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Latest News from the United Methodist Women of the Desert Southwest Conference
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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. 

Desert Southwest Conference
United Methodist Women

A Note From Our President

New Wineskins - what exciting possibilities are in the works for United Methodist Women. I am thankful for all the articles in response magazine that are getting us prepared for all the new ideas that are coming for our organization. One of my favorite new things is listening each month on Mighty Networks about the program for the current month in the Program Resource Network. Ideas of how to use the suggested program are exciting and very helpful in planning.

My local unit has done a No-Bake bake sale for the past two years. I think we ended up with more money (and lots less work) than we did with a real bake sale. We did miss a lot of fellowship which is an important part of our lives as United Methodist Women. Figuring out how to combine what we have learned through the new ways of being in community with our desire to return to our familiar ways is going to take some discernment and lots of prayer and discussion.

United Methodist Women is an organization with a Purpose and everything we do should relate to our Purpose. I believe that is what has kept us going for over 150 years and will keep us strong as we navigate our new reality.

Each week, in the Prayer Calendar, there is a Mission Witness.  As I write this, for the week of November 7-13, the Mission Witness is by Pat Goss, a retired Deaconess, (and former United Methodist Women Director and Desert Southwest Conference officer!) from Mesa, Arizona. Pat writes about the holy moment of presenting a Quilt of Valor to a retired service person. What a blessing it is that she was able to honor a person in this way.

November is a month when we often focus on the things we are thankful for. I am thankful for all my United Methodist Women sisters in Christ. You truly are my best friends.

Alberta Farnsworth, president

Assembly 2022

Dear United Methodist Women,
You are invited to an amazing Event of spiritual healing, renewal, and rebirth.
You are invited to join together in a sisterhood of thousands of women.
You are invited to share in worship and be inspired as we celebrate ourselves.
You are invited to experience fun and enrichment.
Hope is in the air.

At Assembly 2022, we will participate in workshops designed to inspire leadership and make a difference. Town Hall Meetings and film discussions will bring us together with experts to challenge us in new ways. There will be a Fairtrade Marketplace, networking and gathering spaces, a bookstore, Partners and Sponsors areas, and much more.

You can register now and switch to the virtual option later and receive a refund for the difference. Early registration is open through November 30, 2021.
Have you been to Assembly before? No two are alike – you should go again.
Never been to Assembly before? Doesn’t it sound amazing?
 
ASSEMBLY 2022
May 20-22, 2022
Orlando, FL

Peace & Blessings,
Kathy Schock, program advisory group
 

NEW SPEAKERS, PERFORMERS AND MORE

Register now, don’t wait!
www.assembly2022.org

EARLY REGISTRATION DEADLINE ENDS NOVEMBER 30, 2021.
To help you make a decision, here is some more information. Those who have been to this event in the past are all excited and have registered because they know what a great event this is. You have choices to attend in person or online.

Early Registration fee (in person):
$330 (through November 30, 2021, which includes lunch on Friday and Saturday). After the early bird registration ends, the registration fee is $365.00 until April 11, 2022. Registration closes April 11. (Proof of vaccination required at time of registration. Visit the FAQ page on https://assembly2022.org for assistance.)

You Can Switch to Virtual Later - Many members are asking if they register now for the in-person event, can they change their minds later and switch that registration to virtual. The answer is yes. You can switch and get a refund for the difference minus a $5 processing fee.

If you are considering to attend in person but have concerns about the safety, here is some information you can look into:
Meeting Safely - Orange County Convention Center in Orlando (OCCC) The OCCC is the first since the pandemic to receive the Global Biorisk Advisory Council STAR re-accreditation and start a medical concierge program. They have hosted more than 130 conferences since July 2020. The mayor of Orlando has, many months ago, required all convention center employees to be vaccinated. To learn more, go to this video link: https://www.occc.net/MeetingSafely.

Registration fee to attend virtually:
$199.00. This is a great bargain. Please know that your link for the virtual option can only be used with one device and cannot be shared. We hope you will use this link for one person only, in good faith, knowing that your fee offsets expenses to run the virtual option which are costly

If we can help you, please send us an email at dscumwomen@gmail.com.

