Podcasts about United Methodist Women

The former United Methodist Women board president and transformative leader leaves a legacy of love and justice.From the March/April 2025 issue of response magazine.

Let's kick off Women's History Month with a look back and a look forward, situated solidly in this present moment. We'll celebrate the women of the Bible and challenge our understanding of women's roles in church and society today.Meet and re-acquaint yourself with some women who've loved our beautiful United Women in Faith (and its earlier incarnations) into existence.Get ready to share insights with Dr. Ashley Boggan, general secretary of the General Commission on Archives and History, United Methodist Church; Ann Craig, formerly Spiritual and Theological Development executive for United Methodist Women; and Dr. Glory Dharmaraj, former director of Spiritual Formation and Mission Theology for United Methodist Women.We welcome our old friends. And this month, as always, we make new friends, inviting and learning from one another through United Women in Faith. 

Sermon and scripture reading from worship Sunday, January 29. Scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11. Reflection: "Mosaic of Faith" by Lori Greene & Jane McClure.

This week I speak with Charlene Brisbane. She is currently a member of Dare to Imagine Church under the pastorship of Rev. Kevin Johnson. At Dare to Imagine, she is involved in community service and serves as an iGroup (small group) leader. In 2022, Charlene became vice president of the non-profit organization Clothed N Strength, whose mission is to help women overcome barriers to success who have recently returned to society after being incarcerated or who have suffered trauma. She is also the creator of a podcast with her daughter Shelby called Garage Conversations with Char, via which she hopes to engage, inform and inspire listeners. Charlene has a career in the biopharmaceutical industry that spans over 34 years which includes positions of increasing responsibility at Johnson and Johnson, GSK, and Teva Pharmaceuticals, where she currently is a Senior Director in Project Leadership and Strategy in R&D. Charlene believes that her foundation was laid spiritually, as well as, professionally at Trinity United Methodist Church where she accepted Christ in her life at an early age and was baptized. At Trinity, she was Chairperson of the Administrative Council, a Certified Lay Speaker, and a Sunday school teacher, as well as a member of United Methodist Women and The Inspirational Choir. Trinity was the place where she was given encouragement, responsibility, and the challenge always to strive to do her best. One of Charlene's favorite scriptures is Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” She places her hope in God and acknowledges that all that she is is because of Him. We look at the life God has given Charlene, and even in the midst of the great loss of her husband, we see God working and providing for Char as a widow - The beautiful thread of God working is undeniable - You won't want to miss this episode you will be greatly encouraged!Dare to Imagine Church: https://d2ic.org/Garage Conversations with Char: https://garageconversationwithchar.com/Clothed N Strength: https://clothednstrength.org/Books referenced: Christians Get Depressed Too by David MurrayBroken Minds: Hope for Healing When You Feel Like You're "Losing It" by Steve & Robyn Bloem*Theme Music “Blessed time” by Ketsa

We're so glad you could join us in worship today online, from wherever you are. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about beginning a relationship with God or connecting to this church. If you would like more information on anything, don't hesitate to ask. Drop us a message in the Facebook or YouTube live chat (while the service is streaming live) or in the comments below so we know you're with us. You are welcome here!.- Today's scripture is Luke 8:1-3https://bit.ly/3Rve7Mo  - Give Online at https://bit.ly/fmkonlinegiving or text-to-give at (833) 409-0585- Contact the Prayer Team: https://www.fumckilleen.com/prayer-requests - Announcements: Signup or find current church updates in our weekly newsletters at:  http://bit.ly/FUMCKNewsletter - First Methodist Killeen Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FUMCKilleen - First Methodist Killeen YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6gIwr-NjD59P1CuVuDCmjQ We reserve no rights to the music used in this service. All music used by Permission. CCLI License # 1722305 

Elizabeth Chun Hye Lee, Climate Justice Lead and Executive for Economic and Environmental Justice with United Methodist Women, explains how those communities are suffering the brunt of climate change.

Assembly 2022 featured a Faith Talks Town Hall on Women and Leadership that we're excited to share with in this special edition of the Faith Talks podcast. Faith Talks host Jennifer Farmer moderated the Assembly Town Hall panel that included: *Emma Cantor—Deaconess, Regional Missionary from Philippines serving in Asia/Pacific Region. *Gail Douglas-Boykin, Deaconess, former board member, United Methodist Women, coordinator ministerial services for New York Annual Conference. *Sung-ok Lee, Deaconess, Connectional Officer, United Women in Faith *Alzira Isaac Machauene, Women's Executive Secretary, Mozambique North Annual Conference.

