Spring Retreat – Texas Conference

January 24, 2026January 24, 2026 txconfumw Spring Retreat, Uncategorized

2026 Spring Spiritual Growth Event – March 14

Register

He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.
Jeremiah 18:3-6 (NIV)

Dear Sisters in Faith,

I am overjoyed to share that registration for the United Women in Faith Spring Spiritual Growth Retreat is now open! We invite you to join us on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at Klein United Methodist Church 5920 Farm to Market 2920, Spring, TX 77388 for a day set apart for renewal, reflection, and purpose.

Our theme this year, “Shaped by Grace: Becoming Vessels of Purpose,” invites us to step into the loving hands of the Divine Potter and allow God to form, refine, and empower us for the work we are called to do.

We are blessed to welcome Rachel Raborn Norris as our guest speaker. Her wisdom, warmth, and Spirit‑led insight will guide us deeper into understanding how God shapes our lives with intention and grace, a truth made vivid as we watch Rachel at her potter’s wheel and witnessed her at work as a potter firsthand.

We are also honored to have Rev. Hilda Marcel and Debra Ellis leading our focus groups.

Rev. Hilda Marcel will offer a powerful session designed to help us discover how God’s grace shapes us from rough places into vessels of purpose. Through the imagery of the Potter and the clay, this session explores how God transforms our failures, fears, and flaws into something beautiful for His glory. Join us for a reflective journey into the power of grace at work in our lives.

Debra Ellis will share inspiring stories and reflections from her recent mission trip to Gilgil, Kenya, offering a firsthand look at how God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things.

To ensure everyone can participate, we are pleased to offer a virtual option for those who cannot be with us on-site. Whether in person or from home, you will be fully included in the worship, teaching, and fellowship of the day.

Throughout the retreat, attendees can expect:

Meaningful worship and Spirit‑filled teaching

Opportunities for personal reflection and group connection

Practical tools for spiritual growth

Stories that inspire courage, compassion, and renewed purpose

A warm, welcoming community of women seeking God together

You will leave feeling refreshed, encouraged, and spiritually strengthened, more aware of how God is shaping your life and more confident in the purpose God is calling you to live out.

We cannot wait to gather with you for this beautiful day of growth and grace. Register today and invite a friend to join you!

With love and anticipation,
Paulette Moore-Hall, VP/Program Coordinator

Meet the Presenters

keynote speaker – Rachel Raborn Norris

Rachel Norris is not surprised that she is a potter, but she is amazed at how God has used pottery in her life. She has been making pottery for over thirty years now. She and her husband own Joy Pottery in Bryan, Texas where they make and sell handmade, functional, stoneware. She loves to work with clay because it is an incredibly versatile material, so very individual and universal at the same time.

You are invited to come and learn more about the Heavenly Father by exploring a word picture He provides in His Word. Discover the richness of the layers of meaning in the portrayal of the potter and the clay by observing the work of a potter firsthand. You will be awed and amazed by the insights into the hand of God in your own life through this experience.

focus leader – pastor hilda marcel

Pastor Hilda Marcel is a native Houstonian. She counts it all joy to help others by sharing the love of God through the word of God and service.

She desires to effect change by challenging others to grow from hearers to doers using the 3 C’s of Life. She is actively answering her call to share Christ’s love and make disciples of all nations in her local church and community.

Driven by her commitment to developing a Community of Care through the love of Christ, she founded LueWish, a non-profit organization that grants wishes to women who are experiencing life-altering issues due to cancer, heart disease, and domestic violence.

Pastor Hilda enjoys serving the needs of others as a local Pastor, Workforce Solution Specialist, Professional Christian Life Coach, Board-Certified Mental Health Coach, mediator, and community volunteer, where she helps others move from “doing” to “being” to fulfill their God-given purpose.
Pastor Hilda has one son, Jonathan, and five beautiful grandchildren. She enjoys reading, cooking, road trips, and dancing. Hilda lives by the motto: I won’t fail the love the test.

focus leader – debra ellis

Debra Ellis is a devoted member of United Women in Faith whose passion for service, mission, and spiritual growth is reflected in every area of her life. She is actively involved at John Wesley Methodist Church in Houston, where she serves in the Women’s Sunday School Class by sharing prayer requests and writing weekly words of encouragement.

Debra also serves as an usher, joyfully welcoming newcomers into worship, and participates in the Homebound Communion Ministry, bringing communion to those unable to attend in person. She is involved in Faith Circle and supports charitable organizations, especially those that serve children, including Northwest Assistance Ministries and The Children’s Activity Center.

Debra recently returned from a transformative mission trip to Gilgil, Kenya, where she and her team focused on walking alongside the community with humility and compassion. Beyond her church, she supports organizations such as the Houston SPCA, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Methodist Children’s Home (Waco), Tupelo Children’s Mansion, Houston Food Bank, and World Vision. Known for her warm spirit and authentic connection with others, Debra looks forward to leading her focus group at the Spring Spiritual Growth Retreat and creating a welcoming space for women to reflect, grow, and discover God’s purpose in their lives.

January 16, 2025February 15, 2025 txconfumw Events, Spring Retreat

Registration Open for 2025 Spring Spiritual Growth Retreat

You are invited to attend the Texas Conference Spring Spiritual Growth Retreat being held via Zoom on March 1.

The keynote speaker this year is Ilka Vega, a transfronteriza from El Paso / Cd. Juarez borderlands. She serves as the Executive for Economic and Environmental Justice at United Women in Faith.

You’ll also be able to attend two workshops: Soul Care led by Abby Gutierrez and Discover the Divine Connection with Nature led by Paulette Moore-Hall.

Rev Soledad de La Cerda will lead the closing worship and Love Feast.