Suvasini McCormick, secretary

Fall Resources that We Can Love!

Healing and Joy on our Journey to God is the Program Resource, 2021-2022 that is packed with great ideas for programs at any United Methodist Women meeting. September through August monthly meetings include easy to use ideas for implementation for large or small groups. These programs can be used for in-person or virtual meetings. What I especially like is not only the scripture unpacking but very easily understood suggestions for taking the next most faithful steps for living out in several ways the message of scripture.

The Reading Program has a number of additional titles added to the 2022 list. This list can be downloaded from the United Methodist Women website. Every category has its additions, and I have enjoyed three of these new options.

Chelsea Clinton is the author of She Persisted Around the World, the stories of 13 Women Who Changed History. (Social Action) This is a children’s book that focuses on women who persisted in their dreams of making a difference in the world, even when they’d been told to be quiet. These women were determined to break barriers and change the status quo. Some of those highlighted include: Marie Curie, Mary Verghese (from India), “Sissie” Lima du Amor, a brilliant soccer player from Brazil, who defied the law against girls playing the sport. The book ends with this statement: “So, speak up, rise up, dream big. These women did that and more.”

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate (Nurturing For Community) is a touching novel about a terrible practice that occurred in the U.S. in the late 30s in which children were kidnapped and then sold to well-to-do families. This is truly heart-breaking as the author relates what happened to sisters that are caught up in this nefarious practice.

Finding Jesus at the Border by Julia Lambert Fogg (Education for Mission) provides interweaving biblical narratives of border crossing and stories of immigrants journeying to the U.S. Christians are invited to consider the plight of their neighbors and to respond with compassion to the immigration crisis. We might never have been so aware that Jesus himself came from a family of immigrants. He famously said, “I was a stranger, and you welcomed me.” This very readable book may very well change hearts and call readers to action.

Happy Reading!!

Caroline Kidd, secretary for program resources

Why?

I recently revisited “Why” (author unknown, submitted by Sister Mary Rose McGeady, Covenant House) on p. 40 in Chicken Soup for the Christian Soul by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Patty Aubery, and Nancy Mitchell. In “Why,” it talks of a shivering, hungry, young girl seen by the piece’s author, and the author’s subsequent anger at God. It dawned on me that “Why” could be adapted to our climate justice and criminal justice focus issues. An adaptation would go something like this….

Why?

On the news I saw horrific flooding, out of control wildfires, and historic drought. In the news I read about the almost all white jury selected in Georgia for the trial of Anmaud Arbery, and I read “Climate change is biased, EPA says.” I became angry and said to God: "Why did you permit this? Why don’t you do something about it?" For awhile God said nothing. That night God replied, quite suddenly: "I certainly did something about it. I made you."

Then I read about a poem by Yrsa Daley-Ward for our world leaders at the UN Summit. It dawned on me that her poem speaks to you and me, as well….

“Nothing will be saved without you. It is important to begin with the fact. This is your invitation to lead with light.”  - Yrsa Daley-Ward

The time is now. As Mahatma Ghandi said, “If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man (woman) changes his (her) own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him (her). This is the divine mystery supreme. A wonderful thing it is and the source of our happiness. We need not wait to see what others do.”

Not sure where to start?


Maria Hase, social action coordinator

Click the above image to watch a video of upcoming changes to Mission u 2022.

Will you join us?   Please Save these Dates:  ALL ARE WELCOME!

Friday, June 24 & Saturday June 25, 2022
Red Mountain UMC 
2936 N. Power Rd.
Mesa, AZ 85215

There will also be a Virtual Mission u 
July 22-23, 2022 

Janette Gann, Dean Jgann1329@gmail.com Billie Larime, Assistant Dean B_larime@yahoo.com


Click here to download flyer for Desert Southwest Conference Mission u event information.

Memorial for Betty Mathis

Plans are in the works for a memorial for Betty Mathis, former Executive Director of Wesley Community Center. The family has thought of a memorial garden and or bench or possibly a scholarship fund. Please consider making a donation to the memorial fund through Wesley Community Center, 1625 N 39th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85009. 