Scripture reading and sermon from Sunday, May 15, 2022. Scripture readings: Psalm 147, Romans 15:13, John 16:22. Guest speaker for United Methodist Women's Sunday: Dr. Paul Kotz.

The best way women can commemorate Women's History Month is by making history! That's just what Faith Talks will do in a special Women's History Month celebration of United Methodist Women boldly turning a page to launch a new chapter of sisterhood, faith, and love in action!Our guests from the National Office will include• Sally Vonner, Transformation Officer• Mollie James-Vickery, Operations Officer• Amanda Choi, Assistant Treasurer for Mission Funding• Dr. Baranda Fermin, Life in Deep Ellum

On this episode of Faith Talks we focus on air pollution and what faith and medical leaders are doing to address it. We'll learn about state and national work to ensure healthier air, and unpack parts of the Build Back Better legislation that are crucial to addressing public health.Our guests will be :*Dr. Anne Mellinger Birdsong of Mothers and Others for Clean Air*Susannah Tuttle of North Carolina Interfaith Power & Light*Elizabeth Chun Hye Lee of United Methodist Women.

As we enter into a General Conference year, learn more
about what's happening in The United Methodist Church
and United Methodist Women's plans for a bright future.

Stop the train—I want to get off! Do you ever feel that way? Time is moving too fast. People are moving, changing jobs, becoming harder to include in gatherings shaped by pandemic concerns. It's always time to nominate new officers, plan an event or write another response column. (Maybe that last one is just me.) Why can't things just stay the same?Of course, the truth is, things never really stay the same for long. For those of us who have accumulated some years, it only takes a few minutes to come up with examples—we used to search a card catalog, get graded on penmanship, use paper maps and phone books, watch our favorite television shows only once a week, need a man's permission to obtain a credit card. At the same time there are things that endure, such as the need to connect, research, make records, communicate, enjoy art, worship. The ways in which we accomplish these tasks may change, but the needs remain.We have experienced this throughout the existence of United Methodist Women and our predecessors. How we do mission has changed. Our names have changed. How we learn about the work needed and the work being done has changed. How we gather, inform, fundraise, engage, celebrate and worship has changed. So much has changed! But we can also look back at our 153 years and see so much has remained constant. Women still gather for Christian fellowship, prayer, support and study. Women are still committed to raising up women leaders. Women are still committed to making the world a better place. Women are still committed to living out their faith in lives of action for justice and through loving service. Women are still attentive to those who are excluded or left out or left behind. Women know the church needs us.One of the marvelous learnings from all the research we did as a foundation for launching our new brand is that both members and nonmembers value these constants. Women who are not members of United Methodist Women, now United Women in Faith, value and long for the things that have been at the core of who we are throughout our existence. Members and nonmembers want to grow closer to God, find sisters in faith, raise up and hold up women leaders and invest in causes larger than themselves. This, friends, is good news. The core purposes for which we exist have urgency and appeal to many who are not yet members. What is less appealing to women of faith is connected to how we have organized to achieve our goals. We know from decades of hard work with new member resources and thinking about what it means to belong that it can be very challenging to enfold new people in existing structures in ways that allow them to bring all they have to offer. The good news is that we can lead with our core values and goals. We can invite women to connect in new ways, to engage with causes larger than themselves and to come together for Christian nurture in familiar and new ways. This time of rebranding is a wonderful opportunity to elevate our deepest values, to employ new tools and to reaffirm the centrality of faith, action and sisterhood. Let us, together, go forward to live out the call of God, letting love guide our action, in work for justice and in service.

On today's episode of Renew Your Mind, you'll be able to listen to the recently aired "Mission Impactful" radio interviews. The Promise FM came to Gaylord FUMC on February 18th, 2022 to get to know more about the church, including the leadership and several church members. The 8 interviews include: Part 1 - Pastor Gruenberg discussing the amazing people and relationship building at Gaylord FUMC Part 2 - Linda Ryan talks about "The Caring Closet" and how it ministers to the local community, Part 3 - Youth & Family Director Jeremy Touroo talks about the vision and work being done with the youth and children at Gaylord FUMC Part 4 - Mike Cooper discusses the several special guest speakers Gaylord FUMC has hosted and how the community is always encouraged and lifted up by the special events hosted at Gaylord FUMC Part 5 - Diana Weier talks about the great work being done with the Food Pantry to help the less fortunate in the community Part 6 - Dana Hall speaks on behalf of the United Methodist Women and their upcoming soup lunches at Gaylord FUMC Part 7 - Scott Thompson share his family's personal story of how they joined Gaylord FUMC and the growth and positive Christian community they have become an integral part of Part 8 - Pastor Gruenberg talks about the mission at Gaylord FUMC and how the ultimate goal is to help the hurting in our community and help them in their walk with Christ. He also discusses Lent, and upcoming Easter season and services. A huge thank you to the Fred and Dennis at the Promise FM for visiting the Gaylord FUMC and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ in Gaylord. Thanks for listening and we hope this episode inspires and helps grow your walk with Christ!

