txconfumw Events, Spring Retreat

Registration Open for 2025 Spring Spiritual Growth Retreat

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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 amMorning Praise
8:00 am – 9:00 amGathering Time
9:00 am – 9:30 amOpening Plenary
9:30 am – 10:00 amKeynote Address
10:00 am – 10:10 amBreak
10:10 am – 11:00 amWorkshops – 1st Session
11:00 am – 11:15 amReturn to the main room
11:15 am – 12:05 pmWorkshops – 2nd Session
12:05 pm – 12:15 pmBreak
 12:15 pm – 1:00 pmClosing Plenary
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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.

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txconfumw Fall Meeting

Food, Faith, Fellowship — and Fun!

Ask anyone who attended the 2024 Annual Meeting at Lakeview, and they’ll tell you that a great time was had by all.

Officers met on Friday morning to approve a budget to present to the membership, discuss the coming year’s events, and to get an update on all the work being done in the Conference.

In the evening attendees gathered at Bagley Hall and got to know each other by playing several fun games centered around food and the recipes that women brought from home. With bingo cards in hand and wearing our aprons, we tried to find someone who brought a soup recipe, someone with a salad recipe, and someone who cooks Sunday dinner on Saturday among other descriptions. Finding that person in the crowd was most of the fun. Prizes were awarded to the winners of the food word search and word scramble. (Most of us are still trying to figure out how they got the answers so quickly!)

All the fun was followed by an emboldened word from Rev Ellen Thornburg, Associate Pastor at Love UMC in Baytown. She encouraged us to remember that we can rely on Lady Wisdom from Proverbs as we move throughout our important work.

We ended the evening by watching the 25-minute film, Food Access Revolution in South L.A. Roy Choi’s Inspiring Journey, a look at food deserts in the Los Angeles area and how different people are trying to solve the problem.

Saturday’s session began with a blessing the hygiene kits that units assembled this year. At final count we donated 610 kits, $550 in miscellaneous supplies, and $1347 in cash donations to be used by the UMC Mission Center in Conroe for women in schools and shelters.

Greetings were brought by Stacie Hawkins, South Central Jurisdiction President, and Stephanie Pounds, National Board of Directors. The Prayer Calendar and devotion was given by Gwen Mason in English and by Ashley Mayho in Spanish. Treasurer Kathy Aubin lit the Mission Candle for 1 hour and 40 minutes representing the $1650.88 raised.

President Theresa Graham presented General Secretary Sally Vonner with a certificate for a Special Mission Recognition pin which was warmly received. After that Stacie Hawkins reported that the Legacy Fund has raised $40,806,698.00 so far and that the Texas Conference had contributed $205,783.06 of that.

Sally Vonner brought the keynote speech. She challenged us to help the organization reach 500,000 people in membership, generate $10+ million/year in revenue, and meet or exceed $60 million Legacy Endowment Fund 2014 goal.

After a short break, the business meeting began where we elected and installed new officers, adopted a 2025 budget, completed the pledge service, and took an offering.

Pledges for 2025 totaled $82,000:

  • Metro District – $12,000
  • Northeast District – $10,000
  • Northwest District – $10,000
  • Southeast District – $25,000
  • Southwest District – $25,000

Lunch followed, and then we split into two workshops on Food and Faith led by Rev. Eleanor Colvin, Senior Pastor at Westbury UMC, and Rev. Jennifer Hodson, Pastor at Bryan Community Church.

Gathering one last time in Bagley Hall, Rev Colvin led us in Communion and the sending forth. We believe love in action can change the world–now it’s up to us to go home and do just that.

txconfumw Events, Racial Justice, Uncategorized

Living the Charter for Racial Justice

The Charter for Racial Justice is a crucial document adopted by the United Women in Faith (UWFaith) of the United Methodist Church. It was created to address and combat racism within the church and society. The charter emphasizes the belief that all people are God’s children and that racism is a rejection of Jesus Christ’s teachings.

The Texas Conference United Women in Faith actively supports and promotes this charter. We are committed to eliminating institutional racism, creating opportunities for honest discussions about racism, and working together to create a world where every person has a voice, rights and opportunity for an abundant life.

