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L O S A N G E L E S D I S T R I C T U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T W O M E N LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA PACIFIC DISTRICT CONFERENCE

MARCH, 2013

A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT Greetings Ladies of the Los Angeles District,

You are Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Last year our conference and Los Angeles District exceeded our

pledge to mission and Los Angeles District brought home the reading Banner!!

I am happy to share with you that the Events planned for 2013 are in place and our VPs, along with the rest of the Team, has some exciting and informative programs scheduled for us this year.

Our January leadership training at Westchester was great. Many thanks to Westchester Church and the UMW team there for your most gracious hospitality. It was wonderful to see new local leadership as well as our faithful friends attend the leadership training event. No matter how many times you have attended, there is always something else to learn about the work that we are committed to do, and being informed is part of that commitment.

Our March issue of Party Line is published after our February Mid-Winter conference event, but the newsletter is an opportunity to publish and announce your own local unit events. March is a popular Month for UMW Day programs. Let us know when they are scheduled.

We have published the District Calendar and the Liaison list. If you do not have a copy contact us, my number is listed below. Sign up for the Newsletter we just need your e-mail or your address. It will keep you informed on happenings for the L.A. District and UMW in general.

April has our Social Action event, which is most exciting, very much a must attend event. Plan now to be a part of this gathering and bring friends and family.

In May our Quiet Disciple event returns. Select the individual from your unit and submit their name to our Spiritual Growth Co-coordinator. Invite all your members to attend this Spiritual Retreat event.

June at Redlands for our annual UMW Luncheon. July is “Mission u” Month. Plan to attend and bring others with you.

“Mission u”? What's that? Mission University aka School of Christian Mission. Stay tuned for more exciting changes.

We want to emphasize to you all that the District Team exists to support the local units and stand ready to do that at all times. Each team member is assigned to a local unit, to be your contact liaison throughout the year. Take full advantage of the resources available to you.

We celebrate our structural change. For starters, allow some flexibility in your structure in order to include more members in leadership roles (i.e., co-chair positions). Support all members’ participation in District events. Continue to Focus on our Purpose and remain committed to be the examples Christ wants us to be.

I look forward to seeing all of you this year!!

IN THIS ISSUE President’s Message 1

Notes from the Co-Vice Presidents 2

Growing in Spirit 2

From the Secretary’s Desk 3

Education and Interpretation 3

Local Unit / Church Liaisons 4

Social Action Day – April 27th 5

Reading Program 6

Social Action Spotlight 7-8

Membership Nurture and Outreach 9

Treasurer’s Tips 10

Local Unit Events – St. John’s and Holman

10

2013-2014 Calendar 11

Quiet Disciple / Spiritual Retreat – May 25 12

Mission Today Unit Criteria 13-14

2013 MISSION U Application 15-16

MISSION U Full Scholarship Application 17

MISSION U Partial Scholarship Application 18

Responsively Yours: Claim the Blessings of Work and Rest

19

Read Signup Volunteer Participate

“We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily difference we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee.”

~ Marian Wright Edelman

Your Sister in Christ,

Brenda Scott-Horn BRENDA SCOTT-HORN –

President Los Angeles District

United Methodist Women 310-645-1488

LAD UNITED METHODIST WOMEN PARTY LINE MARCH, 2013

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Greetings L.A. District Units,

We are grateful to God for the wonderful and great beginning of our new season of programs and events. And we thank you, the LAD UMW Units, for your commitment to participate in our first two events--Christmas Celebration in November and the Leadership Training in January. Both events were well attended and we enjoyed meeting you up close and personal.

We hope you will take time to relax and prepare yourselves for our next LAD program on April 27, Social Action Day event. We will present a community discussion and call to action on "The Cradle-to-Prison Pipeline" at Centenary UMC. Several community and faith leaders will lead the discussion and provide resources on this subject. See the flyer in this Newsletter for details and registration information.

As United Methodist Women and Christians, we play an important role in the body of Christ. Although we have different cultural backgrounds, gifts, and personalities, we are filled with the same spirit and belong to the same body of Christ. We encourage you to keep your units informed of all programs and activities that are presented during the year. Use the calendar in this issue for dates and locations to announce the events and to schedule your unit events around these dates. We invite you to also keep us informed of your activities so that we can support you.