On UMW Sunday, our United Methodist Women contribute elements of the worship service at all three hours.

United Methodist Women are praying women. Join us as we discuss the role of prayer in the lives of women and The 2022 Prayer Guide, a new resource to help us pray with intention and purpose for the U.S. and international ministries of the church and the world God so loves.Visit http://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/FaithTalks to find out more about this show.

“In everything, give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Paul wrote those words to a first century church in Thessalonica, and they're still words to live by to have inner peace here in the 21st century.Let's talk about it.Listen to this episode of Faith Talks where we will discuss living with gratitude with an esteemed guest panel that includes:*Amanda Choi, United Methodist Women's Assistant Treasurer for Mission Funding*Ghylian Bell, founder and director of The Urban Yoga Foundation (UYF) since 2007

United Methodist Women updates for change.Visit https://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/news/new-wineskins-for-new-times to read this article on our website.

United Methodist Women emergency grants and historic endowments 
aid partners in India during the worst of times for COVID-19.Visit https://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/news/a-legacy-of-love to read this article on our website.

Our services of Lessons & Carols is an adaptation of that service made famous by King's College in Cambridge, England, with origins attributed to Truro Cathedral in Cornwall. Our services begin with the good news that a Savior will be born to us and ends with the call of the faithful to worship the newborn King. Carols, anthems, readings, and the message join together to retell that story in profound beauty. - Soprano - Cindy Berg-Aycock Karen Gunnels Julie Hagan Barbara Hood Susan McGlamery Sarah McHan Katie Redden Jerry Singletary Ceci Smith Isa Wallace - Alto - Tammie Dickens Ami Palmer Ruth Ann Rogers Janice Smith Karla Thomas - Tenor - Caleb Flanders Brendan Kennedy - Bass - William Amponsah Rev. Dr. Scott Hagan Nehemiah Robertson Kirkland Sanders Lee Walker Many thanks to Beste Toparlak and Diane Kessel for sharing their musical gifts with us today. Many thanks to the United Methodist Women who have provided refreshments for the Choir.

Members of the La Vernia United Methodist Church Martha Circle are happy to announce they will contribute a handmade quilt to the silent auction at the La Vernia United Methodist Women's annual Christmas Bazaar this Saturday. The quilt honors the historic sites of La Vernia, including the Rector Chapel from 1876, the Old Mueller Bridge, the La Vernia School, the John Scull home, Methodist Chapel, Polley Mansion, Brahan Masonic Lodge, the Applewhite Well, and the Lutheran church. Don't miss your chance to bid on the quilt Saturday, Dec. 4, at the Bazaar. Proceeds will go toward United Methodist Women missions.Article Link

Gloria Werthing Reynolds a wife, mother & entrepreneur with a passion for mentoring young women of color and for diversity, equity & inclusion efforts. As a non-profit Executive, Werthing Reynolds is a strategic thinker that is highly focused and motivated with over 30 years of combined experience in corporate and non-profit sectors. She is a proven leader with excellent communication skills with the ability to develop key relationships. Gloria is also a highly energetic, determined leader and team builder who delivers positive results. Gloria's goal is to impact generations of young people on their journeys as confident leaders and maintain self-sufficient lives. Her drive is to close the gaps of connecting education to careers, by making a social impact and improving economic progress. As a civic and community leader Gloria serves board leadership roles with The Texas Diversity Council, Dallas Independent School Racial Equity task force, President of the United Methodist Women of St. Luke, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and The Links, Inc. Gloria is graduate of Tennessee State University with a bachelor's in business management and a graduate of University of Dallas where she earned her MBA. She is married to Officer Willie Reynolds and mother to Gabrielle(deceased), Austin and Alexandria.

This Sunday, we recognize our veterans, celebrate the ministry of the Teter Organic Farm and our United Methodist Women's (UMW) work with the Indiana United Methodist Children's Home in Lebanon and kick off the Seeds of Hope campaign. Pastor Jerry Rairdon shares a message titled "Money Myths."