Please register to join us on October 12, 2024, 9:00 – noon, at Ebenezer United Methodist Church, 7302 N. Main St, Houston, as we highlight examples of Living the Charter for Racial Justice.

Download this flyer and invite your friends.

Living the Charter for Racial Justice FlyerDownload

Dorothy Ringer Sumner
Social Action

txconfumw Annual Conference, Uncategorized

Food, Faith, and Fellowship Aprons

This year in concert with our Annual Meeting theme of Food, Faith, and Fellowship, we’ll be offering aprons for sale with the UWFaith logo embroidered on them.

The aprons are khaki in a 65/35 Cotton/polyester blend (so not much ironing needed). The cost is $25. Pre-order now, and you can pick yours up at Lakeview.

Important

  • Orders must be placed by Sunday, September 15th, 2024.
  • When paying, the site will ask you for a shipping address, so that we have a way to contact you. There WILL NOT be a shipping option. All aprons must be picked up by someone attending Fall Annual Meeting Lakeview.
  • There will be no guarantee that any will be available at Fall Meeting if you have not pre-ordered.
Order Today

Need to send a check? Order here.

txconfumw Annual Conference, Events, Guest Speaker, Uncategorized

General Secretary Sally Vonner to Keynote 2024 Fall Meeting

Registration is now open for the Texas Conference Fall Annual Meeting to take place at Lakeview Methodist Conference Center outside Palestine, TX on September 27-28. We are excited to announce that the General Secretary and CEO of United Women in Faith, Sally Vonner, will join us as our keynote speaker.

To show our appreciation for all that Sally has done during her first year as General Secretary, the Texas Conference will present her with a Special Mission Recognition Award. During the registration process, individuals are invited to contribute to purchasing the pin Sally will receive. Units can also contribute by contacting treasurer, Kathy Aubin.

Our theme this year is Food, Faith, and Fellowship. You are all invited to wear your best apron and bring a recipe to share during our Friday night fellowship time. Don’t have an apron? We’ll have some for sale with the UWFaith logo! Stay tuned for more details.

Rev. Ellen Thornburg, Associate Pastor at Love UMC, Rev. Eleanor Colvin, Senior Pastor at Westbury UMC, and Rev. Jennifer Hodson, Pastor at Bryan Community Church, round out our list of dynamic speakers and workshop leaders.

Rev. Thornburg
Rev. Colvin
Rev. Hodson
Register

Schedule

Friday

  • 3-5 pm Registration, Bagley Hall
  • 5:30 pm Dinner, Sparling Cafeteria
  • 7:00 pm Gather in Song, Bagley Hall
    • Speaker – Rev. Ellen Thornburg
    • Fellowship – Bring your recipes and aprons!

Saturday

  • 7:30 am – Greet the Day
  • 8:00 am – Breakfast, Sparling Cafeteria
  • 8:15 am – Registration, Bagley Hall
  • 8:45 am – Gather in Song, Bagley Hall
    • Hands-on Mission Project Dedication
    • Candle Burning Ceremony
    • Presentation of Special Mission Recognition Pin – Sally Vonner
    • Legacy Fund Report
    • Keynote Speaker – Sally Vonner
    • Business Meeting
      • Election of Officers
      • Recognition of Retiring Officers
      • Adoption of 2025 Budget
      • Pledge Service
      • Offering
  • 12 noon – Lunch, Sparling Cafeteria
  • 1:15 pm – Workshops (choose one) – Rev. Jennifer Hodson and Rev. Eleanor Colvin, Bagley Hall
  • 2:15 pm – Closing Plenary/Communion, Bagley Hall
  • 2:30 pm – Depart
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txconfumw Annual Conference, Annual Luncheon, Events, hazel decker

2024 Annual Luncheon Brings Sisters Together from Across the Conference

On June 10, 2024, women from across the Texas Conference met to break bread–cheese bread to be exact–and fellowship with their sisters during the Texas Annual Conference. The Annual Luncheon was held in the Rose Garden Room of the Westchase Marriott, and more than 60 women attended.

