Inside This Issue
Mission U 8, 9
Spiritual Growth Retreat 10, 11
Local Unit Happenings 3, 4
President 1
Vice-President Notes 2
2019 Executive Committee 6,7
Notes from the Team 5
Cover Page and 2019 Dates 12
The Gainesville Light
Volume 14,
Issue 1
Summer 2019
Diane Faw, President Nanette Presnell Vice-President Robin Hubbard Secretary Marilyn Savage Treasurer Judy Wendt Program Resources Sue Cook Spiritual Growth Mary Bell Thomason Social Action Betty Fisher Winkowski Membership/Outreach Elaine Kent Education/Interpretation Suzanne Crossan Communications Barb Cely Nominations Chair Jean Minix Parliamentarian Sue Bradley Historian
e
Greetings Ladies!!
Our theme for this year is
Sisterhood of Grace
President’s Notes
"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up."
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NIV)
In that spirit we are partnering with the Athens-Elberton District for our Spiritual
Retreat in September. I know we will have a spiritual renewing two days. I hope that
everyone can plan on attending September 6-7th at the Hinton Rural Life Center in
Hayesville, NC.
We also have an opportunity for time of prayer study and fellowship with others from
the Conference at Mission u. It is being held in Fayetteville this year on July 26-27 at
Fayetteville 1st UMC. The studies this year are: The Book of Mark – Spiritual Growth,
What about our Money – A Faith Response, Women United for Change – 150 Years in
Mission. The Youth Study will be Who Do You Say That I Am? Meeting Jesus Thru the
Eyes of Mark and the Children’s study is MARKED: A Mission Journey with Jesus in
the Gospel of Mark.
The registration forms for both events are included in this newsletter.
The end of our Awards year is June 30th – which is coming quickly. I will be sending
all Unit Presidents this year’s report form. Remember that the 5 channels of giving are:
1. Pledge to Mission
2. Special Mission Recognition Pin
3. Gift to Mission Card
4. Gift in Memory Card
5. World Thank Offering
All Units still have until the end of June to contribute to all 5 channels to be recognized
as a 5 Star Unit. You can also add to your Pledge to Mission thru Candle Burning and
qualify as a 5 Star Plus Unit.
We are also looking for qualified candidates to fill our 2020 slate of District Officers.
Do you have a skill set or desire to serve on the District Staff? Please let us know as
we need your help in identifying potential leaders.
Your Sister in Christ,
Diane Faw
The Gainesville Light pg. 2
Summer 2019 The Gainesville Light
Notes from the Vice-President
Notes from the Vice President
Just substitute Hinton Rural Life Center in place of Gilead and you will know the reason you need to make plans to come to the Gainesville District Spiritual Growth Retreat September 6th and 7th. Plans are underway to have a great retreat and we are excited to welcome the Athens-Elberton District who will be joining us this year. New faces, new friends, and new stories will add a new dimension to these two days of fellowship. The UMW theme this year has been “A Sisterhood of Grace” and what a joy it will be to share that Sisterhood of Grace with each of you. Put it all in a beautiful setting that is truly a balm to the souls of those who have enjoyed the retreats in the past, and it will hopefully be spiritually renewing for all. We are fortunate to have Rev. Kathy Stasko from Cumming First UMC as our retreat leader again this year. Those of you who were present last year know what an outstanding experience it was to be led by Kathy. Her enthusiasm bubbles over and is so infectious. I cherish the Prayer Booklet that we all contributed to last year and look forward to what Kathy has in store for us this year at Hinton. .
There are many smart, talented, crafty people among the United Methodist Women in our District and if you have any crafts you would like to teach on Friday evening, please give me a call (706) 348-6771 Friday is a time of coming together and interacting with one another through the evening meal, walking the labyrinth, singing, putting together UMCOR kits, playing games and making crafts. Games are available but if you have a favorite one you would like to bring, by all means do so. The deadline for registering for Hinton is August 23rd. The registration form is available in this issue of Gainesville Light. Please make sure each lady in your unit has an opportunity to see it. There is also a Scholarship Application form if you or anyone you know might need a little help with the cost of attending. Please fill out and return to Sue Cook whose information is on the bottom of the form. Personally, this is my favorite event of the year and I hope it will become yours also.
