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THOUGHTS FROM OUR PRESIDENT

Almost time to turn the page on the calendar. Do people still use calendars? With all these fancy electronics, I am sure that the calendars are no longer in use, but in our home we have the good old standby wall hanging calendars in most every room. The one in the kitchen has everything going on in our lives and keeps us well informed. Please check the rest of this newsletter for important dates coming up in the life of our UMW for your calendars. Hope everybody had a joyful summer and are looking forward to a bright and beautiful fall. Maybe you were able to attend Mission u in N.H. What an uplifting three days, a special time to catch up with friends from the past and to make some new ones. Be sure to share your joy and maybe next year to bring someone new with you, in fact fill your car and enjoy the ride. So plug into your smartphone or write it on your pocket calendar the Mission u dates for 2016 – July 22, 23, and 24. You know how your days fill up, so do it now. As school is about to start, or maybe your schools have already, I wonder about the children who will receive the homemade school bags that were made and filled with the supplies they will need to help them learn. As we know, there is such a need for them, there are instructions on the website. We all do what we can for women, youth and children. Tell us what your units are doing, share your happy times. Hope to see you at the fall gathering on Sept. 19th at Northfield. So enjoy our days and do remember, it is good and OK to be happy, and better when you can share it. With many blessings to all, Janet W. Powell

VERMONT DISTRICT NEWSLETTER A Publication for United Methodist Women

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August 2015 Editor: Ginger Phelps

Find the Song in Your Heart!

Singing can be a beautiful spiritual practice—whether one sings silently

to oneself or aloud in the shower or with a group. John Wesley wrote,

“Above all sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing.

Aim at pleasing him more than yourself. . . .”

The Bible, especially the Old Testament, is full of songs and singing.

Consider, for example, the Psalms and the Song of Songs. Perhaps you

could spend some time exploring them and putting a favorite psalm to a

tune in your head. Recall that Miriam (Moses’ sister) sang to the women after they successfully

crossed the Red Sea, “Sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted” (Ex 15:21). In James 5:13b, we

read, “Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.”

What songs bring you joy? What songs inspire you? What songs express your feelings toward

God? Do you praise God in song sometimes as you are walking or driving? Do you feel the

Spirit when surrounded by a group of people who are singing together or when out in the woods

listening to bird song?

We hope that you will join us at the Vermont District Gathering at Northfield UMC on Saturday,

Sept. 19, to find the song in your heart. (See flyer for details.) This day apart, facilitated by Evie

Doyon, will be a Spirit-filled time. The women who have attended previous UMW “day apart”

gatherings have expressed appreciation for the time for reflection, music, quiet activities of their

choice, and fellowship. Please join us for the first time or once again.

Car pooling is encouraged—to save gas, enjoy the company of others, and find parking close to

the church.

Carol Jean Suitor, Spiritual Growth

Giving Recognition and Thanks

Special Mission Recognition is one of the five channels of mission giving. An

individual or local or district unit honors a special person by giving a monetary

gift of $40 or more. This special person is active in mission work and may be a

woman or a man or a youth.

With a gift of $40 or more, a pin and certificate is sent for presentation to the

special person. A unit may also help with a presentation to a district or

conference person. That gift may be less than $40. Special Mission

Recognition provides an opportunity to honor those active in mission work.

Peg Mosley, Education and Interpretation

A DAY APART

with the Vermont District

United Methodist Women*

9:30 AM – 3:00 PM

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2015,

Northfield United Methodist Parish

152 South Main Street, Northfield VT 05663

Join us for a day of creativity, music and singing, reflection, and

fellowship! Evie Doyon, song leader and writer, will facilitate

the program.

Together we will explore the songs within us during different

times in our lives and how using song helps us express what is

in us to God.

To register, contact Ginger Phelps, gingerp46@comcast.net

802-879-7484. $10 registration fee, paid when you arrive, covers

program expenses and lunch & refreshments.

*Women of all ages are welcome! You do not have to be active in United

Methodist Women to participate.

A Song in My Heart Singing the Seasons

of the Soul

What’s in

your heart?

When we

sing we

pray twice.

Singing

when God

is silent

Then sings

my soul…

Sing a new

song

Program Resources

I hope everyone has enjoyed our lovely Vermont

Summer, and feels a sense of "renewal" as we

approach another year in UMW. Hopefully you had

time for Summer reading, and a book or two from our

Reading Program list. We have 4 plans from which to choose and books from the

previous 5 years, including youth titles, may be included.

Plan 1 requires reading 5 books: 1 from each category: Mission, Leadership, Spiritual

Growth, Community, Social Action and regular reading of Response magazine.

Plan 2 has 10 books, 2 from each category, Response and New World Outlook

magazines.

Plan 3 has 15 books plus magazines.

Plan 4 requires 20, but we do have a year to accomplish this and a fine selection of

books from which to choose.

The lists are asked to be submitted in August in order to be recognized by NE

Conference UMW. Please get those lists to me ASAP if you haven't already done so.

Happily the 2016 Books are now available, as well as the new Program Book. I hope

you will stop by the Program Resource table at our Fall District Meeting on Sept.

19th, to see these and other, some free, resources and greeting cards.

