IOWA-NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER APRIL 2017 2017 CALENDAR North Central District IOWA Conference Schedule April 26 Executive Meeting, Slater UMC 9:30-12:00 and 1:00-4:30 April 27 Spiritual Retreat/Day Apart, Slater UMC June 1 Mission u registrations due June 10-12 Iowa Annual Conference in Des Moines July 16-19 Mission u, Marshalltown, DOTE at 1:00 p.m. August 1 Flaming Fortress article due to Communication Coordinator (Aug. Nwsltr) August 7 Executive Meeting, Algona 1st UMC September 15 Executive Meeting, Webster City Faith UMC September 16 North Central District Annual Meeting, Webster City Faith UMC October 1 Flaming Fortress article due to Communication Coordinator (Oct. Nwsltr) October 7 Iowa Conference UMW Annual Meeting, Washington, Iowa October 20-22 Fall Mission u, Marshalltown December 4 Executive Meeting, Webster City Conference Room, Christmas Luncheon December 15 Flaming Fortress article due to Communication Coordinator (Jan. Nwsltr) LOCAL UNIT FORMS DUE: June 30 Reading & Mission Reports to your Chairperson October 1 Local Officers to District Secretary December 10 Cash Receipts to District Treasurer IN THIS ISSUE: Page 1 NCD-IA Conf. Schedule; Local Unit Forms Due; Index Page 2 Iowa Conference Planning Calendar Page 3 President Page 4 Co-Vice Presidents; Social Action Page 5 REVISED Sister Units Page 6 REVISED District Friends Page 7 Treasurer; Unit Pledge Form for 2018 Page 8 Secretary; UMW Purpose Page 9 Education and Interpretation Page 10 Secretary of Program Resources Page 11 Spiritual Growth Page 12 Membership Nurture and Outreach; Communications Coordinator Page 13 Spiritual Day Apart at Slater Informational Poster (Please Post) Mission u Registration (Same email, different document to print) Mission U brochure (Same email, different document to print) APRIL 2017 NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER 1
2017 PROGRAM PLA NNING CALENDAR IOWA CONFERENCE - UNITED METHODIST WOMEN April 12 Faith Community Response to Domestic Violence, Lamont April 22 Laity Day with Bishop Laurie Haller April 22 Program Planning, Finance, Mission u and Leadership Team meetings, Wesley Woods, Indianola April 23 Spiritual Growth Retreat, Wesley Woods, Indianola May 5 May Friendship Day, CWU May Mission u Training Event June 10-12 Iowa Annual Conference of United Methodist Church, Hy-Vee Hall, Des Moines June 11 UMW Gathering at Annual Conference July 16 District Officer Training Event (DOTE), 1-3 p.m., Iowa Valley Conference Center, Marshalltown July 16-18 Summer Mission u, Iowa Valley Conference Center, Marshalltown August 26 Finance, Program Planning, Mission u and Leadership Team meetings, Ames First UMC September 1 Human Relations Day, CWU September 8 South Central District Annual Meeting, Albia September 9 Southeast District Annual Meeting, Columbus Junction September 16 North Central District Annual Meeting, Webster City Faith September 21 Southwest District Annual Meeting, Lenox September 22 Northeast District Annual Meeting, Dysart September 22 Northwest District Annual Meeting, LeMars September 23 Central District Annual Meeting, Des Moines First September 23 East Central District Annual Meeting, Clinton October 7 Iowa Conference UMW Annual Meeting, Washington October 20-22 Fall Mission u, Iowa Valley Conference Center, Marshalltown November 3 World Community Day, CWU November 18 Program Planning and Leadership Team meetings, Ames First UMC November Leadership Development Days, St. Louis, MO APRIL 2017 NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER 2
Greetings from your NCD President, This day is God s gift to you share God s love in your own unique way. I thank God for United Methodist Women members and the ways we love others through our outreach. We have a blessed legacy given to us by women of the past 148 years. Our mothers and grandmothers listened to God s leadings and lived the Golden Rule. Now is our time to pass on the passion. For this, we need God s miracle (miracle is something we cannot do on our own). Lord, help us listen to the fresh wind blowing to our units and to us. What blessings when we gather as district United Methodist Women members and learn together! Our appreciation and thanks to District Education and Interpretation Coordinator Diane Nall for organizing the two Mission Study Days in March. Both were days of learning, encouragement and challenge by our study