UMW Newsletter THE METROPOLITAN CHURCH
December 2015 Metropolitan Memorial, St. Luke’s & Wesley United Methodist Churches 202-363-4900 (MMUMC office) MetroUMW@gmail.com
Mark Your Calendar December 5 Sa
GWD UMW local officers training (Hughes Mem. UMC, WDC)
6 Su
One worship service, “Amahl” performance, 10am, MMUMC Sanctuary
6 Su
pg
January 11 M
pg Tentative: UMW Board Mtg (7-8:30pm, Conference Rm)
February 5-7 F-Su
UWM Women’s Retreat, Priestfield
12
March
Reception for “Amahl” performers, 11-noon, Great Hall
5 Sa
6 Su
UMW Fellowship & Activity time, noon-12:45pm, Vestry
2-5
6 Su
UMW Recognition Sunday (12:45pm, Great Hall)
2-5
14 M
UMW Board Mtg (7-8:30pm, Conference Rm)
16 W
Jewelry Group (7pm, Christie Rm
6
17 Th
Lunch & More
7
18 F
Newsletter deadline--email pre-Holiday version
21 M
December AARP Luncheon
24 Th
Christmas Eve
25 F
Christmas
UMW Book Sale
Highlights Recognition Luncheon & Meeting to vote on budget and benevolent giving recipients, p. 2-5 Diapers & other baby items being collected at Recognition Luncheon, p. 3 Grate Patrol help wanted, p. 8
8
Metropolitan UMW Newsletter : December 2015
National UMW is making quilted labyrinths, p. 9 Bazaar wrap-up, p. 10-11 Retreat leader bio, p. 12 Circle info, p. 13
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UMW News
Reflections “It is impossible to conceive how different things would have turned out if that birth had not happened whenever, wherever, however it did … for millions of people who have lived since, the birth of Jesus made possible not just a new way of understanding life but a new way of living it. It is a truth that, for twenty centuries, there have been untold numbers of men and women who, in untold numbers of ways, have been so grasped by the child who was born, so caught up in the message he taught and the life he lived, that they have found themselves profoundly changed by their relationship with him.” ~Frederick Buechner
Dec. 24, 2014 Pakistani Christians gather in an alley of a Christian neighborhood decorated with festive lights in Islamabad, Pakistan. Muhammed Muheisen/AP
UNITED METHODIST WOMEN RECOGNITION LUNCHEON Sunday, December 6, 12:45 pm, MMUMC Great Hall Don’t forget: “Amahl and the Night Visitors”, 10-11am, MMUMC Sanctuary (One service only--No regular 9 and 11:15am worship services at MMUMC; Wesley UMC has regular 11am service) Reception for performers, 11am-noon, Great Hall UMW Fellowship, noon-12:45pm, Vestry We are pleased to announce that four outstanding women have been selected for special recognition at our annual recognition event in December. Continued pg 3
Metropolitan UMW Newsletter : December 2015
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UMW News Continued from pg 2 As always, there are many women in our church who contribute in countless ways. The four women we will recognize this year are Alex McPherron, Mary Rollefson, Courtney Leatherman and Helene Lilly. Each one of these women has made significant contributions to our church, to our community and beyond. We look forward to hearing more about each of their achievements and contributions at the Recognition Luncheon on December 6, at 12:45 pm in the Great Hall. In addition, we will welcome new UMW members, recognize babies born in our church family this year, as well as honor the lives of women in our church family who passed away within the last year. A catered luncheon will be served. A donation of $10 is suggested for UMW members; guests are free. This annual event promises to be a special day of celebration for all women in the Metropolitan Memorial Church community.
