Yellowstone Annual Conference: Day 1 (morning)

Welcome to YAC!

Prayer walk station

UMCOR layette kits from SUMC

Missional listening

Conference choir during the memorial service

The 2016 Yellowstone Annual Conference (YAC) got underway this morning with Mission Engagement workshops. 

Participants in one of the optional exercises were able to experience "Prayer Walks," walking the neighborhood and praying for the community. The other session was engaging in active listening, the example this morning was with two participants in the Committee on Native American Ministries (Yellowstone Conference).

Pastor Charles delevered fifteen UMCOR layette kits to the rapidly growing pile being contributed by UMW members from around the conference.

We wrapped up the first part of this year's YAC with the memorial worship service where eleven YAC clergy or spouses were remembered.

Annual Conference Mission Project

This year Yellowstone Conference will collect the contents of layette kits for the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) West Depot in Salt Lake City.  Each church can decide whether to collect all the items needed for a kit, or to focus on two or three items. All items should be brought to Annual Conference in June. Items will be delivered to the depot in July.  You can find the list of contents of the kit here.

Some important things to remember:

• All items must be new.
• Do not wash any of the items as they will then be considered used.
• All emergency kits are carefully planned to make them usable in the greatest number of situations. Since strict rules often govern product entry into international countries, it is important that kits contain only the requested items, nothing more. 
• Do not include any personal notes, money, or additional material in the kits. These things must be painstakingly removed and will delay the shipment. 

If you have any questions, contact Sally McConnell

Friday UMW Circle

Twenty-three were on hand today for the October meeting of the Friday UMW Circle. Hostesses for today were Carol Goffe, Hazel Smith, and Roberta Zielinski. 

To open our time together, Carole Koval and Ginny Mellgren offered a moving tribute to Charline Siphers. Among many notable facts about Charline was her service as Conference UMW president for eight years. Pastor Charles shared this month's program, a guided meditation from "One Hundred Cranes: Praying with the Chorus of Creation."

Reports:
+Secretary - Linda Kauffman shared thank you note from Mitch and Josh.
+Treasurer - Bonita Ziegler reported that apple dumpling proceeds are still being recieved.
+Spiritual Growth - Bev Schneider shared a reflection from www.peacefinders.org, Path to Peace, that was based on John 17:18-23.
+Outreach/Mission/Social Justice - Hazel Smith shared infromation about the work UMCOR is doing to support hurricane relief efforts. SUMC has supplied sixty health kits, twenty-eight school kits, and twenty-eight layette kits to UMCOR efforts this year. $220 will be sent to UMCOR from the special missions fund.
+Receptions - Bonita thanked everyone who supported the reception following Charline Sipher's memorial service.
+Reading program - Marcia Prather shared that the 2018 Reading Program list is available. Marcia reminded everyone that Response magazine is on the reading list. The September issue has a great article about what UMW members are doing for women and girls in Africa.
+Saturday UMW Circle - Belinda said that the recycling effort is going well (drop-off at the parsonage) and that the Pantry Partners Sunday offering this month (Oct. 15) will be spices and (store-bought) jelly.
+Prayer Shawls - Carole Koval shared that one shawl was presented this month.
+Fall Bazaar - Each of the coordinators spoke about their respective areas and invited participation from the Unit.
+Nominations - Election for 2018 officers will take place at the November meeting.

Upcoming events:
October  
20 - Bazaar set-up
21 Annual Fall Bazaar
28 Saturday Circle
November 
4 Adult Convo @ Corvallis UMC
10 Friday Circle
10 Wine, women,and wisdom @ Mary Nelson's
12 Book Club @ Ellyn Jones'
18 Saturday Circle
December
8 Friday Circle Christmas party
16 Saturday Circle

UMW in action

Trudy and Hazel pre-sort the items

One size fits all

Amy prepares some items

Five UMW members were busy this morning in the fellowship hall assembling layette kits for distribution by UMCOR. Dozens of the kits were put together using donations from Stevi UMC congregation members.

Thanks to Amy Farrell, Trudy Freeman, Carole Koval, Hazel Smith, and Linda Sunderland for their time and energy!

This month with the UMW

Board members plan the meeting

Claire shares the devotions

Laughing and learning with Patsy Clairmont

Hazel brings the social action report

Marcia speaks about the UMW Reading Program

Twenty-seven ladies (and Pastor Charles) were on hand for a jam-packed gathering at the church!  

Today's refreshments and decorations were provided by this month's hostesses, Carole Koval, Ginny Melgren, and Carol Varien.
We were happy to welcome Laurie Ball, the Western Mountains District UMW president to our church and community.

Devotions were offered by Claire Kelly who shared four readings that reminded us of the joy that comes from trusting in the Lord with all our strength. Bonita Ziegler had this month's program, a viewing of Patsy Clairmont's (from Women of Faith) "Over the top." 

Reports were heard including a prayer shawl that was passed around the members for a friend of Carole Koval who is dealing with cancer treatments.

