Decatur First United Methodist Women
“Welcomed by God, Welcoming All”
Volume 26, Issue 12
2016 Theme: “Fresh Wind Blowing”
UMW General Secretary Olson:
“Let us lead with kindness . . .”
United Methodist Women General Secretary Harriett Jane
Olson offered the following post-election statement to members during the opening plenary of the organization's Leadership Development Days in St. Louis, Missouri, Nov. 11.
"The United States of America has selected Donald J. Trump as
its 45th President. The campaign was intense and personalized, with strong feelings and allegiances that began before
the primary races and lasted until Election Day. Across the
country, and within the membership of United Methodist
Women, we have deep commitments to different candidates
and different ideas of the future we want for our nation and
for the world. This means that our emotions cross the spectrum: from elation and hope, to cautious optimism, to resignation, to anxiety, all the way to anger and fear.
With this whole range of perspectives and emotions, we are
United Methodist Women. We are committed to being a creative supportive fellowship, so I ask you to reach out to each
other and hear each other. Let us lead with kindness in these
days. May this be an opportunity to become even more committed to knowing God and to following God's call, to loving
God and to reflecting God's love for each other and the world.
As we have always done, United Methodist Women will do
this by paying attention to women's gifts for leadership and to
their needs, by responding to the needs of children and youth,
and by standing up alongside the most vulnerable. Our history
of courageous leadership is the backdrop for our work, rooting
ourselves spiritually, learning in ways that challenge us, and
building skills and plans for leadership to respond to the call of
God.
In the 21st century, women still need to organize for mission.
United Methodist Women—now is our time."
December Mission Opportunity
Love Offering
In December, we will have the opportunity to
contribute to missions through a Love Offering
to be divided equally among the North Georgia
Mission Institutions.
December 2016
December General Meeting
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
11am in Fellowship Hall
Everyone is invited to enjoy our
Christmas Program
presented by Melinda Mobley
Lunch at 12:15pm, in Fellowship Hall
December Hostess: Executive Committee
Monday, December 5, 2016
6:30pm—Circle 12, at Atlanta Hospital Hospitality House
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
10:30am—Circles 4-5-7, meet in their rooms
Christmas Tea and Cookies
Tuesday, December 13
6:30—8:30pm in Fellowship Hall
The "New" circle will host a Christmas Tea for all UMW ladies
of the church. Everyone should bring a couple of bags of cookies to swap. The "New" circle will have additional goodies to
make merry. (You do not have to bring cookies to participate.)
Please make sure you rsvp so we know how many ladies to
expect. RSVP to [email protected]
Mary Frances Thompson
Circle 7
November 14, 2016
Born April 29, 1917 in Nashville, TN,
Mary Frances lived her childhood and
adult life in Decatur and then Tucker.
She was a 1939 graduate of Agnes Scott
College and a member of Business and
Professional Women. Mary Frances
belonged to Decatur First United Methodist Church and was a member of
United Methodist Women, serving as
Treasurer for several years. Living until
she was 99 years of age, we were so
hoping she would celebrate her 100th
birthday. She will be missed.
Mary Frances in 2014 at
her 97th birthday party
The Purpose of United Methodist Women: The organized unit of 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.
Volume 26, Issue 12
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December 2016
What’s happening at UMW
October Executive Committee meeting notes
December UMW Birthdays
Atlanta Hospital Hospitality House . . .Key Woman Dixie Lonsway told us that the AHHH had recently held an open house to
display recent renovations to the bedrooms and the doll
house. The doll house renovations include items specially designed for children with disabilities. Her report also included a
list of current AHHH needs.
Carole Jenkins
Aneta Phelps
Ruthie Wood
Virginia Knox
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Dixie Lonsway
Barbara McCullough
Linda Nalley
Kitty Mozley
Congratulations to. . .
David and Cathy Jones on the birth of
their granddaughter, Louisa Helen
Clancy, November 15, in New Orleans.
The parents are William and Shannon
Clancy.
Cathy is pictured here in City Park, New
Orleans, holding 4-day-old Louisa in
the blanket the DFUMC United Methodist Women made for her.
Cancer Sewing . . . Key Woman Penny Bartlett reported cancer pad sewing resumed in August, and 10 different workers
made 375 cancer pads for Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Also,
some pillow cases that had been donated were available if
others could use them to make back packs or children’s
dresses.
UMCH Auxiliary . . .Melinda Mobley and Carole Enright reported that about $26,000 was made at the most recent sale.
In addition to three big sales every year, there are also sales
on Thursday and Saturday mornings. This has helped the overcrowded situation in the area where the sale items are collected and kept.
UMW Communications— in transition
Climate Justice Study in January
Recently I asked Sandy to find a new Communications Coordinator to produce the newsletter
and handle other communications as needed.
Sandy asked for volunteers to do this, and Beth
Bond agreed to take on this responsibility.
Saturday, January 21, 2017
9am to 1pm in Fellowship Hall
Beth Bond will lead the UMW study, Climate Justice, at Decatur First UMC on Saturday, January 21, 2017, from 9am to
1pm. Other UMW units in our district will be invited to participate. The study book, Climate Justice: a Call to Hope and Action, edited by Pat Watkins, is available on Kindle. Let Sandy
know if you would like a paper copy.
Change is good—it is necessary for growth and
Carol Jones, Ed.
gives us new opportunities. I am hopeful that
UMW Newsletter
Beth will be better able to present our message
in new and attractive ways to all the women of the church.
UMW has meant so much to me, and I want others to experience that. Thank you for letting me serve.
—Carol
Dates to Remember
Meet Beth Bond
Please meet Beth Bond, the new editor of the UMW newsletter. Beth is the Curator of Green and Sustainable Business
News at Southeast Green, and the driving force of Southeast
Green (www.southeastgreen.com).
As a Southerner, Beth was tired of
hearing about everything "green" happening outside her native region which
is what drove her to create the website.
Bond spent her formative years in Mobile, Alabama. She graduated from
Florida State University and then
Beth Bond, new editor of
served in Bouza, Niger as a Peace Corps
the UMW Newsletter
Volunteer. She is active in her
neighborhood and serves on the Community Council for District 3, DeKalb County. When not working to better her community she participates at Decatur First UMC where she serves
as co-chair for the Creation Care committee. She is an avid
tennis player and college football fan.
FH = Fellowship Hall L = Adult Library
GR = Gathering Room
DECEMBER 2016
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Tuesday
Tuesday
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Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
UMW Circle 12, 6:30pm, at Atlanta Hospital
Hospitality House.
UMCH Auxiliary Luncheon, 12pm, UMCH
campus. Reservations needed.
UMW Circles 4, 5, 7; 10:30am, in their
rooms.
UMW General Meeting, 11am, FH. Join
us for our Christmas Program.
UMW Luncheon, 12:15pm, FH.
Christmas Tea & Cookies, 6:30-8:30pm,
Fellowship Hall. Hosted by “New” Circle.
Christmas Blessings to All!
NO Cancer Pad Sewing setup.
NO Cancer Pad Sewing.
Please submit news for future newsletters to
Beth Bond Editor, at [email protected]