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Special points of interest:
• Census Report
• Officer Reports
• April Registration Form
• Website
• Unit Reports
• Pledge Service
February, 2019
Volume 6, Issue 1 Big Horn District United Methodist Women
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 though
participation in the
global ministries of the
church.
SPRING MEETING – INSPIRATIONS AND YOU!
Do you every get inspired listening to music or spending time in prayer or watching someone knit a prayer shawl or watching a great speaker on television? You want to go out and buy yarn or start a devotion club or join the choir at your church. And then something happens and you lose your motivation. Ho-hum! Well, United Methodist Women we are going to change all that on Saturday, April 13th.
The Billings Evangelical United Methodist Church is hosting this year’s spring event and you won’t want to miss out. The day will begin at 9:00 am with some business and the unit awards and then at 10:00 am you will want to sit back and enjoy Rev. Dave Merkel as he shares with us some motivations that might help you in your Christian walk, probably a bit of music and some inspiration to take you away that day. St. Matthew tells us to practice the commandments of caring for our neighbors and “whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:19-20) so you will want to share in the joys and inspirations that will touch you this day.
The afternoon will include putting some of these inspirations for compassion and service into action by helping sort, clean and shelve in the FREE STORE and a couple other projects to serve others. You will want to come with an attitude of gratitude to share with your fellow UMW friends and with those less fortunate that we are.
The registration form is included in this newsletter. Look for it and get a friend to join you and we will see you in April!
United Methodist Women Census 2018
Local Unit Presidents: Local Unit Presidents are asked to complete the online form for the 2018 United Methodist Women census between Jan 1 and Feb 28. This year is focused on gathering information that will inform the National office, Conference and District leadership on local efforts in order to plan for growth, outreach and impact. You can find the Census form on the main page of www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/ There is also a video you can watch on how to submit your information, just click the green Census button. Census 2018
Local Units are asked to complete the census form by Feb. 28. When you submit it successfully, you will immediately get a “Thank You” message on your computer. If your unit has not entered information by Feb. 28, one of the District Membership chair-men (Belinda Alkula or Robynn Wood) will call in March to get the information need-ed to complete it by the Census Submission Deadline: Saturday March 30, 2019.
The United Methodist Women will never share contact information outside the organi-zation without permission.
Questions? If you need to know the number of members your unit registered as of Jan 1, 2018
Contact Conference Secretary Big Horn District Western Mountains District Kay Duffield Robynn Wood Belinda Alkula 406-543-6722 406-781-1654 406-777-2077 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
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Social Action — Do you really need that plastic straw?
Have you been hearing about the plastic straw problem? I would like to enlighten you with some
facts about this and then hopefully the next time you buy your next latte you’ll request NO
STRAWS. Can anyone tell me why lattes come with straws? I’m not a latte drinker, but watch
several friends stir their latte a couple of times and then discard the straw. That’s it, just a couple
of stirs. Doesn’t it already come blended? Do you actually suck in hot coffee through the straw?
OUCH! Let’s talk about cold drinks like sodas and ice teas, now that is where I am guilty. I do
like to use a straw in my ice tea drink when I go to a restaurant, but I never use one when I drink
ice tea at home. HUH???? Habit I guess, and one I need to stop NOW and I’m hoping you will
too.
I did some cross checking of facts from, Plastic Pollution Coalition and Get Green Now. There
was lots of information out there and I had to narrow it down to just a few so my article wouldn’t take up 10 pages. I wish I
could share the pictures I saw and some of the graphs, but I’m not that savvy with the computer.
500 million straws are used by Americans daily. That’s enough straws to circle around the Earth 2.5 times.
It takes up to 200 years for a plastic straw to decompose. Straws are rejected by several recycling centers because they are
small and jam the machines.
Each year, 1 million seabirds and 100,000 marine animals die from ingesting plastic.
Plastic straws take up to 200 years to degrade, but will never be fully off the Earth, as plastic is not biodegradable.
Plastic straws can’t be easily recycled because they are a type 5 plastic and many recycling programs don’t accept #5 plastic.
Therefore, they end up in your landfills and worse yet oceans, which are then eaten by sea animals. The pictures they showed
of the insides of dead seagulls, turtles, and seals would make you cry.
A ban on plastic straws in restaurants and other service businesses are starting. July 2018, Seattle became the largest U.S. city
to ban plastic straws. Starbuck plans to phase out plastic straws by 2020. McDonald’s recently announced it will ban straws in
U.K. and Ireland. Alaska Airlines will be one of the first airlines to phase out plastic straws and stirrers. These groups are
responding to public outcry demanding action against a product that, on one hand, seems very small and insignificant, but is
actually a real pollution problem.
