Category Archives: “Quick News” emails

Subscribe to Quick News here

Quick News is emailed to our distribution list, typically once or twice a month. It highlights upcoming events and news that may be of interest to our District United Methodist Women.  If you wish to receive these emails, subscribe here. If you already receive the emails and wish to unsubscribe, you may do so through a link at the bottom of the email.

Quick News: May Mission Link, Faith Talks

In this ECR District UMW Quick News:  Get your May Mission Link news, and see what women around our District are doing to be in mission and ministry during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Also, be part of monthly UMW online conversations that empower us to put faith, hope and love into action.

Get your Mission Link news

May 2020 issue of Mission Link newsletter

Click image to view newsletter

El Camino Real District UMW’s May 2020 issue of the Mission Link newsletter is now available.  We are excited to share with you news and stories from around the District about how United Methodist Women are remaining in mission and ministry, even during Shelter-In-Place.

Due to limitations of Shelter-In-Place, printed copies have not been mailed to each church and local president or main contact.  If you know of someone who only receives the Mission Link in the printed form, please share this online version with them, or help them obtain a printed copy.

Mission Link newsletters are also available online on the News and Events Mission Link page

Faith Talks:  Online UMW conversations

Faith Talks UMW podcastsFaith Talks are monthly conversations with United Methodist Women hosted by Jennifer R Farmer, Spotlight PR.  Each conversation explores themes and resources that empower us to put faith, hope and love into action. You can register in advance for each podcast, or listen to them afterwards from the Faith Talks web page, https://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/faithtalks

Upcoming podcasts include these:

  • Thursday, May 7 at 2:00 pm ET (11am PT)
    • COVID-19 and Incarcerated Loved Ones 
  • Thursday, May 14 at 2:00 pm ET (11am PT)
    • Caring for the Body with Ghylian Bell
  • Thursday, May 21 at 6:00 pm ET (3pm PT)
    • Emotion and Anxiety with Trudy Rankin

Subscribe to Quick News

Get the latest news from El Camino Real District United Methodist Women in our Quick News emails.  Sent once or twice a month, it’s a great way to find about upcoming events and recent news that affects our District United Methodist Women.   Subscribe here!

This Quick News was sent out to our email list May 6, 2020.

Quick News: 2021 Retreat scheduling; being in ministry at a distance

Planning ahead for Spiritual Retreat 2021

This spring we were unable to hold the ECR District UMW Spiritual Retreat, due to Shelter-in-Place restrictions.  Undaunted, we are getting a start on next year’s retreat, expecting that the world will be healthier then.  We’re looking forward to again offering a renewing spiritual experience in the redwoods of Santa Cruz Mountains.

Typically the retreat is held the second weekend in March.  We’ve heard from several groups that they also have another event that is routinely scheduled for that same weekend. So we  would like to find out your preferred retreat dates. Note that in 2021, Easter is April 4.

Please take our quick online poll to let us know your preferred retreat dates:  March 12-14, or March 19-21. >>Take the poll on our website, here.<<

Mission & Ministry with Shelter-in-Place

How have you, as a United Methodist Woman, been in mission lately?

For the last several weeks, groups have not been able to meet physically together, while we “shelter in place.”  This makes it more challenging to be in mission together.

In our next Mission Link newsletter (due to be published soon), we will include stories of how our local groups have been in mission and ministry while keeping the required social distance.

Please leave a reply to this post, by April 18, with a brief description of how your local group has remained connected and has been in ministry this month.  Or, send an email to our Communications Coordinator at communication@ecrduwf.org.

Subscribe to Quick News

Get the latest news from El Camino Real District United Methodist Women in our Quick News emails.  Sent once or twice a month, it’s a great way to find about upcoming events and recent news that affects our District United Methodist Women.   Subscribe here!

This Quick News was sent out to our email list April 13, 2020.

