Cynthia's Sharings

  Cynthia’s Sharing October 2011

 
 
 
Denver and Daring
 
I just got back from a colloquium on Healthy Families, Healthy Planet in Denver.  Aurora Cepeda, Susan Nix, Karla Rodriguez, and I were fortunate enough to be able to attend this important meeting. Katey Zeh wanted us to come.
 
Do you remember Katey Zeh the young woman who spoke to us at the UMW Luncheon in 2010? She spoke to us about how important it was for us to advocate for women around the world by asking our legislators to vote to continue US funding for global maternal health care. Katey talked us through how to write a letter to Kay Granger who chairs the house committee that deals with funding foreign aid.  I remember! You were so wonderful!  You wrote those letters and Katey took a huge stack of them to Rep. Granger. 
 Well, it took us about a year to realize how important those letter were.  When a group of CTC UMW members visitedwith Rep. Granger this summer she remembered the letter from the United Methodist. And when Bishop Lowry and Katey visited with her last month Rep. Granger told them how impressed she was with all those hand written letter we sent.
 
Well, in Denver the Central Texas Conference UMW got to tell our story about advocating for global maternal health. Katey wanted to share the story about what a difference those letters have made and encourage other UMW and church leaders for do the same.
 
I’m thankful to know we’ve made a difference for good because we need to work for change.  Today a woman dies in child birth every 2 minutes and person in poverty dies with each breath we take.  I believe God is calling us to make a difference.Let’s continue to write those letters and look for other ways to advocate for women, children, and youth here and around the world.  The need is great and the opposition can be scary, but when we step out in faith and trust in God, we don’t need to be afraid, just faithful.
Blessings,
Cynthia
 
A message from Conference Treasurer Christie Roberts-
 
How can we spur on giving to help us meet our pledge in 2011 and then again in 2012? All of the five ways to give for five-star giving are the ways that help us meet our pledge. 
 
I encourage each local unit to purchase at least two SMRs before the year end?  And, or one more in 2011 and another in early 2012?  We have a generous supply of Christmas "Gift to Mission" cards the I would be please to send to anyone who would like to purchase cards for their church staff, UMW executive committee or that loved one to whom you would like to recognize but do not have need of a gift.  Have any weddings or new babies coming soon?  Consider giving extra to the World Thank Offering this year.  This is the last year we will be a seven district conference.  Let's bring it to completion with all our obligations met.  Mission work around the world are counting on us - Let us keep our eyes on the goal, with God's help, we can do it.
 
Always thanking God for you and your commitment in His service.
 
 
And Cynthia adds- We Can Do It!
 
We can make our pledge!! Please join me in a big push to make our pledge this year.  Please add one more thing to your schedule- It might be just writing one more check to UMW, or if that isn’t possible a garage sale, an after worship luncheon, or ask your Sunday School class for help, or one of the many ways you have thought you might be able to raise more mission dollars for UMW.
 
Please make an effort to help us make our pledge of $190,000.00 to mission.  Don’t be afraid to ask for help. I read that one of the best ways to raise money for mission is ASK.
 
These mission dollars are important, life-saving dollars. Each time I read the Prayer Calendar I think of those mission agencies and missionaries who are counting on us for support.  They are walking the walk.  We are an important part of this work and we need to step up.  
 
For some local UMW groups, stepping up might be just sending the money they all ready have on to district instead of looking for other places to give it.  Will you work to convince your local UMW that sending your funds to mission giving is the way to go? I pray you will!  It is exciting to be connected to all our missions and missionaries we pray for each day in this special way.
 
Our foremothers gave their butter and egg money.  They chose to wear calico instead of silk.  Let’s be true to our heritage and make a special effort to make our pledge. We can do it!
 
Communication is so Important!
 
We are working to improve our communication with all the women in the Central Texas Conference and beyond. In-coming Communication Coordinator Martha Dodson will be contacting you soon.  She wants to get everyone’s email.  I have a few hundred email addresses, but many of them aren’t “good” any more and I know there are many I don’t have. So please be looking for an email from Martha. 
 
We want your help getting more email addresses and we want to know if you would be willing to receive Crossties by email only. It would save us lots of money if we could do most of the Crossties on-line.  Now that doesn’t mean you couldn’t have a paper copy.  You could print it yourself, but UMW wouldn’t have to pay to mail it if you would be willing to receive it by email and do the printing yourself. We aren’t planning on making this the only option.  Those who need a paper copy will continue to receive one by mail.
 
We are also working to make the CTC UMW website easier to find and get a Face Book page, too.  We have a lot to communicate and we’re looking for ways to do that in a better, smarter way in the future.  You’ll be hearing from us soon!
 