Bev Schneider had this month's spiritutal growth reflection that was based on Matthew 13:3-4, 17-22, the Parable of the Sower. Bev also shared some of the lessons from Vivian Clark's book, " 12 Lessons on Life I Learned from My Garden."

Hazel Smith brought the social action report from the UMW's Social Action Network on "The fight for $15" and the struggle to live on today's minimum wage.

Marcia Prather reminded everyone that it isn't too late to take part in the 2016 UMW Reading Program. Forms are available from Marcia and some of the possible books are in our library.

Hazel also told us about the June 5 deadline for contributions for the UMCOR Layette Kits. See this link for more information.


A special thanks to Trudy Freeman, Carole Koval, Shirley McKelvey, Ava & Dusty Schrock, Bev Schneider, and Bonita Ziegler for their work in the kitchen and storage building.

Calendar Notes:
Apr. 9: Missoula Circuit meeting @ Mission Valley UMC (a pastor from the East Angola Conference will be our speaker)
Apr. 16: Western Mountains District spring UMW meeting @ Polson UMC.
Apr. 23: Wedding reception (contact Bonita to help)
Apr 28-May 1: Women's Walk to Emmaus
May 10-20: UMC General Conference (Portland, OR)
May 14: Mary Lyon Memorial service (contact Bonita to help)
May 21: Women's chorus rehearsal (10 am)
May 22: UMW Sunday
June 5: UMCOR layette kit contribution deadline.
June 16-18: Yellowstone Conference @ St. Paul UMC - Helena
June 17-18: Rummage sale @ Stevi UMC
July 28-30: Summer Mission u @ Covenant UMC - Helena

Year in review (January - June)

 

Children/youth ministry discussion in January

January: Charge conference is held to discuss children/youth work @ Stevi UMC; UMW officers are installed.

Valentine's Dinner fun in February

February: UMM sponsors the 3rd annual Valentine's Dinner; Ash Wednesday begins our Lenten journey with a soup supper; Leap Day!

Easter sunrise service in March

March: One Great Hour of Sharing; Holy Week @ Stevi UMC:  Palm Sunday procession... Maundy Thursday communion... Good Friday led by Rev. Lois Hansen, Easter Sunrise @ Dr. Linda's; Easter breakfast... Easter egg hunt... Celebration Easter worship.

Three baptisms in April!

April: UMW members clean the kitchen; Church yard cleanup day; Trustees lead the bathroom renovations; Ed & Patty Spencer are married; Three baptisms on one Sunday; Worship on Wednesday wraps up (until September).

General Conference in May (Portland)

May: Pastor Charles attends UMC General Conference in Portland; Movie Night; UMW Sunday.

VBS in June

June: Yellowstone Conference in Helena; Church picnic & sing-a-long at the church; UMW prepares dozens of layette kits for UMCOR; Church rummage sale; A great VBS program.

February's UMW gathering

Connie shares the devotional

Information from Hazel's presentation

Linda K. Kauffman offers her report

Belinda speaks to the gathering about district events

We LOVE our UMW!

The United Methodist Women @ Stevi UMC are amazing!  This afternoon the fellowship hall was filled with women glad to be together, learning and sharing, as a supportive community of faith.

Today's fellowship time offered delicious cheesecake and beautiful decorations which were provided by the hostesses - Carol Gragg, Lisa Nichols, and Bev Schneider.  Connie Rakiecki shared today's devotional.

Hazel Smith presented today's program on the refugee crisis taking place in Europe as the result of the on-going conflicts in the middle east. Resource reference materials are available on the UMW bulletin board. Hazel mentioned two videos from UMCmissions that are well-worth viewing: Journey of Hope: Refugees in Europe and Welcoming the Stranger. 

Belinda Alkula presented a report on activities in the Western Mountains UMW District. See below for the dates.

In the Coordinator's reports:
+Bev Schneider shared a lovely devotional.
+Carole Koval two new members to our Unit: Liz Goddard and Shirley McKelvey. 
+Carole also reported that the Prayer Shawl ministry has presented  our 200th shawl.
+Becky Boykin, filling in for Marcia Prather, invited members to take part in the 2016 UMW Reading Program.
 +Trudy Freeman, filling in for Bonita Ziegler, reported that our Unit has distributed over $6,000 to designated organizations. 
+Hazel Smith invited members to participate in the collecting of items for UMCOR Layette Kits for Annual Conference in June.

Some dates to note:
Feb. 26: Crochet lessons for bazaar item (taught by Julie Ludington) @ the church, 1-3 pm.
Mar. 11: "Call to Prayer & Self-denial" meeting theme
Apr. 2: UMW kitchen cleaning day

Apr. 16: Spring district UMW meeting @ Polson UMC
July 28-30: Summer Mission u @ Covenant UMC - Helena
Sep. 17: Fall district UMW meeting @ the Sacajawea Center in Salmon, ID.
Oct. 8: YAC UMW annual meeting @ Grace UMC - Missoula.