united methodist women, california nevada conference, el...

El Camino Real District UMW

Above: Rev. Robin Mathews-Johnson took a snapshot of the immigration dates of the ancestors of ladies attending Leadership Training.

MISSIONLINK

United Methodist Women, California Nevada Conference, El Camino Real District, Vol. 29, No. 2, February, 2018

Connect & What we took away from our Leadership Training Event

Learn

By Bonnie Home, Almaden Hills UMW

From the moment we arrived for our Saturday Leadership Event in January, there were smiles and

hugs as we greeted each other, and as we chose baked treats and fresh fruit from the beautiful brunch table prepared by our Fremont First UMW hosts. We looked over the display of new books for this year’s UMW reading list, brought by Debbie Ow, our Secretary of Program Resources. She has a new idea this year, adding used books from the previous four years which can be borrowed and returned, since those books are still eligible for earning reading certificates. The church’s men were in the area, moving furniture, unlocking doors, and accompanying our hymns on the piano. The day was off to a great start!

Our guest speaker, Rev. Robin Mathews-Johnson from Watsonville UMC, spoke on the theme “The Power of Bold: Taking a Stand on Immigration.” Using the Bible verses of Luke 10:25-37 (the story of the good Samaritan), she asked, in the context of immigration, “Who is my neighbor?” This is a serious and complicated topic, but she kept her comments light and included several humorous stories. Pastor Robin reminded us of the rabbi who was asked when we know that night has turned into day. Not when we can tell a dog from a sheep or a date palm from a fig tree, but when we can see in the face of another our brother, our sister, our friend. Until then the night is still with us.

She also relat-ed to us the story of Louis Pasteur. Because of his experience as a child witnessing an attack of a rabid dog on his fellow townspeople, he was afraid of dogs. But in 1882 he lived among dogs, searching for a cure for rabies, and in 1885 saved the life of a small boy with injections of his vaccine. He overcame his fear to help another in need.

Pastor Robin then divided the audience into small groups and had them tell dur-ing which time period their ancestors first came to this country. Then the answers were put up on a chart. As predicted, few came during the depression, but later there was a surge of immigration right after World War II when jobs were more plentiful. The chart illustrated her point that, in recent history (post-1492), all of us except Native Americans are immi-grants, or descendants of immigrants.

Pastor Robin showed a BBC video about the town of Long Beach, Wash-ington, where the residents (population 1400) mostly voted for the current presi-dent, thinking he would concentrate on deporting undocumented drug dealers and criminals. But when their longtime friends began disappearing – friends who worked in the canneries, in the cranberry bogs, and in the fisheries shucking oysters – they were alarmed. The town’s police

chief didn’t realize that his friend Mario, who was taking college classes to become a teacher, was here on an expired visa. When Mario was picked up by Immigra-tion and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the police chief was appalled and said, “I didn’t sign up for this.”

Discussions about immigration are not new. They have been going on since our country was founded. What can the UMW do? Our organization has 65 resources on immigration. Use those to debunk the un-true stories about immigrants. (See articles and resources here: <https://www.united-methodistwomen.org/immigration>)

During the seven workshops following Pastor Robin’s talk, we took notes as our well-prepared workshop leaders presented some interesting ideas, and then invited the participants to share what their own churches and UMW members were doing to make the world a better place.

This same program was offered the fol-lowing Saturday at Watsonville First UMC. We thank both UMW teams for their hard work and willingness to host these events.

Mission Link February 2018

For the latest information, get ECR District UMW Quick News In between quarterly Issues of the Mission Link, stay up to date on El Camino Real District UMW events and activities by subscribing to the ECR District UMW Quick News. This periodic email provides:• Announcement of District and local events• Information about District and local UMW activities• Notification that the Mission Link newsletter is available online

If you already receive the Quick News, then you do not need to do anything to continue receiving it. To change your subscription, follow the links at the bottom of one of the Quick News emails.

If you do not receive the Quick News, just send an email to <[email protected]> with your name, and state that you wish to subscribe.

In addition – we are on Facebook! Find us at <https://www.facebook.com/ElCaminoRealUMW/>.

MISSION LINK:Mission Link is published quarterly. Each issue is also available on the El Camino Real District UMW website <www.elcaminorealumw.org>. Please direct items for publication in Mission Link to Wanda Garrett, El Camino Real District UMW Communications Coordinator. Please send address changes to El Camino Real District UMW President K Stone.

Mission Linkis published quarterly byEL CAMINO REAL DISTRICT UNITED METHODIST WOMEN<www.elcaminorealumw.org>Wesley United Methodist ChurchAttn: K Stone, President El Camino Real District UMW566 North Fifth Street, San Jose, Ca 95112

Share your group’s storiesHas your local group engaged in mission or ministry, and have a story to tell? One of the ways to share your experiences with other local groups is to submit an article for the Mission Link newsletter. Short articles, with a photo, can be a creative springboard for others.Types of articles we are looking for:• Creating something (prayer shawl, flood bucket, stuffed animal, etc.) that is

given to others as a ministry• Visit to one of our local National Mission Institutions (Gum Moon, Mary

Elizabeth Inn), to the UMCOR Depot, or another mission-oriented facility to participate in their activities, or learn how we can support them

• Participation in a District, Conference, or other UMW event, and what the group learned or what made it special.