leaders, Joyce Norton and Dick Clark. Thank-you to all who made the choice to attend, and special thanks to Gilmore City Faith and Mason City Grace for their hospitality. Does your unit have a Response minute at each meeting? If not, please start one to share briefly articles from Response magazine. This helps us expand our world, see the needs of our world neighbors and learn how our mission dollars are shining light into lives around our world. My favorite yearly United Methodist Women event is Mission u. It is refreshing to my spirit as I share this time for study, worship, eating and dialogue with sisters around our state. Join me July 16-18 in Marshalltown for learning together for the transformation of the world. This year s theme is We are Called. The week-end event is October 20-22. Our district would like to encourage attendance at Mission u, so we are offering this opportunity to two members who have never attended Mission u. Please fill out the form in this newsletter to apply for a $125 scholarship to attend. Thanks to those units who have invited their District Friend to be a part of your meeting. For those who haven t yet, your district officers are awaiting your call. We want to share our mutual joys and concerns about United Methodist Women. I am looking forward to seeing many of you at our District Day Apart in Slater on April 27. Come and invite another as we grow together spiritually as United Methodist Women. Peace and joy, Jean Sheets 1930 Echo Ave. Britt, Iowa 641-843-4582 sheetsec@ncn.net APRIL 2017 NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER 3
Greetings from your NCD Co-Vice Presidents! As this is being written, we have endured one more snow storm and watched the world turn white again, but we know we have the promise of spring coming soon. We are also in the season of Lent, a time for reflection on how we can become better Christians, and we know we have the promise of Easter and eternal life in Christ. Our Lord s resurrection fills us with gratitude for the gift of salvation and the hope of life everlasting! If you have taken a little time off through the winter with your UMW activities, we hope you are ready to take on your unit s work with renewed energy. Try to plan interesting meetings for your members, keeping in mind the UMW s priorities as your focus. The need is great for our work as United Methodist Women. As vice-presidents, we are gearing up for our North Central District Annual Meeting. The Faith UMC of Webster City will be hosting us on Saturday, September 16, 2017, beginning with registration at 8:30 a.m. The meeting will start at 9:30 a.m. and end around 2:30 p.m. Our focus mission will be Bidwell-Riverside in Des Moines, IA. Webster City is centrally located for our annual meeting so please make plans to attend. Mark your calendars now! As you save the September 16th date for our annual meeting, please check the August issue of the Flaming Fortress for all the details about the day. We hope to see you there! Wishing you a blessed Easter! Barb Trulson Myra Bowman 667 6th St. SW 911 Golfview Ave. Britt, IA 50423 Britt, IA 50423 641-843-3387 641-843-4086 russbarb1946@comm1net.net jlmkbowman51@comm1net.net Greetings from your NCD Social Action Coordinator, With Gods help let's make this a better world. This year our emphasis is on climate and environmental issues. There are many questions we need to ask ourselves. Am I responsible for causing the water and air to be polluted? Why has the cancer rate increased in the last 10 years? Why is it a bad idea to eat fish from a contaminated lake or river? What can I do to solve the problem? First get informed. There are many websites and editorials that can give you good information. Visit the www.unitedmethodistwomen.org web site. Check out local environmental groups (Trees Forever, Pheasants Forever, North American Whitetail, Interfaith Power and Light are some examples.) Get involved. Talk with people in the work place, various clubs and at UMW meetings. Small steps can make a big difference. Use only recommended amounts of chemicals on your yard and fields. Use fossil energy wisely. Be diligent to recycle paper, plastics, cardboard, cans and yard waste. If we all do our part we can leave our planet a better safer place for the next generations to come. Gail Hill PO Box 214 Titonka, Iowa 50480 515-928-2572 gailhill@netins.net APRIL 2017 NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER 4
