I've said it before....May and June are the busiest months of the year. Holy, Moley, I'm feeling stressed. Way too much is on my plate. Right now I am feeling that I won't get everything prepared for Annual Conference, the Wintle Family Reunion on the 10th in Pittsburg,Kansas, our son Ry's wedding on the 21st(that means house guests from the 11th of June to the 22nd), and Regional School in New Orleans on the 24th.
The only thing that is going to get me through this mess is PRAYER....a whole lot of it. I can only speak for myself, but Prayer centers and calms me. When I take the time to really talk to God and visit with him about my concerns, He shows me the way. And, you know what? When I let God talk to me,I know that everything is going to be just fine.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Saturday, May 2, 2009
A Most Excellent Retreat
HOLY COW! The United Methodist Women of Missouri sponsored a first class Spiritual Growth Retreat in Moberly, this weekend. Eighteen of the eighty women in attendance were teen and young adult women. (and Rev. Graham says that UMW is for old women!!!)
Not so Grandpa.
All of us had a simply spectacular time. The young ladies had three presenters and their focus was on spiritual, mental, and physical wellness. Our mature women were led in a particularly meaningful study presented by Diana Revelle. A great time was had by all.
The Reverend Dorothy L. Smith celebrated Communion with the entire group to close the event.
All UMW events are group efforts. Many thanks to all of our faithful members to helped to plan, present and attend this weekend's adventure.
I can hardly wait until next year.
Blessings,
NKK
Not so Grandpa.
All of us had a simply spectacular time. The young ladies had three presenters and their focus was on spiritual, mental, and physical wellness. Our mature women were led in a particularly meaningful study presented by Diana Revelle. A great time was had by all.
The Reverend Dorothy L. Smith celebrated Communion with the entire group to close the event.
All UMW events are group efforts. Many thanks to all of our faithful members to helped to plan, present and attend this weekend's adventure.
I can hardly wait until next year.
Blessings,
NKK
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
ROAD TRIP
Carol Refro, MO Conference Vice President, and I traveled down and over to Poplar Bluff on Sunday. We left Kansas City at 2 p.m. and made it to our hotel in beautiful downtown Poplar Bluff at 9 p.m. Our purpose was to meet with Southwest District Officers, Vicki and Gail, and the Rev.Charles Buck, pastor of First UMC, in Poplar Bluff.
Carol and I were warmly greeted by all three and we were able to work out some plans for our Annual Meeting in September. The Poplar Bluff church is a wonderfully usable facility. They have done a great job of blending old and new sections and making it all work together. We are all excited about "Coming to God's Table" in Poplar Bluff.
And Poplar Bluff is Beautiful. The azaleas were in full bloom all over town. Gorgeous red, pink, magenta, and white bushes.
On our return trip, Carol and I stopped off to visit the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum and Home in Mansfield. Be sure to put it on your list of Missouri Places to see. All of the Little House Books,the prequels and sequels were written there.
Now, get this folks.....Laura Ingalls Wilder was a Methodist. She attended the Methodist Church in Mansfield. I think there is a story there or at least a reason to do some research.
Now, isn't that the coolest thing? Guess there is more than one famous Methodist author in Missouri!
Carol and I were warmly greeted by all three and we were able to work out some plans for our Annual Meeting in September. The Poplar Bluff church is a wonderfully usable facility. They have done a great job of blending old and new sections and making it all work together. We are all excited about "Coming to God's Table" in Poplar Bluff.
And Poplar Bluff is Beautiful. The azaleas were in full bloom all over town. Gorgeous red, pink, magenta, and white bushes.
On our return trip, Carol and I stopped off to visit the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum and Home in Mansfield. Be sure to put it on your list of Missouri Places to see. All of the Little House Books,the prequels and sequels were written there.
Now, get this folks.....Laura Ingalls Wilder was a Methodist. She attended the Methodist Church in Mansfield. I think there is a story there or at least a reason to do some research.
Now, isn't that the coolest thing? Guess there is more than one famous Methodist author in Missouri!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Blue Ridge
Quit your whinning out there, girlfriends. We have circles (right here in Missouri) that are intergenerational and are making UMW work!
Congratulations to the EVEning Circle at Blue Ridge UMC. I visited with them last night and believe me when I write that they fit our MISSION Purpose to a "T".
