Here I am on Valentine’s day, 2022, having just received another radiation treatment as I am writing this post.  For me, this year’s UMW theme, “Healing and Joy on our Journey to God”, is particularly poignant.  I am so grateful to be finished with the chemo and surgery, having received the best possible outcome as no cancer was found in the last breast MRI.  The radiation treatments so far are a ”piece of cake” in comparison and are meant to eliminate any cancer that somehow escaped the notice of the MRI.

I also give thanks for my superb district team members.  Our Connect and Learn event was even more successful than we anticipated.  Because it was online, we had quite a few attendees from other districts, who might otherwise have been unable to attend!  Many thanks to Carolyn Bircher for her creativity and dedication in pulling the event together.  Marlene Ward’s presentation was thought -provoking and encouraging.  If you missed it, you may download a copy of the slide presentation from this link.

As we prepare for our El Camino Real District Spiritual Retreat,  I am especially looking forward to learning about healing and how God can work in our lives to better our spiritual and physical wellbeing.  Our speaker will be Beth Carter, a Board Certified Health Coach.  This will be a new concept for me but one from which I can certainly benefit.  Special thanks to Sandra Nesheim for heading up this event.

As I close this note, I want to especially express my gratitude to all of you who continue to support UMW through these unprecedented and challenging times.  You are what makes UMW such a great organization that accomplishes a great deal of good in our world.

Blessings on you as we enter into the holy season of Lent and Easter.  May God’s goodness and love fill your life with joy!

Sincerely,

Debbie

On to new Adventures…but always in my heart ~

As many know, I’ve been kicking around, trying out a nomadic-life style, this past year.  It’s been fun, with many different experiences.  However, the time has come, and I’m looking forward to my new home in Springfield, Missouri.  Yikees, did I say that out loud!

As I write, I am filled with gratitude. For the many friendships, collaborations on missions, service and advocacy, as well as, thru the amazing United Methodist Women, thank you for adding your touch to K!  Being part of United Methodist Women, not only thru my church, Almaden Hills UMW, but also the district transitioning from San Jose to El Camino Real and the CA-NV Conference UMW, will always be an indelible fingerprint on my heart.

As you’re aware, the El Camino Real District team is strong & vibrant under the leadership of Debbie Ow and her team.  I’m so excited to see their growth and impact on women, children and youth near and far.

I will be flying out, to Springfield, on March 1^st.

Once settled, I’ll continue my exploring & travel adventures…either by train, air or RV Camper Van…or who knows, maybe by camel!  I hope to be involved with mission work, perhaps thru the NOMAD program of the UMC, or UMVIM trips.  I’m excited to go church-hunting, a key factor being the UMW and missions!

We will meet again.  Please stay in touch. As I will, when I visit California again!

Thank you for your friendship, your Gifts and Graces.

Sincerely,

K Stone

kstone09@ymail.com

I Choose Hope ~

Once again, United Methodist Women from all over El Camino Real District (and beyond) discovered that, even if they weren’t feeling as well as they would like, they could still come to our annual leadership training day on Saturday,  February 5, because they could attend from the comfort of home on Zoom!

Our guest speaker was Marlene Ward, who has held many local, district and conference UMW offices over the years and who is now a member of the UMW National Program Advisory Group, representing all of the UMW members of the California-Nevada Conference.  The theme of her talk gave us a smile –  “Leadership!!! – Me???”  No doubt about it, the word “leadership” is a scary word.  Many of us don’t like to stand in front of a crowd.  We’d rather sit way in the back, unnoticed.  But Marlene says that God whispers, “I will take you through it all.” We may not feel that we are “leadership” material, but Marlene congratulated us for signing up for “Connect & Learn.”  The fact that we were there (and that you are reading this article) means that UMW matters to us.

Marlene Ward

Marlene herself credits other people who saw something in her, some “gifts and graces” that she wasn’t aware were hers.  She admits that while she is neither a visionary nor an “imaginer,” she is a good organizer, and that is her strong point.  She knows how to move the “pieces” around to make them fit.  On the other hand, she knows that she is not a good proofreader, so she asks others for help in doing that.  If you accept a leadership role, you do not have to be a one-woman band.  If you would like to review Marlene Ward’s Presentation, it is available here.

The format of the morning included two “break-out rooms” and, fortunately, one of those was a “talk back” session with Marlene where we could comment on her presentation.  There were two music video breaks during the morning.   The young girl singing “I’ve Got Joy” had us up and dancing.  The virtual choir’s rendition of “I Believe In The Sun,” sung together by several members of San Jose United Methodist churches, was so beautiful that we wanted to hear it again.  You may hear it at this address –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Fp4Uo4yAOc

— Bonnie Home, Almaden Hills UMW

It’s a historic time to TURN IT UP!

• For spiritual healing and renewal
• For rebirth in a new time
• For women leaders
• For justice for women, children and youth

The United Methodist Women’s Assembly will take place on May 20 through May 22, in Orlando Florida.  You can register using the button below, or just to to the 2022 Assembly website.

Change is coming to United Methodist Women and we are excited that Assembly is the first place where you can experience that change in person or virtually! This is a moment in United Methodist Women history when you will look back and say “I was there! I can tell the story because I was present.” This is a don’t miss Assembly with big announcements to come in the coming months.

Women bishops of The United Methodist Church are registering now! They will join us to lead special segments of our worship together.

Speakers Announced on the Assembly 2022 Website   https://assembly2022.org/speakers/.  

The inaugural Legacy Banquet will be held at Assembly on the evening of May 21 as a special fundraising event to celebrate and grow

Request for Seed Packets.  United Methodist Women is so grateful to be partnering with Cornerstone Family Ministries, a national mission institution of United Methodist Women since 1892, for the Ubuntu Day of Service at Assembly 2022 in Orlando. Cornerstone’s mission is to nourish young bodies, develop young minds and foster hope through Christ … one child at a time. Cornerstone sponsors over 150 child-care centers under their Child Care Food Program sponsorship, serving over 16,800 children each year.

Here are the seeds we are requesting:

• Amaranth
• Collards
• Kale
• Malabar spinach

Mix and Mingle  Get ready for our member Mix and Mingle space led by you, the attendee.

 Bookstore Meet with national staff to purchase resources, learn about re-store and find out about digital resources on Mighty Networks at https://united-methodist-women.mn.co/ to connect with other members and engage with member resources for local programming and transformative education.

Deaconesses and Home Missioners lead prayer and meditation space

Virtual Assembly If you can’t join us in Orlando, you can still Turn It Up! Virtual attendees get access to all five Community Gatherings in real time and on demand, one workshop on Friday and Saturday, exclusive behind-the-scenes speaker interviews, sisterhood networking, unique prayer and meditation sessions, and a Saturday night party.

— K Stone