The simplest way to reduce plastic straw pollution is to reject the use when you order a drink. It’s that simple. Just say, NO
STRAWS. The other solution is to bring your own. Yup, you can buy fancy straws that are reusable. Go figure! They make
stainless steel straws, silicone straws, organic bamboo straws, paper straws, titanium plated stainless steel straws and the list
goes on and on. So, there is your new gift idea. Buy your friends reusable straws. They even sell them in fancy cases.
Submitted by: Judy Jones
LANDER Unit We continue to operate a very successful Thrift Shop that serves our community quite well. In addition to our sales that support missions, we honored over $8,000.00 in vouchers to folks in need. Another ongoing project is shipping books to Better World Books in support of world wide literacy. We donated over 6,000 books to them. Our
Christmas House raised over $5,000.00 this year. These funds go to local organizations that are voted on every year. We have a few knitters who make “Pocket Prayer Shawls”. These are sent or given to individuals as a concrete reminder that they are being prayed for and are loved.
Mary Wendell
Billings Grace Here at Grace UMW, we are small in numbers but strive to
remain active with an aging membership. We see more of
our members pass on than we add new members to our
rolls. We still have two active circles. Our major fund
raising is from a spring and fall rummage sale which supports
many conference and local organizations. We have great help
from the general congregation for help on these busy weeks. At Christmas we support the Dress a Child program through
the Salvation Army. Some of our members continue to help
with the after school GEEP program that is associated with a
nearby elementary school, where the youngsters come to
our church for activities and snacks. We continue with a
very active quilting group of six who made 241 blankets and
quilts and donated last year throughout our local
community. Several UMW members volunteer their time
with the Free Store which operates out of EUM here in
Billings. There is an active book club where several of our
UMW members also participate. Respectfully submitted by Bev Huffman Co-President Grace
UMW
Agenda
9:00 Opening, Business Meeting and Awards
10:00 Inspiration and You! by Rev.
Dave Merkel
12:00 Lunch
12:30 MNO Activity and Team building
1:00 Applying Inspiration to the World
2:30 Message from Mountain Sky
Conference
3:00 Message and Communion
Please mail your registration forms to:
Karen A. Hawkinson, 702 S. Montana Ave, Miles City, MT 59301 — 406-951-0112 —[email protected]
Please register by April 1, 2019. Registration fee is $10.00 per person.
NOTE: DEADLINE HAS BEEN MOVED UP — IT IS COMING QUICKER THAN YOU THINK!
PLEASE REGISTER BY DEADLINE TO ALLOW UNIT AND TEAM TO BE PREPARED FOR YOU.
REGISTRATION FORM
Name:_______________________________________________________________Unit:______________________________________
(one person per registration, copy as needed)
Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Phone: (include area code) ________________________________Email_____________________________________________________
Special Needs:_______________________________________________________________________________(wheelchair, dietary, etc.)
Cost: $10.00 Make checks payable to: Billings Evangelical UMW Registration Deadline: April 1, 2019
PLEASE REGISTER BY DEADLINE.
Motels:
Super 8—5400 Southgate—406-248-8842
Days Inn—843 Parkway Ln—406-545-5805
Sleep Inn—4904 Southgate—480-568-4612
Cherry Tree Inn—823 N. Broadway—406-252-5603
Big Horn District
UMW Spring Gathering
8:30 a.m.—3:30 p.m.
Hosted by Billings Evangelical
United Methodist Women
Held at: Billings Evangelical UMC 345 Broadwater Ave — 406-259-1897
"Therefore
whoever relaxes one of the least
of these commandments and
teaches others to do the same
will be called least in the
kingdom of heaven, but whoever
does them and teaches them will
be called great in the kingdom of
heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless
your righteousness exceeds that
of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will never enter the kingdom
of heaven"
Matthew 5: 19-20
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As we continue to
practice “Climate
Justice”, we encourage
you to bring your own
coffee mug or water
bottle to use to show we
are trying to be
environmentally
responsible.
Visit our new website at:
https://www.mtnskyumc.org/
unitedmethodistwomen
The Yellowstone Conference website is off the air and
all the Yellowstone Legacy Conference UMW news can
be found on the Mountain Sky website. If you enter
https://www.mtnskyumc.org/unitedmethodistwomen it
should take you right to our page.
If not, find the tab marked “Ministries” and click on
United Methodist Women. Make it one of your favorite
websites so you can check it often.
