President’s Message '02
Greetings in this NEW YEAR of 2002.
Great is thy faithfulness, O God, my Father; there is no
shadow of turning with thee; thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
as thou hast been, thou forever wilt be. Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy
faithfulness! Morning by morning new
mercies I see, all I have needed thy hand hath provided; great is thy
faithfulness, Lord unto me!
As we begin the year of 2002, let us give thanks for all that has passed,
whether, great or small, sickness or health, poverty or wealth, sorrow or joy,
recession or growth, God has kept us all. The United Methodist Women of
Peninsula-Delaware Conference have continued to press on to greater depths of
service and commitment in fulfilling the purpose of the organization. As a
result, we’ve been blessed to have the first Teen District Unit organized in
the Wilmington district, which includes teens from five different churches
within the district. Let this be a new beginning of other teen units and/or
circles.
This year is filled with promise, beginning with the
Assembly, April 25-28, 2002 in Philadelphia, Pa, along with other awaiting
events, such as: March, Spiritual Life retreats; June, Upper Atlantic Regional
School; July, School of Christian Mission; not to mention the Spring and Fall
meetings. The challenge is to attend and discover the experiences that all of
these events brings and the award for those participating in the mission efforts
of the United Methodist Women. Let others learn of the fulfillment in serving
their Christian commitment as an act of loving our Lord and Savior. Let them
know that they also are welcomed to serve this loving God. He will enable them
to experience his love more deeply as they serve him and their fellowman.
President's
Year In Review
January 2001 began
with the safe return of five excited teens, one college young woman, and two
adults from St. Charles Illinois, where they attended The National Gathering of
Teens & Young College/University Women which was hosted by Women's Division.
Today we are excited to have with us the Executive Secretary of Young Women,
Cheryl Hemmerle.
New Conference Officers were readied for their responsibilities as a result of
attending the Leadership Training Event. The Conference President attended the
National President's/Jurisdiction Session in Nashville, Tenn. at Scarritt-Bennett
Center.
Our Communication Coordinator, Virginia Catley, has posted Peninsula-Delaware
Conference United Methodist Women on the Internet at www.gbgm-umc.org/pen-del/umw/
In addition to the website, she has taken us to three publications per year of
the Conference Newsletter, The Enabler.
The Spiritual Life Retreat was hosted in Easton and Dover Districts this year
where women studied with Dottie Clark, as she taught, " A Journey in
Song," written by Joyce Sohl, Deputy General of Women's Division.
The Spring Annual Meeting was hosted by Silverbrook United Methodist Church in
Wilmington District, where the theme was Unity in Diversity. Members of the
Korean Choir of the Korean United Methodist Church, Wilmington, DE, led us in
music.
Mission Today Emphasis is an ongoing project which is a part of our commitment
to the PURPOSE of United Methodist Women. It guides our planning and our work.
It keeps the PURPOSE focus clear. We pray your unit is participating by
reporting your mission endeavors so your unit can receive a certificate of
recognition for your efforts.
The Conference Officers and the School of Christian Mission Study Leaders were
able to journey to Cazenovia College, Cazenovia, New York for study and training
in preparation for the Conference School of Christian Mission in Salisbury,
Maryland.
After much work and prayer, the Conference School of Mission was an inspiring
experience as we focused on the theme, Seeking Shalom. How fitting was the theme
for times such as these. We are assured that God inspires our leaders with
wisdom that only He can give. Our outgoing Dean, Marion Perkins, coordinated the
SOCM with all the necessary people and facilities in order to provide us with a
successful and inspiring event. She and the SOCM Team also guided the school in
having a first time youth class and youth leaders. The youth and the
children's classes are growing and we give God the glory for this. We have as a
result of this and the National Gathering, been blessed to have chartered the
first TEEN DISTRICT UNIT, which is representative of girls from six churches
within the Wilmington District.
We have also put in place guidelines from Women's Division, referring to the
Policy for Teen and Youth Chaperones and Sponsors. We wish to encourage and to
support your outreach to include teens, youth and young college/university
women's involvement in the organization of United Methodist Women.
District Visitations have been more intentional by having visits scheduled by
local units in order to share and dialogue with local officers and local
members. We are seeing some districts cluster local units into small groups in
order to reach several units at a time, but yet have more one-to-one
opportunities to share with them.
In addition to the
Visitations, the District Training Workshops and the District/Conference
Training Workshop, November 10-11, 2001, year 2002 brings another opportunity
for sharing and learning. The District Lay Academy will offer a course entitled,
Basics of United Methodist Women. This course is opened to anyone, male, female,
member, nonmember, clergy or laity, who wish to become more informed or to have
understandings clarified or just to explore the possibilities that are within
the work of United Methodist Women.
This has been an exciting year, full of change, full of glory, full of grace and
full of mercy. In all that we have experienced this year, I pray that we've been
able to see God glorified, through the rough times, as well as through the calm.
We desire that He be glorified.
Thanks to those whose terms or tenures have been fulfilled. Thanks for your
service, and your desire to serve. To those who have picked up the reins to
serve, thanks to you as well. We are a team from Local, to District, to
Conference, to Women's Division, a team serving thee whom we adore, that is
Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, as we reach out to others in need.
Shalom,
Arelela