We'll have an extended fellowship and activity time in the Vestry between the "Amahl" reception and our luncheon at 12:45pm. Please help us set-up the luncheon in the Great Hall or come join us in the Vestry! Also, in gratitude for the new lives in our church, we will again be collecting donations for the DC Diaper Bank on Dec. 6th. We need… Diapers of all sizes, but sizes 4 and up and pull-ups are most needed Opened packages of diapers are OK, but please label the size and # of diapers left Unopened, unexpired formula, diaper wipes, and diaper cream Unopened baby shampoo, bubble bath, toothbrushes, toothpaste and other baby hygiene items New toddler underwear New bottles/nipples/teethers New and gently used board books New and gently used sleepsacks
UMW Business Meeting at Recognition Luncheon Sunday, December 6, 12:45 pm, MMUMC Great Hall We will also have a brief membership business meeting at the Recognition Luncheon to induct our new slate of officers for 2016 - 2017 and take a membership vote on the approval our end-of-year Benevolent Giving and proposed budget for 2016. The proposed 2015 Locally Designated Benevolent Giving recipients (nominated by our unit members) are below. Please keep in mind that this locally-designated giving is in addition to the $6,460 we will contribute in connectional giving to the greater UMW, which designates funds for national and international missions. Continued pg 4 Metropolitan UMW Newsletter : December 2015
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UMW News Continued from pg 3 Proposed 2015 Locally Designated Benevolent Giving: Recipient
Nominated By
Amount
Value USA - a national non-profit organization dedicated to improving literacy, English language skills and leadership training to disadvantaged adult learners, the vast majority of whom are women.
Margaret Patterson
$1,000
Mabel Lossing Jones - this boys' school in Sitapur, India, has been educating boys (many of whom have become leaders in India) and providing teaching opportunities for women since the early 1900s.
Eunice Jones Mathews
$1,500
Tree of Life (former VIM trip) - Serving homeless and povertystricken children and families on this Native American reservation in South Dakota, services include a food pantry, clothing distribution, meal site, emergency home repairs, crisis center support, suicide prevention, and much more.
Mary Jo Marchant
$1,000
Joyce Shields
$1,000
Pyper Imperial
$1,200
Rachel Rogers
$1,850
Nan McCurdy
on-going missionary support
$300
Lillian Wallace
on-going missionary support
$300
Rachel Ternes
Circle 8, missionary support
$300
Capital Partners for Education - works with motivated, low-income Washington DC area youth to get to and through college via a proven combination of mentoring, partnerships with quality high schools, tuition assistance and a customized array of academic, career and life skills development. EduCare - a birth-to-five early learning center that provides fullday, year-round services for low-income children under five and their families in SE DC. Educare’s Head Start program serves women and children by providing high-quality child care and education, helping children and their mothers and fathers to escape the cycle of poverty. Bright Beginnings (2015 mission speaker) - providing high-quality childcare, early education, counseling and family-oriented services to children and their families who are homeless in DC.
Clinical Dental Nicaragua (former VIM trip)
$1,000
Gift to Metropolitan - Wesley - St. Luke's
$1,000
Wesley Theological Seminary Scholarship
$1,000
Courtney's House - providing a safe haven, counseling and support to children and youth formerly involved in sex-trafficking. Sasha Bruce Youthworks (2014 mission speaker) - providing shelter, advocacy services and job-training to homeless youth in DC. Total
$1,050 $1,500 $14,000
More on the Recognition Luncheon pg 5
Metropolitan UMW Newsletter : December 2015
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UMW News Also at the Recognition Luncheon…
Alternative Gift Market Sunday, December 6, 12:45 pm, MMUMC Great Hall Looking for the perfect gift for a hard-to-buy relative? Something special to thank a Sunday School teacher? A meaningful hostess gift? On Sunday, Dec. 6, shop at the UMW Alternative Gift Market table near the Great Hall. It’s a wonderful, creative way to support worthwhile charities in our area and abroad. In exchange for your purchase, you will receive a greeting card that you can present to the person you want to honor. Any contribution will be passed on directly to one of the following organizations that you select. (Receipts available for tax purposes.) The beneficiaries include: Bright Beginnings— providing child-care to homeless families in Washington, D.C. Gaithersburg Beloved Community Initiative - outreach and mentoring for at-risk children in partnership with Asbury Methodist Village in Gaithersburg, Md. Mabel Lossing Jones School, Sitapur, India –educating boys and many future leaders of India under the auspices of the United Methodist church since 1900. The Ballet Studio – provides academy-quality ballet instruction to girls from underserved minority and immigrant populations in Washington, D.C. Capital Partners for Education—financially supporting and mentoring low-income Washington, D.C. youth to ensure they graduate from high school and transition to and complete college Women and Community —empowering women and promoting action to protect the environment in Nicaragua. Tree of Life Ministry—serving Native Americans in Rosebud, South Dakota. Courtney’s House—helping children and youth escape from being trafficked and find a new life. Sasha Bruce Youth Works—supporting programs and training for homeless youth in Washington, D.C.
