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 community and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church.
|
|
|
If the word isn't getting out, United Methodist Women are losing out.
Please share this e-news with those who might not be on our list or don't have a computer.
|
|
Desert Southwest Conference News
|
|
|
From the President ...
Alberta Farnsworth, president
The rain was so welcome in July, but reminds us that our climate really is changing. The drought will not be completely over unless we get rain again during our “usual” winter rainy season. However, it does bring joy to see the desert turning green. And anything that cools the temperature down is welcome. The devastating fires in California are still going on with massive property loss and destroying so much of the landscape. The people being affected need our continual prayers.
You may have seen the Desert Southwest Conference announcement that I, along with Gail Gorry from Payson UMC, am now a co-lay leader for the Conference. I will continue as United Methodist Women conference president until my term is over on December 31. My tenure is over. I will still be around, but in a different capacity.
As I write this, we still have one Mission u coming up. By the time you get this, it will be over. We have done a great job this year, navigating a completely new way of presenting Mission u. The classes have been informative, interesting, and we got to take everything. We didn’t have to choose one or two out of three like we have had to in the past. Of course, if you didn’t sign up for all of them, you missed out!
The Conference and District eadership Teams are all working on Annual Celebration. Like last year we will again have a joint virtual meeting. But this time, a portion of time will be allotted to each district to meet as a district. We have learned some new ways to navigate the virtual world. I believe most of us are praying earnestly that in 2022, we will be able to meet in person. I hope to see you there.
|
|
Desert Southwest Conference of United Methodist Women
Annual Celebration
“Come Along, Follow and Hold Fast”
Saturday, October 9, 2021
9:00 AM - 3:30 PM (with lunch break)
A Virtual Meeting …. Celebrating our Conference United Methodist Women together with our four District Meetings!
Consider gathering for watch parties together.
Sing, pray, listen in fellowship
Guest Speaker - Gloria Kimbwala
Join us for a Zoom Celebration with song, breakout sessions for each district, and conference business. After a lunch break, we will hear from our guest speaker then worship together with special music and communion.
Registration: $12.00
Registration closes October 6 at noon
|
|
 Gloria is a first-generation American born of Congolese parents that immigrated to Orange County, California. Drawing on her own life experiences, she is passionate about creating belonging and inclusion that can benefit people and amplify the most marginalized voices. Gloria is a global leader on diversity, inclusion, and belonging who spends much of her time speaking at UN Events, mentoring at hackathons, and leading social justice causes. After the murder of George Floyd, she was able to raise $7000 in 48 hours to make sure that every library in her town had Anti-Racism literature through a campaign called "Read Against Racism." She believes that true social justice can only be accomplished by doing the work in your heart, your home, and your community. |
|
Save the Date - Leadership Development Day
District and Conference Officer Training
 Saturday, October 23, 2021
10:00 AM (Arizona time)
(a virtual event)
“You Are the Seeds”
Rev. Sherry Brady, speaker
Newly elected district officers will want to join us for an Inspirational morning & training for their office.
More information coming.
|
|
Committee on Nominations Report
Cheryl Reed, chair, committee on nominations
Below, please find a report from the Desert Southwest Conference Committee on Nominations.
The Standing Rules of the Desert Southwest Conference United Methodist Women state that 30 days prior to election the slate of officers must be presented to the members of the conference.
The election will take place at the virtual Annual Celebration.
Should you like to nominate someone for one of the positions, please click here for the nomination form. Note the deadline for nominations is September 16, 2021. We suggest you download the form and open it using Acrobat Reader. You can either complete the fillable form on your computer and save it; or print the form and complete by hand. Once you have completed the form you may either email it to Cheryl Reed, crrgrr@hotmail.com or mail to 27782 N. 129th Lane, Peoria, AZ 85383-2858.