REVISED SISTER UNITS 2017 (March 2017) Alden Algona Ames Collegiate Ames First Belmond Bolan Boone First Britt Buffalo Center Churdan Clarion Clear Lake Colo Corwith Crystal Lake Dayton Dows Duncombe Eagle Grove Eldora Farnhamville Fenton Forest City Ft. Dodge Epworth Ft. Dodge Riverside Ft. Dodge Trinity Garner Gilmore City Gowrie Hampton Harcourt Humboldt Huxley Jefferson Jolley Kanawha Williams Dayton Nevada Huxley Sheffield Mason City Grace Sheldahl Buffalo Center Britt Jefferson Hampton Manly Maxwell Kanawha Klemme Algona Webster City Asbury Ft. Dodge Epworth Gilmore City Radcliffe Paton Titonka Lake Mills Duncombe Somers Manson Thornton Eagle Grove Lake City Clarion Mackey Livermore Ames First Churdan Rockwell City Corwith Klemme Lake City Lake Mills Lee Center Livermore Mackey Manly Manson Mason City First Mason City Grace Mason City Wesley Maxwell Napier Nevada Northwood Ogden Paton Pomeroy Radcliffe Rockwell City Sheffield Sheldahl Slater Somers Story City Swaledale Thornton Titonka Webster City Asbury Webster City Faith West Fort Williams Woolstock Zearing Crystal Lake Gowrie Forest City West Fork Humboldt Harcourt Clear Lake Ft. Dodge Trinity Swaledale Bolan Northwood Colo Slater Ames Collegiate Mason City Wesley Pomeroy Farnhamville Ogden Eldora Jolley Belmond Boone Napier Ft. Dodge Riverside Zearing Mason City First Garner Fenton Dows Woolstock Lee Center Alden Webster City Faith Story City APRIL 2017 NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER 5
North Central District UMW District Friends 2017 (REVISED March 2017) Jean Sheets Alden Lee Center Webster City Faith West Fork Sharon Uken Corwith Clear Lake Somers Thornton Gail Hill Fenton Harcourt Clarion Belmond Iola Chickering Britt Eldora Story City Pat Hartwig Dows Williams Slater Mason City First Diane Nall Duncombe Eagle Grove Gilmore City Kanawha Barb Trulson Dayton Forest City Crystal Lake Titonka Huxley Kathy Sautter Ames Collegiate Hampton Northwood Swaledale Deb Gillespie Colo Maxwell Nevada Radcliffe Zearing Sally Redenius Ogden Humboldt Mackey Pomeroy Webster City Asbury Marla Norman Churdan Jefferson Lake City Paton Myra Bowman Bolan Klemme Mason City Wesley Manly Sheffield Sue Thomas Fort Dodge Epworth Fort Dodge Trinity Livermore Manson Mason City Grace Rebecca Leigh Garner Fort Dodge Riverside Lake Mills Woolstock Buffalo Center Barb Petrone Boone First Sheldahl Farnhamville Napier Ames First Lavonne Hoover Gowrie Jolley Rockwell City Algona APRIL 2017 NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER 6
Greetings from your NCD Treasurer, As I reported in January, 48 units achieved Five Star Unit status in 2016. Your certificate was available at the district Mission Study days in March or will be at the Spiritual Day Apart in April. Details on the Day Apart appear elsewhere in this newsletter. As you plan your mission giving for the coming year, plan to make a contribution to EACH of the following five categories of mission giving for Five Star Unit status: 1. Pledge to Mission 2. Special Mission Recognition - Minimum $40 3. Gift to Mission (Cards) Minimum $5 each 4. Gift in Memory (Cards) Minimum $5 each 5. World Thank Offering Note: Be sure to include if you would like any Gift to Mission cards by filling out the separate form. Gift in Memory cards can be kept by you until the time you need them and then send the minimum $5 per card to me with a remittance. Call or write to ask me for some. When ordering a Special Mission Recognition pin, please fill out the separate form with all the information and send along. There is also an option of ordering without a name, to be given later to the person you choose, or receiving no pin but giving a donation. I have all the forms and instructions, so if you don t have them, please ask. I can email them or send them by regular mail. In addition to the Five Star giving categories, the Iowa UMW Conference asks local units to make annual donations to our National Projects in Iowa at $1 per member for each project. 