Metropolitan UMW Newsletter : December 2015
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UMW News
Did you know that most states charge sales tax for feminine hygiene products? Last month we told you about the great outpouring of giving for the Red Tent Project, the UMW donation drive for feminine protection products for clients of the Mt Vernon UMW meal program. This month Anita Seline, coordinator for the Red Tent Project, brings the following change.org petition to our notice:
Maryland is one of only five states that do not charge sales tax on pads and tampons. So while locally most of our members do not pay this tax, most women across the country do. Here is message: I just signed the petition "U.S. State Legislators: Stop Taxing Our Periods! Period." and wanted to see if you could help by adding your name. Our goal is to reach 35,000 signatures and we need more support. You can read more and sign the petition here: https://www.change.org/p/u-s-state-legislators-stop-taxing-our-periodsperiod?recruiter=347891268&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=email&utm_c ampaign=share_email_responsive&rp_sharecordion_checklist=control
Jewelry-Making Group Next meeting Wednesday, Dec 16 at 7pm The Jewelry-Making Group meets in the Christie Room once a month at 7pm during Food for Thought classes after the 6pm Community Dinner. We go over the unsold pieces of jewelry from the la Bazaar, revamp them, and get them ready for the next Bazaar. For questions, contact Kathy Portus.
Metropolitan UMW Newsletter : December 2015
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UMW News
Lunch and More
Join the Lunch and More Crowd for a Christmas Pot Luck! "Advent Experience: The Music of Christmas" Presented by Janet Craswell, Metropolitan Memorial Director of Christian Education Thursday, December 17, Noon, Great Hall Bring your favorite dish to create a Christmas feast! After sharing a festive meal, Janet Craswell, Metropolitan's Director of Christian Education will be our speaker. She will share Advent Experience: The Music of Christmas. From Handel's Messiah to Menotti's Amahl the Night Visitors to African-American spirituals about the birth of Christ, Christmas has inspired some of the most uplifting and beautiful music we know. Get ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus by reveling in the stories and music of Christmas, and the people who created them. Hope to see you Thursday, December 17! Don't forgot your dish and bring a friend! Contacts: Phyllis Kokus,pkokus@aol.com or Mary Jo Marchant, mjmarchant@verizon.net or Drema MCAllister-Wilson,dwilson@nationalchurch.org.
Metropolitan UMW Newsletter : December 2015
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UMW News December AARP Luncheon Monday, December 21, noon Please join us on Monday, December 21 at noon in the Vestry for our annual holiday luncheon. We will have a delicious meal of turkey and all the trimmings, followed by singing of holiday songs. The cost is $15 per person, and reservations are necessary by December 16. Contact Bobby Turnbull, bobbyturnbull@comcast.net to reserve your spot.
Grate Patrol Sunday, December 27, 10:10 am, Vestry Monday, December 28, 6:30 pm, St. Luke’s Mission Center
On Sunday at 10:10 am, help make sandwiches and prepare meal bags in the Vestry. On Monday at 6:30 pm, volunteers are needed at the St. Luke’s Mission Center (3655 Calvert St. NW) to load additional meals prepared by Campus Kitchens into the Salvation Army van and distribute them throughout downtown DC. If you can volunteer to put together meal bags on Sunday, just show up in the vestry or, if your circle wants to volunteer, contact Anita Seline at amseline@aol.com. If you can go out on the van on Monday night, volunteer on Metropolitan's Lotsa Helping Hands site. There is a five volunteer limit on the van ride which leaves St. Luke’s around6:30 pm and returns around 8:30 pm.
https://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/622058/ Metropolitan UMW Newsletter : December 2015
New UMW Member! Please welcome our newest member, Susanna Wesley the Air Dancer. Ms. Wesley came on the scene Bazaar week and delighted us with her graceful moves and traffic-stopping antics. We expect we will see her again the week of our
Book & Bake Sale, March 5.
Photo credit: Anita Seline Page 8 of 13
UMW News Can You Sew? Quilted labyrinths needed by January 15, 2016 The message below is from Vidette Bullock Mixon, Board Secretary, United Methodist Women, National Office and brought to our attention by our own Esther Barkat.