What's happening with the United Methodist Women and how is the church changing?

Listen in on this special edition of Faith Talks on the future of United Methodist Women and the New Wineskins Campaign preparing members for exciting changes on the horizon that will energize women to turn their love into action for women, children for another 150 years.This special edition of Faith Talks will feature a panel of United Methodist Women board and national leaders including CEO Harriett Jane Olson, UMW CEO and general secretary.Jesus said, “No one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.”That's just what United Methodist Women is doing through new and improved programs and a rebrand launch set for 2022 designed to nurture current members and attract new women!Visit http://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/FaithTalks to hear more Faith Talks conversations.

Join us this week as we re-visit an early episode of the podcast. Be sure to tune back in next week for a new episode! This week we welcome Amanda Meisenheimer and there are parenting fails, confessions, and wins to go around. We'll talk about the lectionary passage (John 2:13-22) and discuss Angry Jesus and that one time he flipped over the tables in the temple. Follow us on IG & Twitter @autoparent to share your own fails, confessions, and wins! Amanda Meisenheimer is the Minister of Children and Families at the Riverside Church in the City of New York. Amanda specializes in intergenerational and therapeutic approaches to ministry, theology, and curriculum. Amanda has written curriculum, music, and worship resources for Illustrated Ministry, Sparkhouse, United Methodist Women, Nooma, and Mars Hill Bible Church (MI). She and her two children make their home in Manhattan.

Support the show: Patreon l Glow l Episode TranscriptPastors like Wendy make me so hopeful for our faith.Guest Bio:Wendy Hudson is the pastor of Two Rivers Church in Charleston, South Carolina. An ordained United Methodist pastor for 17 years, she has served congregations in both the Eastern Pennsylvania and South Carolina Annual Conferences, focusing on turnaround and revitalizing church communities. Before entering seminary, she served as a young adult missionary through the Board of Global Ministries, funded in large part by the United Methodist Women.Guest Music by The Silver PagesYou can also find all the musical selections from all our episodes on our Spotify Playlist. Check out all the things over at the store...it's a great way to support the show www.canisaythisatchurch.com/storeWhat are you waiting for; consider becoming a Patreon supporter of the show. You'll have access to many perks as well as guaranteeing the future of these conversations; even $3/Month goes so far as this show is 100% listener supported. Follow the show:Facebook, Twitter, StoreAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

We're so glad you could join us today, from wherever you are. Check out the message from Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021 from our special United Methodist Women's (UMW) Sunday. Today's guest speaker, Jan Doke, is a retired high school English and Bible teacher, the mother of two children, and Nana to six grandchildren. She lives in Belton with Larry, her husband of 49 years. Jan is the author of two devotional books, BROKEN JAR and FLYING IN THE FACE OF GRAVITY, and one novella, OUT OF THE CHUTE IN AZALEA HEIGHTS, a lighthearted confessional of her fifth grade hoodlum days in East Texas. She is in the process of writing a sequel to this one as well as another devotional-style book. Be looking for TOEING THE LINE IN AZALEA HEIGHTS and BREAKING THE RULES. All of Jan's books are available on Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com and most other online bookstores..Please contact us if you have any questions about beginning a relationship with God or connecting to this church. If you would like more information on anything, don't hesitate to ask. Drop us a message in the comments below so that we know you're joining us. You are welcome here!.●  Today's scripture is Eph 4:11-16, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Eph+4%3A11-16&version=NIV ●  Announcements: Signup or find current church updates in our weekly newsletters at:  http://bit.ly/FUMCKNewsletter ●  Give Online at https://bit.ly/fmkonlinegiving  or text-to-give at (833) 409-0585●  Contact the Prayer Team: https://www.fumckilleen.com/prayer-requests ●  Past Services: https://www.fumckilleen.com/sermonsonline ●  First Methodist Killeen Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FUMCKilleen ●  First Methodist Killeen YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6gIwr-NjD59P1CuVuDCmjQ We reserve no rights to the music used in this service. All music used by Permission. CCLI License # 1722305

Everyone is invited to a special book conversation with former interim pastor at St. Stephen's United Methodist Church, Margaret T. Kutz, author of “Nevertheless, She Preached,” Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, at St. Stephen's United Methodist Church in Burke, Va. Pastor Marg's book tells the story of Reverends Lillian Russell and Mildred Long, the two earliest clergy women in Virginia Methodism. The book is based on years of research of primary sources. Earlier on Sept. 26th, St. Stephen's will be welcoming Pastor Marg to the pulpit for both our 9 a.m. Outdoor and 11 a.m. in-person and Livestream worship services. Pastor Marg served as an interim pastor at St. Stephen's in 2014 and 2015. This special event is sponsored by the St. Stephen's United Methodist Women. To sign up for the free event, please visit https://www.ststephensfairfax.org/united-methodist-women/

