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President’s Notes

Inside this issue:

Spiritual Growth Retreat

Registration / application

12-13

Conference Mission u 15-16

Annual Meeting/Leadership 14

Notes from the Team 4-6

2017 Executive Committee 10-11

President’ + VPres Notes 1-3

Local Unit Happenings 7-9

Cover Page and 2017 Dates 17

The Gainesville Light Vol. 13—Summer 2017

Diane Faw,

President

Nanette Presnell,

Vice President

Robin Hubbard,

Secretary

Cynthia Green,

Treasurer

Henrietta Sutton,

Program Resources

Sue Cook,

Spiritual Growth

Mary Bell Thomason

Social Action

Betty Fisher Membership

/Nurture/Outreach

Elaine Kent

Education/Interpretation

Judy Jackson,

Communications

Barb Cely

Nominations Chair

Jean Minix,

Parliamentarian

Sue Bradley

Historian

Greetings Ladies,

We had a busy month in June starting with the United Methodist Annual Confer-

ence in Athens, GA at the Classic Center. The 3 day event focused on praise and

worship, and emphasized the importance of worship planning and preparation. The

UMW Breakfast was well attended on Wednesday morning and we heard from

Kathy Griffith on Maternal Health. This was the first time that I attended all three

days and was amazed at all the work being done in the North Georgia Conference.

I was so happy to turn in 52 Layette kits from the Gainesville District thanks to the

work of the UMW Ladies at Trinity UMC, New Hope UMC (Gainesville) and

Cumming 1st UMC. Please let me know if you turned in any Layette Kits at the

Annual Conference.

Action Ministries was one of the ministries that was recognized by the North Geor-

gia Conference which tied in to the Gainesville District Ubuntu Day that was

scheduled June 16 in Gainesville. We had 4 participants make 75 peanut butter and

jelly sandwiches for the kids at Ridgecrest Apartments in Gainesville. We then

took the sandwiches and supplemented lunches to pass out to the children. We

interacted with them playing games with a football, basketball, jump rope and even

played hopscotch. There was also sidewalk chalk, coloring books and activity

books for after everyone was tired of playing ball. We hope to schedule another

day this summer so please call Mary Belle Thomason 706-384-4403 and let her

know if you are interested in helping out. Monday thru Wednesday July 3-5 or 10-

12 has the greatest need. Please let us know if you are interested in helping one of

these days and we will set it up to make lunches.

In July Mission u will be held at the Georgia Baptist Conference Center July 21-22

in Toccoa, Ga. The deadline to register has been extended to July 5th. You can

register online or mail it in. The registration form is included in this newsletter. I

encourage everyone to attend as Mission u is an opportunity to study current issues

impacting society with particular attention to the responsibilities of women in ful-

filling the mission work of the church. I will be there and hope you will too!!!

I just received a communication that we now have a goal to meet for the Legacy

Fund. UMW has raised 17.4 million so far and have set a goal of raising 60 mil-

lion. $300,000 was raised on March 23rd, the 3rd Annual Day of Giving, and thanks

to an anonymous donor those funds were matched. These monies will be used to

lay the groundwork for our next 150 years in Mission.

Please Save the Date for September 8th and 9th for the Gainesville District Spiritual

Retreat that will be held at Hinton this year. We have several activities planned for

that weekend and hope to see everyone there!!!

—Diane Faw, President

2 Continued next page>>>>>>>>

Notes From the Vice President

Spiritual Growth Retreat –

September 8-9, 2017

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills,

from whence cometh my help. My

help cometh from the Lord, which

made heaven and earth…….”

I can’t help but think of Psalm 121

when I am sitting on the porch of Hin-

ton Rural Life Center. The scenery is

outstanding and is the perfect place to

sit, relax, meditate, and enjoy God’s

beautiful creation. When I think of the

title of our Gainesville District United

Methodist Women’s Spiritual Growth

Retreat, I actually think more in terms of Spiritual Renewal. It’s a very short time out of my

busy schedule that doesn’t require a great deal of time, but gives me a chance to have a change

of pace for 24 hours. The pleasant memories last much longer. The drive through the beautiful

mountains of north Georgia just to get there is a treat in itself.

The joy of sharing this short time with other devoted United Methodist Women adds to the re-

newal as we share with one another, pray with

one another, raise our voices in song with one

another. The first year I attended, I did not

walk the labyrinth. But the next year I did, and

now it is one of the highlights of my time spent

at Hinton. It is a blessed time of reflection

and meditation, even though others are making

the same walk along with you. The peaceful

silence gives everyone the opportunity to cen-

ter down and face the concerns and/or praises

that are going on in your life.