First of all, they meet when it works for them. Most of them are employed, so they come right after work on Monday nights. They share a pot luck dinner. One young mom brings her teen son. Mondays are Scout night at the church so they eat together and go to their respective meetings.And, other moms bring their kids to share in the meal.They always offer child care during the meeting.
Then, the ages of the women range from early 20's to 70 something. I observed that they cherish one another and they are certainly a COMMUNITY of women, as they offered up their concerns and joys. They are involved in "hands on Mission" in their church. They have fun.(In February, their meal theme was red or pink food, or food shaped like a heart. How great is that?)
This group is a model for our future. The young and the experienced coming together for the Lord.
Now, like many of our circles, they have their issues. But, by golly, the women of the EVEning circle are continuing to fulfill our Purpose.
What a blessing.
Congratulations to the EVEning Circle at Blue Ridge UMC. I visited with them last night and believe me when I write that they fit our MISSION Purpose to a "T".
First of all, they meet when it works for them. Most of them are employed, so they come right after work on Monday nights. They share a pot luck dinner. One young mom brings her teen son. Mondays are Scout night at the church so they eat together and go to their respective meetings.And, other moms bring their kids to share in the meal.They always offer child care during the meeting.
Then, the ages of the women range from early 20's to 70 something. I observed that they cherish one another and they are certainly a COMMUNITY of women, as they offered up their concerns and joys. They are involved in "hands on Mission" in their church. They have fun.(In February, their meal theme was red or pink food, or food shaped like a heart. How great is that?)
This group is a model for our future. The young and the experienced coming together for the Lord.
Now, like many of our circles, they have their issues. But, by golly, the women of the EVEning circle are continuing to fulfill our Purpose.
What a blessing.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Steve Cox Gets It
Yesterday was the UMW Spring Meeting of the Pony Express District. Snowflakes and ice crystals were blurring my windshield as I made my way from Kansas City to the First UMC in Maryville. Spring indeed!
But, the warmth of Spring was in the building. Quite a few local women and District Officers had braved the weather and ignored the impending forcast of doom and gloom to reach the meeting.
The day's business was accomplished with nary a glitch. Thelma Wyrick, District President, presided in fine fashion and the speaker, from the Missouri House, was informative. The women in the northwest corner of our state are doing mission.
(Trumpets Sound here) And Lo, Pony Express Superintendent Steve Cox came to the event. People....Steve Cox gets it. Steve Cox supports United Methodist Women. Steve Cox has read his UM Discipline. Steve Cox understands that UMW members are the functioning Mission Arm of the UMC. He also understands that UMW members are supporters of their local congregations AND that we take our Church Membership very seriously.
Steve Cox understands "leadership by walking around". Believe me when I tell you that I could count on 2 fingers the number of District Supers that have shown their faces at UMW District Meetings in the last 3 years! Gosh, this DS job must be one very time consuming appointment. One or two hours a year spent on UMW is a lot to ask of those 12 clergy folk. Obviously, some people DON'T READ THEIR DISCIPLINE!!!!!!!! (You know that section that says "every congregation SHALL have a unit of United Methodist Women.") I don't even think these folk have read the other major book on faith....the Five Practices (RADICAL HOSPITALITY, RISK TAKING MISSION, etc.)
I am reminded of a quote from a Methodist Preacher way back in the 1800's. The man said, and I quote...."about the women. Movements like this have begun before. Leave them alone and it will die out."
Blessings on you Steve Cox. Take a lesson, the other 10 of you (and you know who you are.) Thank you, Steve Cox, for Getting It.
But, the warmth of Spring was in the building. Quite a few local women and District Officers had braved the weather and ignored the impending forcast of doom and gloom to reach the meeting.
The day's business was accomplished with nary a glitch. Thelma Wyrick, District President, presided in fine fashion and the speaker, from the Missouri House, was informative. The women in the northwest corner of our state are doing mission.
(Trumpets Sound here) And Lo, Pony Express Superintendent Steve Cox came to the event. People....Steve Cox gets it. Steve Cox supports United Methodist Women. Steve Cox has read his UM Discipline. Steve Cox understands that UMW members are the functioning Mission Arm of the UMC. He also understands that UMW members are supporters of their local congregations AND that we take our Church Membership very seriously.
