The Messenger’s Flame
Montgomery-Prattville District UMW
Summer 2016
District Officers
From the President
President
Cathy Givan
Summer time!
Vice President
Cami Hacker
“Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Secretary
Bonnie Strait
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer's lease hath all too short
a date:”
Treasurer
Brenda Hargrave
William Shakespeare - Sonnet XVIII
Program Resources
Spiritual Growth
Bonnie Shanks
Social Action
Ora Gillespie
Communications
Penny Colin
Membership Nurture &
Outreach
Mary Wilson
Education &
Interpretation
Marsha Clayton
Nominations
Mable Lawrence, Chair
Evelyn Teel, Member
Carolyn Davis, Member
It was wonderful to see so many of you at our district events. District Day Apart
we had a very educational and revealing presentation from Melanie
Bridgeforth, Executive Director of Voices for Alabama’s Children regarding
issues of license-exempt Day Cares. We were presented with an inspirational
memorial ceremony from Bonnie Shanks and Mary Wilson. This was
accompanied by beautiful music from Denise Edmiston and Gloria Jean and
Norman Williams. Thanks to all who brought items for Mary Ellen’s Hearth, a
home for homeless women and children. The mission study “Latin America:
People & Faith” that was presented by Susan Hunt was very informative with
lots of interacting and personal sharing. Thank you to the United Methodist
Women at Chapel and Whitfield for your hospitality. Special thanks to District
Superintendent, Reverend John Brooks, for taking time out of his busy
schedule to be with us.
A number of our conference sisters were in Charleston for the Southeastern
Jurisdiction meeting June 3-5 where they elected new officers. Our very own
Betty Helms, Conference Past President was elected to a four-year term as
SEJ President. Additionally, Clara Ester, Mobile District, was elected to the
Board of Directors. AL-West Florida rocks. Congratulations!!
We are looking forward to having Laurel Akin with us June 25th to present the
“Created for Happiness” study. How exciting!!! Mission u is being held in our
district at Millbrook First. Please see the detailed flyer and registration in the
following pages and let’s have a big Montgomery-Prattville District turnout.
Please take a look at our District UMW calendar and try to attend as many
events as possible. Being with UMW Sisters is fun, enlightening and a
spiritual blessing! Pictures are included in this newsletter and on our web
page http://www.awf-umw.org/montgomeryprattville.html click the Scrapbook
2015 and 2016 link2.
The Messenger’s Flame
Summer 2016
President’s Message continued:
As always, if you need anything from me or any of the other district officers, I encourage
you to pick up the phone or send an e-mail. Let us continue to pray for each other, pray for our state,
our nation, and pray for those who feel like no one cares.
Remember, it takes each of us to make a difference for ALL of us.
Faith, Hope, Love in Action,
Cathy
Cathy Givan, President
Montgomery-Prattville District
Program Resource News
Reading Program: For 2016, books from 2011-2016 lists count! Extended Reading List! While supplies last, 2011
books can be used to fill requirements for the Reading Program. PLUS - 2011 titles are on sale for $2.00 - $5.00.
(Originally up to $35.00) Go to http://www.umwmissionresources.org/t/categories/reading-program/2011-readingprogram. The Reading Program encourages members to think critically about current issues through an annual
selection of member-reviewed books. It offers an excellent opportunity to deepen your spirituality and to broaden
your understanding of our mission work.
Montgomery-Prattville District Calendar
Saturday, June 25, 2016
Pursuit of Happiness Mission Study
Hope Hull United Methodist Church — 305 Wasden Rd., Hope Hull, AL 36046
(Note Change of Location)
Presenter: Laurel Akin, Deaconess Candidate, Alabama-West Florida UMW Communications
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The Messenger’s Flame
Summer 2016
From Your District Treasurer – Brenda Hargrave
Funds received from 1/1/16 to 5/17/16
Pledge to Missions:
Special Mission Recognition Pin:
Gift to Missions:
Gift in Memory:
World Thank Offering:
Total for Mission Pledge:
$2912.50
80.00
10.00
10.00
125.50
3138.00
Prayer and Self Denial:
Conference Askings:
785.00
2237.00
Our Pledge to Mission for our district this year is $12,200. The amount we have received so
far for this is $3138. We have until Dec. 1, 2016 to reach our goal and I encourage you to send
in your money as it is available in your local unit. Thank you for your support of women,
children and youth with your dollars for UMW Mission work.