We look forward in working with your units this year and hope to see you on April 27

th at our Social Action event.

Peace and Blessings,

SANDRA WINSTON AND TINA RAEMON POOL

Co-Vice Presidents

The church,

a living body, containing

all the parts, it lives, it moves,

it functions, and touches many hearts;

when each part is committed to do the Savior's will,

His members are united,

His purpose they fulfill.

– Fitzhugh

“Holy, Holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” Isaiah 6:3

As this is being written, it is the third week in Lent, and Women’s History Month. Lent is the forty-

day season of reflection and preparation for the death and resurrection of Jesus. It is a time of repentance, of considering Christ’s sufferings and rethinking how we are called to take up our own crosses. Yvette Richards, President of United Methodist Women, Inc., reminds us that we have the power as change agents to lead the way in turning FAITH-HOPE-LOVE into action on behalf of women, children and youth around the world.

As to Lent, this is a time when many persons practice giving up something. Maybe you are like some who give up things like chocolate, or sweets, or television. Or maybe you will be fasting. Will you be placing new things in your life like visiting those in prison, or giving out clothes or food to the homeless or needy? Or will you be praying more, or walking more, or exercising? Lent – it is a good time to rethink how we live and to let some things go. Think of the possibility of developing some new spiritual habits.

A PRAYER: Lord, strengthen us by your spirit, give us courage to be bold in our service with FAITH-HOPE-LOVE in action. Amen.”

DR. GWENDOLYN WYATT MISSION COORDINATOR FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH


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Greetings,

First, I would like to thank the Los Angeles District United Methodist Women local unit presidents and secretaries for assisting me with updating our conference directory.

What a wonderful time we had at this year‘s Officers Training at Westchester United Methodist Church this past January. I would like to give a big thanks to Calvary, St. John, Wilshire/English, and Westchester secretaries for attending and participating in the training session.

I also express thanks to our outgoing secretaries for their time and commitment, while serving as their local unit’s secretary. Welcome all new secretaries!! If you have any concerns or questions regarding you position, please e-mail me at [email protected], I will be more than glad to assist you.

God Bless,

Dora Waters SECRETARY

EDUCATION AND INTERPRETATION Greetings to All,

Our United Methodist Women local officers training was held January 19th. Thank you to all Education and Interpretation officer attendees. The training package included the Mission Today Unit form, as well as other informational material. A training packet is available to all local units that have not received one and would like a packet sent to them. A MTU form is included in this newsletter (pgs. 13-14). There are items on the MTU form that have an asterisk by them. These items refer to activities/actions such as using the Prayer calendar, make and meet pledge to mission, adding at least two members to your local unit, two members subscribing to Response magazine, using two programs from the UMW program book, conduct a mission study with unit/circle/subgroup, and implement the Charter for Racial Justice Policies in at least two ways. Let's focus on our missions and complete as many as possible.

The program book “Living the Heart of God,” 2013 Prayer Calendar, subscription to New World Outlook and Response magazine may be purchased by calling membership services at 1-800-305-9857 or through the e-store at www.missionresourcecenter.org. Also, you are encouraged to hold a monthly or quarterly local unit meeting and use the UMW material items for mission study at your meetings.

Reach to become a five star mission giving unit by giving a Pledge to Mission, Special Mission recognition, Gift to Mission, Gift in Memory and World thank offering. I hope to see many of you and our local unit members at the upcoming L.A. district social action event April 27th. “We can do all things through Christ which strengthens us” (Philippians 4:13).

Peace,

Patricia Whitman E AND I MISSION COORDINATOR

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.wpclipart.com/people/professions/professions_3/secretary_silhoette_typing.png


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LOS ANGELES DISTRICT UNITED METHODIST WOMEN LOCAL UNIT / CHURCH LIAISONS