We Did It! CTC UMW 39th Annual Autumn Gathering
 
Thanks to all who gave leadership, attended, and prayed for the Central Texas Conference UMW 39th Annual Autumn Gathering at Brownwood FUMC on October 1.  It was exciting to elect and install the new district and conference officers together at one time and as of January 1, 2012, the CTC UMW will be organized in the new 5 districts.  Special thanks to the Realignment Committee for their work in setting up the new alignment.  
The bishop’s presence and support was a true blessing.  Women’s Division Director Yvette Richards did a super job of talking to us about the changes coming to UMW globally and challenging us to make changes for good here in the CTC in our local churches.
A special thanks to Nancy Brown and the Brownwood District for their hospitality.  I hope you each got one of those handmade tote bags.  They had women across the district sewing up a storm to have over 200 bags ready for us.
A big thanks goes to UMW President Daisy Huntersinger and the women of Brownwood FUMC, their pastor Rev. Don Suggs, and staff for hosting us.  We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends with such great facilities to hold our meetings.
And a final thanks to our Vice President Aurora Cepeda and the entire Conference Mission Team.  These women work many hours in service to God through UMW.  I’m blessed to be on their team and so are you!
 
 
 
Local Leadership Training in the New District Alignment
Please plan on attending the Leadership Event coming soon in your district.  The West District met last Saturday to start us off, 
but the rest of the events are yet to come.  Please go to this training whether you are a local officer or not.  You will make friends, 
learn more about UMW and our mission, and receive a spiritual blessing as well. 
November 5
            East District- Morningside UMC
            Central District- Lorena UMC
            South District- Wellspring UMC
November 12
            North District- Aledo
For more information please contact your 2012 district president.
East- Karen Morgan   karenmorg@yahoo.com
Central- Jan Warren   janwarren_100@hotmail.com
South- Patty Lee         prlee@suddenlink.net
North- Linda Hutchings         billyhutcings@sbcglobal.net
West- Nancy Brown   wd.brown@cctc.net
 
Save the Date- Put it on your Calendar
Now is the time to get those Conference UMW upcoming events on your 2012 Calendar and one December date I want you to note as well.  Participate, learn, and grow!
December 13- The United Community Centers Youth Christmas Party sponsored by CTC UMW is Tuesday, December 13at Poly Community Center from 6-8 p.m..  You are invited to the party!  Come and get to know these youth and the great staff that work with them. Circles from Acton UMC and Ridglea UMW have already signed up to help with the party, but the more the merrier. 
January 22-24- The Legislative Event in Austin is always an important and meaningful meeting of women from across the state.  Make an effort to learn about the important issues of the day and how we can make a difference for good. The registration is attached.
February 18- The Charter for Racial Justice Event- “Sing a Rainbow” at Woodway UMC in the Waco area. We will be studying looking at how racism effects so many of the problems we are facing in the world today such as maternal health, domestic violence, human trafficking, more.
March 23-24- The Conference Spiritual Growth Retreat- Being Alive in a Crazy, Busy World with Rev. Dr. Cynthia Rigby at Glen Lake Camp.  Dr. Rigby from Austin Seminary is an outstanding leader and I urge each one of you to come and experience this time together with such a dynamic leader.  Be sure to bring someone with you, too.
April 14- The CTC Great Day of Service is our opportunity to join with the whole conference in a day of mission work especially the youth.  Save this date!  More information to come, but we are planning to have mission projects in each district.
June 5- UMW Luncheon and Ubuntu Day at Annual Conference in Waco is always a special time to come together in support of UMW across the conference and we encourage everyone not involved in the Annual Conference to participate in the Ubuntu Day mission in the afternoon and then stay for the worship service on Tuesday evening. 
June 22-24- The South Central Jurisdiction Quadrennial Meeting is in Abilene.  Please plan on coming to this exciting and important gathering of UMW members from our entire jurisdiction.  It will be a short trip for us that will be filled with life long memories. On-line registration will begin soon.  If you are interested in riding the bus please let me know. The cost is $60.
July 23-28- Conference School of Christian Mission with Evening and Weekday school at Fort Worth FUMC and a Friday and Saturday school at Temple FUMC.  You have a north and south location this year to choose from this year.
October 6- The 40th CTC UMW Annual Autumn Gathering at Temple FUMC
 
There still time to join the Charter Club!
December 1 is the deadline for Charter Club membership.  The Charter Club is a way local UMW can be intentional about working to end racism. The application form is found on page 47 in the 2011 Conference Resource Book and the scenarios are on pages 45-46. Many UMW groups are doing what is takes to be in the Charter Club, but just not getting the paper work sent in. Please help you local make it this year! We’ll celebrate our new and continuing Charter Club members on February 18 at Sing a Rainbow.
Scholarships are Available
Scholarships are available (first time attendees get preference) from the conference to the Legislative Event, the Spiritual Growth Retreat (especially women under 40), the Jurisdiction Meeting in Abilene, and the School of Christian Mission. Who do you need to encourage to apply? Scholarship application form is attached and can be found in the Conference Resource Book on page 48 and the CTC UMW website.
 
Mission Trips for CTC UMW
We are planning to sponsor mission trips in the future.  If you are interested please email me and I’ll put you on the list.  We already have 10 women interested in going.  Lynne DeChairo is working on getting us set up at Sager Brown in Baldwin, LAfor a 2013 date and we are trying to get a 2012 date at McCurdy Mission School in Espanola, NM.  More to come on the details, but please let me know if you are interested in going.
 
Cynthia Rives
254-592-1510