PURPOSE:
The United Methodist Women are now the United Women in Faith!
We are United Women in Faith! In more than 150 years in mission we’ve had more than 25 name changes. Our last change was in 1972 when the name United Methodist Women was adopted, signaling a change not only in the life of the church but in the lives of women and how they could organize for mission. Today, we again face a change in life of the church and in how women live and choose to engage in the world in faith. Thus, it’s time to take on a new name.
What has not changed: We remain the official women’s organization of the United Methodist Church, training women for leadership, growing spiritually, transforming through education, and providing opportunities for service and advocacy. We are women in mission who follow God’s call for our time.
Our updated mission remains basically the same: United Women in Faith seeks to connect and nurture women through Christian spiritual formation, leadership development, creative fellowship, and education so that they can inspire, influence and impact local and global communities.
What has changed – we have a new name, designed to include a new look, new feel, and new and improved programs designed to better nurture current members and welcome new women into our sisterhood to put their love in action too. We have a new logo that features the new name of United Women in Faith next to a Christian cross in muted yellow, blue, orange, and green to reflect our forward-looking faith and diversity of the organization and God’s world.
We have a new website: www.uwfaith.org. All are welcome to explore this website and watch a new video of the fresh new look of United Women in Faith.
June Devotional
Scripture Psalms 37:3-6 Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take Delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.
Devotion: From the Daily Prayer Guide 2023 “Reflecting on God’s Faithfulness. Reflection from Margaret Jane Kies, Retired Global Missionary from South Africa, served in Zimbabwe, Teacher of English, Africa University:
“Psalm 37:4 encourages us to ‘delight yourself in the Lord.’ This reminder about our relationship with God and God’s constant faithfulness helps me appreciate the vitality and optimism of the students here at Africa University, many of whom are on scholarship generously provided through the Advance Special. In the words of two of our scholarship students:
- Aaron (a Congolese Intensive English Student): “To tell you the truth, getting a scholarship is one of the things that made me m=happy. God has done it (given me this precious gift and I appreciate it.”
- Samuel (and Intensive English student from Rwanda): “It is 10 years sine God promised me to continue my studies abroad, and I was standing on God’s promises until I received what God gave. Through praying and waiting faithfully is how I got joy.”
How our Pledge to Mission helps:
United Methodist Global AIDS Fund, combating HIV/AIDS through prevention, education, support, and capacity development.
Aurora Wesley Unit, United Women in Faith, Aurora IL, funding their Just Energy For All work.
Funding for Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in Westminster, CA
Events and Opportunities:
Mission u 2023
Every year, United Women in Faith members prepare for faithful living and action by engaging in transformative education experiences at Mission U events:
This event is centered around Mission U curricula that are designed to motivate, inform, and enrich our commitment to global ministry.
This year’s Mission U is titled “Living the Kin-Dom: Exploring the Lord’s Prayer as a Spiritual Practice for Social Transformation.” As was the case last year, this is a free – but virtual – event. If you’d like to meet in person, register for the July 28-30 session; several of us will gather at our church to participate in the Zoom call together. Learn more and register at the link below:
For several years, the Church of the Warm Heart has partnered with Cathedral of the Rockies in this vital ministry, which provides free hygiene products to low-income and homeless teens in our community. With the school year back in swing, we are in need of the following items:
- Hair Care: brush, comb, hair ties, shampoo, conditioner, hair spray, hair oil
- Skin Care: acne face wash, bar soap, body wash, face cleansing cloths, hand sanitizer, loofah, lotion, razor, shaving cream, deodorant
- Dental Care: dental floss, mouthwash, toothbrush, toothpaste
- Eye Care: contact supplies, eyeglass cleaner
- Grooming: cologne, perfume, eye shadow, lip gloss, mascara
- Feminine Hygiene: heavy duty pads, light day pads, tampons, panty liners
- Mirror Image Supplies: Jumbo (1/2 gallon), quart, and snack size Ziploc bags
You can drop off items in the FLC on Tuesday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. or email Lisa at care@meridianumc.com to arrange pickup.
Or, if you do not wish to shop for products, you can make out a check to Meridian UMC and earmark Mirror Image in the memo line. We will use your donation to order products that are most needed.
The Reading Program is a cherished United Women in Faith tradition that brings together members in mission as they explore, share and discuss the books.
To participate, select one of our four plans and start reading! From captivating novels and heartfelt biographies to urgent messages about issues such as climate change and mass incarceration, there’s something for everyone. There are many selections available outside Lisa Miller's office. Pay attention to the church's monthly Footprints newsletter, where Claudia Moberly provides a review for a reading program book. For a full list and description of the titles in the 2023 catalog, click below!
Faith Talks are monthly conversations with United Women in Faith, hosted by Jennifer R Farmer, Spotlight PR. Each conversation explores themes and resources that empower us to put faith, hope and love into action. You can find the entire archive of existing and upcoming conversations on the UWFaith website...
...and you can subscribe to the talks in podcast form!
UWFaith Book Club
The United Women in Faith has formed a book club that will loosely follow the UWFaith Reading Program. For specific information about the UWFaith reading program go to: https://uwfaith.org/resources/2022-reading-program/
Why: Our purpose in these organizing days of the book club is to bring women together to study, share, and explore books, from captivating novels and heartfelt biographies to urgent messages about issues such as climate change and mass incarceration. Most of the books on the UWFaith reading program are meant to challenge our thinking or possibly move us to action.
Goal: To read at least one book per year from each of the 5 UWFaith reading program categories: Spiritual Growth, Nurturing for Community, Social Action, Education for Mission, and Leadership Development.
Who: Anyone! You do not have to be a United Women in Faith member or even a member of the UMC.
When and where: Bimonthly, third Thursday (next meeting 8/18), in the FLC, Classroom #2 at 12:30. Bring your own lunch, with discussion starting at about 1 p.m. for about 1 hour.
What: 2023 Calendar
Do you have a couple hours a month to give to the NU2U thrift store? Help is always needed! No experience necessary; we'll train you. Please contact Cheryl Mulvihill to volunteer. Sales at NU2U are the primary source of funding to make our pledge to Mission so we welcome your shopping at the store as well!