Twin Cities Connection

The God, who gave us a world to love

is pleased to show us how - through the birth of

• President - Sandy Meyer Farewell message and Sandy’s new schedule • Page 2

Greetings UMW Sister, this is my final newsletter article

as your president. I can’t believe 4 years have gone by

so fast! But then I can’t believe summer went by so fast

either! It has been an honor to serve as your President

and I cherish each of you sisters. Twin Cities District

United Methodist Women (UMW) has an amazing

executive team which works very hard and accomplishes

amazing things! I will miss the team I have worked with,

but I leave you with a new amazing team led by Wanda

Driver. Now that I am the Membership, Nurture, and

Outreach Mission (MNO) Coordinator for the Conference

UMW I will still be very active in our district. You haven’t

gotten rid of the lady in red yet… keep looking for the red

hat!

between outgoing and newly elected team members.

We celebrated those who are leaving and welcomed the

new ones. We planned the Winter Gathering which will

exciting to me that we made a commitment to begin

each meeting with worship and then move on to

announcements, business, and program. In February

we will have an UBUNTU project in addition to training

for all members present. If you don’t know what

UBUNTU means be sure to* come to the meeting to find

out! I hope that each of your churches, whether you

have an active unit or not, will send at least one person

to this meeting. Actually two is better…it’s always more

fun to come with a friend!

* Editor’s note: see Linda Paulson’s article in this newsletter

There are many “bookkeeping” things due at the end of

each year. As each request reaches you please take

care of it and return it as soon as possible…mainly so

you don’t misplace it in the holiday rush (like I do!!)

Even if you don’t think you have anything to report

please look at it and return it to the person requesting it

with a note of some sort attached. Each of the team

members make a commitment to do their job to the best

of their ability and having the paper work returned helps

them do that! Many of you have fulfilled requirements

for “Mission Today Unit” without even knowing it! If you

have questions call Mary Longsdorf (651-735-1246) and

ask her for assistance.

In my new position as Conference MNO I attended

Leadership Training Event (LTE) in St. Louis November

the Church Women United Annual Convention and 70th

Anniversary celebration in Atlantic City. As the newly

elected Secretary/Treasurer for them, I will also attend a

training session during this time. On January 15, I have

the privilege of being the guest speaker for Hillcrest

UMW Sunday. I am especially honored because this is

the third time I have been invited back!

I hope this finds each of you taking a moment for

yourself each day to enjoy God’s beautiful world and

develop a closer relationship with God. I hope you had

a Thanksgiving filled with many blessings, a Christmas

which fills your hearts with joy and a new year full of

possibility!

Your Sister in Christ,

Sandy Meyer, Twin Cities District President

”Ubuntu” was the theme at the 2012 leadership

training for Minnesota United Methodist Women

(UMW). We were reminded of what occurred

prior to the beginning of the last UMW National

Assembly in St. Louis, and again last summer

through the School of Christian Mission. Efforts

are now being made by our conference and

district UMW to learn more about and develop a

better understanding of “ubuntu”, relate to the

ideas and concepts proposed, and identify

methods and means to put ubuntu into practice

in our ministries and personal efforts to share the

love of Christ. It is worth noting that Ubuntu

originated in South Africa and was proposed by

Bishop Desmond Tutu.

A hands-on experience with ubuntu was provided

at the National Assembly. I spent time at a

community center in St. Louis assisting a mass

mailing procedure. Other ubuntu experiences

involved community gardening, and playing

hangman games with people in a local nursing

home. Assembly training provided opportunity to

directly share the lives of the people served, by

assisting them in ways that were most helpful

and meaningful to the receivers of service,

instead of forcing our way in and “assisting” them

through means considered only or primarily by us

as our efforts to pursue our own sense of well

being and self rewards instead of the well being

and survival of the recipients.

Training was intended to teach the importance of

learning directly from the people being served

instead of walking into a situation and offering

assistance according to our own values,

viewpoints, comfort levels, experience, and

knowledge.

Chapter 2 quotes the Great Commandment to

and reference to the example of the Good

improve understanding of ubuntu concepts and

ideas by reminding us that love defines God’s

Descriptions provided in the chapter show God as

a relational being, and how through God we are

all interconnected and interdependent. Ubuntu

helps us realize that we are who we are because

of our relations, and we are “diminished when

others are humiliated or diminished, when others

are tortured or oppressed, or treated as if they

were less than who they are.” First Corinthians

we live ubuntu, we learn to recognize how we are

dehumanized when we dehumanize one another,

we may eventually consider our ways and actions

quite differently in style and manner, and be

more likely to treat everyone appropriately.