1. Shesler Hall, Sioux City - $1.00 per member 2. Bidwell-Riverside, Des Moines $1.00 per member 3. Hawthorn Hill, Des Moines $1.00 per member 4. Mission u Marshalltown, IA - $1.00 per member 5. Magazine Fund for missionaries and deaconesses - $1.00 per unit I have had questions about the Legacy Fund, so here is what it is and how you can give. The Legacy Fund is a permanent endowment held at the National Office of UMW in New York. Income from the Legacy Fund will ensure the future of United Methodist Women missions. Legacy Fund donors are encouraged to mail their gifts directly to the National Office. The address is: United Methodist Women: Treasurer s Office 475 Riverside Drive, Room 1503 New York, NY 10115 Make your check out to United Methodist Women and in the memo line write Legacy Fund. If the gift is given in honor or in memory of someone, include the name as well as the name and mailing and email address of the donor. Legacy Funds will be continuously received through 2019 when United Methodist Women celebrate our 150th anniversary. You can also access the website for other options in giving: www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/legacy If you send it to me, I can send it in as well. Please fill out and send me the information below. I need it to make the District UMW budget for 2018. Prayerfully consider what your unit can do. There is so much work to be done. **********************************************************************************************************. Unit Pledge for 2018 Name of Unit: Town where located: Our Pledge to Mission for 2018: $ Signed: Send by June 1, 2017 to: Kathy Sautter 1041 S. Illinois Ave., Mason City, IA 50401 641-423-2742 Email: ksautter64@gmail.com Feel free to call or email me with any questions. Thank you for serving women, children & youth through UMW. APRIL 2017 NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER 7
Greetings from your NCD Secretary, I was privileged to attend my second ever District Mission Study at Gilmore City today. It was a very informative study about global justice and the results of global warming. I think we all learned a lot from Joyce Norton as well as leaving us with a lot of food for thought. One question that is really sticking with me was, "Will our grandchildren forgive us if we leave the state in poor shape for them to raise their families here?" I was looking through an old Bible this week and came across my Grandmother's favorite poem and I just had to share it with everyone. "I met God in the morning when the day was at its best; and His presence came like sunshine, like a glory in my breast. All day long the presence lingered, all day long he stayed with me; and we sailed with perfect calmness o'er a very troubled sea. So I think I know the secret, learned from my troubled ways; you must seek Him in the morning, if you want Him through the day." Thank you to the officers who have sent me their change of officer lists. I am taking it for granted that I have all the changes now and will print out the new listings. By the time you are reading this I am hoping that we are all enjoying spring weather. Sharon Uken P.O.Box 356, Titonka, IA 50480 suken@netins.net sharonuken@gmail.com UNITED METHODIST WOMEN 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. APRIL 2017 NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER 8
Greetings from your NCD Education and Interpretation Coordinator, Welcome Spring! Yes, signs of spring are finally here. New plant and animal life, spring rains and warmer weather are arriving. On April 22, 2017 we will be observing Earth Day. What are you planning to do to celebrate this day? Our Mission Events held at Gilmore City Faith Methodist Church on March 16 and at Mason City Grace Methodist Church on March 21 gave those in attendance a lot to think about. Not only do we have a lot to think about, we as United Methodist Women have a lot to do to help preserve our Earth. Climate Change is here. Over 90,000 scientists throughout the world agree. We humans have polluted our air, our water, and have filled our land fills with toxic garbage. The effects of climate change has caused global warming which in turn causes heavy rains and floods and even causes the massive forest fires here on Earth. But we can help. We have the solutions if we would only heed them. Wind and solar energy could replace fossil fuels in producing electricity and powering engines. We can do more in our homes, our churches, and in our businesses to reduce carbon emission. Have you considered doing an energy audit? Do you recycle? Would you consider taking shorter showers? What about turning out the lights when you re not in the room? Do you treat your lawns with pesticides and fertilizers? Do you