Laurel Methodist Women
Last November the ladies of our church put together a bazaar that was fantastic. Our ladies stepped up and because of this we were able to help with many great missions. This year we were able to give $300 to the local High School food pantry. This mission helps students who are homeless get meals. We gave $400 to our SOW PROJECT. (strangers, orphans, and widows). We feed kids as well as parents during the summer months when students might not get a good lunch. Also $100 to the Laurel Ministerial Administration, and $1000 to help with landscaping on our church property. We are blessed to be able to help our church and the community.
God Bless Laurel Methodist church.
"Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these
commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called
least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and
teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I
tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and
Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven"
Havre UMW
Greetings sisters from the Havre UMW Ladies. Once again
we had a successful Fall Rummage Sale. It’s amazing to watch
what one finds as rubbish another finds as a treasure….and
will even pay for it! I do believe there is a bible verse related
to that. January 21-25 was the Week of Prayer for Christian
Unity. That Wednesday several local churches gathered at
our church for a delicious breakfast of egg dishes, cinnamon
rolls, fruit, juice and coffee all served by our UMW ladies. It
was a good time shared with other Christians.
This summer while traveling I came across the most
interesting idea for the UMW ladies to make for our church.
It was a variety of cloth bags filled with things for the children
to work on quietly while
in church. I brought this
idea home and our ladies
quickly had several cloth
bags made and one of
our members made us a
wooden tree rack to
hold the bags. We had
fun filling them with
coloring pages, crayons
and other fascinating
things for children to play
with while in church.
I’m hoping the picture
explains it better than I
can describe. Anyway, it
is a great idea at a small
cost enjoyed by children
and especially the
parents.
Shalom,
Judy Jones
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Officers for 2019, as photographed above (left to right): Ellen Hill, President; Susan Beley, Vice President; Vicki
Weiper, Secretary; Patti Keebler, Treasurer; Judy Jones, Social Action; Diane Martin, Education & Interpretation;
Tomi Alger, Spiritual Growth; Robynn Wood, Membership Nurture & Outreach; Jan Lambert, Program Resources;
Karen Hawkinson, Chair Nominations; Leda Lester, Lou Bennett, Nominations. Sheron Porter and Judy Jessup are
pictured in the center.
Sheron Porter and Judy Jessup helped with the installation of Officers at the meeting in Worland on Sept. 15. The
purpose of an installation service is to lead new officers and members to a rededication to their gifts, talents and
interest in our mission work. Our theme was: “Be Bold! Be Strong! Be Confident in Your Future!
Together we are a rainbow of colors—talents, gifts, and service to mission in the UMW!
Ten Sleep UMW The Ten Sleep UMW has been busy with many things since November’s issue. We did the Shoeboxes for Samaritan Purse,
worked with other churches on the Annual Harvest Dinner, host Morning in Bethlehem in the church, help with the Community Christmas Concert featuring locals from all the churches, continued the tradition of Little Shoppers.
The meat of what we do may be the often unseen things done in the community and for others. We regularly donate items to the Crisis and Prevention Response Center for Washakie County. We donate to the Community Food Pantry in Ten Sleep and give a monetary gift at Christmas or in case of an emergency. We prepare goodie bags to the college students from the commu-nity. We offer local scholarships to college students and provide book funds to all who attend college/technical school.
Community Birthday Calendars are produced and sold by UMW members.
Meals are provided for Adventure Club students (k-5), which is hosted by UMW ladies, lead by the pastor and for the Baptist/Methodist Youth Group for Ten Sleep (which alternates hosting duties between the two churches.) A meal is also hosted annual-ly by the UMW for graduates and their families. Multi-denominational funeral dinners are provided for community members after services.
We have a quilt-maker who often provides a quilt for various needs as they arise. The newest need is to help the Sleep in Heavenly Peace organization proved beds and bedding for children who do not have beds in Washakie County. Her quilts have been sent to Intermountain Children’s Home and donated for the annual auction at the Ten Sleep Harvest dinner. Thank you, Doris!
Our prayer chain reaches far and wide as Ten Sleep UMW Prayer Warriors pray for all names given to them and the list is sent as an email and also is in the church bulletin.
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Pledge Service 2019 by Sue Raymond*
Opening Worship
We come together to appreciate and celebrate our foremothers who left us a rich heritage in United Methodist Women. We follow in the
footsteps of women who transformed the world around them because of their commitment to women, children and youth. When they saw
a need, an injustice or an opportunity to speak out on behalf of those who had been silenced, they took action. We also take time to
anticipate what the future holds for United Methodist Women, the role that our financial commitments will play in shaping that future and
new ways to put our faith, hope and love into action.
Call to Worship
Leader: We come as women who have received a rich heritage from our foremothers.
ALL: We give thanks for those who were faithful to their call.
