Sage Wise Sage District Oregon-Idaho Conference United Methodist Women Volume 10, Issue 1 - Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Sage Wise Proceeding from wisdom; well judged; shrewd; well adapted to the purpose. Sage District Oregon-Idaho Conference United Methodist Women Winter 2021 Volume 10, Issue 1 Paul’s Desire to Visit Rome informed about legislation which may come before 8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all our Senate and House of Representatives in Boise, of you because the news of your faith is being possibly through different Zoom meetings. The reported in all the world. 9 God is my witness, whom spring EMEE (Every Member Enrichment Event) will I serve with my spirit in telling the good news about be done on Zoom, with the date set for March 20th. his Son—that I constantly mention you, 10 always Mission u is planned for July 9th through the 11th at asking in my prayers that if it is somehow in God’s the Nazareth Retreat Center. However, if we still will, I may now at last succeed in coming to need to stay home, plans may be changed to you. 11 For I want very much to see you, so that I provide a virtual Mission u. Sage District Annual may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen Meeting, is planned for September 18th, and if we you, 12 that is, to be mutually encouraged by each cannot meet face to face, we will adapt to provide other’s faith, both yours and mine. another virtual meeting. The Oregon-Idaho Conference United Methodist Women are working Romans 1:8-12 (CSB) Christian Standard Bible on plans for DLTE (District Leadership Training Just like Paul, who so wanted to be with the church Event) and the annual meeting for October 15th and in Rome, I so want to be with all of you in person! 16th respectfully to be held at Boise First United However, we are still being asked to stay home, Methodist Church. If we still cannot meet in person, wear masks, and practice social distancing, wait for we can meet virtually. our vaccinations, and for COVID-19 to end. One thing we can do together is be proud of being In these difficult times, I am so thankful for United involved in United Methodist Women, and the work Methodist Women! United Methodist Women are we do in our local communities, in our nation, and still practicing faith, hope, and love in action globally. We are a strong organization of women throughout the world. We tell others we care about who keep each other in our hearts and minds them, even if we may never meet them face to face. through prayer, our mission work, our support for We share and live our faith with them through our each other, and we are connected to each other, no mission work with our partners, and our national matter where we reside. For over 150 years, women and international institutions. We share in spreading from different locations and situations support each the good news and praying for people and our work other through faith, hope, and love in action. throughout the world, as we pray for each other I cannot wait till we can be together again face to closer to home. face. In the meantime, I will continue to keep you in I, also, keep you in my prayers constantly. Prayer my prayers and brag about the work we all do requests are still being sent out through emails and together. God bless you all my sisters! phone calls for each other and for people we will Joyce H. Orem never meet face to face. Our work continues and Sage District President pledges for mission are still coming in, although, we may not meet our total pledge. But that is okay, as we are resilient in our resolve and understand our Inside This Issue Important Dates to Remember 2 circumstances have changed. We adjust and Officers List 2 continue our work. Legislative Event 3 Resource Room Manager 4 The new year brings challenges as we plan for our Membership Nurture and Outreach 4-8 future. The Idaho Legislative Event will be done by Special Article 9 - 10 Zoom, and although dates are not currently set in Legacy Fund 11 stone, the committee is working on ideas to keep us Conference Education and Interpretation 12 1
January and February 2021 – Idaho Legislative Event sessions on Zoom March 20, 2021 – EMEE Zoom meeting July 9 – 11, 2021 – Mission u, Nazareth Retreat Center, Boise, Idaho September 18, 2021 – Sage District Annual Meeting, Nampa First, Nampa, Idaho? October 15, 2021 – DLTE (District Leadership Training Event), Boise First, Boise, Idaho October 16, 2021 – Conference Annual Meeting, Boise First, Boise, Idaho May 20 – 22, 2022 – Assembly, Orlando, Florida President Spiritual Growth Mission Coordinators: Joyce H. Orem Bonnie Anderson Education and Interpretation 208 – 859 – 5780 208 – 221 – 8047 Ingrid Cook jhillisorem@hotmail.com monty@dcdi.net ianddcook@gmail.com Vice President Chair of Nominations Social Action Vacant Vera Kenyon Judy Halverson 208 – 989 – 7535 judybhalverson@gmail.com Secretary ldkvak@gmail.com Lucy Scopinich Nominations Committee 208 – 387 – 0661 (Home) Nominations Committee Member 208 – 409 – 2067 (Cell) Members Rochelle Killett lkscop0661@gmail.com