April 2004 - Tower - Page 8
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United Methodist Women
Gerry Beale Turner, President
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The Eighth Southeastern Jurisdiction Quadrennial meeting of the United Methodist Women was held March 12-14 in Louisvillle, Kentucky. Four members of our UMW attended - Erleen Wheeling, Gerry Turner, Cathy Williamson and Kathy Yates.
The length of the trip or the start of the meeting if anything did not abate the built up anticipation and excitement, in fact it quietly and intensely increased. We were welcomed and spoken to on Friday evening by Bishop James A. King Jr., Resident Bishop, Louisville Area, Louisville and Red Bird Missionary Conferences.
On Saturday, the Reverend Janet Wolf, Director, Public Policy and Community Outreach, Religious Leaders for a More Just and Compassionate Drug Policy, led our Bible study and voting began. The next Core Group of Officers, who would be planning the next meeting were voted in. From the experience of this meeting, I'm not sure an entire four years of planning is enough and if it is it will be used in its entirety - the new officers have their jobs cut out for them, especially following up on this meeting! Then we watched as time after time ballots were cast to vote in delegates to the Women's Division.
In the afternoon, we broke into our individual Focus Groups for lunch and training. The groups we attended were, Program with PURPOSE and Young Women Rise Up.
Early evening we were treated to a delicious banquet. The Cardinal Singers, from the Red Bird Missionary Conference, provided entertainment and inspiration. On Saturday and Sunday, The Lighthouse Dance Troupe, a UMW Community Center Group, led in worship experiences. These young girls performed silent dance to narration - "narrative in motion." And one of the most impressive gifts displayed was that of our song leader, Angel Christ who provided worship music throughout the weekend. Catherine Guess, who wrote the theme song for the meeting, Come to The Potter, accompanied Angel on the piano. In line with the theme, Vessels of Mission, Patrick Houston, a master potter, was set up in a prominent spot on stage and worked his potter's wheel and produced vessels of all kinds and shapes. In fact, he designed, after extensive research, the vessel that we were given as a reminder upon our dismissal, a small, hand-held oil/wick candle vessel of baked clay.
Sunday morning dawned early; we packed and prepared to go to our final session of the weekend. The session included a Bible study and inspiring message by Reverend Janet Wolf and was followed by a very spiritually overflowing and visually impressive communion service led by The Reverend Dr. Rachel Scott Marshall, Senior Pastor, Elizabethtown Memorial UMC, Kentucky Conference. During the entire weekend, the planning and the design of the entire meeting exhibited such great thought, prayer and planning. The meeting area also had a Resource Room (to purchase books, pamphlets, tapes, etc.) and a Prayer Room, which was spiritually uplifting, interactive and informative. There was also an area set up with displays and exhibits of all types including a video of the UMW Mission Projects. Videos of the speaker's presentations were ordered so that they could be shared with those who were unable to attend.
There was a large contingent of Virginia representatives and we met many new friends from all over the Jurisdiction. We are still processing the experience and are open to any who would like to share our experience through retelling and the videos. If anyone is interested, please contact Gerry Turner or Cathy Williamson.
Overall, this was an inspiring, uplifting, renewing and awesome weekend. The attendees are so very thankful that we were given an opportunity to attend and experience this. Now upon our return, we are to continue our journey of the 'vessels in mission' - "God's light and power shining in and flowing through us as we reach out to others - Vessels of Mission." For without God, we are lumps of clay; but with God, we are vessels overflowing!! Are you a broken, or cracked or empty vessel and in need of replenishment or are you whole, full and overflowing?
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Last update: April 3, 2004