If you have an idea for an article, send me an email to confirm that it would work for the Mission Link. If we agree that it’s a good fit, then I’ll ask for the article (up to about 500 words) and/or a good-quality photo with a caption. Don’t worry about having perfect writing; I’ll edit it if needed.Mission Link Publishing Schedule (2018)• Spring issue: Articles due by Friday, April 20; Newsletter mailed by May 11• Fall issue: Articles due by Friday, August 17; Newsletter mailed by September 7• Winter issue: Articles due by November 23; Newsletter mailed by

December 14.Please send articles and photos to Wanda at <[email protected]>.

Communications.Wanda Garrett, Communications Coordinator

To contact any District Team member, send an email to <[email protected]>. Please include on the subject line, the Team member to whom your message should be directed.

2018 District teaM

PRESIDENT: K STONE

VICE PRESIDENT: LYNN HERMOSO

TREASURER: SHARON DAVIS

SECRETARY: KAREN RAY

SECRETARY OF PROGRAM RESOURCES: DEBBIE OW

COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR, WEBSITE EDITOR: WANDA GARRETT

MEMBER AT LARGE: MONICA ABERIN UBUNGEN

MISSION COORDINATORS

SPIRITUAL GROWTH: SANDRA NESHEIM

MEMBERSHIP NURTURE & OUTREACH: MELESA TAUMOEPEAU

SOCIAL ACTION: KATHERINE KIM

EDUCATION & INTERPRETATION: RHONDA CANALE

COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS

CHAIRPERSON: TBDCOMMITTEE MEMBERS:Toilea AhioElizabeth AntolinDee Anne ParonBetty Spencer Dickey

United Methodist Women, El Camino Real District

Notes .from the President

I was recently asked what I am most grateful for….Without hesitation, I said, for fellowships, for relationships, for the people in my life and sharing our lives together. My family and friends; my church family;

and my UMW sisters; I hold all close to my heart.I am so excited for 2018 and rarin’ to go! It’s just going to be a great

year! Many events, times to learn, experiences of how we as United Methodist Women can leave our footprints on God’s beautiful earth and on the lives of God’s children. It’s a year of celebrating our legacy and a year to be BOLD!

… Come Join Us!Blessings,

K Stone, President, El Camino Real District UMW

PURPOSEUnited 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.

by Wanda Garrett, Communications Coordinatorafter tHe Hustle and bustle of the Christmas holiday season, and before Palm Sunday and Easter, we have a won-derful opportunity to take a breath and focus on our spiritual health. The District UMW spiritual retreat will be held in one of our favorite places, the Mission Springs Retreat Center in the peaceful forest just outside of Scotts Valley, CA.

We are looking forward to a thought-provoking program by our retreat leader, Ms. Micheal Pope. Ms. Pope is currently our Conference Lay Leader for the California/Nevada Conference of the United Methodist Church. She is also the CEO of the

Alzheimer’s Services of the East Bay (ASEB), and has a passion for making the world a better place for seniors.

Ms. Pope is the host of an online radio show on BlogTalk Radio, “Life is a Sacred Journey,” and is the co-author of “Life is a Journey we know by Heart,” a book that pays tribute to elders living with Alzheimer’s.

In addition to the program, we will have a variety of other activities, including morning matins, “Wake Up / Warm Up,” the Saturday evening talent show, nature walks, and a “Show ‘n Tell” area to display your arts and crafts.

Scholarships are available for first-time attendees as well as returning participants. The scholarships cover the program, meals, and lodging in the lowest-cost housing option, after the applicants provide a modest share of the cost. Lodging upgrade (to one of the other housing options) may be contributed by the local UMW. See the scholarship form for details.

The retreat will be from the evening of Friday, March 16, through lunch Sunday, March 18. The registration flyer and scholarship form are included in this issue of the Mission Link, and is also available online at <elcaminorealumw.org>.

District UMW Spiritual RetreatMarch 16-18, 2018Mission Springs Retreat Center Scotts Valley, California

A Bold Awakening: Revitalize Ourselves and Our Faith

Retreat leader Ms. Micheal Pope


El Camino Real District UMW Mission Springs Spiritual Retreat

Registration FormMarch 16-18, 2018

Mission Springs Conference Center, Scotts Valley, CA

See Events & News at <www.elcaminorealumw.org>


Communications .