I will see you at Hinton, and may the Holy Spirit revive your soul again! Blessings, Nanette , VP, Executive Committee
SPIRITUAL GROWTH RETREAT - September 6 and 7, 2019
There is a Balm in Gilead ….Sometimes I feel discouraged, and think my work’s in vain.
But then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again……
The Gainesville Light pg. 3
Summer 2019 The Gainesville Light
Dahlonega United Methodist Women, Friendship Circle was able to help the jail
ministry by purchasing soft cover Recovery Bibles for the women who request a Bible. Kelly Geoghegan spoke with the group about the ministry and the need for
these Bibles.
The circle was also able to present seven baby certificates to the newest members
of our church family. Along with recognizing the babies born January 2018-April
2019, each child received a children’s book. A copy of the book was donated in
the child’s name to Dahlonega United Methodist MMO/PreK.
Local Unit Happenings
Gainesville Light
Antioch United Methodist Women collected stuffed animals for our local sheriff’s department. The department gives the animals when they are on calls where children are present. The ladies are: Pam Kent, Barbara Wilson, Gail Lucy sitting left to right. Standing left to right: Sue Cook, Freda Sullivan, Gloria Davidson, Rita Edge, Cathy Highsmith Robinson, Lee Hudson and Elaine Kent.
Antioch set a goal of $1500.00 for the Legacy fund to be reached by March 2019. We met the $1500.00 before that and actually ended up with $1657.00. This was done by one fund raiser, the donations from the 2018 and 2019 Mission U at Antioch and contributions at our meetings..
Four members of Gainesville District United Methodist
Women on the Sea of Galilee. Char Montonaro, Suzanne Crossan, Marilyn Savage, and Diane Faw.
March 2019 Israel Pilgrims Sue Cook, Elaine Kent and
Nannette Presnell at Annual
Conference UMW breakfast.
The Gainesville Light pg. 4
Summer 2019 The Gainesville Light
Cumming United Methodist Women are having a community-wide health fair, scheduled for
September 14, 2019 from 10 am to 2 pm at 770 Canton Highway, Cumming GA 30040.
The theme of the health fair is Maternal and Child Health with the ultimate goal of promoting health moms and
healthy families. Did you know?
Since 2000, the maternal mortality rate in the United States has increased 26.4 percent – the only
developed country whose rate did not decline.
Georgia has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the United States.
Our foremothers started by providing Health Care and Education to women and girls
We have a committed group of women working to bring health care providers and families together to promote
both healthy moms and healthy kids. We have healthy activities planned for the children and lots of health
resources for families. Save the Date!
For more information, send email to: [email protected]
Cumming United Methodist Women Holding Health Fair
LENTEN DAY APART
Lenten Day Apart was held at New Salem UMC
Deaconess Rene Grant gave our Lenten message.
The theme: celebrating 150 years of United
Methodist Women and supporting the Legacy Fund.
