CHURCH WOMEN UNITED IN ATLANTA

January 2017 Number 1

TRYPHENIA SPEED ---- “WOMAN OF THE YEAR”

At the December 3, 2016, meeting of Church Women United in Atlanta, Tryphenia Speed was announced as the “Woman of the Year” for 2017. She will be honored at the State Woman of the Year Luncheon, sponsored by Church Women United in Georgia, February 11, 2017, at Riverside United Methodist Church, Macon, Georgia. Tryphenia Speed is a member of Cascade United Methodist Church, SW Atlanta, and she was recently elected as president of the North Georgia Conference of United Methodist Women. Congratulations to Tryphenia! This unit will be able to offer its support in various ways.

Individuals who are interested in attending this event should see the president during the January meeting about securing tickets. There will be group transportation by van, but you must make a reservation. You will find additional information about placing ads in the souvenir booklet in this newsletter.

Best wishes to our nominee!

“Agreed to differ, resolved to love, and united to serve”

Church Women United is a racially, culturally, theologically inclusive, ecumenical Christian women’s movement, celebrating unity in diversity and working for a world of peace and justice.

Priority #1: Human Rights Focus: Education Awareness God’s Word: Know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; to receive the instruction

of wisdom, justice, and equity (Proverbs 1:2-3)Church Women United believes that every person has the right to education. We believe that the responsibility for education of the young rests with the family, faith communities, and the government. We support innovative methods of education designed to assist children toward complete fulfillment as an individual person of worth. Action Steps:●Attend a school board meeting ●Adopt child or teacher●Contribute school supplies ●Adopt a student mother●Volunteer at school library or cafeteria ●Work with students individually ● Communicate with your member of Congress about problems in your education system.

Priority #2: Hunger and Poverty Focus: Childhood HungerGod’s Word: A brother or sister in Christ might need clothes or food. If you say to that person “God be with

you! I hope you stay warm and get plenty to eat,” but you do not give what that person needs, your words are worth nothing. James 2:15-16 We as Christian women believe that in order to assure basic needs such as food, shelter, education and health care for all we must be informed about causes and take action toward solutions.Action Steps:●Experience hunger for yourself ●Fight food waste in your own household●Work to eradicate hunger in your city ●Support your local food banks ●Participate in existing Snack Pack/Back Pack Buddies program (or start one)● Communicate with your Congress person about ways to serve those living on the margins

Priority #3: Health and Wellness Focus: Women’s Health-Heart DiseaseGod’s Word: A sound heart is life to the body. Proverbs 14:30 Church Women United are the caregivers for many, and we tend to put ourselves last. Action Steps: ●Familiarize yourself with the American Heart Association website●Participate in programs designed to educate about heart health

Priority #4: Diversity and Inclusiveness Focus: Race, Ethnic and cultural inclusion God’s Word: Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless

to one another? Malachi 2: 10 We as Christian Women can be models of hospitality, acceptance, love, and care for our neighbor.

Quadrennial Priorities 2016-2020

THEME: Learning and Leading…Using the Principles of God’s Words

GOD’S WORD: Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day. Psalm 25:5

DECEMBER MEETING: WERE YOU THERE?

Church Women United in Atlanta met Friday, December 2, 2016, at Peachtree Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). In addition to sharing prizes and food, the following activities took place:

Elected Claudette Rainey (in absentia) as the new president New officers were installed by Geraldine Pero (State President from Dalton, Georgia). Listened to May Taylor, talk about her project related to children in the South Fulton Area Youth Council. The

sleeping mat (crocheted out of plastic bags are seen in the picture above) is one of the projects that the youth council members are engaged in at this time. You can offer support through donations of money and/or plastic bags.

Welcomed Janet Moody, president of International Fellowship of Women, Peachtree Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), as she talked about what women in her group were doing.

Welcomed “Surprise Guest” who sang blues and Aretha Franklin (Alberta Bosell as seen in two pictures above). Sang a medley of Christmas songs with Bernice Hall as pianist Encouraged members to make a monetary pledge ( in addition to membership) to CWU in 2017 Welcomed new members. Received 2017 calendars from the Georgia Department of Veterans Services through the efforts of Savannah

Potter-Miller, Esq.

CELEBRATION MATERIALS

2017 Theme:

Kindling New Fires

May Friendship Day: Kindling New Fires of Love

Human Rights Celebration: Kindling New Fires of Hope

(Co-writers: Bettie J. Durrah and Karen Mitchell)

World Community Day: Kindling New Fires for Peace

Co-writers: Brenda M. Tillman and Shirley Atencio

Memorandum of Understanding—WORLD DAY OF PRAYER

In the United States, World Day of Prayer has long been sponsored and supported by Church Women United. In 2014 Church Women United and World Day of Prayer USA signed a Memorandum of Understanding affirming their common belief in peace, reconciliation, and the potential for positive change in churches, communities, and the world.