Lory Neser rochellekillett@gmail.com 808 – 286 – 4829 Treasurer lneser@aol.com Legacy Liaison Jean Spence Lory Neser (541) 656-6630 (Cell) Kay Durham jeanlacook@yahoo.com 541 – 962 – 1002 (Home) Mission u Dean 541 – 975 – 3997 (Cell) Bonnie McOmber Communications Committee kaydurham71483@yahoo.com bjdlmcomber@live.com Joyce H. Orem Charlene Wimpy Idaho Mission u Assistant Dean Bonnie Anderson 208 – 642 – 4304 (Home) Leona Whitcomb cwimpy@q.com jayandleona1969@gmail.com Elinor Chehey 208 - 343 - 8018 Idaho Legislative Event Western Jurisdiction Chair on elinorchehey@gmail.com Coordinators Nominations Elinor Chehey - Chair Lynda Montgomery Resource Room Manager dynomont_3@msn.com Earlene Lamb Mary Getchell 541 – 786 – 8039 (Cell) 208 – 860 – 2715 National Program Advisory peggye@eoni.com mlgetchell@aol.com Group Dixie Jacky Mission Coordinators: Gayle Woods dixiejacky@gmail.com Education and Interpretation Vacant Judy Halverson Yuni Rueda Barrera yuni.rueda@gmail.com Membership Nurture and Conference and Western Outreach Jurisdiction Officers and other Maralyn Wells Positions 208 – 989 – 0917 mfwells-35@msn.com Vice President Gayle Woods Social Action gaylewoods5964@msn.com Connie Johnson 541 – 216 – 8342 connie.johnson53@gmail.com 2
Idaho Legislative Advocacy Event Idaho State Legislature will begin its annual session January 11, 2021. This means that we must be ready to put our faith, hope and love into ACTION. To prepare, we will have our annual Idaho Legislative Advocacy Event virtually this year, using Zoom. Part One Sunday, January 10, 2021, 7:00-8:15 pm MST (6:00-7:15 pm PST) • Elinor Chehey will show us how to navigate the Idaho Legislature’s website to find committee meetings or House and Senate hearings and meetings. • Lee Flinn will give a presentation on how bills are written and introduced to committees • Retired Idaho State Representative, Donna Boe, will share the most effective ways to contact your elected representatives and advocate for policies. • Judy Halverson will wrap it up with an overview of specific legislative issues members of United Methodist Women want to watch this session. Register for the January 10 session by replying to: gaylewoods5964@msn.com. You will be sent the Zoom link. Part Two Sunday, February 7, 2021, 7:00-8:15 pm MST, 6:00-7:15 pm PST • Medicaid Funding Legislation – speaker TBA • Foster Care Legislation, Housing concerns, and other critical issues – Christine Tiddens, Idaho Voices for Children Part Three Sunday, February 21, 2021, 7:00-8:15 pm MST, 6:00-7:15 pm PST • Tax Legislation (homeowner’s exemption, circuit breaker legislation) – speaker TBA • Education funding and other legislation – speaker TBA Registration link for parts 2 and 3 will come in late January. Mark you calendar now! Please share this with your contacts – anyone is welcome to participate. 3
Resource Room Manager 2020 will certainly be a year to remember... both good and bad. Fortunately, the Reading Program is one of the Goods. I hope you found comfort and encouragement in reading this year. This is just a reminder to be sure to send me your Reading Program Reporting Form found here: https://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/download-resources/ readingprogram-2021-reporting-form. Bonus Books/Podcasts Faith Talks can now be counted in the category of Spiritual Growth. You must participate or listen to two Faith Talks podcast. If you participate/ listen to three, it will be counted as a Bonus Book in the Spiritual Growth category. Movies: These movies will also count toward the Reading Program: Just Mercy; the Hate U Give; and Pushout Children and youth books can be found within the categories. Bonus Books: These count as two books in their different categories. The Mission U Study books count as Bonus Books. Most of this information can be found on the Reading Program website: https://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/readingprogram Blessings to each and everyone of you in 2021. Earlene Lamb 2315 E L Avenue La Grande, OR 97850 541-624-5796 (H) 541-786-8039 (C) Unit Survey (Census) 2020 Unit Survey Link: www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/census2020 The final deadline for reporting will be March 30, 2021. Each unit president needs to do the 2020 census of their unit. Instructions (in printed form) will be sent to all unit presidents. Fill out the printed form. Use this form to fill out the online information. If you cannot do this online, please send the printed form to me and I can fill out the online form for you. Also it would be nice if each shepherdess would contact their group and see how they are doing and report to me. Thank you, Maralyn Wells mfwells-35@msn.com 915 E. Ionia Dr. Meridian, Idaho 83642 A preview of the questions follow on the following four pages. 4