Becoming consciously aware of such matters can

help us put ubuntu into practice, and make

changes in our approaches by helping others

more from their viewpoint instead or in place of

our own opinions, beliefs, experiences, and

potential biases.

Chapter 3 mentions that ubuntu theories say that

we as individuals cannot exist as a human being

in isolation. This supports other theories about

how no one can exist entirely alone in a vacuum,

because we need each other to encourage and

perspective, it would be more appropriate to offer

someone a helping hand during times of

difficulties, by asking them what they would

prefer for assistance instead of assuming their

needs based on our own opinions and priorities.

Our neighbor’s interpretation of a successful life

and survival can be an entirely different story or

point of view than ours. So why force our

priorities and interests on them instead of

recognizing their own preferences?

For example, instead of offering to paint the

house of the poorest looking house in the

neighborhood, kindly share concern for the

owner’s well being, and inquire if there is

anything for which they could use our assistance

as a result of noticing the house’s outside

appearance. If an automatic turndown of such

offer is received, do not be offended if for no

other reason than ground work has been laid for

possible future action. More than one inquiry may

be needed in order for offers to be received, and

chances may be good that the sincerity of such

offers may be officially recognized at another

time. I know about this from previous

experience of living across the street from the

poorest family in town in my earlier years.

Ubuntu theories say that replacement of a worn

out water heater or a dying furnace may be more

greatly appreciated and needed when specified

by the home owner, instead of painting their

house for them simply because I or the adjoining

neighbors do not like their home’s exterior

appearance. I remember when the furnace died

in my neighbors house, and how a local church

assisted them during their time of need in the

middle of winter. Sometimes, portrayed outer

needs can be a sign of even greater inner needs,

which can and should be properly recognized and

assisted in place of making an offer about

something that only demonstrates our own

priorities and interests. To exercise ubuntu, it is

of just sympathizing or feeling sorry for

someone. Empathizing has been known to go a

lot farther than actively displaying our own biases

through sympathy in response to what appears

to be someone’s own tough situation. (“Your

house needs painting. Do it yourself, why don’t

you.”)

In summary and conclusion, my suggestion is to exercise a “don’t dictate, just ask” theory of

care followed by action in response to tough situations that may be right in front of our own

eyes. It is my hope and prayer that ubuntu theories and practices may continue to help us

Sincerely in Christ,

Linda Paulson

TC UMW Social Action Mission Coordinator

Send book lists to Phyllis Kieser. E-mail pjkieser@ties2.net

Address: 1883 Bohland Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55116

Donate your books to the Twin Cities Lending Library by

bringing them to the February 4 meeting at Fridley

United Methodist Church. The new Library will be

available at that Winter District Meeting at Fridley.

Books can be given to the incoming Secretary of

Program Resources: Clarice Lien and/or Carol Nemitz.

Be sure to write your name and address on the inside of

the cover if you want the book returned to you.

years. I look forward to attending events as a spectator.

Phyllis Kieser

Secretary of Program Resources

I will be mailing a local UMW membership census form

to all of the churches in our district. This year the form is

easier to read. If I have your count for last year, I will

put that on your form.

counting and that will be great! We need to hear from all

the churches. Even if you do not have a unit, put -0- for

your count. Thanks so much.

Send the form to: Carolyn Doyle,

921 Overton Dr. N.E., Fridley, MN 55432.

Carolyn Doyle, Coordinator

Membership, Nurture and Outreach

Each local unit is invited to submit a nomination of one of

nominations submitted.

The criteria for the nominees are:

1) The woman must be a current active United

Methodist Women (UMW) member in the unit

nominating her.

2) She must have made significant contributions to

UMW, church, and/or her local, U.S, or world

community.

Women previously nominated can be nominated again.

When choosing a nominee, think not only of the woman

with the long cumulative record of service, but also of the

woman, perhaps younger or newer to UMW, who has

already made significant contributions to her UMW,

church and/or community.

When making the nomination, it is important to help the

committee get to know the nominee better. Do not

simply list achievements, contributions, etc. Help the

committee to understand her special gifts and graces by

providing a description of how they have been used to

contribute to and provide leadership in mission.

Prepare a written nomination containing the following

information:

1. Name, address, phone number, a photo, and e-mail,

of the nominee.