Friday night is a time of fellowship, singing,

crafts, snacks, and making new friends with

other UMW women. It is a chance to share

what your units are accomplishing, maybe do some problem-solving, and learn of ideas that you

might use in your unit. There will be several crafts to test your skills as well as “adopting” * 20

infants for the layette kits we will be assembling for UMCOR.

*Editors Note: Units may want to team up to adopt an infant and bring the items needed to

complete one layette kit, or may contribute to the cause by bringing any one item listed as

needed for the kits.)

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Saturday morning will began with Morning Watch on

the porch, once again with God’s beautiful creation of

the lake and the mountains as the setting. Following

breakfast, Rev. Michelle Rawdin-Strall from Antioch

UMC will be our speaker. Michelle is a delight to be

around and I look forward to hearing her speak. We

are also fortunate to have again this year Donna James

from Cornelia UMC to lift our spirits with her music.

Donna was such a delight to all who attended last year

and I look forward to seeing her again. One of the fa-

vorite activities at this retreat is choosing Prayer Part-

ners for the next year. What a blessing it is to know

you have someone praying for you throughout the next

year and that you in turn are praying for them.

After lunch, our time together will close with Com-

munion. I pray that this will truly be a renewal time

for you as you head back home to “the real world”.

But may you have good memories to carry you forward

and may your burdens be a bit lighter for having at-

tended the Hinton Spiritual Growth Retreat.

Did I mention DOOR PRIZES????

The deadline for registering for Hinton is August 25th. The registration form is available in

this issue of the Gainesville Light. Pages 12-13

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. It is my hope that many “first timers” will join the “seasoned” ladies who

enjoy this Retreat yearly. Maybe it will become a yearly tradition for you, too!

Nanette Presnell, VP, Executive Committee

An Irish Blessing

“May God grant you always….

A sunbeam to warm you,

a moonbeam to charm you,

A sheltering Angel

so nothing can harm you.

Laughter to cheer you.

Faithful friends near you .

And whenever you pray,

Heaven to hear you!”

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Notes From the Team —————- Nominations

Has God been nudging you to become more involved in doing His work?

Well, the Gainesville District Executive team have an opportunity for you! January 2018 will start a new year and the chance for you to become the

district's secretary!

There is also an opportunity to either apprentice or take over the publica-tion of this newsletter by becoming Communications Coordinator. Show off your talent!

The ladies on the Executive team are a great bunch of ladies to work with in planning how to keep our United Methodist Women informed and in-spired. Please consider taking one of these positions. Feel free to talk to the current secretary (Robin Hubbard 770.539.2251), our publisher (Judy Jackson 770.869.7758), myself (706.499.1299), or any other executive team member.

Thanks for your consideration,

Barb Cely, Nominations Chairman

Answering God’s Call

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Notes From the Team —————- Education and Interpretation

Gifts to the Legacy Fund can be made in several ways:

Online: unitedmethodistwomen.org/legacyfund

By Phone: 800-278-7771 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 am—6:00 pm. EST)

By Mobile Phone: Text LEGACY150 to 41444

By Mail: Make checks payable to United Methodist Women

475 Riverside Drive, Treasurer’s Office

New York, NY 10115

Write “The Legacy Fund” in the memo section.

Meet The Challenge !!!

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Notes From the Team —————- Social Action/MNO

UMCOR

United Methodist Committee ON Relief

This year NG Conference will work on Layette Kits!

Many women do not have swaddling clothes with which to welcome their child into the world. Layette kits provide basic supplies for their baby's needs.

Layette Kit Value: $45 per kit

More information is available on the website http://www.umcor.org/UMCOR/Relief-Supplies/Relief-Supply-Kits/Layette

Ubuntu Day of Service

Probably due to lack of communication (and commitments that came up at the last minute), the only peo-ple that served today were myself, Diane Faw, and 2 St. Paul UMW ladies. The 4 of us (and our 7 loaves of bread) made PB and J sandwiches at thei Action Ministries office in Chicopee. Somebody else had prepared the sack lunch to go with it. We could have provided all sand-wiches (meat, cheese, wraps, whatever-but I was told to bring bread). We then delivered them to Ridge-crest Apartments and played with the children as they came to get their lunch. We arrived around 9:45 to make sandwiches and left around 1 but could have stayed longer. Just wanted to fill you in on the day. Perhaps it will work for some of you to get in on the action next time. This is a Monday-Friday opportunity and as I still work, Friday is my day off in the summer. This is the Smart Lunch Smart Kid program through Action Ministries and an opportunity for us to serve these young (mostly African American) children (mostly boys). I'd suggest meeting in a church and go from there as their office wouldn't have held more than a couple more of us anyway. They still need make and serve help next Tuesday, June 20, the following Tuesday, June 27, and Monday-Wednesday July 3-5, and Monday-Wednesday July 10-12. If interested, let me know and we'll get it set up. There are other dates that they need help also, but these are the greatest needs. Thank you and Blessings,

