Membership - Nurture and Outreach
(Becky Bard, District Coordinator)
ONE MILLION PLUS lay women have chosen to be members
of a special organization with a specific purpose-- United Methodist Women! Do you wonder what to say to someone about joining UMW? If yes, click here for reasons to join United Methodist Women.
“Online” Membership Expands UMW Opportunities
Do you know a woman who is unable to come to UMW meetings due to family or work responsibilities or any conditions that would limit her ability to be away from home? United Methodist Women seek to provide opportunities for all women to pursue the purpose of UMW, and nowhere does it say that you must “leave home” to be part of this community of women “whose purpose is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ”!
In fact, as an outgrowth of the concept of the “creative, supportive fellowship”, Women’s Division has created the Online Fellowship of United Methodist Women. By visiting the website for the UMW online community, www.umwonline.org, you will discover and, hopefully, share the concept of online participation. There are venues for dialogue and sharing, such as posting a devotional and receiving responses from those whose lives it has touched. Of course, there are opportunities to participate in Mission Giving, too, both online and through a local church unit. Check it out!
DO YOU HAVE A PRAYER PARTNER?
 The purpose of having a prayer partner is to develop a relationship and to connect with each other in a deep and
meaningful way. Prayer with others cuts to the soul and allows sharing of struggles, disappointments, hopes, and blessings.
It offers a time to express the power of God’s unconditional love and acceptance. There is healing when we share
our deepest secret with a prayer partner - and that partner still loves us. When that happens, it is
easier to believe that God, whom we can’t see, can love us that way too - and more. It gives
us the opportunity to experience God’s love in a physical, tangible manner. It makes God real - a
place to give hugs, pats on the back and for holding hands and wiping away tears.
You may want to pray regularly with your prayer partner, in person or over the phone. Another
option is to stay in touch, share your prayer needs, and then pray for each other privately.
You decide if you want to do more - such as studying the Bible together or reading the same passages
and then sharing what God has taught you.
Your prayer partner is a person to help you practice spiritual disciplines. You need to hold
each other accountable - gently but firmly - while practicing spiritual disciplines. The prayer partner
relationship is not intended as a gift exchange; but sometimes a card for a special occasion or to just say “I’m thinking of
you” is appropriate. Be faithful and consistent. Some prayer partners may do a lot together, others may simply agree to pray privately for each other. Whatever you choose to do is up to the two of you. Some suggestions to get you started - each of you complete the sentences below:
1. My favorite thing I did last year was . . .
2. I feel happy when . . .
3. My major goof last year was . . .
4. I’m afraid of . . .
5. Something I like about you is . . .
6. If we had more time, I would like to tell you the following about myself . . .
7. If we had more time, I would like to hear more from you about . . .
Becky Bard, Mission Coordinator for Membership , Nurture and Outreach (North)
Mission Today
A United Methodist Woman is one who commits herself to the Purpose and
chooses to participate in meetings, prayer, giving, study, action and/or
service. All United Methodist Women Units are expected to commit to the Purpose
and to communicate with the district and conference teams. One way to fulfill
the Purpose is to be a Mission Today Unit. Mission Today
encourages women to be more involved in missions through prayer, study, and
action. Chances are your unit is a Mission today unit through the programs and
actions you have already implemented, attending the School of Christian
Missions, and the District Annual meeting. Unit reports are due; so send them in
to be counted as a Mission Today unit!
There are several ways to be a unit of United Methodist Women. A cluster
unit is one formed by women from more than one church. District units
have members who come from different churches and do not meet in a church. They
may be held on a university campus, a retirement community or a business area.
Teen women could be a district unit. Women who work are encouraged to form small
groups and connect by e-mail.
Click the title for a copy of "Why I am a United Methodist Woman" by
Edith Tallent Sunday
How does your unit prepare for meetings? Do you use the Program Book? Program ideas are also provided in "Response"
magazine. District officers are also very willing to help a unit by giving
a program; it only takes a phone call. Keep your meeting interesting and remember, "variety is the
spice of life" so let's add some spice to our unit meetings!
To find out how to sign up for the UMW ListServ (a place for discussions with
other UMW's around the country)
Click: http://gbgm-umc.org/UMW/umwlist.html
To contact Beck Bard
|
The space for
this WEB Site has been provided courtesy of