Brenda Hargrave
District Treasurer
Membership Nurture and Outreach Coordinator
Thank you for putting up with my "move brain" this year. I have enjoyed working with all of you, and look forward
to my remaining year as Membership Nurture and Outreach Coordinator. District and Conference will need the
usual reports from everyone to complete paperwork at the end of this year. I am going to be without a computer
for a while as we are having problems with ours. It should be up and running before too long. You can use
[email protected] to e-mail the reports to me or mail them to our new address:
3920 Oak Ave.
Montgomery, AL 36109
Mary Wilson, MNO Coordinator
334-270-1339
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The Messenger’s Flame
Summer 2016
Notice to All United Methodist Women
We are fast approaching the 2017 year. With all of the changes this year,
we will be electing Officers for 2017 later than last year. Please consider
serving on our District Team. We will have offices open for President,
Vice President, Secretary, and Program Resources. Please think about
your qualifications, and your schedules. Hopefully some of you will
realize how important this opportunity will be.
We hope you will request a Talent Search Form to complete. These forms
are available at each Mission Study. Forms are also available online on
the UMW website.
If you are interested in serving on the District Team, please contact Evelyn
Teel, Carolyn Davis or me, to inform us of your interest.
We pray that God is providing each of you with the blessings that you
desire!
With All Glory and Honor to God.
Mable Lawrence, Chairperson
Committee on Nominations
Conference Happenings in 2016
July 29-30 Mission u @ First UMC Millbrook, Ala.
October 21-22
Fall Event @ Blue Lake
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The Messenger’s Flame
Summer 2016
Helms Named SEJ United Methodist Women
President, Ester Named to Board
June 07, 2016
The 2016 meeting of the Southeastern Jurisdictional (SEJ) United Methodist Women was held June
3-5, 2016, in Charleston, South Carolina. The theme was, "A Fresh Wind Blowing." At this meeting,
two Alabama-West Florida Conference members were elected to leadership positions.
Mrs. Betty Helms of Dothan FUMC was elected to a four-year term as president of the SEJ UMW.
Helms was the previous president of the Alabama-West Florida UMW and has also served as
president of the Dothan District UMW. She has served on the conference CORE team and serves on
the AWF Episcopacy Committee.
As president of the Jurisdictional UMW, her primary role, along with the eight other officers that
were elected, will be to plan and implement the 2020 Southeast Jurisdiction Quadrennial Meeting.
She will also be on the PAG (Program Advisory Group) for the National Office of United Methodist
Women. Helms expressed her appreciation by saying, "The Jurisdictional meeting is very important
as this meeting is where we elect six directors and three alternates from the SEJ for a four-year term
and a new slate of Jurisdictional officers. In researching the women that have served from the AWF
conference, I have not yet found anyone that has been the president before, so I feel so deeply
honored to serve in this role."
Clara Ester of Toulminville-Warren Street UMC (Mobile District) was also elected to the UMW
Board of Directors. She is a delegate to 2016 General and Jurisdictional Conference and has also
served in numerous district and conference roles. She is an active lay servant minister and a retired
deaconess.
We give thanks to God for these two women in leadership who wonderfully represent the AlabamaWest Florida Conference.