Barb and Mary Belle

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Local Units at Work…. Cornelia UMW

UMCOR LAYETTE KITS

During the Sunday morning worship service on June 11, Cornelia United

Methodist Church dedicated and blessed 30 Layette kits. The kits are on

their way to the Sager Brown Depot in Baldwin, LA, which is the collection

depository for UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief). The

church wide mission project was spearheaded by the Mission Committee,

chaired by David Clark, and the United Methodist Women, chaired by Jean

Minix. The United Methodist Women from New Liberty UMC and Alley’s

Chapel UMC were also involved in this effort as part of the Cornelia UMW

Unit.

UMCOR reaches people in more than 80 countries including the United

States, providing humanitarian relief when war, conflict or natural disaster

disrupts life to such an extent that communities are unable to recover on

their own. One hundred percent of all donations are spent on designated

projects. “Compelled by Christ to be a voice of conscience for the people

called Methodist, UMCOR works globally to alleviate human suffering and

to advance hope and healing”

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Local Units at Work…. Trinity UMW

Trinity United Methodist Women Prepare

Craft Workday is held on the third Tuesday

of each month except June and July.

Throughout the year, the ladies work on arts

and crafts projects that are sold at the Annual

Christmas Bazaar held each year on the

Saturday before Thanksgiving (November 18,

2017). Proceeds go toward local Family and Chil-

dren Ministries supported by Trinity United

Methodist Women.

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Local Units at Work…… Gainesville First UMC

Great Day of Service—Team Chooses Pregnancy Care Center

This is a community service project for the

Gainesville Area our church has every

year. This was our seventh year. It involves

over 17 charitable organizations, sending in

their request for "help". GFUMC Great Day

of Service Golf Tournament sponsors all of

the services furnishing all of the supplies, we

furnish the labor. We had ten volunteers, nine

workers, one was sick.

The GFUMW chose to do the work for

Choices Pregnancy Care Center. Choices is

celebrating their "30th" year anniversary this

year. They have two facilities, in Gainesville

and Oakwood. Ann Gainey, Executive Direc-

tor of Choices, had requested cleaning inside,

yard work, and outside painting.

It was a Great Day, starting at GFUMC,

7:30AM, with a lite breakfast, blessing and

communion by our Pastors, Scott Hearn and

Jamey Prickett, 9:00AM off to work finish-

ing at 12:30PM.

Hard work, good fellowship, job well done!

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Gainesville District Executive Team—2017

President Social Action

Diane Faw Mary Belle Thomason

38 Pinewood Drive 2233 Prospect Rd.

Dawsonville, GA 30534 Carnesville, GA. 30521

706-265-3780 706-384-4403

dianefaw@windstream.net

Vice President Education & Interpretation

Nanette Presnell Elaine Kent

57 Mann Rd 3164 Lynncliff Dr.

Cleveland GA 30528 Gainesville, GA 30506

7063486771 770-561-6624

ladypresnell@gmail.com gaheirhead@aol.com

Secretary Membership, Nurture & Outreach

Robin Hubbard Betty Fisher Winkowski

828 Park Creek Ct 5262 Forest Cove

Gainesville, GA 30504 Gainesville, GA 30506

770-539-2251 404-375-8523

Rbnhubard4@gmail.com bettyfisher5262@msn.com

Treasurer Program Resources

Cynthia Green Henrietta Sutton

P.O Box 344 P. O. Box 887

Clayton, GA 30525 Cleveland, GA 30528

706-782- 3921 706-892-4340

ckgreen@windstream.net yonahskies@yahoo.com

Spiritual Growth Communications

Sue Cook Judy Jackson

2906 Antioch Church Rd. P. O. Box 507

Gainesville, GA 30506 Lula, GA 30554

678-294-0515 770-861-8962

Cook2906@charter.net judyjcksn1@gmail.com

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Gainesville District Executive Team—2017