Agenda

7:30 am – 8:00 am	Morning Praise
8:00 am – 9:00 am	Gathering Time
9:00 am – 9:30 am	Opening Plenary
9:30 am – 10:00 am	Keynote Address
10:00 am – 10:10 am	Break
10:10 am – 11:00 am	Workshops – 1st Session
11:00 am – 11:15 am	Return to the main room
11:15 am – 12:05 pm	Workshops – 2nd Session
12:05 pm – 12:15 pm	Break
12:15 pm – 1:00 pm	Closing Plenary

Biographies

The keynote speaker this year is Ilka Vega, a transfronteriza from El Paso / Cd. Juarez borderlands. She serves the Executive for Economic and Environmental Justice at United Women in Faith. She holds a B.A in Sustainability, Culture, and Social Justice and a B.A. in Business from Southwestern University and a M.Sc. in Innovation, Human Development, and Sustainability from the University of Geneva. She is a graduate of Lydia Patterson Institute and has over 14 years of experience working on human rights and different advocacy issues including migration, climate and racial justice. She has worked as an educator and campaign organizer developing social and climate justice curriculum for faith-based audiences. She has also worked on mainstreaming sustainability policies and educational resources across different UN and international organizations including the Office of the High Commission for Human Rights and the 2050Today initiative in Geneva.

Abby Gutierrez has grown up in the United Methodist Church as a Pastor’s kid alongside strong, encouraging and empowering United Methodist Women, now known as United Women in Faith. The most influential of these women has been her mother, Minerva Briones, who through powerful examples always encouraged the growth of our organization in every church her father and family were appointed to. Abby has served as a Program Advisory Group Member representing the Rio Texas Conference United Women in Faith and is now a member of the Board of Directors. She is also a part of the Charter for Racial Justice Support Team where she supports Conference presidents in the South Central Jurisdiction in their ongoing Racial Justice work. She also served as the Chair for the Texas Legislative Event planning committee for 2024.

Abby, her husband Brian and daughters Hannah & Sarah, are members of La Trinidad United Methodist church in San Antonio, TX where she serves as Lay Leader.

Rev. Soledad de la Cerda holds graduate degrees in Theology and Divinity from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. She was ordained as a Deacon in 2022. Balancing the responsibilities of being a devoted mother to five children with her role as Associate Pastor at CrossRoads UMC in Houston, Texas, Soledad also preaches as the assigned pastor at Beneke Memorial UMC on the first and third Sundays of each month.

Soledad embodies a deep commitment to both family and spiritual leadership. Born in Santiago, Chile, she encountered Christ while studying at university. She married on May 12, 1988, and is the mother of Claudia, Andres, Kevin, Dylan, and Annahi. After 33 years of marriage, she divorced in 2021.

Recently, she published her first book titled “La inclusión de las personas con discapacidad en la iglesia”, which was edited by AETH (Association for Hispanic Theological Education). The book, based on her experience as the mother of a child with disabilities, creates a moving and compelling narrative.

Paulette Moore-Hall is deeply committed to her faith and the mission ministry of United Women in Faith. She recently completed her 2020-2024 term as a member of The United Women in Faith Program Advisory Group and the United Women in Faith Legacy Endowment Fund Steering Committee. She has faithfully served in prior offices such as President and Treasurer of the Texas Conference United Women in Faith, and the former Central North District United Women in Faith. Also, Mission u study leader. She is the current president of the John Wesley Unit, United Women in Faith. In addition, she is the Chairperson for the 2025 United Women in Faith Texas Legislative Event and serves on the Board of the Spring Interfaith Council as Treasurer.

Paulette has a passion for serving ministries and is an active member of John Wesley Methodist Church in Houston, TX, ministries include Prayer Ministry Coordinator, Choir member, substitute Sunday school teacher, bible study facilitator and actively participates in her local unit mission projects and ministry outreach.

February 6, 2024April 1, 2024 txconfumw Spring Retreat

Register now for 2024 Spring Event

Save the date and make plans to join us Saturday, March 2nd, via Zoom from 9 am – 1:30 pm. for the Texas Conference United Women in Faith Spring Event.

Our theme this year is Get Together, and we are lucky to have Rev. Janet Wolf bring our keynote message.

Following the conference news items and Rev. Wolf’s message, we will hold three workshops in separate breakout rooms.

Get together to serve – Wesley Community Center will share their programs and how ladies can volunteer.
Get together to worship – Rev. Neomi Fletcher will lead
Get together to advocate – Texas Impact will share ways to engage our communities this election season.

Each workshop will be repeated once, so you can choose to attend TWO of these workshops. Each session will be 45 minutes long with a 15 minute break in between.

Speakers

Rev. Wolf is an elder in The United Methodist Church and has served as a pastor of rural and urban congregations. She is a college and seminary professor, community mediator, learner, and partner for transformative justice. In July 2012, she was appointed to work with Marian Wright Edelman and the Children’s Defense Fund on nonviolent direct-action organizing to dismantle the cradle-to-prison pipeline, work that includes the organization’s Freedom Schools and the annual Proctor Institute for Child Advocacy Ministry. She is the author of “To See and To Be Seen,” a chapter in I Was in Prison: United Methodist Perspectives on Prison Ministry, edited by James M. Shopshire Sr., et al., and numerous other writings. She is the author of the book, Practicing Resurrection: The Gospel of Mark and Radical Discipleship.

Rev. Neomi Fletcher holds a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology – Emory University with a concentration in Theology and Ethics. While at Candler, Neomi served on the Candler Community and Diversity Committee working to promote diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the school.

March 22, 2023 stephaniepounds Events, Spring Retreat

Spring Spiritual Retreat 2023

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