

spring and fall. Copying permission is granted.

Complimentary copies to local unit presidents and treasurers,

East Ohio UMW District and Conference Mission Team

members.

Questions/comments: direct to [email protected]

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage PAID Canton, Ohio Permit No. 391

East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church

United Methodist Women 8800 Cleveland Ave,. NW North Canton, OH 44720

2015 IMPORTANT UMW DATES

April 5 – Easter April 12 UMW Sunday

School of Christian Missions July 17 Mount Union One-Day for Children and Adults July 17-19 Mount Union Event for Children, Young Women and Adults Oct. 23-24 Annual Celebration at Norwalk First UMC

Address Service Requested

http://www.umwmissionresources.org


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