El Camino Real District UMW Mission Springs Spiritual Retreat

Scholarship Application FormºSee Events & News at <www.elcaminorealumw.org>


ErrataMission Link, December 2017* In the article “Building Bridges,” we incorrectly identified two people who were instrumental in our District UMW Annual Celebration. Rev. Ann Lau Choy presented the Service of Holy Communion. Former Conference UMW officer Kat Teraji installed the new and returning officers for 2018. * In the article “Welcome to our 2018 District Team,” the list of officers is not the complete listing, but rather the list of those elected or re-elected at the District Annual Celebration. See the complete 2018 District Team on page 2, this issue.* The 2018 Calendar had the incorrect dates for the 20th Assembly of United Methodist Women. It is May 18-20, 2018.

Membership Nurture and OutreachMelesa Taumoepeau, Mission

Coordinator for Membership nurture and Outreach

Growing UMW ...Stand up and be counted in the 2017 Census Unit presidents are asked to provide information for the 2017 UMW Census. This information will enable the orga-nization to meet our members’ needs more efficiently, as well as measure our growth, outreach, and impact.2017 UMW Census Groups need to report online by March 30, 2018. Go to or click on the follow-ing link to begin filling out your unit’s form <www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/census2017> . On this page you will also find a helpful video by Khia Shaw, Executive for Membership Cultivation, about the importance of the census, and with tips on filling out the form.Membership LogIn addition to completing the census form, please help ensure that individual members fill out the “myUMW” mem-bership log at <www.unitedmethodist-women.org/myumw>. When this is done, each member will receive their printable personalized membership card.

National UMW is asking that all leadership, charged with inputting the census data, send the “membership log” information to each member that they are accounting for on the census. Please be intentional in creating spaces and time for women to gather to collect information, and let me know if help is needed. Note that there is a brief video on the Membership Log page to provide guidance on filling out the form. There is no deadline for filling out the membership log.

Stand up and be counted!

TreasurerSharon Davis, Treasurer

Gift to Mission cards give twice!Gift to Mission cards seem to be a well kept secret. Did you know that anyone can order beautiful greeting cards through your local treasurer? Cards are available for $5.00 each for a variety of occasions including Thinking of You, A New Baby, Congratulations, and more. That is comparable to many retail greeting cards, plus you are turning Faith, Hope and Love into action through your Mission Giving donation. Ask your treasurer how you can purchase cards for your personal greeting card needs. The recipient will be touched that you gave a donation in their honor to United Methodist Women. Mission Giving tips for TreasurersTreasurers, when you submit your remittances for Mission Giving, allocate your Mission dollars to all Five Channels of Giving and let’s make 2018 a record year for all our local UMW to be recognized at the Annual Celebrations. If you need more information on how to be a Five Channel giving unit, please ask me.

NominationsBetty Spencer Dickey, Member, Committee on Nominations

Nominations is where it begins!The District Nominations Committee has increased by one. My name is Betty Spencer Dickey, and I was previously a member of the District UMW leader-ship team, in a variety of roles. I have been working on the Conference United Methodist Women’s team for the last six years and enjoying it, but it is nice to be back to District UMW. I have missed the ability to connect locally with all of you.

Our challenge for the District Nominations team is to find people who are interested in UMW and want to use their skills to help us provide support and encouragement to local UMW groups. It is a fun task, because we get the chance to meet so many women that we wouldn’t ordinarily. So if you get a call someday from me or another Nominations member or see us at an event, think of it as an opportunity to broaden your horizons and help in this important mission of UMW.

There are positions that will be available at the end of this year because of the creation of the new Los Rios District and the reassignment of some of the churches in other existing Districts. So be thinking about District UMW as a way of offering your gifts and graces to mission through our work for women, children and youth.

We welcome you!

Communications .

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage

P A I D Permit #1283 San Jose, CA

Wesley United Methodist Church Attn: K Stone, President El Camino Real District UMW566 North Fifth Street San Jose, CA 95112

February, 2018

United Methodist Women

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Please share this newsletter with the members of your Local Unit

March 16 - 18Mission Springs Retreat Center

Scotts Valley, CA

Registration and scholarship forms inside and at the El Camino Real UMW District website <www.elcaminorealumw.org>

El Camino Real District UMW

Spiritual Retreat

Retreat Leader Ms. Micheal Pope CA-NV Conference Lay Leader,

Chief Executive Officer of Alzheimer’s Services of the East Bay.

UMW CALENDAR 2018Spiritual Retreat at Mission Springs

March 16 - 18 Mission Springs Conference Center, Scotts Valley

CA/NV Conference UMW Social Action Event April 14

Sacramento First UMC

20th Assembly of United Methodist Women May 18-20, 2018, Columbus, Ohio

CA/NV Conference UMW Breakfast June 23

Modesto, CA area (Location TBA)

Spiritual Retreat at Mission Springs March 16 - 18, 2018

Mission Springs

Mission u: One-Day Event August 4

Korean UMC of Santa Clara Valley, San Jose,CA

Mission u: Two-Day Event August 10-11

Trinity UMC, Chico, CA

Mission u: Weekend Event August 17-19

Wesley UMC, Fresno, CA

California Nevada Conference UMW Annual Celebration

October 20 Location TBA

El Camino Real District UMW Annual Celebration

October 27 Location TBA

united methodist women, california nevada conference, el...

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