“Walking the path with our neighbors” is how Sandra Soroka describes the work of the Neighborhood Center. And there are as many paths and ways of walking with neighbors as there are facets to this longtime community gem in Utica, New York.Over the past year, the center struggled to keep essential activities open for families, children and people in need. The center's leaders, particularly Soroka, the executive director, were guided as always by the center's original mission: to support folks with mental health issues, children in need of care and new immigrants settling in to a new neighborhood and culture.For years, Utica, a hardscrabble town on the Erie Canal, once a stop on the manufacturing corridor, has seen a decline in population. Until recently, the overall population was decreasing by about one percent a year. Located between Syracuse and Albany, Utica residents are hoping for a renaissance through the public-private “Nano Utica” initiative, making the region a hub for nanotechnology. The pandemic slowed this progress.Growth has occurred incrementally with the arrival of new citizens. The region has been a destination for new Americans originally born in Russia, Bosnia, Burma and Somalia. Around 19 percent of the approximately 60,000 Utica residents were born in a different country.Thanks to the resettlement of refugees, the area has become increasingly multicultural. In one recent swearing-in ceremony, 30 refugees from 15 countries became U.S. citizens in Utica. Economically, the median income has risen slightly to $35,394, and the poverty rate remains a stubborn 30 percent. The neighbors who are struggling with poverty, young children and mental health are the families that the Neighborhood Center, a United Methodist Women-supported national mission institution, has always served.Visit https://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/news/good-neighbors to read this article on our website.

Nothing is constant but change, so the saying goes. Our current church landscape is unsettled, and changes are coming. United Methodist Women has prepared by taking needed action now.We are and will be a place for all women who want to work together in mission focused on women, children and youth. Women have always been able to be members of United Methodist Women without being a member of The United Methodist Church, but we have made bylaw changes to make it clear that no matter what a woman's church or conference decides about leaving or staying in the denomination, she can remain at home in United Methodist Women.We are also looking at our own landscape and the great opportunity we have to welcome new members. Through research and testing, we have been working with members, leaders and nonmembers to make plans for new opportunities for women to join and participate, working together locally and globally for women, children and youth. Our churches and our communities are full of opportunities to make new connections! We are excited for our bright future.Change is part of our history of following God's call. Preparing for change and charting our path is also part of our history. God continues to call us, and we continue to respond.Visit https://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/news/responsively-yours-charting-our-path to read this article on our website.

United Methodist Women member Vickie Powell-Bass works in her community to uplift schoolchildren through her local school council.Visit https://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/news/i-will-step-in to read this article on our website.

United Methodist Women is making new wineskins so that new generations of women can join in the joy of turning faith into action with a community of like-minded women.Members soon will have the opportunity to experience exciting innovations to popular United Methodist Women programs like Mission u and Leadership Development Days as well as use templates for new programs like Soul Care Retreats. Each will enrich the experience of current members and create welcoming spaces for new women seeking to grow spiritually and act on their faith to improve life for women, children and youth here in the United States and around the world.Visit https://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/news/new-wineskins-for-growth to read this article on our website.

Listen in to this Faith Talks conversation as we discuss honoring labor, before and after Labor Day.Our guests are Harriett Jane Olson, General Secretary and CEO of United Methodist Women, and co-chairs of The Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis and Bishop William J. Barber II.

Upon reading what Rabbi Mark Levin said of the Jewish community at that time, "We are largely strangers...", members of United Methodist Women  considered how alone they must feel. Learn all about Strangers No More, video episode available at Rez Women YouTube.

Bethlehem Centers are celebrating its 127th year, growing out of a partnership between two women, Sallie Hill Sawyer and Estelle Haskins, who sought to impact the lives of others and provide essential services for the working poor.A national mission institution supported by United Methodist Women, it is one of approximately 90 funded by the agency. Located throughout the United States, they are ministries with the poor, communities, families and all age groups.“We have a biblical mandate to serve our neighbor and take care of the least of these,” said Nita Wright, president of the Tennessee Conference United Methodist Women. “It's not a suggestion or even a request. It's the United Methodist Women legacy.”---Visit http://www.UnitedMethodistWomen.org to read this article and more from response, the award winning magazine of women in mission.