The Gainesville Light pg. 5
Summer 2019 The Gainesville Light
First, there was Teresa, so young, so bright, sensitive, fragile, loving, caring - seems like I only knew her for a short time and in a "flash" she was gone. I always wanted to know her better. Maybe I could have learned from her and she from me. Ruth was legally blind. A truly remarkable woman. She would walk the streets from her home, with a cane, to GFUMC, around the church and back home again. Some said she favored "Audrey Hepburn"! Exercised daily, 92, carried herself well. Just to sit and talk with her about her past was a blessing. She loved my fresh vegetables and desserts. So dedicated to the Lord and her children. Why me, Lord, did I receive this Blessing of her Friendship? Andrea was my friend from the very first time we met at SS, Wesley Class, LFUMC, 30 years ago. I asked if she wanted to join the Dorcus Circle. She accepted, and so began a lifelong friendship. Andrea was a dentist; I believe she may have given away more of her work than she was paid. When we saw each other after I moved away, it was like there had been no lapse of time. Then the crash, and she was gone, my friend, I still cry as I write. Weeks later her husband tried to carry on and host a pancake breakfast at church. Ron and I arrived late. As I looked into the Fellowship Hall from the hall, there she was, my friend Andrea walking across the room looking at me one more time. Thank you, Lord! Judy and I met at a nighttime bible study class. I was president of the UMW. She asked if she could be our Resource Coordinator. I immediately said yes. As a former Librarian, we had "struck gold". She organized, selected books, encouraged reading, and on top of that,
Membership, Nurture, and Outreach Eulogy - To the Women I Have Loved and Lost
In Love and Memory of My Women Friends Betty Freeman Fisher Winkowski United Methodist Women Gainesville District
she was a true friend. Always volunteering even when she could not remember for what she had volunteered. We visited- we talked -we laughed, but the "Memory" disease finally took my friend. Now she is in the "library" in heaven. We can't imagine who is checking out books from Judy now! What a Blessing. And now my precious Anna, 94, we met at Disciple Bible Study 12 years ago. The friendship began. I would visit every two weeks, talk on the phone, listen to her stories over and over again: in California, rodeo, lasso, Roy Rogers/Dale Evans (you don't want to know what she thought of her) horseback, entertainer with a rodeo band, married Richard, her beloved… he flew the crop duster airplanes, she repaired them, wing repair by hand and he still flew them, then moved to Atlanta, he dentistry, she Administrator of the Emory Dental School. She loved my cooking, I always brought her something. She became a recluse. Water damage-I mopped her floors, dizzy, pain-we took her to the doctor, she needed her teeth-I got them for her. I never realized how much Anna was a part of my everyday life until she was gone. I sat at Bell Manor with her in the end, holding her hand, talking to her about the good memories we had, how she would get to see Richard soon, and be young again, laughing and holding his hand, she would put her frail hand across my leg as I sat on the edge of her bed so I would not leave. The last time I saw her she was responsive, struggling to breathe, could not swallow. She told me she loved me, just as I loved her. After that night, the next day, I was sitting beside her, stroking her hand, arm, talking to her in low tones. She continued to struggle. On Saturday, May 25th, 8:30AM, I got the call. My Anna was gone and now I have only the memories, the tears for My Dear Friend Anna.
The Gainesville Light pg. 6
Summer 2019 The Gainesville Light
President
Diane Faw
38 Pinewood Drive
Dawsonville, GA 30534-6754
706-265-3780
678-858-4345
Vice President
Nanette Presnell
57 Mann Road
Cleveland, GA 30528
706-348-6771
Secretary
Elaine Kent
3164 Lynncliff Drive
Gainesville, GA 30506
770-561-6624
Spiritual Growth
Sue Cook
2906 Antioch Church Road
Gainesville, GA 30506
678-294-0515
Treasurer
Marilyn Savage
4720 Madison Hollow Lane
Cumming, GA 30040
770-402-8662
Communications
Suzanne Crossan
361 Running Deer Road
Murrayville, GA 30564
706-864-9358
Education & Interpretation
Robin Hubbard
371 Chestnut Avenue Apt C
Demorest, GA 30535
770-539-2251
Nominations
Barb Cely
275 Pine Wood Lane
Cornelia, GA 30531
706-499-1299
Membership Nurture & Outreach
Betty Fisher
5262 Forest Cove Road
Gainesville, GA 30506
404-375-8523
Program Resources
Judie Wendt
2484 Apple Pie Ridge Road
Alto, GA 30510
706-776-2081/706-318-0782
Social Action
Mary Belle Thomason
2233 Prospect Road
Carnesville, GA 30521-2085
706-599-3256
Nominations
Judy Jackson
PO Box 507
Lula, GA 30554
770-861-8962
Gainesville District Executive Team
The Gainesville Light pg. 7
Summer 2019 The Gainesville Light
PROGRAM RESOURCES
Greetings ladies, Since all of the information for program
resources is online now, it is different for many of
us. I have found that you can order from the
office in Atlanta by calling (800.305.9857) or
going on online at
www.umwmissionresources.com.