CHURCH NAME 1ST LIAISON 2nd LIAISON BOWEN PAT WHITMAN LOIS PRICE

CALVARY LOIS PRICE

CENTENARY JENNIFER LIM LEANNE NAKANISHI

CHINESE JENNIFER LIM LEANNE

CRENSHAW MARY HILL PAT WHITE

CULVER-PALMS DORA WATERS JENNIFER LIM

ECHO PARK DORA WATERS LOIS PRICE

FAITH LINDA SMITH PAT KING

FIRST LOIS PRICE JENNIFER LIM

GRACE RAEMON POOL DENICE DAYE

HAMILTON CLAUDIA SPEARS MARY HILL

HOLLYWOOD FIRST CHERYL VEAL LEANNE NAKANISHI

HOLMAN CHERYL VEAL CAROLYN MCGRUDER

INGLEWOOD FIRST PAT KING PAT THOMAS

L.A. IMMANUEL JEAN QUAN LOIS PRICE

L.A. KOREAN LEANNE NAKANISHI SUKI

L.A.KOREAN CENTRAL*

L.A. PLAZA BRENDA HORN JEAN QUAN

LA TIJERA *

LA TRINIDAD* JEAN QUAN

LOS FELIZ DORA WATERS

MALIBU* LEANNE NAKANISHI

NATIVE AMERICAN FEL.*

PACIFIC PALISADES COMM BRENDA HORN

PACIFIC ISLANDERS* BRENDA HORN

PICO RIVERA* LYDIA BLANDFORD

PICO UNION HISPANIC SHALOM* BRENDA HORN

ROCK KOREAN MISSION* SUKI

ROSEWOOD-ENGLISH LOIS PRICE

ROSEWOOD-HISPANIC JONI ARLAIN CLAUDIA SPEARS

ST. JOHN'S LINDA SMITH PAT WINSTON

ST. MARK PAT KING MARY HILL

ST. PAUL'S PAT WHITMAN DORA WALTERS

SANTA MONICA FIRST BRENDA HORN

SANTA MONICA THE CHURCH IN OCEAN PARK

UNITED UNIVERSITY*

VENICE SANDRA WINSTON JONI ARLAIN

WESLEY PAT WHITE LINDA SMITH

W LOS ANGELES

W LOS ANGELES FIRST BRENDA HORN LEANNE NAKANISHI

WESTCHESTER SANDRA WINSTON

WESTWOOD JONI ARLAIN LEANNE NAKANISHI

WILSHIRE-ENGLISH CLAUDIA SPEARS GWEN WYATT

WILSHIRE-FILIPINO DORA WATERS GWEN WYATT'

WILSHIRE-HISPANIC LYDIA BLANDFORD GWEN WYATT

WILSHIRE-KOREAN SUKI GWEN WYATT

YOUNG HWA SUKI SUKI


PAGE 5


PAGE 6

“The greatest gift is a passion for reading.” Elizabeth Hardwick

Love has nothing to do with

what you are expecting to get

— only what you are

expecting to give —

which is everything.

What you will receive

in return varies.

But it really has no connection

with what you give.

You give because you love

and cannot help giving.

Katherine Hepburn


PAGE 7

What is Mass Incarceration?*

The term “mass incarceration” is part of the subtitle of Michelle Alexander’s book The New Jim Crow:

Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness which points to the spiraling high levels of incarceration imposed by the U.S. penal system with disproportionate impact on racial and ethnic minorities, especially African American men. In academic circles, the term “mass incarceration” is used to refer to the extraordinary rates of incarceration in the U.S. penal system during the past three decades which produced “a new group of social outcasts, defined by the shared experience of incarceration, crime, poverty, racial minority, and low education.”1 Concerns about crime control, rehabilitation and social justice has been at the forefront of academic, political and public discussions, due to overcrowded prison conditions and reports of human rights abuses. For example, Human Rights Watch have reported new trends of unprecedented numbers of juveniles and elderly people (over age 64) being put in U.S. prisons (not counting juvenile detention facilities), due to very harsh sentencing policies.2 Over the past 30 years, the federal prison population has jumped by 790%, from 25,000 to 219,000 inmates. The U.S. has the highest prison population in the world, with over 2 million incarcerated in federal or state prison, and the highest incarceration rate (with 730 per capita prison population per every 100,000) in the world, exceeding the incarceration rates of populous nations such as China and Russia.3