Greetings leaders of United Methodist Women! The National Office of UMW is inviting local UMW units to support the prayer ministry at the 2016 General Conference by making quilted finger labyrinths. United Methodist Women’s engagement in the prayer ministry for General Conference 2016 is in full swing with the arrival of the first quilted finger labyrinths following the appeal distributed in October. As a reminder, one of our UMW prayer ministry activities planned is to offer quilted finger prayer labyrinths for delegates and guests. We are actively seeking UMW members that enjoy quilting to assist us by making the finger labyrinths. Do you have women in your conference, district or local units who would like to help by volunteering to quilt finger prayer labyrinth squares for the delegates and guests? We need 2,000 and the variety of labyrinths made by women from all over the country will bless the recipients and lend to the support and outreach we hope to extend. Attached is a pattern and picture for the finger labyrinths. Each labyrinth will be tagged with a card identifying that the labyrinth is “handmade with love and prayer by United Methodist Women”. Anyone interested in quilting the finger prayer labyrinth squares should email GCprayer@unitedmethodistwomen.org with an estimate of how many they might be able to make. Labyrinths are to be shipped by January 15, 2016 to: Brooks Howell Home Attn: GC Prayer Ministry 266 Merrimon Avenue Asheville, NC 28801
For template and instructions, email Esther Barkat at eunica99@aol.com
Metropolitan UMW Newsletter : December 2015
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UMW News BAZAAR WRAP-UP from bazaar coordinator Barbara Gaskill Oh my, was it a BAZAAR! There was abundant high-quality inventory, an abundance of workers and shoppers, and an abundance of spirit. It is most assuredly a great day to remember. And we have about $14,500 to show for our efforts, to distribute to projects benefitting the welfare of women and children locally, nationally and globally. Thank you, everyone for your phenomenal help. Thank you to our MANY members and their spouses who donated items, and who turned out for sorting and pricing throughout the summer, for set-up week, bazaar day, and the (sigh) clean-up work. Thank you to our leadership team: Bobby Turnbull -- coordinator of the June-November Sorting and Pricing team, head
of the Attic Treasures Team, and coordinator of bazaar day volunteers Alison Daifuku --
head of the Jewelry team (along with Kathy Portus and Andrea Banyasz), which worked from June through bazaar day on evaluating, pricing, repairing and selling the donated jewelry
Charlotte Carter -- head of the Kitchen boutique (along with her right-hand Lorraine
Marsh). You may not know that Charlotte takes home a good bit of what's donated to this section and runs it through her dishwasher until it sparkles. Connie McWorkman -- founder of our Fashion Mania boutique (along with her
daughter Heidi) Phyllis Kokus & Kelly D'Angelo -- mother-daughter team serving this season for the
first time as coordinators of Accessories Ann Cochran -- head of the Collectibles boutique (along with her right-hand Suzanne
Forsyth) Penny Andrews -- new to the effort this year, heading up Gifts & Crafts & Nearly New Ann Michel & Mary Jo Marchant -- Lunch & Bake Sale coordinators (along with Circle
6) Caralee Adams -- founder of our Alternative Gifts booth (along with her mother) Pam Ellsworth -- new to the project this year, as Children's section coordinator Diana Moody -- Christmas section coordinator (along with the "Christmas Carols" --
Carol Schleicher & Carol Griffith) Anita Seline & Barbara Gaskill -- Publicity. Anita also coordinated the pick-up
of bazaar leftovers by the National Children's Center. Yes, even the leftovers go for charitable purposes Mary Rollefson -- Bazaar Treasurer (along with Jeanie Mah and her husband Chris
Greene) Clem Gaskill – Security Metropolitan UMW Newsletter : December 2015
Continued pg 11 Page 10 of 13
UMW News Continued from pg 10 There were many more involved with the work, and many took on more than one role and pitched in wherever needed. When I think back to bazaar day itself, I see many other faces who can always be counted on to pitch in. I apologize for not listing you all. The above listing is just to give an idea of what it takes to pull off this yearly fundraising effort for the projects our UMW supports. It is a great joy that quite a few new faces were involved with the bazaar this year, from both the Wesley and Metropolitan sites. And it is with joy that we note that our AU UMW student friends as well as some long-time members who now live in various retirement communities came over to shop and to lunch with us. Thank you to the church staff, who put up with the mess from June through November, and who dealt with our total take-over of the first floor during bazaar week. Thank you to Bill Potts for buying us lunch on Friday and for his thoughtfulness in providing an ice-cream cake for Lorraine Marsh and Carol Schleicher, whose birthdays fell on Friday of bazaar week. Thank you to Bruce Caviness, Casey Campbell and all of the choir members, who gave up use of the Choir Room during bazaar week for use by Attic Treasures. Thank you to all who were involved in The Metro Players production of "Doubt" that opened on the Friday after Bazaar, for loaning the stage to the Kitchen boutique so close to show time.