Leader: We come as women who use our combined weaknesses and strengths to serve women, children and youth.
ALL: We are thankful for those with whom we serve.
Leader: We come as women who look to a bright future of boldness and leadership.
ALL: We give thanks for those who are being prepared to lead us into this future.
Prayer: Gracious and giving God, we look back at those who established, strengthened, and nurtured this organization and left it in our
hands. We ask you to guide us and our commitment, that we may leave it even stronger and a more faithful witness to future generations of
Methodist women. In Christ’s name we pray, amen.
We are currently celebrating 150 years of Methodist women in mission. Though the names of the successive organizations and the makeup of the
membership has changed, the commitment to being in mission with women, children and youth around the world has persisted.
We are the next chapter in the continuing history of United Methodist Women, preparing to thrive in our local circles and units, our districts and
conferences. From the very beginning, in 1869, our strength and commitment was centered in the local unit and its passion for mission. Like the
unnamed woman with the alabaster jar who anointed Jesus in Matthew 26:7–13, we come to the table offering what we have to support mission with
women, children and youth throughout the world. We follow in a long line of forward-looking women who have made a difference.
In 2012 United Methodist Women structurally separated from Global Ministries, launching into a future that will allow us to give greater visibility to the
needs of women, children and youth.
United Methodist Women is continuing to help women prepare for informed mission action through spiritual growth and transformative educational
experiences, leadership development training and opportunities for service and advocacy. The goal is for the(POSITION) of United Methodist Women to
be recognized as a leading organization,
To (ENGAGE); as a trusted source of leadership and inspiration, cultivate and increase engagements, membership and giving and
To (MOBILIZE) to move women to new levels of leadership and action to build a thriving organization and change the world
*Sue Raymond is an active member of Zoar United Methodist Women in Snellville, Georgia. She is the past president of the North Georgia Conference and currently serves on United Methodist
Women’s Board of Directors representing the Southeast Jurisdiction. She also serves on United Methodist Women’s Finance and Editorial Committees. A longer version of the pledge service can be
found in the 2019 Program Book.
UMW Pledge Service 2019
Call to Worship Leader: We come as women who have received a rich heritage from our foremothers.
ALL: We give thanks for those who were faithful to their call.
Leader: We come as women who use our combined weaknesses and strengths to serve women, children and youth.
ALL: We are thankful for those with whom we serve.
Leader: We come as women who look to a bright future of boldness and leadership.
ALL: We give thanks for those who are being prepared to lead us into this future.
As you complete your pledge card, come forward and place it in the basket on the table. The basket touches both the past and the future. It
is the bridge between the two, just as we are the bridge between those who have come before and prepared us for this time, and for those
who will lead the organization into the future.
Pray in Unison
God of the past, the present and the future,
We are grateful for those who came before and seek to be faithful to their
example.
We appreciate those who serve and commit themselves today; we
strengthen each other. We look forward to the generations of women you
will raise up to continue the journey. In Christ’s name we pray, amen.
MY PLEDGE TO MISSION CARD FOR
Name: _____________________________________
Circle: _____________________________________
Date of Pledge: _______________________________
For the coming year, I pledge $__________
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To our Sisters in Christ,
We have had a busy few months but we are all quite
busy. Reading, creating programs, serving others – who
better to do this for than our Heavenly Father and in
the manner that Jesus taught us.
August was our bi-annual potluck picnic with a
twist. The second of two summer Mission u events
was held in Billings. To alleviate attendees having
to find their way to dinner Friday, August 17 we
invited women to our Potluck Picnic. We had
almost thirty for dinner and were pleased to
welcome a few men to our group. It was a great
evening – lots of fine food and super conversation.
During the fall months we had our Call to Prayer
and Self Denial Program, some were able to
attend UMW’s Annual Conference via
conferencing at the Roberts UMC. We also had our
World Thank Program and took an awesome
offering and we held our annual Craft Bazaar
and Soup Luncheon netting approximately
$2,000. This is a major fund-raiser toward the
mission’s goal we set each year in our budget.
December is perfect for our Cookie gifting as we
wrapped plates full of homemade cookies and
delivering around 25 of them to church members
and friends. One of our favorite deliveries is to a
neighborhood fire station just a few blocks from
the church. Those big guys get Xtra cookies.
January took us in a direction we don’t usually get
to and that was a Racial Justice Program. We
played the movie “Hidden Figures” and had
thought-provoking discussion following. In addition
to the movie, we were treated to several varieties
of popcorn including a popcorn cake – YES, a
popcorn cake. YUMMM! We purchased the movie
and it is in our UMW library if anyone wants to
show it. In addition, we purchased two copies of
the Greenbook, created by Mr. Green but more
importantly written for black persons who could
only eat at certain restaurants stay in certain
hotels. It is extremely disturbing to think we
cannot eat and sleep in the same places as those
of color or even drink from a water fountain shared
by all.