Steve Cox understands "leadership by walking around". Believe me when I tell you that I could count on 2 fingers the number of District Supers that have shown their faces at UMW District Meetings in the last 3 years! Gosh, this DS job must be one very time consuming appointment. One or two hours a year spent on UMW is a lot to ask of those 12 clergy folk. Obviously, some people DON'T READ THEIR DISCIPLINE!!!!!!!! (You know that section that says "every congregation SHALL have a unit of United Methodist Women.") I don't even think these folk have read the other major book on faith....the Five Practices (RADICAL HOSPITALITY, RISK TAKING MISSION, etc.)
I am reminded of a quote from a Methodist Preacher way back in the 1800's. The man said, and I quote...."about the women. Movements like this have begun before. Leave them alone and it will die out."
Blessings on you Steve Cox. Take a lesson, the other 10 of you (and you know who you are.) Thank you, Steve Cox, for Getting It.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
I'm Trying To Understand.....
Today, several of my school friends suggested that I sign on to Face Book. They implied that I may be the only person living who is not already registered.
So, not wanting to be the one and only non-Face Book person left on the planet, I signed up. And, sure enough lots of people I knew were already there.
Now what? There were 91 folks who might want to be "my friends", but in order to know if they want to, I have to ask them. How am I going to feel if they say, "No"? What happens if I only ask some of them? Will the others know that I didn't ask them, too? I am so confused and torn. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings.
I really like having friends, but I'm not sure about electronic friends? Isn't true friendship more than just typing words to another person, or for that matter,91 of them? I want to have real friend. I want to touch my friends, hug my friends, pray for and be with my friends.
Is there anyone out there who would care to explain to me what this Face Book phenomena is all about? Maybe then, we can be friends?
So, not wanting to be the one and only non-Face Book person left on the planet, I signed up. And, sure enough lots of people I knew were already there.
Now what? There were 91 folks who might want to be "my friends", but in order to know if they want to, I have to ask them. How am I going to feel if they say, "No"? What happens if I only ask some of them? Will the others know that I didn't ask them, too? I am so confused and torn. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings.
I really like having friends, but I'm not sure about electronic friends? Isn't true friendship more than just typing words to another person, or for that matter,91 of them? I want to have real friend. I want to touch my friends, hug my friends, pray for and be with my friends.
Is there anyone out there who would care to explain to me what this Face Book phenomena is all about? Maybe then, we can be friends?
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
St. Paddy's Day in NYC
I love parades. I'm the nut in back of you at those events that claps and screams for every band, every float and every horse. WOO, HOO! My thought is that if people are going to go to all the work to participate in a parade, then I am going to thank them for it. Yeah!
So this year we were in NYC for the St. Patrick's Day Parade. It went on for hours and there were thousands of green faced, green haired, and green bodies everywhere. Would you believe I was wearing red?
We loved the fun and festivities.
While in NYC, I attended a planning session for the 2010 Assembly of Women's Division, which is scheduled for April 2010 in St. Louis. The Staff at 475 Riverside Drive (affectionately known as the God Box) were so friendly and welcoming. I felt right at home with those ladies. Harriett Olson introduced herself saying that she worked for ME (Us...ladies of UMW.) How gracious is that?
After, the meeting I hailed another cab and returned to my hotel. Then, it hit me. I owe UMW, so very much. My lengthy involvement in UMW, and the opportunites it has given me to grow, is the reason that I can confidently hail cabs, speak in front of thousands of people, write this blog, and testify to my FAITH in Jesus Christ.
Amen, sisters.
PTL.
So this year we were in NYC for the St. Patrick's Day Parade. It went on for hours and there were thousands of green faced, green haired, and green bodies everywhere. Would you believe I was wearing red?
We loved the fun and festivities.
While in NYC, I attended a planning session for the 2010 Assembly of Women's Division, which is scheduled for April 2010 in St. Louis. The Staff at 475 Riverside Drive (affectionately known as the God Box) were so friendly and welcoming. I felt right at home with those ladies. Harriett Olson introduced herself saying that she worked for ME (Us...ladies of UMW.) How gracious is that?
After, the meeting I hailed another cab and returned to my hotel. Then, it hit me. I owe UMW, so very much. My lengthy involvement in UMW, and the opportunites it has given me to grow, is the reason that I can confidently hail cabs, speak in front of thousands of people, write this blog, and testify to my FAITH in Jesus Christ.
Amen, sisters.
PTL.
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