stephaniepounds Annual Luncheon, Events, Guest Speaker, hazel decker

Annual Luncheon Returns in Force

Vice President Stacie Hawkins welcomes attendees to the annual luncheon

Hugs and handshakes filled the ballroom at the 2023 Annual Luncheon in Houston on May 29. After several years of not being able to meet in person, nearly 80 UWF members from across the Texas Conference greeted each other warmly as they met to share a meal during the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.

UWF members and their guests were treated to an address by Rev Hannah Terry, Community Pastor of Westbury UMC and Founding Executive Director of FAM Houston – a 501c3 nonprofit organization with the mission to work for justice by building empowered community with resettled refugees, immigrants, and local Houstonians.

Rev Terry encouraged us to explore the goodness of mutuality–being with someone and listening to them without trying to “fix them.” True mutuality with another person, she said, is something that can “spring you from the prison of myself.”

During her talk Rev Terry showed videos from FAM Houston, including one that highlighted the Pamoja initiative, a program that pairs refugee and immigrant families to Houstonian families to learn from each other and create mutual aid groups. Interested volunteers are encouraged to check out Pamoja.

Rev Hannah Terry addresses the crowd
Lue Wenzel, Spiritual Growth Officer, leads the group from the Prayer Guide
President Theresa Graham surprises Wilodyne Hooper with the Hazel Decker Award.

A highlight of the luncheon was when President Theresa Graham presented the 2023 Hazel Decker Award to Wilodyne Hooper. Hooper, a long-time member who has served in several levels of UWF, expressed surprise at honor. “I never believed I did anything special enough to deserve this. Thank you so much,” she told the group.

UWF members catch up with friends

When the luncheon was over, the room was filled with hugs again as everyone expressed the hope that they would see each other again at the next Annual Conference Luncheon.

stephaniepounds Events, Spring Retreat

Spring Spiritual Retreat 2023

REGISTER HERE

Photo by Markus Spiske on Pexels.com

Make plans to join us at our upcoming Spring Spiritual Growth Retreat, Saturday, March 25, 2023, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. We have an amazing line-up of workshop facilitators, and our keynote speaker will be Dr. Yvette Richards, Past National President of United Women in Faith.  

As we prepare for our time together in a virtual format, we want to invite you to join us from 7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. for Morning Glory. Many of us recall the great time we had at Lakeview for Morning Glory at the Tabernacle. Well, we expect this time of Morning Glory to offer nothing less. This will be a time of Praise and Worship, and you definitely don’t want to miss what the Lord has in store for you! This time together will set the tone for the day, and you will want to set your alarm a little earlier to make sure you are in the number.  

We will Gather to Sing at 8:45 a.m., followed by our Opening Plenary at 9:00 a.m. After the keynote address, you can choose from two (2) workshop opportunities, which will be followed by our Closing Plenary.   Our workshop facilitators include

Draw the Circle: 40 Day Prayer Challenge

Dr. Sylvia Molo Jones, Trinity United Methodist Church

Emotional Wellness for You

Natasha Young, M.Ed.,

How to Navigate Zoom

Valerie Adame, Texas Conference Communication Co-coordinator

Texas Impact 2023 Priorities and workgroups you can join

Scott Atnip and Katie Wang.

Navigating Mighty Networks: How to Connect with Other United Women in Faith

Praveena Balasundaram and Jim Keat

stephaniepounds Events, LDD

Leadership Development Days 2023

Newly-elected President, Theresa Graham, opened the new year in the Texas Conference on Jan 7, 2023, by welcoming district officers from across the conference to Leadership Development Days via Zoom. After a quick program meeting that featured a devotional by Spiritual Growth officer, Lue Wenzel, and a message from Graham, attendees went into breakout rooms to learn more about their new offices.

Conference officers led the breakout room sessions, training their district counterparts and giving everyone a chance to ask questions and network. District officers left the meeting armed with new ideas for training their unit counterparts.

Are you a district officer who was unable to attend Leadership Development Days? Contact your conference officer to receive the materials for your office.

stephaniepounds Events, Fall Meeting

New Officers Installed During 2022 Fall Meeting

Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.”

Ezekiel 47:12

Healing and Joy in our Journey to God was the theme of the 2022 Fall Annual Meeting of the Texas Conference of United Women in Faith. Led by President Carolyn Milby, women from across the conference joined together on Sept 10, 2022, via Zoom to conduct business, be inspired, and install new officers.

Milby welcomed the group with the hymn, My Jesus, I Love Thee, which was followed by an 9/11 remembrance led by Spiritual Growth officer, Lue Wenzel.

Treasurer Kathy Aubin led the Candle Burning special recognition ceremony. As part of their mission giving, units from across the district donated money in honor and in memory of special individuals in their unit to recognize their service to the organization. Aubin announced that the Conference had received over $3,000 this year as part of the Candle Burning donations.

Two women were recognized for their special service to the Conference. Vice-President Krystal West presented outgoing President Carolyn Milby with a Special Mission Recognition. Rev. Cheryl Smith received the Hazel Decker Award, which recognizes an outstanding woman in the Conference, for her work in Africa.

Kathy Kraiza, Education and Interpretation officer, presented a report on the 2022 Hands on Project. Districts from across the conference assembled kits of toiletries and supplies, which were combined to create care bags for disaster survivors. Over 200 adult care bags and 200 child care bags were assembled representing over $28,000 in donations from Texas Conference districts.

Paulette Moore-Hall updated the group on the new UWF brand standards and encouraged everyone to incorporate them in their communications and presentations.

Stacie Hawkins urged members to donate to the Legacy Endowment Fund by becoming a Legacy Builder, a Friend of Legacy, or by being a part of the 1869 Society. Created in 2014 with a goal of raising $60 million as a source of ongoing income, Hawkins reported that as of May 31, 2022, the Fund total stood at $35,920, 237.

The keynote speaker for the event was Dr Marilyn Stinson. Speaking on the meeting’s theme and scripture, Stinson invited members to follow Ezekiel’s example and:

  • Focus on God
  • Trust in the Lord and do good
  • Be aware of God’s care each and every day

After a break, the business portion of the meeting was called to order during which new officers were elected for 2023 and the 2023 budget was adopted.

Milby led the group in the closing hymn, God Be With You Till We Meet Again, and then adjourned the meeting.