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Western Reserve Connection
United Methodist Women Summer 2020
A message from Carole…..
I think we would all agree that this year has not been what we had planned on! I
hope and pray that you all have been safe and well and are
becoming a little more comfortable with navigating through
the ups and downs of this pandemic situation.
We may be in the same storm these days, but we have
certainly not all been in the same boat. Situations and events
over these last months have exacerbated poverty and justice
issues as well as creating new and increased needs for many who have lost jobs,
lost loved ones, and have struggled in other ways. Our lives have been disrupted
and shaken in ways we probably had not previously imagined, creating challeng-
es, yes – but opportunities as well – to reflect, to renew our efforts, and to respond
in new and creative ways where “old” or “normal” are no longer practical or effec-
tive.
Know that the good work of United Methodist Women has not been stopped by
recent events. Because of the generous giving of members of United Methodist
Women, immediate grants for food, hygiene, education, income projects and
caregiving have supported faith, advocacy, and children’s groups who have been
directly impacted by COVID-19.
We know that you, too, are trying to find ways to continue to reach out with faith,
hope, and love in action. If your unit would like to share how you have been
engaging with your congregation or community during these days, please feel free
to drop me a line. It would be nice to share some ideas and inspiration with
each other!
A message from Carole is Continued on page 2
Page 2 Western Reserve Connect ion Summer 2020
(A Message from Carole Continued)
Make plans now to join us online or by phone for our virtual Fall Gathering as we
share and encourage one another, consider “The Power of Faith, Hope and
Love in Action,” celebrate and honor loved ones through our Candle Burning
service, and attend to some business matters. Provision in United Methodist
Women bylaws has been made to be able to conduct business using remote
communications, so we will be able to proceed with our “regular” Fall Gather-
ing business, including the election and installation of officers. Basic information
is included in this newsletter, but specifics on how to connect to this meeting will
be included in our next newsletter, before Labor Day.
We are excited to be able to continue our outreach to Red Bird Mission by
providing handmade Christmas ornaments! Encourage your congregation,
friends, and others to create ornaments to share the love of Christ with those in
the Red Bird community.
The Reading Program is another great way to spend time, find inspiration, and
engage with issues and ideas you may not have been exposed to before. We
have many of the books from this year’s as well as previous years’ lists, so please
contact our wonderful volunteer librarian, Margaret Harvey, to arrange to bor-
row books.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or any team member if you have
questions, need assistance or ideas, or just an encouraging ear to listen! As we
continue to navigate through unknown and sometimes overwhelming circum-
stances and situations, I have found truth and inspiration in this quote from Cor-
rie ten Boom: "Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."
May you find strength, peace, blessing, comfort, hope, and inspiration in our
awesome God!
Carole Ring, President
From the desk of Melissa:
Page 3 Western Reserve Connect ion Summer 2020
I hope this finds you well and in good spirits. As I was thinking about what to write to
you all during this time, I wanted to let you know how much you are loved and
what a blessing you all are. This year has been a surprise and a blessing. Let me tell
you why. When this year started I was sure it would be just like every other year. My
son Mike graduated in February from AIT School for the Army. He came home, and
I figured I had a few months with him before his sister Katie came home from
college. Then I get a call she had to be out of the dorm by March 22. Then my
husband got laid off March 23. My surgery was supposed to be the beginning of
April. Then everything stopped as we knew it. But did it really? Not really. God has a
way of putting things in our lives just at the right time. Sometimes we don’t even
understand it until we look back and see what has happened, and then we can
see God everywhere. I want to assure you that God is in everything, big or small.
The world may have shut down, but the blessings that came from it did not. In
Isaiah 41:10 it says “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am
your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous
right hand.” So we have nothing to fear during this time. You can be encouraged
that God does take care of us, and just because the world has shut down, let’s
think of it as a slowdown. So we can spend time in his word, watching the world
around us change, having people show love to each other by making masks, shar-
ing food, checking in on each other.
This brings me to what this year is going to look like as far as our Spiritual Growth.
You will find uplifting things on the WRD UMW Facebook page along with videos on
how to make ornaments. Kits will be available to pick up from me or you can supply
your own things. Red Bird Mission is looking forward to the lovely ornaments. It may
seem like a little thing, but it has been a big blessing for their mission of spreading
the word and love of Christ. Also, I would encourage you to tell us what blessings
you are finding in this time. Either it is more time in God’s word or a new thing you
are doing to bless someone. I leave you with the scripture that has always been my
guide, Psalm 23. The Lord is my shepherd, and he has taken care of me and my
family during this time. I will be praying for you all, and until
we can see each other, God’s blessings on you.
Melissa Cunningham WRD Spiritual Growth
United Methodist Women has free audio resources available?
Response Podcast features audio versions of some of the articles from each issue of the United Methodist Women Response magazine.
Faith Talks are monthly conversations with United Methodist Women which explore themes and resources that empower us to put faith, hope and love into action.
Audio Archive provides access to current and archived audio recordings of selected Response articles and other resources.
Visit unitedmethodistwomen.org/audio and take advantage of these informative
and inspirational resources.
Dive into a Good Book This Summer!
The United Methodist Women Reading Program can carry you away to explore new
realms without leaving home! From captivating novels and heartfelt biographies to
urgent messages about issues such as climate change and mass incarceration,
there’s something for everyone.
Dive into one of our Reading Program books by contacting Margaret Harvey
([email protected] or 814-282-5719) to make arrangements to borrow
books from our District Library. Books are also available for purchase online in print or
digital formats, and some may be available through your public library.