Due to inhumane conditions in California prisons operating at 200% of their design capacity for 11 years, resulting in “needless suffering and death,” even the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in Brown v. Plata (2011)4 that it amounted to “cruel and unusual punishment” under the U.S. Constitution and ordered the release of tens of thousands of prisoners to reduce California’s prison population to no more than 137.5% of design capacity within 2 years.5 However, a flashback to the U.S. Supreme Court’s prior decisions on upholding California’s three-strikes laws (passed in 1994) against constitutional challenges reminds us that such mandatory sentencing laws were responsible for lengthy incarceration of inmates (for being repeat offenders) who had committed petty and non-violent offenses. In Ewing v. California (2003) 538 U.S. 11, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a sentence of 25 years to life for a defendant’s conviction for felony grand theft for stealing three golf clubs worth $1197, without any use of force or weapon by the defendant.6 In Lockyear v. Andrade (2003) 538 U.S. 63, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a sentence of 50 years against a defendant convicted of felony theft for shoplifting videotapes worth $153.54 although he had never committed a violent crime (but his prior convictions for selling marijuana were considered to be serious offenses for triggering the “three-strikes” law). In November 2012, California voters passed an amendment to the three-strikes law to require the third offense be violent or serious before triggering the mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years or life.

(continued on page 8)

Photos of overcrowded and deplorable conditions in California prisons included in U.S. Supreme Court’s Opinion in Brown v. Plata, 1310 S.Ct. 1910 (May 23, 2011)


PAGE 8

What kind of rationale and mindset were behind such mandatory sentencing laws and other draconian legislation? Policy makers and legislators often refer to studies and scholarly works to justify their decisions. A very influential thinker in American public policy, James Q. Wilson (May 27, 1931 to March 2, 2012), published his book Thinking About Crime in 1975, advocating for higher rates of imprisonment, eliminating the role of judges in providing “individualized justice,” and for policy makers to stop spending resources on rehabilitating former inmates, claiming there was no absolute certainty that such efforts had worked.7 Due to his skepticism of delinquency-prevention programs and the rehabilitation model advocated by other criminology scholars, Dr. Wilson advocated for an “incapacitation” model (a novel theory at the time) and longer jail sentences to prevent repeat offenders from further offending.8 Dr. Wilson was a professor of government at Harvard University from 1961 to 1987, professor at the UCLA School of Management from 1987 to 1997, a former chairman of the White House Task Force on Crime, a conservative policy analyst with the American Enterprise Institute, and held many other influential positions.

From 1980 to 2000, a wave of mandatory sentencing laws passed throughout the country.9 While three-strikes laws were non-existent in 1980 and 1990, there were 33 states with three-strikes laws in 2000. While only 2 states had mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines in 1980, there were 17 states with such mandatory minimums by 2000. From 1980 to 2000, the number of states which abolished or limited parole increased from 17 to 33 states. In 1980, there were 3 states with truth-in-sentencing laws (i.e. laws which eliminated the traditional role of parole board hearings by requiring that inmates serve their full or at least 50 percent of their sentence). By 2000, 40 states had such laws in place. In California, a year after the passage of its three strikes laws, about 10,000 inmates were sentenced under the second-strike provision, which doubled sentences for serious second-time offenders. Due to the mandatory minimum sentences and limits on the role of judges and parole boards, much of the power shifted in the courtroom from judges to prosecutors. By choosing which charges to bring, prosecutors largely controlled a defendant’s plea options and chances of going to jail.

When America’s first federal criminal statute was signed into law on April 30, 1790, it defined only a handful of criminal offenses such as treason, counterfeiting, piracy and murder, maiming and robbery in federal jurisdictions.10 Now, it is estimated there are over 3,000 federal criminal offenses with the traditional “mens rea” (criminal intent) requirement eliminated for some offenses (e.g. driving into protected federal land) making it much easier for the prosecution to charge the average citizen and very expensive for the defendant to exonerate himself. Despite the mammoth growth in the criminal justice bureaucracy, there has been little oversight over prosecutorial abuses and no corresponding investment into public education, prevention and rehabilitation alternatives. As a result, the constitutional guarantees against “double jeopardy” and “cruel and unusual punishment” is more of a myth than reality in America today.