practice conservation? Do you rotate your crops? Have you considered planting wild flowers in your ditches? Have you considered purchasing an electric car or a more fuel efficient car? Joyce Krebs Norton and Rev. Dick Clark gave us much to think about on the topic of Climate Justice. I thank them both for their thought-provoking presentations. They also urged us to take action and do our parts in helping restore our planet Earth. We need to think green all the time and encourage others, especially our children, to do the same. American theologian Sally McFague speaks of the natural world as the body of God. We are stewards of Mother Earth (the Body of God), not owners! Please remember Earth Day on April 22. But more than that remember our Earth every day and be good stewards of our God-given planet. Lest I forget, special thanks to Lavonne Hoover and the UMW women at Gilmore City Faith UMC and to Kathy Sautter and the UMW women of Mason City Grace and Wesley United Methodist Churches for graciously hosting our Mission Events. The UMW ladies from Mason City First Methodist also helped serve the Mission event in held at Grace Methodist Church. Bless all of you for not only hearing but doing what our Lord desires you do. Diane Nall 206 Linn Street Corwith, IA 50430 515-583-2136 diane_nall@hotmail.com APRIL 2017 NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER 9
Greetings from your NCD Secretary of Program Resources, I hope you have begun reading for the 2017 Reading Program. In 2016, we had 77 readers from 26 units. Let s go for even numbers this year: 80 readers from 30 units! (Of course, more than that would be great!) Several books were checked out of the Traveling Library at the Mission Study events in Gilmore City and Mason City. Books will be available again at the April 26th Day Apart in Slater. Be sure to look for me. **NOTE: Forty-two books are currently checked out of the Traveling Library. District Events are a good time to return books so that others can enjoy them. In the meantime, there are several ways to order resources for your unit. **Call Toll-Free: 1-800-305-9857 **On the Web: www.umwmissionresources.org ** E-MAIL: cs@umwmissionresources.org **By Mail: United Methodist Women Mission Resources 1650 Bluegrass Lakes Parkway Alpharetta, GA 30004 ** FAX: 1-770-280-0061 **Customer Service: 1-800-305-9857. You might also find some of the books in your public library. Need a list? Look on the mission resources web site listed above. You can also find other information about United Methodist Women on these sites: 1. the website: www.unitedmethodistwomen.org 2. www.umwonline.org 3. www.facebook.com/umwomen 4. www.youtube.com/umwomen 5. www.pinterest.com/umwomen KEEP READING... It s Your Window to the World! Blessings, Iola Chickering 206 N. Roan St. Algona, IA 50511 Telephone (Home) 515-295-7519 (Cell) 515-341-5547 imchick@netamumail.com APRIL 2017 NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER 10
Greetings from your NCD Spiritual Growth Coordinator, We thought we would have an early spring. The flowers started peeking through the ground only to be covered with white snow a couple of times. They will persist and break out in bloom soon. Jesus died on the cross and was buried in the tomb. But he broke through death and arose to save us. Once upon a time I heard someone say that Easter was the same story every year! While that may be true, how can we interpret the Easter joy and hope anew? Perhaps we need to be more intentional and search for new experiences and different ways we can bloom this spring. Our Bible verse for May 2017 is 1 John 4:10: This is love; not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. NIV May the God who shakes heaven and earth, whom death could not contain, who lives to disturb and heal us, bless you with power to go forth and proclaim the gospel. Amen. Janet Morley, England; From Soul Weavings, edited by Lyn Klug May God disturb us enough in this Easter season that we will act to find our new purpose for living and blooming and may the new life of spring bless you all. Deb Gillespie Spiritual Growth Coordinator 2504 Delaware Drive Webster City, IA 50595 (319) 540-0182 deb.harlan.gillesp@gmail.com PLEASE SEE THE ENCLOSED FLYER FOR THE 2017 Spiritual Day Apart, Thursday, April 27th, Slater UMC! YES, I know this is in the southern part of our district, but all highways from the north (65, I-35, 69, 17, 169, 4) lead to Hwy 210 where Slater is located. The Slater United Methodist Women are ready to welcome us! Please join us! He died for us. He arose. ALLELUIA! APRIL 2017 NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER 11
