spring 2016 - AWF

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