Jennifer Lim MISSION COORDINATOR FOR SOCIAL ACTION (*Note: the opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author and not that of LADUMW). 1 “Incarceration and Social Inequality” by Bruce Western & Becky Pettit, in Daedalus: Journal of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences (Summer 2010 issue on “Mass Incarceration”). 2 “U.S. Prison Population Seeing ‘Unprecedented Increase’” by Carey Biron, Inter Press Service News Agency, Feb. 4, 2013. 3 “Correctional Population in the United States” 2011, by Bureau of Justice Statistics. “World Prison Population List. 8th edition” by Roy Walmsey. International Centre for Prison Studies (2009). 4 Brown v. Plata was a consolidation of two separate class action lawsuits: i) a class action for prisoners with serious mental disorders, and ii) a class action for prisoners with serious physical conditions. 5 “Supreme Court addresses inhumane conditions in California Prisons” by Ben Kerschberg, Forbes, May 23, 2011; “U.S. Supreme Court orders massive inmate release to relieve California’s crowded prisons,” by David Savage & Patrick McGreevy, Los Angeles Times, May 24, 2011. As reported in the Los Angeles Times, the initial reaction of Gov. Brown and the California Dept. of Corrections & Rehabilitation was to transfer inmates to other county jails and facilities to avoid the overcrowding in prisons as their “goal is not to release inmates at all.” 6 Cruel Justice: Three Strikes and the Politics of Crime in America’s Golden State, by Joe Domanick (2004), pgs 1-9. 7 Thinking About Justice, by James Q. Wilson (1975), p. 254. 8 Thinking About Justice, by James Q. Wilson, (1975) p. 47-48, 175. In disputing a study which pointed out the low re-arrest rates of delinquent youth who were referred to probation supervisory programs, Dr. Wilson argued with absolute certainty (but no proof) that the youth had merely “become skilled at avoiding arrest.” 9 Punishment and Inequality in America, by Bruce Western (2006), p. 62-66. 10 “As Criminal Laws Proliferate, More are Ensnared,” Gary Fields & John Emschwiller, Wall Street Journal, July 24, 2011


PAGE 9

Dear Sisters in Christ,

A Blessed Lenten Season to our sisters in Christ. Please accept my apology for not being with you during the training in January. However, I know that my co-chairperson Lydia Blandford did an excellent job. I also want to thank all the units who have returned all their membership forms. I want to give special recognition to Helen Ricks from St. John’s UMC who sent the St. Johns unit’s forms back within a week of receiving the newsletter. Ladies if you have not sent the forms in please do so as soon as possible. You may call me with the numbers or send an email to [email protected] or by regular mail. Please note my address has changed. It is 1662¼ Rodney Drive Los Angeles, California 90027

Membership Nurture and Outreach: Exactly what does that mean for our units and for the United Methodist Women in general? We know that we cannot have increased membership unless we reach out and nurture the women in our church and community. We know that one does not need to be a United Methodist to be a member of the United Methodist Women. So who can be a member? Any woman who commits herself to the UMW Purpose; it’s a commitment to missions, both globally and locally with women, children and youth. United Methodist Women choose to participate in meetings, prayer, financial giving action and service. We can share how being a member of United Methodist Women has affected each one of our lives.

After we have reached out to these women we must now nurture them. Nurturing takes work; however, the rewards of seeing the United Methodist Women as whole, growing; young ladies joining and participating in all the activities of the United Methodist Women are enormous. Nurturing is providing an environment of hospitality in which women of all diversities feel welcome. Each is accepted and encouraged to grow spiritually and to be challenged intellectually and strengthened emotionally. Each unit needs to appraise the need of all members and potential members of their unit; then determine a plan to meet those needs. We need to provide opportunities for personal growth, leadership development and knowledge of our mission and ministry. Providing affirmation freely and sincerely for work done, faithful service rendered, challenges met, and risks taken are vital to the nurturing process. These are just a few ways that seemed to be very important; however, I would suggest that you go to the website www.gbgm-umc.org/wnccumw for the brochure on how to nurture in your unit. We must remember that the ladies who have been members for many years still need nurturing. They are often forgotten, and for the new members they are vital for the mentoring of those women who are new to the organization. As your MNO co-chairperson and a member of the LADUMW team, we will be visiting all the units to see how we can help revitalize your unit and maybe get suggestions from those units growing and prospering. I will be calling your presidents to make arrangements to visit as many units as possible. Remember, I am here to serve you! So please call me or email me at 3236613374 or [email protected].