Historian Parliamentarian

Sue Bradley Jean Minix

9 Stone Creek Lane 236 Poplar Mill Rd

Dawsonville, GA 30634 Demorest, GA 30535

H 706-216-1949 706-754-1586

C 678-517-6234 cozbuddy1@aol.com

Nominations, chair

Barb Cely

275 Pine Wood Lane

Cornelia, GA 30531

706-499-1299

celys1@windstream.net

Nominations Nominations

GeDelle Taylor Betty Bell

605 Tom Watson Andrew Rd 3755 James Ed Rd.

Toccoa, Ga 30577 Gainesville, GA 30506

706-282-7651 678-622-0591

gedelleptaylor@gmail.com bbell31421@aol.com

Nina Burdette Becky McDougal

5264 Mize Rd. 5005 Blooming Ct.

Toccoa, GA 30577 Cumming, GA 30028

706-886-0202 404-317-1350

nburd@windstream.net beckymcdougal@gmail.com

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Please register before 8/25/17

No refunds-Substitutions OK

Name: ______________________________________________________________

Circle Age Group (Teen) (20) (30) (40) (50) (60) (70) (80 +)

First Time Attending UMW District Event? (Y) (N)

Address:________________________________________________________________

Phone:_____________________ Email:_______________________________________

Church:____________________ Emergency Contact/Number:______________________

[ ]Top bunk OK [ ]Must have bottom bunk [ ] Stairs OK [ ] No Stairs

Special Needs/Special Requests: ____________________________________________

Roommate(s):_____________________________________________________________

Checks payable to: GNSV District UMW

_____ $80 FRIDAY AND SATURDAY (includes 3 meals and overnight stay)

_____ $40 SATURDAY ONLY (Includes lunch)

Mail to Registrar: Nanette Presnell LadyPresnell@gmail.com

57 Mann Road (706) 348-6771

Cleveland, GA 30528

No childcare is available,

Teens are welcome!

Gainesville District Spiritual Growth Retreat September 8 - 9, 2017 Hinton Rural Life Center, Hayesville, NC

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Leadership Training and Annual Meeting

Name: ______________________________________________________________________

Address: _____________________________________________________________________

Phone: _________________________ Email: _______________________________________

Church: ________________________ Emergency contact/number: ______________________________

9:00-10:00 a.m.: Registration

10:00-11:30 a.m.: Annual Meeting and Recognitions

Legacy Moment, Love Offering, Memorial Moments

Installation of 2018 Officers

11:45-12:45p.m: Lunch and Fellowship

1:00 p.m.: Leadership Training: Please circle 2018 office:

[President] [Vice President] [Secretary] [Treasurer] [Education & Interpretation]

[Spiritual Growth] [Social Action] [Program Resources] [Communications] [Nominations]

[Membership/Nurture/Outreach] [Historian] [Parliamentarian] [Mission Project]

Checks payable to: GNSV District UMW $8.00 (includes lunch)

Mail to : Jean Minix (706-754-1586) cozbuddy1@aol.com

236 Poplar Mill Road, Cornelia, GA 30535

Gainesville District

United Methodist Women

Leadership Training

and

Annual Meeting

November 18, 2017

9:30AM— 3:00PM

Please RSVP by Nov 13, 2017

Cornelia United Methodist Church

275 Wyly St,

Cornelia, GA 30531

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July 5

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The Gainesville Light

Volume 13 Summer

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 Presi-dents. Others may subscribe

for FREE BY EMAIL by send-ing an email to the editor:

judyjcksn1@gmail.com Subject: Gainesville Light

Gainesville District United Methodist Women Judy Jackson, Editor

Phone: 770-861-8962

P.O Box 507 Lula, GA 30554

PURPOSE The organized unit of

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.

Save the Date…. North Georgia Conference April 28-29 Spiritual Growth Event/Social Action Rock Eagle, Eatonton, GA June 13-15 NGC Annual Conference June 14 UMW Breakfast Classic Center, Athens, GA July 21-22 Mission u Georgia Baptist Conf. Center Toccoa, GA October 7 Annual Meeting Griffin 1st, Griffin, GA November 4 Leadership Development Ousley UMC, Tyrone, GA

Gainesville District

March 4 Mission u

Antioch UMC, Gainesville

April 1 Lenten Day Apart

Dahlonega UMC, Dahlonega

September 8-9 Spiritual Growth Retreat

Hinton Rural Life Center

Hayesville, NC

November 18 Annual Mtg/Leadership Dev

Cornelia UMC, Cornelia