|
|
Officers to be elected to 1st – 2-year term
President – Gracie Campbell
Secretary – Marjie Hrabe
Officer to be elected to fulfill 2nd year of term
Spiritual Growth – Arvilla Jungman
Officers to be elected to 2nd – 2-year term
Secretary of Program Resources – Caroline Kidd
Educating Members for Mission – Jeannine Reynolds
Officers Continuing in Office
Vice President – Cindy Heinecke
Treasurer – June Hanson
Social Action – Maria Hase
Communications Coordinator – Carla Whitmire
Committee on Nominations Chair – Cheryl Reed
Mission u Dean – Janette Gann
Mission u Assistant Dean – Billie Laramie
Committee on Nominations to be elected
Kay Hayworth Class of 2023
Carol Johnson Class of 2025
Nellie Amedee Class of 2025
Committee on Nominations continuing
Cheryl Reed, chair Class of 2022
Amy Butkovich Class of 2022
Elaine Troyer Class of 2023
Dianna Higgs Class of 2023
Alma Crenshaw Class of 2024
Sue Marshall Class of 2024
|
|
Obeying the First Commandment
Connie L. Hegeman, mission coordinator of spiritual growth
Our prayers are with Connie, who has needed to resign as the mission coordinator of spiritual growth. We thank Connie for her service on the Conference Leadership Team.
“I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods before me.” - Exodus 20:2-3
Recently, one of the suggested scripture readings from the Common Lectionary was I Samuel 8:4-20. In this passage, the Israelites, in their dissatisfaction with God’s presence and provision, demand to have a human king to lead them into battle. Evidently, God was not enough. Samuel warns them of the dangers of trading their freedom in God for security in battle citing the conscription of children, high taxes, and possible slavery. But security won the day … and God allowed a human king. We know the history. This violation of the first commandment brought suffering to the people of Israel.
What lessons can we take from this story in 2021. While kings and queens are not in fashion, that does not make us immune from idol worship and the cult of personality. We must recognize that human leaders above all, must be servants and people of character. Servant leadership and character know no party. Men and women who are leaders are still human beings, with flaws and weaknesses as well as gifts and talents. A true servant leader invites the voice of all those they serve to the table and welcomes the check and balance of dialogue, criticism, and yes, dissent.
True love of country is rooted in the admission that perfection has not been reached and that the constant goal of each and every one of us is the betterment of the system that all may be served. “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). When we seek first God’s Kingdom, we stand a much better chance of serving our brothers and sisters and our country in a way that is beneficial. Worship God, serve others.
|
|
|
You won’t want to miss Assembly of United Methodist Women to be held in Orlando, Florida, May 20-22, 2022. Assembly is an opportunity to celebrate together and to continue building on our heritage of bold women who organize, serve and lead in mission. We are women who are willing to be challenged to grow in our faith as we build deeper connections with one another, community leaders and partner organizations in the pursuit of justice for all of God’s children.
Now more than ever, we need to come together to reflect on today’s challenges and find the comfort and strength to move forward, creating new ways for faith-filled women to make a difference in our communities and the world. United Methodist Women will be inviting our members to new ways of connecting and serving women, children, and youth. We will inspire Assembly participants to TURN IT UP! We will leave Assembly ready to TURN IT UP! for spiritual healing and renewal, TURN IT UP! for rebirth in a new time, TURN IT UP! for women leaders, TURN IT UP! for justice for women, children, and youth.
Starting September 1, you can register at https://assembly2022.org/. Registration must be completed by November 30, 2021. Plan now for a great gathering in Orlando.
|
|
Elevate the Voices
Maria Hase, mission coordinator of social action
This month I want to elevate a couple of voices. The first is that of Anna Sacks, an environmental activist who exposes excessive waste on social media in New York City. Thanks to her posts, Starbucks changed its ways. She has highlighted the voices of many in retail whose employers force them to ruin and throw away perfectly good merchandise that has gone unsold or has been returned, that they themselves would want, need, and/or be unable to afford. These stories are on TikTok under the hashtag #RetailMadeMe. Anna Sacks suggests that companies allow employees to keep these items as an added perk of their job, a form of additional compensation. You can read more at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/aug/07/new-york-city-garbage-trash-walks-anna-sacks?CMP=oth_b-aplnews_d-1.
Other voices I would like to elevate are that of Eric Brown, a realtor, and his client Roy Thorne, a veteran, who were looking at a house with the veteran’s son when they were surrounded by armed police and handcuffed after a neighbor called 911 to report at break-in at the home. “If you see a crime, report a crime,” Thorne said. “But if you see us just living life the same way you do, just let us do that.” You can read more about the incident here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/08/06/black-realtor-michigan-police-handcuffed/.