2. A description of the nominee’s gifts and graces and

how they have been used to contribute to and

provide leadership in mission.

a. in the spiritual, nurturing and outreach ministries

of UMW

b. in the church

c. in the community (local/U.S./world)

3. Name, phone, address and/or e-mail of a contact

person for the nominating group or individual

Send the nomination by April 1, 2012 to:

Fridley, MN 55432

If you have questions call: 763-571-4589.

Thank you! In God’s Love,

Carolyn Doyle, Coordinator

Membership, Nurture and Outreach

Twin Cities District has pledged $65,000 to Mission

You have until December 16, 2010 to send the funds

that you want to count toward this year’s giving. I close

my books on December 21, 2011. Money received after

that will be applied toward your 2012 totals. According to

my records, 2011 unit contributions are as follows:

If your records differ, please let me know. Contact me at 651-227-7850. or Email: Bookerbut@msn.com.

Emma Norton $ 8,000.00 $ 1,417.80 $ 5,338.00 $3,920.20

$73,000.00 $14,491.70 $46,894.67 $32,402.97

Officer Expense

Mileage $880.00 $423.15 $504.30 $ 81.15

Literature $900.00 $848.15 $848.15

Supplies (Paper, labels, etc.) $250.00 $ 18.35 $215.03 $196.68

Postage $250.00 $185.07 $185.07

Lodging, Meals $500.00 $500.00 $500.00

Audit $250.00 $200.00 $250.00 $ 50.00

Telephone $ 25.00 $ 25.00 $ 25.00

Copying $100.00 $ 80.00 $ 80.00

Communications

Newsletter (Prnting, postage, labels) $1,200.00 $482.49 $ 874.64 $ 392.15

Registrations

District Meetings $ 700.00 $290.00 $ 176.00 - $ 114.00

Conference Meetings $ 450.00 $225.00 $ 450.00 $ 225.00

School of Christian Missions $4,800.00 $1,851.00 $1,851.00

District Meetings

Leadership Training (Winter) $ 400.00 $131.25 $ 131.25

Annual Meeting (Fall) $ 400.00 $559.35 $400.00 - $ 159.35

Retreat $ 200.00 $200.00 $ 200.00

Spring Gathering $ 400.00 $227.59 $ 227.59

Reading Program $ 150.00 $150.00 $150.00

Officer Recognition $ 400.00 $222.50 $400.00 $177.50

$12,255.00 $ 2,420.84 $ 7,468.03 $ 5,047.19

Mission Giving $15,179.72 $ 94.00 $15,273.72

A & MD $ 2,741.25

9 a.m. – Registration and Emma Norton ‘Tea”

9:20 a.m. – Gathering for singing in the sanctuary

1:30 p.m. – Tentative ending

Myrna Kuehl (Fridley United Methodist Church): 763-784 2588

Emergencies on February 4, call Myrna’s cell: 763-567-8892

Name:

Home Church: ______________________________UMW Position:

Food allergies or dietary concerns:

 President;  Vice President;  Secretary;  Treasurer;

 Membership, Nurture, Outreach;  Program Resources;  Other

 Yes, I need Child Care for 1 2 3 child/children.

Bring a bag lunch for each child.

The increase in the lunch cost is necessary to cover increased food costs.

We ask you to “pre pay” the lunch. One check may be written for group registrations.

Sheila Moenck, 1237 Pecks Woods Turn, New Brighton, MN 55112. E-mail address: smoenck@q.com

680 Mississippi St. NE, Fridley 55432

Phone: 763-571 1526

Ave.) north to Mississippi St. NE; turn left (west)at Central

Avenue; proceed about ½ mile to Monroe. Turn left at

Monroe. Parking lot is behind the church.

to Mississippi St. NE; turn right (east) at Mississippi,

proceed about ½ mile to Monroe. Turn right at Monroe.

Parking lot is behind the church.

Non-Profit Organization

U.S. Postage

PAID

Twin Cities, MN

Permit No. 4106

February 4 – Winter Gathering – Fridley UMC, Fridley

February – Day on the Hill

April 21 – Spring Gathering – St. Paul’s UMC, Mendota Heights

June 19-20 – North Central Jurisdiction Meeting – Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa

June 21 -24 – Regional School – Des Moines, Iowa

July 17-20 – School of Christian Mission (SCM) – St. John’s University, Collegeville

July 19 – School of Christian Mission (SCM) – Drive-in Day

July 20-22 – School of Christian Mission (SCM) – Weekend Event

August 2-5 – Young Women’s “Limitless: Redefine Tomorrow”, Duke University

September 15 – Annual Gathering – Faith United Methodist Church – West St. Paul

October 26-27 – District Officer Training (DOTE) - Koinonia