See you soon,

Pat Howard

Legacy Fund Reminder

United Methodist Women will celebrate 150 years in mission in 2019. Today, UMW is the largest religious organization of women in the world and changes lives each and every day. Gifts to the Legacy Fund will lay the financial foundation for the future generations of United Methodist Women. It is being suggested that for the next five (5) years, each woman give as she can toward the Legacy Fund that has been established as part of the anniversary celebration. This will guarantee that the work of the United Methodist Women will continue into the future. You can give individually or your unit can contribute by sending money to District Treasurer Carole Rice, 54 Gail Terrace, Williston, VT 05495 noting the Legacy Fund. Or you can give directly to the fund: United Methodist Women, 475 Riverside Drive, 15th Floor-Finance, New York, NY 10115. Direct gifts should be payable to United Methodist Women with project # 3001147 on memo line.

NE CONFERENCE UMW Annual Meeting and Celebration of Mission

October 24, 2015

North Boston Korean United Methodist Church 244 Lowell Street

Andover, MA 01810 978-470-0621

Registration begins at 9:00 AM and Opening Worship is at 9:30 AM Guest Speaker – Harriett Jane Olson, General Secretary of United Methodist Women,

“And Justice for All”

Please return registration form below and payment to:

Marcia Hoyt, 8 Bacon Street, Natick, MA 01760

Registration and luncheon fee is $14.00. Please send registration and payment to

Marcia by October 10, 2015. Checks are payable to NECUMW.

Rooms are available for this event at the Holiday Inn Tewksbury/Andover,

4 Highwood Drive, Tewksbury, MA

Rate is $105/ double occupancy room by calling 978-640-9000 and

mentioning New England Conference United Methodist Women. To get this rate,

reservations must be made with the hotel by October 3, 2015.

Driving directions: On Route 93 take Exit 43 to Andover East (Route 133 East). From Holiday Inn take route 133

East from Highwood Drive). The church is within 1 mile on the right side from I 93, about 4

miles from Holiday Inn.

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Name______________________________________________________________________________

Church ___________________________________ District __________________________________

Mailing Address______________________________________________________________________

E-mail Address_________________________________Phone_________________________________

UMW Office: Local ___________________District ___________________Conference ___________

Special Food Considerations/Allergies: ___________________________________________________

Child care needed? __________________Ages______________________________

Northeastern Jurisdiction UMW Quadrennial Meeting

June 16-18, 2016

Syracuse, NY

Theme: “A Fresh Wind Blowing” John 3:8

Meeting begins Thursday evening and ends at noon on Saturday

Friday lunch and dinner are provided in the registration fee

Registration Fee

$ 175.00 Early Bird Registration through January 31, 2016

$ 200.00 Regular Registration through April 30, 2016

$ 250.00 Late Registration through May 15, 2016

This registration fee includes two meals on Friday (a boxed lunch and a banquet). If you are

staying at a contracted hotel, a free shuttle service will take you to and from the Oncenter as

needed.

Online registration will be available in September or October 2015 at

http://nejwomen.wix.com/nejwomen

During the voting for national UMW directors, there will be Ubuntu Opportunities (mission

experiences) and workshops for those who are not voting delegates.

Syracuse Hotel Information Make your own hotel reservation The following hotels have reserved blocks for individuals or groups. Please indicate that you are part of the United Methodist Women—Northeastern Jurisdiction when calling to make reservations. (Rates do not include state and local taxes, which are added to each room rate)

Hotel Name Room Rate Phone

Courtyard by Marriott Syracuse Downtown Armory Square

.58 mile to On Center

$189

Parking $10 per day

315-422-4854

Sheraton Syracuse University

Hotel and Conference Center

Complimentary parking

.69 mile to On Center

$139 single $149 double

$159 Triple

$169 Quad

315-475-3000

Genese Grande Hotel Complimentary Wi Fi and parking

.66 mile to On Center $129 double

315-701-4305

Park View Hotel Complimentary Wi Fi and parking

.39 mile to On Center

$119

(Doubles and King) 315-701-2600

Jefferson Clinton

.40 mile to On Center $159

315-425-0500

Crowne Plaza $129 315-479-7000

Shuttle service will be provided between the hotels and convention center.

PRESIDENT Janet Powell 188 Pleasant Acres Ave, W i l l iston, VT 05495

(802)878-3293 e-mai l : ejgumc@myfairpoint.net

VICE PRESIDENT Marie MacDougall

19 Eastern Ave., Barre, VT 05641 (802)461-4452 (home) (518)588-4705 (cel l)

e-mai l : macdome@juno.com

SECRETARY Carol Clark Goss Court, Burl ington, VT 05408

(802) 734-5050 emai l : Clark3x@aol.com

TREASURER Carole Rice Gai l Terrace, W i l l iston, VT 05495

(802)879-0185 e-mai l : cr_glacier689@aol.com

MISSION COORDINATORS

SPIRITUAL GROWTH Carol Jean Suitor 60 W inooski Fal ls Way #1308, W inooski VT 05404

(802)497-1131 e-mai l : carolsuitor@gmai l .com

SOCIAL ACTION vacant EDUCATION AND INTERPRETATION Peg Moseley

289 Foss Road, Wolcott, VT 05680 (802) 888-7816

emai l: moseley289@mai lstation.com

MEMBERSHIP, NURTURE AND OUTREACH vacant

SEC. OF PROGRAM RESOURCES Pat Howard 98 Marions Way, W i l l iston, VT 05495

(802) 879-7320 emai l : pchvt@msn.com

COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR Ginger Phelps

10 Glenwood Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452 (802) 879-7484

e-mai l : gingerp46@comcast.net COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS

CHAIRPERSON vacant NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE MEMBERS: (4 vacanc ies)

Vacant spaces could be you! Please contact any one of us!!

VERMONT DISTRICT UMW Slate of 2016 Mission Team Officers