WE ARE GOLDEN

United Methodist Women gathered on zoom Saturday, October 9 for the East Central District Annual Meeting. 

Anne Winn, President made it a fun celebration. 

Thanks to Janet and all her skill at putting a zoom meeting  together with videos, break out rooms and power point presentations.

Tracey opened with reading the United Methodist Women's Pledge.

Dr, Bushong was unable to be at the meeting but sent a nice video explaining his absence and  gave the invocation.

There were no speakers able to come and present a program. The East Central District Team created an interactive and provocative program using readings from the Bible and the UMW program book. Diane read Ezekiel 37; 1-14. In the chat we responded to the questions of what are our "dry bones" and how God connects with us as he did with Ezekiel.

Pat read Ephisian 2: 1-5 and 4:1-6.  We chatted how the Old and New Testament readings are similar.

Anne then put on her party hat to celebrate all the accomplishments of the district's units.

Yes, Clermont is a 5 star unit.

All of the Rainbow givers were from our unit. Thanks for your caring and generosity.

Our unit did a Mission Study this year.

We are a Mission Today Unit. We received a Gold certificate!! The first unit to get that honor!!!

 Pat  talked about the Reading Program and encouraged people to join the book club on the second Tuesday of each month. 

Dorann and Susan received Plan 1 certificate.

Betty Johnson was a plan 3 reader and Pam, Pat and Linda were a plan 4. 

There was a Memorial Service. Doris read the names and sounded a bell for each of  the district women who have died since the last annual meeting.

The business meeting was opened. There are 29 units in our district and 19 of them were represented at the meeting.

Lynn gave a prayer.

Donna Spear gave the treasure report. Remember to pay your pledge for this year.

Phoebe presented the slate of officers;

Anne Winn, President

Janet Blume, Secretary

Mary Ann Mueller, Treasure

Patricia Harrell, Program Resource

Dorothy Mathias, Chair Committee on Nomination

Diane Abresky, Communications Coordinator

Linda Welander, Education and Interpretation

Gillian Wolfe, Social Action Coordinator

Phoebe Lustre and Doris Hatfield. Membership, Nurture and Outreach

Committee of Nominations

Phoebe Lustre

Dorothy Mathias

Doris Hatfield

Frankie Edwards

Tracey Perry

Kristi Carnesale

The slate was accepted, elected, and installed.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:15.

CREATED WITH LOVE

 The Florida Conference United Methodist Women Spiritual Enrichment Retreat was done by Zoom on Friday evening September 10, 2021 and Saturday September 11, 2021. The theme was Created with Love.

Dr. Marie Judith Pierre-Okerson welcomed everyone .

She acknowledged all the presidents of the districts in Florida.

Our own Anne Winn, ECD president.

Shelly Davidson introduced Latricia Scriven who had the program.

She was a very engaging speaker. She had us look in a mirror for 5 minutes and write down what we love about ourselves. We then broke into rooms to share how we felt about this activity.

 The scripture she shared was Eph. 2 :10 . We are God's masterpiece! 

We don't affirm ourselves enough. It is hard to love others when we don't love ourselves enough. 

Words are energy. What we think and say forms what we become. 

We are the living creation of God. We are amazing.

 She then assigned us homework to write down 5 positive statements about our self and to say it in the mirror each morning and evening.

She shared this poem.  " Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world.  There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of  God that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others "  Marianne Williamson

On Saturday Mr.  Frack  spoke to us about the Florida Children's Home

The scripture we looked at on Saturday was 1 John 3: 18-19. It says to not love in words but in deeds and truth. UMW is faith, hope and love in action.

 We then looked at 1 Corinthians 13:1-7. Again we looked in the mirror and into our hearts, which of the things mentioned in verse 4 -7 do you struggle with the most. We shared in our break out rooms. Often it was patience. Isn't God patient with us? God is still working with us.

What we believe about God matters. We need to be passionate about God. 

This was a singer who sang a song called "When Jesus Laughs"  She has such a happy face and the song was cute. Ha Ha Ha

This feeling wheel was shared. It is important to know how you are feeling and share it. There are no wrong feelings. Don't avoid your feelings not matter what they are. Become aware of them and talk to God about them.

The meeting ended with the a song that says " Rest is Holy. Rest is Worship. When we rest Jesus smiles."

Stop and wait.

Meditate.

Think and be still.