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The Messenger’s Flame
Summer 2016
Come Join Us
MONTGOMERY-PRATTVILLE DISTRICT UNITED METHODIST WOMEN
MISSION STUDY
“CREATED FOR HAPPINESS:
UNDERSTANDING YOUR LIFE IN CHRIST”
(AN ENGAGING STUDY EXAMINING HAPPINESS AND HOW TO LIVE THE LIFE
THAT GOD CALLS US TO)
Saturday, June 25, 2016
*Hope Hull United Methodist Church
305 Wasden Road, Hope Hull
8:30 am – Registration/Refreshments
9am – 12pm – Study
Lunch and Fellowship
Facilitator: Laurel Akin, Alabama-West Florida Conference UMW
*Note: Please note the change in the location of this event
And……..
Save the Date
Saturday, June 25, 2016
Plan to attend
Marsha Clayton
District Coordinator of Education & Interpretation
Mission U
July 29-30 at Millbrook UMC.
The studies are: The Bible and Human Sexuality, Climate Justice, and Latin America
Registration deadline is July 16th.
You are welcome to register for both days (2 studies)at $50 or one day (one study) for $30.
Lodging accommodations are separate.
Registration contact: Tutti Johnson, Registrar, at 334 963-9001 or e-mail:
[email protected]
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The Messenger’s Flame
Summer 2016
Photos from Latin America Mission Study at Whitfield UMC
Copied from the Dothan Connection – Dothan District UMW
Membership Nurture and Outreach
As United Methodist Women, we are faith, hope and love in action.
FAITH--Thousands of women participate in our reading programs and educational opportunities annually to
grow spiritually, become more deeply rooted in Christ, and put faith into action.
HOPE--Our national mission institutions empower women, care for children, educate and equip youth, care
for the neglected, advocate for social justice issues, create economic opportunities, and strengthen
neighborhoods.
LOVE--Our members give out of their love for the world and provide financial support for national mission
institutions, higher education scholarships for international students, and 121 programs taking place in 110
countries.
ACTION--United Methodist Women members’ voices are heard around the world as they call for justice on
issues such as immigration, human trafficking, domestic violence, health care and the environment.
Growing membership can be a challenge as we all live busy lives filled with many other obligations. Meeting
that challenge may require thinking out of the box, reaching others in new ways. It is important that all
women have a place at our table—a true, meaningful inclusion in the activities of United Methodist Women.
Let’s make sure we don’t have a kids’ table for younger members and an adults’ table for seasoned
members. Some of us who are older may expect the new generation of United Methodist Women to closely
follow the traditions we have continued to follow. This attitude towards younger members is off-putting and
discourteous. New ideas and new traditions can help build strong units. There is an old saying that reminds
us about the danger of holding uncompromisingly to tradition: “The last words of a dying church are ‘We
ain’t never done it that way before.’”
Let’s make sure we encourage active participation of all members. Invite all to the United Methodist Women
table and welcome the talents and skills of multigenerational women committed to faith, hope and love in
action.
Debbie Bracewell
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The Messenger’s Flame
Summer 2016
Montgomery-Prattville UMW District Day Apart
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Summer 2016
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The Messenger’s Flame
Summer 2016
Montgomery Prattville
District Directory
ALERT! . . . Are you a
Subscriber?
You too can become informed of AlabamaWest Florida Conference United Methodist
Women events and activities by subscribing to
Alert today!
Send your name and address and telephone
number to Laurel Akin, 104 Windwood Lane,
Enterprise AL 36330. Enclose a $4.00 check,
made payable to Alabama-West Florida
Conference United Methodist Women
(AWFCUMW).
You may receive a copy of ALERT free by
email. Email
[email protected] with your request and
you will be added to our email list.
Our directory was updated
earlier this year and distributed
at the first Mission Study. We
will have copies available at
each district event.
In order to have the most up-todate information, I will update as
changes and additions are
reported to me.
If your unit’s information in the
directory is incorrect, please let
me know by email
[email protected]
Thank you for your help in
providing current information.
Please include a telephone number! With
each issue that is sent, several mailed and
emailed copies are returned!
Stay Connected
UMW: www.umwonline.net
AL-WFL: www.awf-umw.org/
Mont-Pratt District: www.awfumw.org/montgomeryprattville.ht
ml
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.
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