“Through turmoil and distress, anxieties and fears, external macro and micro aggressions, internal struggles, through inherited traumas and collective grief, sorrow or tears, we must be determined to find and hold onto the joy that is ours,” said Ebony Diaz, United Methodist Women's executive for membership, nurture and development and one of the event planners, looking directly through her Zoom camera. “It is our birthright, even as the air we breathe. It is God's gift to us, and we must receive it for ourselves. Joy is our theme song. Joy is our weapon to fight the battles ahead. It is our hope. It is our healing.“So welcome to this sacred space. This is your time of retreat and joy.”And so began Soul Care. As part of United Methodist Women's strategic plan for growth, the organization surveyed more than 24,000 women over the age of 18 in United Methodist Women, The United Methodist Church and beyond, to get their say on everything from how they prefer to meet, how they prefer to give, what's most important to them, and what they're seeking. One need rose to the top across demographic differences: the need for soul care.---Visit http://www.UnitedMethodistWomen.org to read this article and more from response, the award winning magazine of women in mission.

United Methodist Women, the future is calling for our resolute action today. Now is the right time to claim our roots, strengthen our relationships and our outreach, and tend our foundations. God is preparing us, in the midst of this prolonged uncertainty, for faithful and fruitful work in and through the changes ahead. Now is the time to lean forward toward the opportunities that God is providing.---Visit http://www.UnitedMethodistWomen.org to read this article and more from response, the award winning magazine of women in mission.

Each year at Mission u events around the country, adults, children, and youth prepare their hearts and minds for faithful living and response to needs of the world. Join the next Faith Talks event on June 3 at 2 pm ET as we talk with some of the writers and planners of the 2021 Spiritual Growth Studies being offered at Mission u events this year.Our guests include:*Amanda Meisenheimer, author of the study guide for Bearing Witness in the Kin-dom: Living Into the Church's Moral Witness through Radical Discipleship, this year's adult spiritual growth study.*Jay Godfrey, Transformative Education and Training Specialist for United Methodist Women and author of Becoming Peacemakers in a Culture of Violence, this year's youth study, and*Sue Raymond, author of Responding to Violence, this year's children's study.Visit http://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/FaithTalks to find out more and register for upcoing Faith Talks events.

Belief is not purely a matter of the will. Belief is action—belief is a matter of the heart as well as the mind. Over and over again Scripture refers to believing with our heart. We don’t just think that God loves the world—we believe it! We don’t just think that United Methodist Women is called to serve and to advocate for women, children and youth—we believe it! We don’t just think there is a role for us to play—we believe it!Since the onset of the pandemic, many of you showed with your actions that you believe you are called upon to make a difference. You contributed to the Giving Now event in May 2020 to help national mission institutions respond to unprecedented need. You made masks. Many masks. Thousands of masks! Masks for schoolchildren, health workers, national mission institutions, the Navajo Nation and mission organizations around the world. You spoke up for racial justice during this year of “crisis revealed.” You were invited. You invited others. You responded. You acted, believing you could make a difference. And you did.Remember your relationships. Remember your legacy of faith and action and the women who have gone before us. Remember God’s love for us and for the whole world. Now is our time to remember and to rekindle and to believe that God is at work.---This episode originally appeared in the May/June 2021 issue of response, the award winning magazine from United Methodist Women.Visit www.UnitedMethodistWomen.org to find out more.

United Methodist Women-supported national mission institutions 
bend with challenges but do not break remaining reliable sources 
of help and hope for their communities.---This episode originally appeared in the May/June 2021 issue of response, the award winning magazine from United Methodist Women.Visit www.UnitedMethodistWomen.org to find out more.

Being innovative means thinking outside of the box. It means being creative and bold. In the ministry of a layperson, it means going where the church has not always been or is sometimes unwilling to be. Being innovative is transformative. What makes Hansen’s ministry innovative is her willingness to listen to the hopes, dreams and aspirations of the community. Then she finds the assets within the community itself to help it transform. The All People’s Fresh Market does just that, and Hansen describes it as the “hallmark of the Healthy Eating and Living program,” which gives away about 2 million pounds of fresh produce each year. It is the largest distributor of free food in the state of Ohio, which is all healthy food. “People want to eat healthy,” Hansen said. “They come to us when they could go to a more traditional pantry that’s giving out canned goods and nonperishables, and that’s all fine, but we find that people choose to come to our fresh market.”---This episode originally appeared in the May/June 2021 issue of response, the award winning magazine from United Methodist Women.Visit www.UnitedMethodistWomen.org to find out more.