Quick News: Life in time of COVID-19; Changes in plans

Life in the time of COVID-19

K Stone

El Camino Real United Methodist Women President K Stone

Hello my friends,

In this time of extreme health concern, I want to share with you my thoughts on how we, together, can get through a new world of “Shelter in Place” and focus on “Essential Activities.”

I encourage you to follow the order of the Santa Clara County Public Health Department, who has identified things to be done to slow the spread of COVID-19.  They recommend remaining “socially distant” and washing hands, and staying at home unless you are doing “Essential Activities,” which include getting outdoor exercise as you are able.

As United Methodist Women, one of our “Essential Activities” is to remain connected with each other.  While we are not able to visit in person, we can check in over the phone, through email, with text messages, or even video chat.

The most hopeful message I’ve read is from a daily motivation email I receive, called “Notes from the Universe.”  One of this week’s emails really spoke to me, and I hope it is helpful to you as well.

“Our universal God is with us……In every home, sitting beside each child, and in the nervous heart of every adult, joyfully radiant. Knowing that this unfolding pandemic, like all crises, will ultimately awaken our spirits, rearrange our priorities, draw us together, and inspire an everlasting compassion.

Life is beautiful. It never ends. Fear not.”

– From the Universe

Blessings,
K Stone
“I Choose Hope”

Changes in plans due to COVID-19

Event and activity schedules are being changed due to the health mandates and social distancing needed to control the spread of COVID-19.  Here is what we know so far:

  • Our ECR District UMW Spiritual Retreat was cancelled; see more here
  • The United Methodist Women 2019 Census due date has been postponed to April 30; see more here
  • The UMW Western Jurisdiction meeting has been postponed to September 11-13, 2020*; see more here

* Date changed from TBD on 4/13/2020.

Other upcoming events may be impacted, so please watch for announcements.  Information about our District and Conference events will be posted on our website, ecrduwf.org/

Subscribe to Quick News

Get the latest news from El Camino Real District United Methodist Women in our Quick News emails.  Sent once or twice a month, it’s a great way to find about upcoming events and recent news that affects our District United Methodist Women.   Subscribe here!

This Quick News was sent out to our email list March 21, 2020.

Quick News: One-Day Retreat option; UMW Census

Spiritual Retreat at Mission Springs: “Choose Hope for God’s World”
March 13-15, 2020; One-Day Option, March 14

Retreat leader Charlotte Bear

In the peaceful setting of a women’s weekend retreat, explore what it means to choosing hope in a time of climate chaos. Come rejuvenate yourself in the beautiful coastal redwood forest.  Learn some evidence based, transformational therapies that deepen your authentic connection to the non-human natural world.  Find out more about how worldviews shape our past/present/future, about climate reality today and ways to manifest real hope.

One-Day (Saturday) Option:  For those unable to attend the full weekend retreat, we are offering a Saturday-only option.  This includes the Saturday program sessions, lunch and dinner, and the Gifts & Graces Talent Show.

Retreat Leader Rev. Charlotte Bear is an Elder with 23 years professional ministry experience as a senior Pastor, Healthcare Chaplain and certified Eco-Chaplain.  She is also a certified Climate Reality Leader.  Combining personal story with current science and eco-therapeutic techniques, she provides a framework for re-booting a constructive relationship with sacred Earth community.

Because of the new one-day option, we have extended the registration deadline to Monday, March 9, 2020.

Online and mail-in registration is available.  Get more information on the Retreat web page.

Be counted in the UMW 2019 Census

Dear Presidents,
The United Methodist Women 2019 Census has already started!   Each local unit is asked to complete the online form by March 30, 2020.  While the form is typically filled out by the president of the unit, any designated person can do it.  It usually only takes 5-10 minutes to fill in the form.  If you send the form in late, after March 30, it won’t be counted.

It is important for all units of our District to submit their census information.  The results are reflected in programs and resources that are being developed by the National UMW office.  Note that this is not connected in any way with the census from the U.S. government!

You can find the 5 easy steps here.  If you need help, call me.

Carolyn Lamcke
Membership Nurture and Outreach