As this issue of the SPARK is being published, we
will have had our February program, Saturday the
16th. We will have had a Dinner With Friends
designed for women and girls to have an evening
Worland United Methodist Women
After a busy autumn with the well attended, successful
Big Horn District meeting, the Christmas season was
reason for work and enjoyment. Members of UMW in
the Bell Choir were involved in the Annual Christmas
Concert. Jenny’s Store was very successful as the
children found gifts for family, friends, and sometimes
for themselves! Christmas visitations with cards,
calendars and magnets being delivered 25 residents in
the Worland Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center and to
Willow Creek Home of Worland and to shut-ins.
Hanging of the Greens and other activities to prepare for
the holiday had much participation of the UMW ladies.
Valentine flowers and visitations during Valentine’s
week was accomplished to lend a bit of extra love to
those who are in the care homes and to shut-ins.
A new slate of officers includes Kathy Morrison,
President, Kimberly Elliott, Secretary, and Martha Cork,
Treasurer. Congratulations and thank you!
The UMW is planning their Annual Bake Sale in March,
a Lenten Meal, and ideas are being discussed for Special
Mission Projects. A Mission Jug for the local food
pantry is available for the church to give donations, and
will be counted and given to the food pantry periodically.
Soon it will be Spring!
together for a formal dinner and entertainment. We
have more than 60 persons attending. The men at
Hope are serving our meal and we created teams for
advertising, food, decorations and entertainment.
YEEHAW! Our entertainment will be the Gospel Truth
band – CAN’T WAIT.
We are looking forward to reading all about your
activities and seeing you at the Spring District Meeting.
Important note from me: I am retiring so please do
not send any emails to work, effective immediately. If you
have [email protected] in your email
lists for me, please delete. I will still be working for a little
but just to finish up. Our home email is still
[email protected]. Becky Messman
God Be With you,
Hope UMW Mission Team
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Spring Gathering
April 13, 2019
Evangelical United Methodist Church
Billings, Montana
Grace Matthaes
1833 Clark Avenue
Billings, MT 59102-4042
406-656-1042
Big Horn District
United Methodist Women
UMW Calendar of Events 2019
April 13 Big Horn District Spring Event - Billings Evangelical UMC
April TBA Western Mountains District Meeting
April 25 Conference Newsletter “The Flame” published
June 13-16 Annual Conference UMC—Billings Hotel & Convention Center
July 15 District newsletter deadline
July 26-27 Mission u at Mission Valley UMC, St. Ignatius, MT
August 16-17 Mission u at Grace UMC, Billings, MT Classes offered at Grace UMC Mission u: Spiritual Growth: "Practicing Resurrection" led by Rev. Sarah Beck Geographic Study: "Women United for Change" led by Jeannie Hall
MOUNTAIN SKY CONFERENCE WEB SITE AND POINTS OF ENTRY FOR UNITED METHODIST WOMEN Entry: https://www.mtnskyumc.org/ Select MINISTRIES tab & click on United Methodist Women OR SKIP THE ENTRY AND DOUBLE CLICK THIS LINK https://www.mtnskyumc.org/unitedmethodistwomen PAGE DOWN TO VARIOUS LINKS including:
Visit the Mission u page
https://www.mtnskyumc.org/mission_u
Yellowstone Legacy Conference
https://w(ww.mtnskyumc.org/unitedmethodistwomen#YAC%20UMW
many other links to districts and UMW District/Conference/national information
Rocky Mountain Legacy Conference
https://www.mtnskyumc.org/unitedmethodistwomen#Rocky%20Mountain%20Legacy%20Conference%20UMW
many other links to districts and UMW District/Conference/national information:
2017-2020 UMW Handbook and Bylaws
https://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/umwhandbook2017-2020.pdf Example of link to a specific piece of information: the 2017-2020 UMW Handbook/Bylaws
The Legacy links take you to specific information such as newsletters, Districts, upcoming events, etc.
Easy access to UMW National Website
One click and you’re in the UMW National Website
https://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/
One click and you’re at the place likely most used/needed by
UMW District & Unit Leaders
https://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/members-leaders
One click and you’re in the UMW store which offers many free
materials as well as Reading Program books, merchandise, etc.
https://www.umwmissionresources.org/
One click and you’re in the realm of response magazine in
various languages, formats, & program emphases
https://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/response
One click and you can find any materials/information a Treasurer
needs
https://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/treasurers