The word “understanding” implies that two people or entities are truly LISTENING to one another. After conversation between the World Day of Prayer USA Committee and the Board of Directors of Church Women United, Inc., both groups have listened to one another. The result is the following Memorandum of Understanding approved by both Executive Boards and signed appropriately on World Day of Prayer, March 7, 2014. We look forward to a partnership that is based in prayer as we look forward to celebrating this International Day of Prayer with our sisters from all over the world.

–Marilyn Lariviere, Former CWU National President

CWU HUMAN RIGHTS HONOREES

2006 Joyce Myers-Brown20072008 Peggy Hendrix; Joy Borro2009 Beatrice Soublet; Shan Yohan2010 Calvin Peterson; Njere Alghanee (Posthumous)2011 Margaret Koehler; Dianne Valentin2012 Erna Bryant/; Anne Dunivin2013 Xenona Clayton2014 Brenda Woods2015 Bettieanne C. Hart, Esq.2016`` Eduard Loring; Murphy Davis; Catherine Meeks

Bettie J. Durrah attended the Women’s Day Celebration, November 13, 2016, at Headland Heights United Methodist Church where Tonya Murphy is the president. Other pictures were seen in the December issue of this newsletter.

Hoosier United Methodist Women held a Christmas Celebration, at the Interdenominational Theological Center, December 3, 2016. CWU was invited to participate.

“I want to wear out, not rust out.”

Looking Forward to February Meeting

During the February 3, 2017, meeting, we will celebrate Black History Month. Come and hear about Lucy Craft Laney; find out why her portrait (as seen above) is hanging in the Georgia State Capitol Building. One of our newest members, Angela Rice, will facilitate this part of the program.

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Woman of the Year Luncheon

Church Women United in GeorgiaRiverside United Methodist ChurchMacon, Georgia (Church is easily located on Riverside Drive and I-75,$35.00 –Luncheon Ticket—Purchase tickets at the January meeting11: 00 A.M.Full page ad---$100Half page ad--$60One-fourth page ad--$30Business card----$10.00Send ads and money to the following address:

Carolyn Scott1986 Joe Brown DriveMacon, Georgia 31217All ads must be submitted by February 1, 2017.Call Lana Adams if you would like to ride in the van.

OFFICERS FOR 2017

Claudette Rainey

President ------------------------------------------------Claudette RaineyVice President------------------------------------------ Dorothy AdamsSecretary-------------------------------------------------Odessa HuffCorresponding Secretary-----------------------------Myrna ClaytonTreasurer-------------------------------------------------Lillie HerculesChair, Ecumenical Development---------------------Sheila LouderChair, Celebrations--------------------------------------Helen SprewerNominations------------------------------------------------

Gertrude Adams Sheila Louder Joyce Tillman—Chair Sadye Potter Barbara Leath

Finance Chair===============------------------Tryphenia SpeedCommunications=Public Relations-----------------Savannah Potter-Miller, Esq.

JANUARY MEETING

Peachtree Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)Friday, January 6, 201710:00 a.m.Let’s get the year started by sharing our ideas for advancing the movement in 2017.Annual Reports will also be shared.Purchase tickets for the Woman of the Year Luncheon.Sign up for transportation to the luncheon in Macon.Announce the Board meeting of CWU in Georgia, January 14, 2017, Macon, Georgia

HAVE YOU PAID YOUR MEMBERSHIP DUES FOR 2017?Has your church contributed for 2017?

Send your check for $25.00 to the address below:Pledges to CWU in Atlanta are also in order.

CHURCH WOMEN UNITED IN ATLANTAC/O Peachtree Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

1580 Peachtree Street, NWAtlanta, Georgia 30309

GET WELL WISHES

Margaret Koehler Nephew of Tryphenia Speed, injured in the Orlando massacre Shan Yohan (CWU DeKalb Unit) Lola Parks Agnes Marsh (former president, CWU in Atlanta, now living in Virginia) Claudette Rainey as she recuperates from shoulder surgery, but still maintaining contact with Atlanta

DATES TO REMEMBER

2017 500th Year Celebration of the ReformationJanuary 6, 2017 CWU in Atlanta, Peachtree Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

February3, 2017 CWU in Atlanta

February 11, 2017 Woman of the Year Luncheon, CWU in Georgia, Macon

March 3, 2017 World Day of Prayer (Evening Service- March 2, 2017-Faith AMEZ)

Peachtree Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)-Friday, March 3, 2017

April 21-24, 2017 Ecumenical Advocacy Days, Washington, DC

May 5, 2017 May Friendship Celebration, Central Congregational United Church of Christ

September 9, 2017 Human Rights Celebration (Saturday)\

November 3, 2017 World Community Day

May 16-20, 2018 World Mission Conference, Tanzania, East Africa