Western Jurisdiction United Methodist Women News

We Need Your Help

This has been a hard year for all of us because most of us did not meeting in person for our district and conference United Methodist Women meetings. This means the Western Jurisdiction Nominations Committee has not been able to get to know all of you. In the past we have come and visited your conferences.

Our committee on nominations has the responsibility of finding women within these conferences who are qualified to be in leadership positions and are willing to serve for a term of four years. An important tool we use to do this is our Profile Sheets.

To proceed with our work, the nominations committee needs to have on file a record of women and the many gifts and talents they have to offer United Methodist Women. Filling out the sheet doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be asked at this time, but it is important that we have your information for future reference.

Please let me know of you have any questions. Click here to download the Profile Sheet.

Please email completed forms to dynomont_3@msn.com (be sure to put an underscore between the t and 3) or mail it to the address on the bottom of the profile sheet.

Thanks so much on the behalf of the Western Jurisdiction Nominations Committee.

Lynda Montgomery, chair of the nominations committee, Western Jurisdiction

United Methodist Women News

Give Thanks Through the World Thank Offering

 

Celebrate the blessings in your life with the World Thank Offering, a way for United Methodist Women members to show gratitude for God’s gifts by offering our own gifts to God. Giving to the World Thank Offering, a channel of Mission Giving, supports the total mission of United Methodist Women and changes lives for women, children and youth around the world. Host a World Thank Offering service, drop coins in a jar whenever you feel thankful or offer your gift of gratitude online! To learn more and donate, visit unitedmethodistwomen.org/worldthank.

 n21us0161-NileSprague.jpg

A golden door to new life

Gum Moon Residence and Asian Women’s Resource Center supports women and children in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Read more about this national mission institution and your Mission Giving at work, from the November/December 2021 issue of response.

Photo by Nile Sprague.

Upcoming Events


My Global Sisters and Me: Climate Justice Impact & Action Around the World, COP26, and Us

How is the current climate crisis impacting women around the world? How are we in the US contributing to the climate crisis? Will world leaders heed the science and commit to drastically reduce climate pollution when they meet in Glasgow for the global climate negotiations called UN COP26? Will the rights and concerns of women and those most vulnerable be addressed?

This month’s Just Energy for All webinar on November 17, 1:00 PM MST will include four parts:
  • Taking stock of our own individual “carbon footprint”
  • Hearing from women around the world in how their communities are being impacted by and responding to climate change
  • Learning about the key results of UN COP 26 negotiations that impact women and vulnerable communities and nations
  • Connecting with opportunities to act in solidarity

These monthly Just Energy for All Strategy and Capacity Building Sessions are intended to provide an opportunity to network, share best practices, and support you in your work of advancing just energy for all at the local, state, and national levels. The format will vary from month to month and may include various speakers, capacity-building, peer-coaching, breakout groups by themes/region, and updates from the National Office.

Register for Just Energy for All monthly sessions at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYtcuutpzIjGtIsZee-DLtfPHwBwD1d0OS5

“In everything, give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Paul wrote those words to a first century church in Thessalonica, and they’re still words to live by to have inner peace here in the 21st century.

Let’s talk about it.

Join our live recording of Faith Talks, November 18, 12:00 PM MST when we’ll discuss living with gratitude with an esteemed guest panel that includes:
  • Amanda Choi, United Methodist Women’s Assistant Treasurer for Mission Funding;
  • Ghylian Bell, founder and director of The Urban Yoga Foundation (UYF) since 2007; and more.
Register for Faith Talks on Living with Gratitude, November 18, 12:00 PM MST at

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3GRWtVIfT6aUR_j9D8EBXg

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.
Alberta Farnsworth - president                                                                  Carla Whitmire - editor
https://dscumc.org/united-methodist-women/ https://dscumc.org/united-methodist-women/
United Methodist Women Desert Southwest Conference United Methodist Women Desert Southwest Conference
DSCUMWomen - Legacy DSCUMWomen - Legacy
United Methodist Women National United Methodist Women National
Wesley Community Center - our national mission institution Wesley Community Center - our national mission institution
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