God Bless,

LOIS PRICE Co-Mission Coordinator, Membership Nurture and Outreach

[email protected]

Tel. 323.661.3374

“Through Love, serve one another for all the law is justified in one word even in this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself”

Galatians 5:13


http://www.gbgm-umc.org/wnccumw




PAGE 10

Dear Los Angeles Units,

Thank you for your Mission Giving. Below is the update of the 5 Star of Mission Giving from January 1 to February 17, 2013.

We are starting a New Year of 2013. I remind you that beginning March 1, 2013, please send your pledges to Patricia King, our L.A. District Treasurer.

Pledge $6150.00

Special Mission Recognition $420.00

Gift to Mission $569.05

Gift in Memory $5.00

World Thank Offering $172.00

Other Designated Giving: 0

Candle of Commitment 0

$7316.05

I express thanks to all the Units of the Los Angeles District for sending in your Pledges and the other 5 Star Mission Giving to me on time to meet our Pledge of $45,000.00. Again, congratulations to Patricia King as our New Los Angeles District Treasurer for 2013! I will be assisting Pat for her new position as Treasurer for a little while till she feels comfortable. Keep up the good work in sending your 5 Start Mission Giving once a month to Pat King, Treasurer at 1333 W. 111

th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90004

[email protected], 323.757.2996.

As a reminder, Vicki Cruz can come to your Unit to assist you in opening a new Checking Account for your United Methodist Women group, if your Unit wishes to move your checking account to United Methodist Federal Credit Union. To reach Vicki Cruz please call her at (800) 245-0433 or (909) 946-4095, ext. 206. Loraine , our UMW Conference treasurer, suggests all Units should have their books audited once a year.

Thank you again for your great and generous gifts!

Your Former LAD Treasurer,

MAY JUNG

Your Retiring LAD Treasurer

HOLMAN UNITED METHODIST WOMEN will celebrate

WOMEN’S APPRECIATION DAY

under the theme

“Christian Women Obeying His Call”

Our keynote speaker will be our own Holman First Lady

REVEREND JUDI WORTHAM-SAULS Scripture: Acts 11:1-18

Our celebration will include

Women’s Day Chorus directed by Melida Smith Byrd

and In HIS Steps Liturgical Ministry directed by Stephen Semien

Join us!!



PAGE 11

JANUARY 19

Local Officers Training

@ Westchester UMC

FEBRUARY 16 Mid-Winter Event @ TBD

MARCH

APRIL 27 LADUMW

SOCIAL ACTION EVENT @ Centenary UMC

MAY 25 LADUMW

QUIET DISCIPLE / SPIRITUAL RETREAT EVENT @ Wilshire UMC

JUNE 13-15 Cal-Pac Annual Conf. Univ. of Redlands 15 UMW Luncheon at Cal-Pac Annual Conf. Univ. of Redlands

JULY 18-20 Mission u (Korean) (formerly School of Chris. Mission)

@ Biola Univ. in La Mirada 19-21 Mission u (formerly School of Chris. Mission)

@ Biola Univ. in La Mirada

AUGUST 24 LADUMW Mission u (formerly School of Chris. Mission)

@ St. John’ UMC

SEPTEMBER 21 LADUMW ANNUAL CELEBRATION @ TBD

OCTOBER 19 Conference Annual Celebration @ TBD

NOVEMBER 23 LAD UMW Christmas Celebration @ TBD

DECEMBER

JANUARY 25, 2014 TBA D’LT for Local Units @ TBD

2013-2014 CALENDAR

Cal Pac Conference and Los Angeles District

United Methodist Women Events

ATTEND AND EXPERIENCE A GREAT TIME

OF LEARNING AND FELLOWSHIP!

A NEW YEAR WITH THE LORD

A new year is about to unfold, with new opportunities to explore Doors will open for new experiences, new adventures with the Lord

Remember not the former things, the things of this past year The Lord will do new things in us, much more than we are aware

For He will make a way for us, as we put our trust in Him And He will guide our every step, by His presence we have within What God has placed within our hearts, we find we’ll be able to do If we look for the opportunities, we’ll see the door to go through

We mustn’t let anything hold us back, but rise up and take our place And be all that God wants us to be, with a fresh touch of His grace

by

M.S

.Lo

wn

des


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Responsively Yours: Claim the Blessings of Work and Rest By Harriett Jane Olson

(from response magazine – February, 2013 Issue)

“We can and are making a difference! Yes, God has a plan for us, our local, district and conference groups that includes stepping out on faith and beyond our comfort zones to share God’s love.”