This year, 2021, is the 120th anniversary of the first mission study, published in 1901 by the Central Committee on the United Study for Foreign Missions. Finding Peace will continue to be a book Mission u participants study together in 2021, along with Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools, Bearing Witness in the Kin-dom: Living Into the Church’s Moral Witness Through Radical Discipleship and the youth and children’s studies Becoming Peacemakers in a Culture of Violence and Responding to Violence. The 2021 theme is “There’s Far More Here,” based on 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. Many of this year’s Mission u events will be online as Mission u teams continue to keep participants safe in the ongoing pandemic while still bringing people together to learn and grow.The Mountain Sky Conference has hosted a Mission u in 2021, over four Sunday afternoons in February. More than 273 people of many ages registered across 16 states according to Cathy 
Speich-Ferguson, dean of the Mountain Sky Mission u. “We sent out invitations to all of the churches in our conference and to our United Methodist Women presidents and advertised on a national church site listing events. We shared the free event on our conference website calendar and our conference United Methodist Women website calendar,” Speich-Ferguson said. “Our conference normally would have 40 to 70 folks attend a Mission u — mostly retired and older folks — when we met in person. This virtual event has fantastic participation and is easier for folks who can’t travel, can’t get out of the house, have kids, or other barriers to participation.”While we yearn for the chance to be together in person again, we can follow the example of creative and committed United Methodist Women members to continue offering the chance to transform in our learning, to continue the century-long mission to open eyes and hearts, for, as Irene Barnes stated at the 1900 missionary conference, “Prejudice has to be overcome.” ---This episode originally appeared in the May/June 2021 issue of response, the award winning magazine from United Methodist Women.Visit www.UnitedMethodistWomen.org to find out more.

This edition of the Means of Grace podcast is a three-part series highlighting four ministries in Western North Carolina who are using green spaces in ministry. These ministries meet people where they are and invite them to something new – an orchard, a story walk, a worship service, exercise, a meal. Part 2 features "The Kevins" – Kevin Miller and Kevin Bates – who are starting a new outdoor faith community in the Swannanoa Valley called Way in the Wilderness: A Church Without Walls.  These episodes are airing on the Tuesdays surrounding Earth Day as a way for leaders to consider how they might connect the earth and its Creator with the lives of people in their community.  One of the many blessings of living in North Carolina is access to beautiful spaces and God’s earth. These podcasts encourage you to think about your own outdoor space – it doesn’t take much – and how it can be used in ministry.  Listen to Part 1, featuring The Village Green in Cashiers and G.I.F.T Aquaponics & Shepherds Garden in Wingate. Part 3 drops next Tuesday, May 4th. Resources: Earth Day Sunday - CREATION JUSTICE MINISTRIES Worship resources for Earth Day 2021 - Global Ministries (umcmission.org) Caretakers of God's Creation (umccreationcare.org) – United Methodist Creation CareCreation Care (umc.org) – Creation Care in the United Methodist Social PrinciplesClimate • GBCS (umcjustice.org) – General Board of Church and Society resourceswww.unitedmethodistwomen.org – United Methodist Women resources (search “creation”) Soil and Sacrament: A Spiritual Memoir of Food and Faith by Fred Bahnson (faithandleadership.com) Soil and Sacrament: A Spiritual Memoir of Food and Faith: Bahnson, Fred: 9781451663303: Amazon.com: Books About Us – Watershed Discipleship Watershed Discipleship: Reinhabiting Bioregional Faith and Practice: Myers, Ched, Nadeau, Denise M.: 9781498280761: Amazon.com: Books Koinonia Farm in Georgia: Home - Koinonia Farm