Thank you Thank you to the Prayer Shawl ministry folks (Mary Jo Marchant, Beverly Fleming, Barbara Tate....and if I'm missing someone please let me know!) who knitted and donated scarves and gloves and hats and more to the Crafts table. Thank you also to Anne Poe for the lovely delicate items she knitted and donated. And, last but not least, thanks to Addie Owen who repairs damaged items and returns them to us good-as-new, as well as creating new pillows and sewing aprons and more. Thank you to Rafael Reyes and his crew for all of their help, especially during set-up and clean-up. Thank you to Ann Cochran for connecting us with four young Mormon missionaries who gave their time to our massive clean-up effort on Saturday. Looking ahead, the 2016 UMW Bazaar will be on....surprise....the first Saturday in November. Oh, right. It's always the first Saturday in November. So please put November 5, 2016 on your calendars now, and block off the full week leading up to and including bazaar day. The more, the merrier. And we'd love to have more of the younger couples and singles join us, to help shape the future of this annual event.
Bless you all.
-- Barbara
Metropolitan UMW Newsletter : December 2015
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UMW News Meet our women’s retreat leader, Denise Hopkins!
A native of upstate New York, Denise Dombkowski Hopkins is a member of the United Church of Christ. A professor of the Hebrew Bible at Wesley Theological Seminary, she is the author of Journey Through the Psalms (Chalice, 2002) and will lead us in a weekend-long meditation on the Psalms during our retreat. A little bit about Journey Through the Psalms: “Reclaim the Psalms for true worship, as well as prayer, as [we] learn how to approach God with the emotional intensity of the ancient psalmists. Denise Dombkowski Hopkins combines the insights of scholarship on the Psalms with artwork, liturgy, song, and poetry to give us a new way to use the Psalms in our life of faith together… Reflective questions bring worship leaders and individuals alike to a new awareness of the power of the Psalms to enrich public worship and private devotions with an honesty that does not turn away from the realities of suffering and anger.”
Women’s Retreat, Feb. 5 -7, PriestField, Pastoral Center, Kearneysville, WV Sponsored by the United Methodist Women of Metropolitan but open to all women in our church family and their invited guests. First-timers are most welcome! Registration opening soon (to make sure you don’t miss it, e-mail MetroUMW@gmail.com.)
Metropolitan UMW Newsletter : December 2015
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Circles
AU
The AU UMW Circle meets Fridays at 7:00 p.m. in the "AU Lounge" at Metropolitan. Contact Tori Lynn Gilkeson at VP@aumethodists.org
1
Contact Helene Lilly at j718hel@aol.com
2
Contact Jane Cunningham, jtc3rd@aol.com or Charlotte Carter, char.carter@cox.net
6
Thank you for helping make the bazaar a success! We will meet December 13 for our Christmas Cookie Exchange. Debbie Gustowski has offered her new home for the gathering. Please bring 2 dozen cookies, a container for collecting cookies to take home and meet at Debbie's home November 13 after the second service, Sunday December 13. Questions or suggestions, Mary Jo Marchant, mjmarchant@verizon.net or Ann Michel amichel@wesleyseminary.edu
8
Circle 8 will meet on December 1st at the home of Alison Daifuku at 6:30pm. We are having a potluck supper, carols and a Christmas story. Call Alison at 202-363-4885 with any questions. Contact Eugenia Evans, setevens@comcast.net
9
Circle 9 will have our Christmas luncheon on Wednesday, December 2 at noon at the home of Drema McAllister-Wilson. Our January meeting will be on the 6th at 10:30 in the Choir Room. Please contact Bobby Turnbull bobbyturnbull@comcast.net.
10
Circle 10 Annual Christmas Cookie Exchange, Tuesday, December 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the home of Beth McConnell. Contact Caralee Adams caralee.adams@verizon.net or Suzanne Vieth msvieth@verizon.net
The next UMW Board Meeting will be held December 14. Newsletter prepared by Alexandra McPherron. To add items to the next newsletter, email alexmcph@gmail.com by Friday, December 18, 2015.
Metropolitan UMW Newsletter : December 2015
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