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“Telling Our Story – Women with Many Gifts Unified by Christ’s Spirit”

By Charlene Fowler, Communication Coordinator - United Methodist Women

Hebrews: 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, …..”

Three hundred twenty six United Methodist women from local UMW units in the Texas Conference met the last weekend of September for the Annual Meeting and Fall Festival. Telling Our Story: Women with Many Gifts Unified by Christ’s Spirit was the theme for the weekend.    

The festival was kicked off with a barbeque with a “western” theme. P.S. 100, a band from Porter, Texas, provided music that kept attendees on their feet, clapping and singing songs of praise. The presence of God was felt through the music and the beautiful setting on the lake.

Saturday began with the annual business meeting followed by a mission candle burning ceremony. This ceremony is a tradition of UMW. Its purpose is to raise funds for future mission projects. The total amount of money raised was $6,751.91.

The 2009 Special Mission Recognition pin was awarded to Eddie Hilliard, Executive Director of Disaster Recovery for the Texas Conference because of his record of outstanding leadership and service to the community, both locally and internationally. A surprise honor, “Mr. UMW,” was given Sid Price, for his help and support of Texas Conference United Methodist Women. 

UMW participated in the, Hands on Project 2009 sponsored by UMCOR. The focus was collecting school kits.  This year, 3,584 school kits were dedicated during the morning meeting. A total of 521 additional kits such as, bedding kits, health kits and sewing kits were also collected, along with 70 baby blankets and 346 school bags. The sum of $1,905 collected for UMCOR.  

Saturday afternoon, seven focus groups met to explore the theme of, “Telling Our Stories.” Following the meeting, a skit commemorating the 140 year history of United Methodist Women in full costume was presented.

The event culminated with a communion service and prayer led by Rev. Von Dawson: “We recall our mothers and grandmothers whose lives gave shape to ours. May the power at work in them and in all women of faith pass now to us. Come Holy Spirit, come and work in us as you worked in them. Amen.”

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