Many of the books for the reading program can
also be ordered from Amazon in book form or
Kindle. I would like to recommend a few books
from 2018 that I have enjoyed: Hiding in the
Light by Rifqa, Bus to Corinth by Ladine
Housholder and On Pluto by Greg O’Brien.
Happy reading. If you have any questions, feel
free to contact me. (see page 6)
Blessings, Judie
Executive Team continued…
Parliamentarian
Jean Minix
236 Poplar Mill Road
Demorest, GA 30535
706-754-1586
Historian
Sue Bradley
9 Stone Creek Lane
Dawsonville, GA 30534
706-216-1949
678-617-6234
text cellphone
Nomination Chair
Marge Lees
305 Town Creek Church Rd
Dahlonega, GA 30533
706-867-9966/706-344-7397
Nominations
Gedelle Taylor
605 Tom Watson Andrew Rd
Toccoa, GA 30577
706-282-7651
Nominations
Becky McDougal
5005 Blooming Court
Cumming, GA 30028
404-317-1350
District Superintendent
Rev. Dr. Alice Rogers
343 Northside Drive
Gainesville, GA 30501-3294
770-536-2586
TREASURER
Sending UMCOR Money to the New
Warehouse at Impact
How are we to send our money along with our kits to the new warehouse at Impact? This is the protocol –
Do not put money in your kits even if the directions say to do so. Please keep it out separate and mark the envelope clearly. You can even combine the funds into one check.
Make checks out to the North Georgia Conference United Methodist Church.
Do not make checks out to UMCOR.
Do not make checks out to UMW.
In the Memo Line of the check, specify that the money is for UMCOR Kits.
The Gainesville Light pg. 8
Summer 2019 The Gainesville Light
The Gainesville Light pg. 9
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The Gainesville Light pg. 10
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The Gainesville Light pg. 11
Summer 2019 The Gainesville Light
Spiritual Growth Scholarship Application
Gainesville District United Methodist Women
Scholarship Application for
Spiritual Growth Retreat
Sept. 6-7, 2019
Hinton Rural Life Center, Hayesville, NC
The Gainesville District will pay 1/2 of the expense,
if you would like to attend the Retreat.
Name___________________________
Address__________________________
Email____________________________
Church___________________________
Age Group: __18-19, __20’s,__30’s, __40’s, __50’s,
__60’s,__70’s+
Would this be your first time attending? __Yes, ___No
Will you be attending Friday and Saturday ________
Will you be attending Saturday only ___________
Return form to:
Sue Cook 2906 Antioch Church Road Gainesville GA 30506
The Gainesville Light pg. 12
Summer 2019 The Gainesville Light
Gainesville District United Methodist Women
This Gainesville District UMW
Newsletter is published 2-3 times a year and is sent at no charge
to all churches in our district. Specifically, it is sent to Pastors
and UMW Presidents. Others may subscribe for free by
email by sending an email to
Subject: Gainesville Light
Gainesville Light
Suzanne Crossan, editor
Phone 706 864 9358
361 Running Deer Rd
Murrayville, GA 30564
Gainesville District 2019
Executive Team Buford United Methodist Church July 20
Spiritual Growth Retreat/ Executive Team Hinton Retreat Center Sept. 6-7
Annual Meeting and Leadership
Development
Cumming First UMC Nov. 16
North Georgia Conference 2019
Mission U Fayetteville UMC July 26-27
United Methodist Women Annual Meeting Dunwoody United Methodist Church October 5
Leadership Development Sandy Springs United Methodist Church Nov 2
Save the Date!