(Editor’s note: This article has been submitted to response magazine.) A League of Her Own The 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution was passed by the House of Representatives on May 21, 1919, and the Senate passed it two weeks later. Three-fourths of the states needed to ratify this amendment. Tennessee was the 36th state to ratify the amendment on August 18, 1920 and was certified by Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby on August 26,1920 and became law. This amendment ensured women the right to vote. From the National Woman Suffrage Association, the League of Women Voters was founded in Chicago in 1920 between the passing and ratification of the 19 th Amendment to inform women how to register to vote, where their voting precincts were located and to advocate for the participation of women in politics. The League of Women Voters continues today working on voter rights, advocacy, and education, and celebrated 100 years on February 14, 2020. Elinor Chehey joined the League of Women Voters while living in Pocatello, Idaho and continued her participation after moving to Boise 47 years ago and has been active for over 50 years! During this time, she has been active in the Idaho Debates as a frequent timekeeper of debates and forums, making sure the individuals know the rules set for each discussion and signals when their time to speak has ended. She has concentrated on voter service activities through the League such as establishing a citizens commission in reapportionment of legislative districts. Because of her extensive knowledge of the Idaho legislative process and the issues and legislation which is proposed each year during the legislation session, she has kept Idaho United Methodist Women in both the Oregon-Idaho and the Pacific Northwest Conferences informed. She has testified at committee meetings on important legislation which affects the citizens of Idaho, and advocates on social issues United Methodist Women are involved in. For many years, she has organized the Idaho Legislative Event, held annually in Boise, Idaho. The Idaho Legislative Event is a two-day event, starting on Sunday afternoon with orientation. Elinor leads us through the Idaho Legislative process and the Idaho Legislative website. Afterwards, we have dinner together and continue into the evening with information from speakers on current events and legislation affecting the State of Idaho. On Monday morning, participants gather at the Capitol Building and have the options to sit in on the House and Senate committee meetings, take a tour of the Capitol Building, or attend the House of Representative and Senate hearings. The First Presbyterian Church, located one block from the Capitol Building, is gracious to allow us to have a luncheon with our Senators and Representatives. It is Elinor who prepares a delicious lunch for us. Afterwards, participants have the option to continue to sit in or participate in the House and Senate Committee meetings, Senate and House hearings, meet personally with their local Senators and Representatives, or shop at the Capitol gift shop which sells books about Idaho, and gifts from Idaho artisans. Although COVID-19 has drastically changed our lives, the 2021 Idaho Legislative Event will happen virtually. In January, we will learn how to use the Idaho Legislative website, learn how bills are written and introduced to committees, effective ways to contact elected representatives and advocate for policies, and an overview of specific legislative issues United Methodist Women want to follow this session. Two meetings in February will cover Medicaid Funding, Foster Care, housing concerns, and other critical issues. Specific legislation such as homeowner’s exemption and circuit breaker tax legislation, and education funding will also be covered. Elinor and her team has done a wonderful job of planning this event. Elinor is involved in her local United Methodist Women unit at Boise First United Methodist Church (Cathedral of the Rockies) in Boise, Idaho, and serves on the Sage District United Methodist Women of the Oregon-Idaho Conference. She helps at Boise First organizing weekly meals for the homeless and needy. Her other community activities include volunteering in her neighborhood association, and Interfaith Sanctuary Housing Services. (Continued on page 6) 9
(Continued from page 5) Recently, Elinor Chehey was recognized for her work with the Idaho League of Women Voters in the Sunday/Monday October 4, 2020 edition of the Idaho Press newspaper from Nampa, Idaho. Another important recognition Elinor received December 16, 2020 (via Zoom) was from the City Club of Boise, who presented her with the Dottie and Ed Stimpson Award for Civic Engagement. This award is given yearly to an individual or a group of individuals who encourage people from diverse backgrounds to come together and discuss issues in a civil manner with the intent of finding solutions which can be mutually agreed upon. Thank you, Elinor, for your dedication. We are truly blessed to have you help us learn about our legislative process and important issues which affect women, children, and youth in the State of Idaho! Elinor Chehey idahopress.com/Life touch League of Women Voters Idaho volunteers Elinor Chehey (left) and Crystal Callahan at World Refuge Day in 2019. Courtesy League of Women Voters Idaho/idahopress.com 10