 I think it is critical for us to help elevate the voices that need to be heard. Some other ways to help can be found in the August Social Action Newsletter https://www.smore.com/5j1t0.
I also think it is important to remember what we learned in the timely book study about Finding Peace in an Anxious World; it does not hurt to revisit it. If you have not read it, it is a recommended read. I was reminded of that study recently when I came across the “Long Version of the Serenity Prayer”:
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference,
Grant me the patience for the changes that take time,
Appreciation for all that I have,
Tolerance for those with different struggles,
And the strength to get up and try again,
One day at a time.
Amen. Amen.
|
|
CHANGE! INNOVATION!—THE EXITEMENT CONTINUES!!
Caroline Kidd, secretary of program resources
There are many changes involved in the United Methodist Women Reading Program this year, and some of them have been developed somewhat recently.
FAITH TALKS are a series of approximately one hour broadcasts on a number of subjects that fit into the Spiritual Growth category and can be counted in this way: if you log in and listen to two that counts as one book; if you listen to three, that counts as two books. Some that I have enjoyed are: “ AAPI Heritage Month,” “Attacks on Asian-American/ Pacific Islanders,” Black History Month,” “Soul Care,” and “Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools.” To receive these, log into: www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/faithtalks. You need to register to receive them. There is no charge for doing so.
To continue to review some of the books on the 2021 list that I haven’t lifted up previously:
 40 Days with Wesley by Rueben P. Job—This spiritual growth book is to be used as a daily guide for spiritual renewal which includes prayer, scripture, Wesley reading reflections, journaling, etc. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism and a great evangelist, was a believer in using method to achieve deeper understanding and to grow as a disciple.
 Cinderella Liberator by Rebecca Solnit—In this modern twist on the classic tale, a resourceful Cinderella meets her fairy godmother, goes to a ball, and makes friends with a prince. But that is where the familiar story ends. In this version, Cinderella plays an active role in writing her own destiny and learns that a prince might need rescuing too.
There are also some movies available on the website that can count as one book each. |
|
Update from Arizona Justice For Our Neighbors
Chris Spencer, Chair, Arizona Justice For Our Neighbors
 As trusted legal service providers, we understand the many barriers keeping immigrants from becoming vaccinated: fear or mistrust of authorities; transportation challenges; unfamiliarity with our health care system; and the inability to take off work, lose pay, or risk endangering a much-needed job.
“In Tucson, we have been successful in reaching the immigrant community,” says Arizona Justice for Our Neighbors Executive Director Alba Jaramillo. “We formed a task force early on to advocate for immigrants impacted by COVID-19. We engaged in outreach in partnerships with many non-governmental organizations (NGOs), county and city governments, the Mexican consulate, and churches which serve immigrant communities in order to inform migrants that they qualify for the vaccine.”
Asylum seekers coming in through the Arizona border, she adds, have access to vaccines at the shelters where they are staying before heading to their final destination in the United States. |
|
United Methodist Women News
|
|
|
Taking action for God's Creation
United Methodist Women members call on their elected representatives to enact legislation that prioritizes renewable energy, clean transportation and a just transition that helps those currently working in the fossil fuel move to new opportunities. Read more about how members just like you are working for climate justice and caring for God's creation, from the July/August 2021 issue of response.
Photo: Texas Impact/YouTube
|
|
Emerging Methodism: An interview with Harriett Jane Olson
The Rev. Kennetha Bigham-Tsai, chief connectional ministries officer for the United Methodist Connectional Table, interviews Harriett Jane Olson, general secretary and chief executive officer of United Methodist Women, about the mission work of United Methodist Women, United Methodist identity and ecumenism and the work of the church moving forward. Check out the video!
Photo: United Methodist Videos/YouTube
|
|
Mission Giving
 Every single Mission Dollar Makes a Difference!
Through YOUR generosity, United Methodist Women helps empower and improve the lives of women, youth and children in the United States and around the world.
Your gifts through the Five Channels of MISSION GIVING
are critically important.
Check out the MANY stories of ways your Mission Giving is making a difference by visiting the United Methodist Women website and reading response magazine.
You can make gifts through your local treasurer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
