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txconfumw Uncategorized

Special Recognition for Valerie Adame


At the 2023 Fall Annual Meeting President Theresa Graham presented Valerie Adame with a Special Mission Recognition pin. The honor highlighted all the work Valerie has done for the Conference over the years. Currently she serves as one of the Communications Coordinators, and handles all the event management and Zoom needs of the Conference. Registered for an event lately? That’s Valerie! Attended a Zoom Mission u? Valerie again!

Valerie has been a lifelong member of St Mark’s United Methodist Church in Baytown and a member of United Women in Faith for 24 years. She has served in several offices in her local unit and the South District since 2002. Valerie is currently serving on the nominations committee in South District. She has also served on the Texas Conference Committee on Native American Ministries since 2007. A lover of people and animals she has enjoyed a 30 year career owning her photography studio, from which she retired when her husband Herb Adame’s health began to decline in 2018. She now serves the many organizations she loves virtually in whatever ways possible. A true tom boy, she enjoys her mini farm, horses, dogs, rabbits & chickens along with her favorite prayer space, her organic vegetable garden.

txconfumw Events, Fall Meeting, Uncategorized

2023 Annual Fall Meeting Takes Place at Lakeview

“We’re back!”

Those are the words heard many times during the 2023 Texas Conference Fall Annual Meeting. The two-day gathering, which took place Oct 6-7 at Lakeview Methodist Conference Center, was the first face-to-face annual meeting since the pandemic.

Friday night members celebrated homecoming, with many in attendance wearing shirts from their favorite college and university. The speaker for the college-themed night was Rev Tabitha Rankin, Director of the Wesley Foundation at Texas Southern University. Rev Rankin brought us up to speed on all that is happening with college ministries inside the state of Texas and challenged us all to find a way to offer support.

The next morning began with a blessing of the Hands-On Mission Kits by Education and Interpretation Coordinator, Kathy Kraiza. After the welcome, greetings, and prayer calendar, Treasurer Kathy Aubin lit the mission candle in honor and memory of those lifted up by their units.

A special mission recognition was given to Valerie Adame, for her many years of work across the conference and the South District. If you’ve attended any event in the past several years that required registration or Zoom–which is just about every event–you can thank Valerie and her ability to navigate online technologies for making the experience so easy.

Vice-President Stacie Hawkins gave an update on the Legacy Fund, and then Bishop Harvey blessed us with a talk about all the good things happening within the Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church.

During the business meeting that followed, Ella Aubin and Carren Rogers were elected and installed as the 2030 class of the Nominations Committee. Stephanie Pounds and Dorothy Ringer-Sumner were elected as nominees for the National Board of Directors, and Paulette Moore-Hall was elected as a nominee for the National Program Advisory Group. The 2024 budget was adopted and the pledge service completed.

After lunch Christine Riggle, Facilities Manager of the Mission Center of the Texas Annual Conference, thanked everyone in the Conference for their support of the Hands-On Mission Kits, and described the new Feminine Hygiene Kit that we will be making next year.

The event ended with a hymn, communion, grateful hearts for the chance to see each other again, and a promise to meet back again next year.

You can check out our album of pictures from the event here!

txconfumw Uncategorized

Trinity United Women in Faith Celebrate with Annual Worship Service

The United Women in Faith at Trinity United Methodist Church in Houston celebrate annually with a worship service.  Members of the local unit and other church members participate in the service. This year the service was held on September 17.  The 2023 theme was “Women Who Dare to Shift.” 

A very inspirational and uplifting message was brought by the guest speaker for the day, Reverend Tabitha Mock Rankin.  Reverend Rankin has served within the Texas Annual Conference for ten years.  She is currently serving as the director of the Wesley Foundation at Texas Southern University. 

The intergenerational praise dance team, The Anointed Angels, performed to “Shifting the Atmosphere”.  The Women’s Chorale led the congregation in music. Our Texas Annual Conference president, Theresa Graham, was among the guests in attendance.   

txconfumw Jurisdiction Quadrennial, South Central Jurisdiction, Videos

Registration for 2024 Jurisdiction Event in St Louis Now Open – Get Together!