Greetings from your NCD Membership Nurture and Outreach Co-Chairs, Hello to all and welcome to spring! We hope your winter went well, and you made it through these last two snowstorms without too much trouble. Our membership reporting deadline has passed. Thank you to those who reported on-line and to those who sent them in. Hopefully next year we will be able to have all units report on-line. With change, we all know it takes time, but we'll get there if we keep communicating with each other. As we enter the spring season, we think about new growth and also things that will come back from last year. Let us think for a minute how that can relate to United Methodist Women. We would encourage each unit to try and gain a member or two in 2017. And if you were not aware of this, you do not need to belong to the United Methodist Church to be a member of the United Methodist Women. You just need to believe and practice what is in our Purpose. But at the same time, don't forget to nurture and pray for all current members as we go forward! Until next time, Your friends, Sue Thomas Rebecca Leigh 1615 E. Elm Street 620 E. Call Street Algona, IA 50511 Algona, IA 50511 thomas3@netamumail.com dleigh@netamumail.com Greetings from your NCD Communications Coordinator, Thank you for keeping any changes to your email addresses or mailing addresses (if needed) sent to the District Secretary or to myself. This helps tremendously when I get ready to send out another Flaming Fortress Newsletter. With all the help received I still seem to get a few email addresses that just won t go through though. If you don t receive this newsletter on your own computer but want to, please send your email address to my email address below, telling me what unit you are from also. Knowing what unit you are in helps me when you have a change because it is easier to find you in my list that way. I really do appreciate all YOUR HELP! I m so happy to see spring finally arriving. I think I am not alone when I say I hope winter is really over but we never know when we might get one of those white April surprises! UGH! Thanks to all who attended our Mission study in Gilmore City. It was fun to be part of the hosting UMW unit for a change instead of traveling somewhere else. Hopefully we will get to see many of you in Slater later this month. I hope you are enjoying the spring weather between the rains! Blessing to all this Easter season and always! Sally Redenius NCD Communications Coordinator 207 East Iowa Avenue, Gilmore City, IA 50541 (home) 515-373-6346 (cell) 515-368-3650 sacuthbe@msn.com APRIL 2017 NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER 12
NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT SPIRITUAL GROWTH - DAY APART CREATED IN GOD S IMAGE Based in part on the book from 2016 Mission u Spiritual Growth Study, The Bible and Human Sexuality Claiming God s Good Gift Thursday, April 27, 2017 Slater United Methodist Church 401 Story Street, Slater, Iowa 9:00 AM 2:30 PM Each carload please bring one large salad APRIL 2017 NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER 13
2017 MISSION EVENTS SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION North Central District MISSION u APPLICATION DUE JUNE 1, 2017 Mail Applications to: Jean Sheets, NCD President 1930 Echo Ave. Britt, IA 50423-8523 Name Address City Zip Phone Summer Mission u July 16-18, Marshalltown Community College, Marshalltown, IA Fall Mission u October 20-22, Marshalltown Community College, Marshalltown, IA Scholarships include registration and most meals. Recipient supplies own transportation and overnight accommodations. Mission u for a first timer (Applicant would be attending for the first time) Mission u for mother and child (Mother attends Mission u and child (ages 6-10) attends Children s study) ************************************************************************* Choose one: Climate Justice Missionary Conferences ************************************************************************* My reason for wanting to attend: April 2017 North Central District United Methodist Women APRIL 2017 NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER 14