LEGACY FUND We celebrated – 2019 marked the 150th year of the birth of our organization – United Methodist Women and yes, we celebrated. All of our district and conference events included cake, ice cream and singing. Many of us went to Mission u and studied the 150 years of Women in Mission. We donated money on our day of giving, some of us gave a monthly gift, others included United Methodist Women in their planned giving. Yes, we celebrated. And then came 2020. It has been a year filled with uncertainty and many challenges. Women across the country have and continue to care for families, friends, gather in different ways, while continuing to work and serve together in bold ways. Because of their collective efforts, commitment and hard work – The Legacy Endowment Fund balance is $30,800,00! The Legacy Fund Endowment Campaign came to a close at the end of 2020 but there is still a lot of road ahead of us to reach and exceed our $60 million goal. Even though the campaign has ended, fundraising will continue until we reach our goal. There are many ways to give. One you might consider now is to make a special year-end gift to the Legacy Fund Endowment Campaign. This will end 2020 and begin 2021 in strong fashion. You can mail your campaign gift to: National UMW, 475 Riverside Drive, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10115 Attention: Legacy Fund. Or make an online donation to: https://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/150/give It’s a new year – a year filled with hope and anticipation. May each day hold a blessing for you. Lory Neser, Legacy Liaison 11
DISTRICT NEWSLETTER 1-2021 PRAYER AND SELF DENIAL OFFERING Each January the program “A Call to Prayer and Self-Denial” encourages women to step out in faith and bring the love of Christ into a hurting world. This year’s emphasis is on Leadership Development in three African countries. Women struggle to achieve equality with men especially in African culture. Once women receive leadership training, they gain self-worth, seek education for themselves and their children, contribute to their families financially, and contribute to their community as a whole. The leadership training provided by United Methodist Women includes: GED and ESL, job readiness, life skills and livelihood training, scholarships, microenterprise programs and more. There is a story in Numbers 27:1-8 about the five daughters of Zelophehad who came to speak to Moses after their father had died. They had been left out of the family inheritance that was all going to their father’s brothers. “Moses brought their case before the Lord. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “The daughters of Zelophehad are right in what they are saying. You shall indeed let them possess an inheritance among their father’s brothers and pass the inheritance of their father on to them.” Moses talked to God and God responded positively. Women began to own an inheritance because the five daughters spoke up. This text shows us that God values us as women. We were created in God’s image. We are equal heirs to God’s kingdom even here on earth. This year’s Prayer and Self Denial offering will support programs that transform the lives of women, children, and youth through the work of our eight Regional Missionaries. With our support, programs that lift up women leaders, like Training for Transformation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, and Sierra Leone, will bear fruit. You can access the whole Prayer and Self Denial program by going to: https:// www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/2020-2021-program-book-call-to-prayer. Invite the women in your unit to participate by making their donations online (visit unitedmethodistwomen.org and go to “Donate” from the menu, then click on “Direct my gift to” and choose “Call to Prayer” from the drop-down menu) or mail them into your unit treasurer. The call for United Methodist Women to step out in faith to support our marginalized sisters and their families in areas of need around the world is great and we are up to the task. Please give to the Prayer and Self Denial Offering. Ingrid Cook Conference Education and Interpretation Coordinator 12
Sage District United Methodist Women c/o Joyce H. Orem 157 E 1000 N Rupert, Idaho 83350 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED In 2021 Mission u will continue as planned with our 2021 studies: Spiritual Growth for 2021 • Bearing Witness in the Kin-dom: Living Into the Church’s Moral Witness through Radical Discipleship Spiritual Growth for 2020 and 2021 • Finding Peace in an Anxious World Issue Study for 2020 and 2021 • Pushout - The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools 2021 Youth Mission Study: Becoming Peacemakers in a Culture of Violence 2021 Children’s Mission Study: Responding to Violence United Methodist Women shall be a community of women whose purpose is: to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative, supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church. 13
You can also read