President Theresa Graham welcomed all to the table, and Deb Wroblewski, Program Resource Officer, delivered the devotional.

President, Theresa Graham
Deb Wroblewski, Program Resource Officer

Carla Cardoza, President of the Lydia Patterson Institute (LPI) in El Paso, stepped to the podium next to share the story of their school. LPI has a rich history of nurturing academic excellence and spiritual growth, and they are looking to partner with women from the Texas Conference. You can learn more about the great work being done by the Institute in this video. If you would like to contact Ms. Cardoza to discuss ways to collaborate, her email is c.cardoza@lpi-elpaso.org.

Carla Cardoza, President, Lydia Patterson Institute

Following that Theresa introduced the very-deserving recipient of the 2024 Hazel Decker Award, Stacie Hawkins. Stacie currently serves as the Vice-President of the Texas Conference and she recently served as a delegate to the General Conference of the United Methodist Church. In addition, she has been nominated as President of the South Central Jurisdiction of United Women in Faith, with the election coming up at the end of June.

Stacie Hawkins, Hazel Decker Award Recipient with President, Theresa Graham

In her acceptance speech, Stacie spoke of her long association with United Women in Faith and how she was nurtured by the women at Windsor Village UMC.

Keynote speaker, Rev. Romonica Malone-Wardley, who currently serves as Assistant to the Bishop, based her talk on Acts 10. She asked us to consider how Peter and Cornelius might have wanted to “other” each other, but instead, by working with people with whom they might not normally work, they became witnesses to the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit.

Rev. Romonica Malone-Wardley

Theresa closed the meeting by presenting Romonica with a Special Recognition Pin, and Romonica closed us all in prayer.

txconfumw Mission u

Mission u 2024

Make plans now to attend Mission u 2024 on July 12-13 via Zoom. Register today!

What is Mission u? Each year, United Women in Faith develops three justice-focused Biblical curricula for adults, youth, and children, all on a common theme. In 2024, our theme is The Kin-dom Is Among You: Drawing Closer to God and One Another, and the adult curriculum is entitled Welcome Home. The eight-part series was written by Neomi Fletcher who will be our Texas Conference Mission u leader this year.

Mission u will take place over two days, Friday, July 12 and Saturday, July 13. Each day will last from 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and will include worship and study time. The event will be broadcast via Zoom. You can watch the Zoom at home, or you can make plans to watch it together with your unit! The registration fee is $20 per person whether you watch by yourself or with a group.

Register at https://na.eventscloud.com/801099. The cut-off date for registering is July 5, so make sure to register soon!

The Mission u book is not required to attend, but if you would like to purchase one, you can find it at https://uwfaithresources.org/prodlist.cfm?catID=2176.

You can download a flyer to post at your church.

mission-u-registration-flyer-2024Download

Questions? Contact us.

txconfumw Districts, Metro

Metro District Spring Gathering 2024

We are excited to announce a special gathering of the women of the Metro District taking place on May 4 from 2-4 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church. This event promises to be a wonderful opportunity for fellowship, connection, and community building. We welcome all members and friends to join us for this special occasion. There will be engaging activities, meaningful conversations, and of course, refreshments to enjoy. We look forward to seeing you there as we come together to celebrate and strengthen our bonds.

Download a flyer here and invite your friends!

txconfumw Districts, Southeast

Southeast District Gathers in Winnie

On January 20, 2024, Winnie-Stowell United Women in Faith hosted the first gathering of the new Southeast District. Twenty-five women from Santa Fe to Beaumont braved freezing temperatures to hear Kandy Lawson, 2023 president of South District, outline issues facing the newly reconstituted district.

Several conference officers—President Theresa Graham, Vice-President Stacie Hawkins, Treasurer Kathy Aubin, and Program Resources Chair Debra Wroblewski—joined the group also.

Rev. Jared Grosse, pastor of First United Methodist Church, Winnie-Stowell, officiated a communion service and blessed the lunch that concluded the gathering. Fortified with hearty soups and salads, attendees returned home with inspiration for the coming year.