February 1, 2013 How do you decide when to work hard for change and when to accept what life presents? We think about this in cases of serious illnesses, when to have one more treatment and when to stop and rest in the hands of the Great Physician. One of our conference presidents faced this sort of a decision this summer. Every treatment has its risks, and despite great advances in medicine, we sometimes have to choose quality of life over a fight to extend our years.

Similar questions occur not just in times of crisis but every day. Do I grit my teeth and keep up the pace for the next lap, or do I accept that this is as much as I can push today? Do I stay at my desk and try to focus, or do I let the computer sleep while I do something else?

I suspect these questions are all really about the importance of balance. Without exercise, our bodies are weak. Without rest, our bodies are weak. We need both. What’s hard to know is what our particular body requires for strength. Advice abounds: “Get at least seven hours of sleep,” “You need at least eight hours of sleep,” “Do 20 minutes of brisk exercise daily,” “Weight-bearing exercise, stretching and aerobics are essential.” We make decisions about such things daily, consciously or unconsciously. What about our faith journeys? Is it about disciplines and gathering enough spiritual strength and sheer determination to make countercultural decisions about what makes us happy, healthy and whole and sticking to them? Well, yes, sometimes it is. We are called to a way of life that is full of challenge but leads us to a better day. We are to feel everything we feel and know that God loves us just that way.

However, we are not to act however we feel. We go to worship whether we feel like it at that moment or not. We serve the homeless in our neighborhood whether it makes us comfortable at that moment or not. We study about how systems objectify and oppress others even though we might prefer not to know or take responsibility for addressing the issue. We speak up even when it would be easier to remain silent about things that are unjust because this is what it means to be “whole persons through Jesus Christ” who are participating in the “global ministries of the church,” as described in the Purpose of United Methodist Women.

Believers in the Wesleyan tradition are strong on disciplines and practices of faith, but we need a balance. We need to remember that God loves us fully knowing that we struggle to keep our commitments, to see clearly when our experience is different or our self-interest is involved, to be bold in challenging institutions and practices that are familiar to us. We need to rest with Scripture and with “hymns, psalms and spiritual songs.” We need someone to know how we feel.

Our Wesleyan forebearers knew this. From the circles, bands and class meetings of the early years to the circles and local, district and conference United Methodist Women today, we come together for accountability, “supportive fellowship” and Christian discipleship not possible in isolation.

Thanks be to God for rest and work. Let’s make sure we get enough of both, for there’s much to be done.

HARRIETT JANE OLSON General Secretary United Methodist Women [email protected]

Reprinted with permission



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Los Angeles District 3320 West Adams Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90018 ATTENTION: JONI ARLAIN

PURPOSE

THE ORGANIZED UNIT OF UNITED METHODIST WOMEN SHALL

OF WOMEN WHOSE PURPOSE IS TO AND BE A COMMUNITY KNOW GOD

TO AS WHOLE PERSONS ; EXPERIENCE FREEDOM THROUGH JESUS CHRIST

TO A CREATIVE, SUPPORTIVE FELLOWSHIP; DEVELOP

AND TO CONCEPTS OF THROUGH PARTICIPATION EXPAND MISSION

IN THE GLOBAL MINISTRIES OF THE CHURCH.

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

Keeping us Connected!

PARTY LINE A quarterly newsletter published by

the Los Angeles District UMW

Joni Arlain, Editor [email protected]

The United Methodist Women

Online Community A place to

INFORM DISCUSS

CHAT CONNECT

www.umwonline.org

TURNING FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE INTO ACTION ON BEHALF OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND YOUTH AROUND THE WORLD.

EMAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE

(that’s the green way!)

POSTAL MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE

$10.00 per year for 4 issues Submit your subscription order to

May Jung LAD UMW Treasurer

NEXT PARTY LINE ISSUE: June, 2013

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT ENTRIES: May 15, 2013


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