Learn more about the Reading Program here:
https://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/readingprogram
Page 4 Western Reserve Connect ion Summer 2020
Page 5 Western Reserve Connect ion
The Power of Faith, Hope, and Love in Action Virtual District Fall Gathering
Saturday, October 3 Program begins at 10:00 AM
Free!
Candle Burning service, election and installation of officers, worship, and more
Guest speaker Rev. Kathy Dickriede, Director of Missions & Community Engagement for The East Ohio Conference
Join us for this opportunity to come together in a safe way to support each other and be en-couraged as United Methodist Women
Specific instructions will be given in the next newsletter (before Labor Day) as to how you can join in our virtual Gathering
You Are Invited…
The Western Reserve District United Methodist Women Leadership Team invites you to help us continue our mission to provide support for local units as they
participate in the work of the church as leaders and advocates for putting faith, hope and love into action.
If you might be interested in being part of a team that plans and implements programs and events that educate, raise awareness and encourages United Methodist Women members to develop personally and as a community of women, please contact Dot Anderson to explore how you can be a part of our District Team. We are planning to
meet virtually as long as prudent.
Please consider joining our team as we seek to encourage and support one another as units and as individuals!
Why Not?
Not driving as much these days? Why not donate some of those extra dollars not spent at the pump to our Pledge to Mission? Please mail your donation to your unit
treasurer and ask that she designate it for Pledge to Mission.
2020 District Pledge to Mission - $18,000
2020 Pledge to Mission received as of June - $6,180
Page 6 Western Reserve Connect ion Summer 2020
2020 Western Reserve District UMW Officers
President: Carole Ring C: 440-376-7231 9313 Wyant Dr H: 440-255-7213 Mentor, OH 44060 [email protected] Vice President: Barbara Hively 6595 Elm St C: 330-506-9017 Kinsman, OH 44428 [email protected] Secretary: Denise Curtis 2392 Ketcham Rd H: 440-563-5486 Rome, OH 44085 [email protected] Treasurer: Marlene Graban 4475 State Route 7 C: 330-883-2104 Burghill, OH 44404 [email protected] Spiritual Growth: Melissa Cunningham 5102 Chestnut Ave C: 440-536-6618 Ashtabula, OH 44004 Nominations Chairperson: Dot Anderson C: 216-970-7981 9046 Coombs Rd H: 440-693-4187 N Bloomfield, OH 44450 [email protected] Newsletter Editor: Alicen Limestoll PO Box 1222 C: 440-990-0220 Andover, OH 44003 [email protected]
Page 7 Western Reserve Connect ion Summer 2020
A Note from Marlene!
Your unit can still mail in your 2021 Pledge to Mission form.
I would like to thank the units that have continued to send in their monthly or
quarterly pledges.
God Bless! Marlene Graban
4475 State Route 7, Burghill, OH 44404
Virtual Annual Celebration East Ohio Conference
United Methodist Women
Saturday, October 24
Watch for more information as it becomes
available.
Page 8 Western Reserve Connect ion Summer 2020
Western Reserve District UMW Candle Burning Service 2020
Spreading the light of mission is an important part of UMW. We can participate in the shar-ing of that light through the Candle Burning Service at our Fall District Gathering. Through this occasion to give above and beyond our pledge, we have the opportunity to be in mission with women, youth and children who need help in the United States and around the world AND the opportunity to honor or remember special persons in our lives.
Money, in any amount, is given by units, executive committees, or individuals - in honor of a relative, friend, minister, unit, officers, etc. or in memory of a deceased relative or friend. The money collected is used to fund UMW’s total mission program.
There is also an opportunity to honor or remember specific people or groups by name, this year by having our Candle Burning service as a video presentation during our online Fall Gathering. If your unit wishes to participate, you will have the opportunity to have a person make a video recording, reading the names and lighting a candle to honor or remember those persons designated.
Video may be done using a phone. Please record holding the phone landscape (sideways).
Please make sure to speak clearly, not too quickly, and with enough volume for good audio quality.
Video clip(s) and the names of those you wish to honor and remember, may be emailed to Carole Ring at
[email protected] or texted to 440-376-7231.
Please contact Carole Ring (info above) if you have questions about the video or need assistance.
We hope you will join us in this opportunity to keep the light of Christ shining through mission, remembrance and honor, lifting up the work of UMW and our dear ones to the glory of God.
Please send checks made payable to Western Reserve District UMW with this completed form by September 23, 2020, for inclusion to:
Marlene Graban, WRD UMW Treasurer
4475 State Route 7
Burghill, OH 44404
Questions? Contact Marlene at 330-883-2104 or [email protected]
DEADLINE FOR CANDLE BURNING FORM AND VIDEO CLIP IS SEPTEMBER 23, 2020
Unit Treasurer Name_____________________________ Phone Number ___________________________
Unit Name ______________________________________ Amount _________ Check Number _________
Page 9 Western Reserve Connect ion Summer 2020
Join with The United Methodist Church and United
Methodist Women to recognize racism as a sin
and commit to challenging unjust systems of power
and access. Discover ways you can listen, act,
speak and pray at:
eocumc.com/StandAgainstRacism/index.html
UMC.org/EndRacism
Handmade ornaments are needed to send to Red Bird Mission for their Christmas community outreach programs.
Kits are available or create your own.
Check out the WRD UMW Facebook page for instructional videos for the ornament kits.
Please contact Melissa Cunningham with questions or to obtain kits. Let’s see if we can create more than 400 ornaments to send again this year!