This edition of the Means of Grace podcast uses two episodes to highlight four ministries in Western North Carolina who are using green spaces in ministry.  These podcasts are being made available near Earth Day as a way for leaders to consider how they might connect the earth and the Creator with the lives of people in their community.   These ministries meet people where they are and invite them to something new – an orchard, a story walk, a worship service, exercise, a meal.  The blessing of living in North Carolina is access to beautiful spaces and God’s earth.  These podcasts encourages you to think about your own outdoor space – it doesn’t take much – and how it can be used in ministry.  Part 1 features Ann Self, the executive director of The Village Green in Cashiers; and, Chris Harbin and Edmari Correya deCastro who share about the aquaponics and biodiverse orchard ministry. Resources: Earth Day Sunday - CREATION JUSTICE MINISTRIES                 Worship resources for Earth Day 2021 - Global Ministries (umcmission.org) Caretakers of God's Creation (umccreationcare.org) – United Methodist Creation Care Creation Care (umc.org) – Creation Care in the United Methodist Social Principles Climate • GBCS (umcjustice.org) – General Board of Church and Society resources www.unitedmethodistwomen.org – United Methodist Women resources (search “creation”) From the Conversation with Ann Self Home - The Village Green Of Cashiers (villagegreencashiersnc.com) Home | Diana Butler Bass Grounded: Finding God in the World, A Spiritual Revolution Google “Story Wall” to discover ways to exhibit a story in multiple frames. Center for Action and Contemplation (cac.org) Richard Rohr  The Universal Christ and Every Thing is Sacred From the Conversation with Chris Harbin and Edmari Correya deCastro G.I.F.T. Home (weebly.com) G.I.F.T. Aquaponics & Shepherds Garden | Wingate UMC (wordpress.com) Home Page | EndHunger Society of St. Andrew gleaning

Murphy-Harpst is an independent not-for-profit organization committed to meeting the needs of abused and neglected young people through residential treatment, placements in specialized foster care, and community programs that serve at-risk youth and their families. In partnership with the United Methodist Women national office, our services are available to all children regardless of sex, race, color, or creed, and whose needs can be addressed and treated within the scope of program services.

We are thrilled to have an opportunity to talk with UMW National Board Leaders for our next Faith Talks event and profile them during Women’s History Month. United Methodist Women is still making history turning our faith, hope and love into action on behalf of women, children, and youth.We will hear from several members of our 2021-2024 UMW's National Board of Directors including UMW Board President Ainise Isama'u of the California Pacific Conference, UMW Vice President Cynthia Rives of the North Texas Conference, UMW Chair of Governance Committee: Daryl Junes Joe of the New Mexico Conference, and UMW Chair of Finance Committee: Heidi J. Careaga of Wisconsin Conference.Visit http://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/FaithTalks to hear more episodes of Faith Talks and to register to attend upcoming Faith Talks events.

“Once a deaconess, always a deaconess” is a phrase often heard when talking to the women who are graduates of Harris Memorial College in Taytay, Rizal, Philippines. If they move to the United States, their dedication to serve God and their neighbors continues. Just as deaconesses and home missioners consecrated in the United States, they are committed to lifetime ministries of love, justice and service. ---This episode originally appeared in the March/April 2021 issue of response, the award winning magazine from United Methodist Women.Visit www.UnitedMethodistWomen.org to find out more.

El Mes de la Historia de la Mujer en los Estados Unidos y el Día Internacional de la Mujer el 8 de marzo, son momentos en los que celebramos muchas cosas por "primera vez". La inauguración presidencial de los Estados Unidos mostró varios de estos primeros eventos: la vicepresidenta Kamala Harris, primera mujer, primera afroamericana y primera del sur de Asia en este puesto; la jueza Sonia Sotomayor, primera hispana en la Corte Suprema de Estados Unidos y Amanda Gorman, primera joven poeta laureada. ¿Sabía que Kizzmekia Corbett, científica principal de la investigación de la vacuna contra el coronavirus en los Institutos Nacionales de Salud, es líder del equipo de la vacuna Moderna COVID-19(diecinueve)?, y es una de varias mujeres que marcan la diferencia en este campo altamente especializado; Corbett es una mujer afroamericana de 34(treinta y cuatro) años de Carolina del Norte.---This episode originally appeared in the March/April 2021 issue of response, the award winning magazine from United Methodist Women.Visit www.UnitedMethodistWomen.org to find out more.

This week we welcome Amanda Meisenheimer and there are parenting fails, confessions, and wins to go around. We'll talk about the lectionary passage (John 2:13-22) and discuss Angry Jesus and that one time he flipped over the tables in the temple. Follow us on IG & Twitter @autoparent to share your own fails, confessions, and wins! Amanda Meisenheimer is the Minister of Children and Families at the Riverside Church in the City of New York. Amanda specializes in intergenerational and therapeutic approaches to ministry, theology, and curriculum. Amanda has written curriculum, music, and worship resources for Illustrated Ministry, Sparkhouse, United Methodist Women, Nooma, and Mars Hill Bible Church (MI). She and her two children make their home in Manhattan.  

Join Pastor Katie and special guest Diane Kisch as we talk about the United Methodist Women's "Soupless Soup Kitchen" fundraiser, the sermon series "Earn. Save. Give." and the importance of pledging to the church how much you plan to give in 2021.