South Central Jurisdiction President, Ellen Lipsey, invites you to the 2024 Quadrennial Event

Registration is Open for the 2024 Quadrennial Event in St Louis Missouri to be held June 21-23, 2024. Click here to register.

  • Early Registration – 9/1/2023 through 11/30/2023: $300
  • Regular Registration – 12/1/2023 through 4/30/2024: $350

Registration does not include hotel cost. Hotel reservations will open September 15th.  Please do not call the hotel before that date.

stephaniepounds Fall Meeting, Hands-On Project

2023 Fall Annual Meeting Registration is Open

Join us for Fall Annual Meeting, our first in-person event since the the pandemic. Our scriptures for the weekend will be Mark 8:27-30 and Ephesians 4:2-4. Bookmark this page to check for ongoing updates.

Registration

Registration should be completed by September 12. If you are registering by mail, the treasurer should receive your check by September 12.

Agenda

Friday

Gather with your friends from across the conference for an evening of fun and inspiration. Our theme will be Homecoming, and our guest speaker will be Pastor Tabitha Mock Rankin.

Saturday

We’ll begin the day with worship and be blessed by the words of Bishop Cynthia Harvey. We’ll also learn more about how our Hands-On Project donations will be used from Christine Riggle. It will be a full day of workshops, voting, business, and sisters in action.

Voting

On Saturday, we will be voting to approve our 2024 budget. You can see the proposed budget here.

We will also be voting to elect two new members to the Committee on Nominations. Nominees are:

  • Ella Aubin
  • Carren Rogers

Note that all women are invited to join us at our Fall Meeting (invite your friends!); however, non-members will not be able to vote.

Housing

There are two options for housing this year.

  • Dorm Housing – Many people to a room. You’ll need to bring your own bed & bath linens, pillows and a flashlight.
  • 1st Class Housing – Single or double occupancy. Linens & pillows are provided.

Food

There will be three meals available–a Friday meal, a Saturday breakfast, and a Saturday lunch. Your registration can include meals or you can provide your own.

Speakers

Bishop Cynthia Harvey

Cynthia Fierro Harvey serves as bishop of the Texas Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church, having been assigned there in November of 2022.  Previously Harvey served as associate pastor of The Foundry United Methodist Church in Houston from 1992-1996 and as executive pastor for Memorial Drive UMC in Houston from 1996-2008. She then moved to the position of Director of Missional Excellence for the Texas Annual Conference, serving from February of 2008-May 1, 2010. Just prior to her election as a United Methodist bishop in 2012, Harvey served as Deputy General Secretary for United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).  She is a graduate of Southern Methodist University, Perkins School of Theology in Dallas, where she earned a Master of Divinity and The University of Texas at Austin, where she earned her undergraduate degree in Journalism. 

Bishop Harvey was born on May 5, 1959, in Big Spring, Texas. She and her husband, Dean Alan Harvey, were married in 1981. Dean is a financial advisor and owns his own firm. Their daughter Elizabeth Grace Harvey is a design specialist and makes her home in Dallas.

Pastor Tabitha Mock Rankin

Pastor Tabitha Mock Rankin is an Ordained Elder and has served within the Texas Annual Conference of the UMC for 10 years. She is currently serving as the director of the Texas Southern University Wesley Foundation. Other full time appointments have included Chaplain, Wiley College, Director, Tyler United Wesley Foundation, and Pastor, St. Paul/Pleasant Grove, Huntsville.

Pastor Tabitha is the mother of six beautiful children. Nyah – 21, Taylor -18, Zora – 15, Isaiah – 8 and twin girls Kennedy and McKenzie 7.

Pastor Tabitha loves to spend time with family, travel, eat crawfish and dance for fun! Ministry has taken her many places, however her most memorable experience was serving in Nairobi for 10 days. Her favorite scripture is Philippians 4:13 and she frequently recites this scripture.

Pastor Tabitha is a graduate of Sam Houston State University, Gammon Theological Seminary and is currently working towards earning an Ed.D in Christian Education Leadership.

Christine Riggle

Send any questions to txconfuwf@gmail.com.

stephaniepounds Southwest

Covenant Glen United Women in Faith Host 2023 Events

The United Women in Faith of Covenant Glen Methodist in Rosharon have been active and growing during and after the pandemic, welcoming new members of different ages. During 2023 they held two noteworthy events: their annual fundraiser, the Mother Daughter Tea, and Blue Sunday, a National Day of Prayer for victims of child abuse and their helpers.

The Mother Daughter Tea was a virtual event on April 29th that attracted attendees from across the country. They had an interactive afternoon with prayers, teaching, music, door prizes and a hat parade. [See the video here!] They also had breakout sessions on three topics of interest, followed by summaries from each group. The feedback was very positive and uplifting, and some participants asked if they would stream live next time.

Blue Sunday was on April 30th, during National Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month. The unit prayed for all children who suffer from abuse and those who care for them. They also learned about the signs of abuse and how to report it.

President Joyce Hopkins was enthusiastic about the group’s activities. “We are grateful for the support and participation of our members and guests in these events. We look forward to more opportunities to serve and grow together.”

stephaniepounds Central North

Klein United Women in Faith Installs Book Box

When Klein United Women in Faith formed a few years ago, they realized that most of their members were avid readers, so they chose literacy as one of the social priorities for their unit. One of the ways they decided they could help was to install book boxes where children can take books to read for free.

Their first two boxes were installed on their church campus and are meant to serve the Children’s Weekdays Ministries and Food Pantry clients. This July they followed that up by installing another book in the Five Oaks community, a neighborhood near their church.

The Klein unit partnered with the youth from their church who helped them with the installation. Now women from the unit check the box–regularly adding new books to keep the library fresh. The Children who might not be able to make it to the nearest public library now have a source of books to read thanks to United Women in Faith.

stephaniepounds Central North

Strawbridge United Women in Faith hold first retreat

The newly-formed Strawbridge United Women in Faith unit welcomed 83 women at their first retreat on August 12. The event was highlighted by Bishop Cynthia Harvey who spoke to the group during their opening program.

photos courtesy of Jessica Pence

Later in the day the women participated in four workshops:

  • Missions – Christine Riggle talked about the Mission Center and the women put together 100 adult hygiene kits for our United Women in Faith Hands-on Project.
  • Prayer Stations – Members experienced different methods to pray
  • Arts & Crafts – The women put together cross pins from remnants and discussed how the remnants in their lives are still gifts to be used
  • Speed Friending – like speed dating only meeting new friends. 

It was a great day!

stephaniepounds Fall Meeting, Mission Giving

Mission Candle to burn at 2023 Annual Fall Meeting

Photo by lil artsy on Pexels.com

Each year Texas Conference United Women in Faith and their units honor the memory of members of their congregations and families by donating to the Mission Candle. Members and units send Mission Candle funds to their district treasurer through the remittance process, and the candle burns during the Annual Fall Meeting. The amount of money donated determines how long the Mission Candle will burn. In 2022 over $3000 was donated, which resulted in the Mission Candle burning for a little over 2 ½ hours.

How is the burning time calculated? Each year the National office calculates how much money United Women in Faith spends each minute on national, international, and partner missions. This is known as the Mission Minute. In 2023 the Mission Minute is $16.56. So a donation of $16.56 to the Mission Candle fund ensures that the candle will burn for a minute–and a minute of missions is funded. A donation of $33.12 ensures the candle will burn for two minutes and two minutes of missions are funded, and so on.

This year, units and districts should download and complete the form below to send the names of individuals to be recognized and the amount donated to the Conference Treasurer no later than September 23, 2023. District Donation checks should be sent to the Conference Treasurer by October 14, 2023, with the district’s third quarter’s remittance report. Since the 2023 Annual Meeting will be in person at Lakeview on October 7, it will great to be able to see the candle burning during the morning session.

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stephaniepounds Mission u

Mission u 2023 Digs Deep into The Lord’s Prayer

Women from around the conference joined together virtually on July 7-8 for the 2023 Mission u study, Living the Kin-dom: Exploring the Lord’s Prayer as a Spiritual Practice for Social Transformation. Leader Linda Elms challenged us to rethink each line of the prayer that most of us have recited since childhood. The study was enhanced each day with a worship service highlighted by music provided by the national office.

Thanks to Jane Frantz for serving as the 2023 Mission u Dean. Mission u curriculum is still available for purchase. It  can be adapted to a variety of settings outside of the Mission u format, including Sunday school and other church school settings.