So many answers this week. . .

Do we all need Soul Care? Yes - give yourself that gift.

Is there anything we can do about Texas Maternal Health issues? Yes, see the links below.

Should I go to the new DBC Connect lunch? Yes! And if not you, make sure someone from your local group connects with this busy mission!

Answers are also included about General Conference, Earth Day, ways to volunteer this summer and more! Keep reading.

Wendy Campbell, President, NTC United Women in Faith

REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE

SOUL CARE SATURDAY:

BE TRANSFORMERS OF THE WORLD

April 27, 2024 9 am - 3 pm

REGISTER NOW for this activity-based day apart for connecting, spiritual nourishment and joy! This Soul Care retreat is a lovely event to share with a friend. All women 12 and older are welcome! The day will include a prayer walk in a peaceful garden in the midst of the city, mixed media art, poetry, worship, meditation, sisterhood, a lovely lunch and a swag bag! The Rev. Marianne Trigg-Brown will lead our worship. Childcare is provided - request in your registration by Thursday, April 25th.

Registration and full info here. $20 includes lunch and a swag bag Download the flyer. Want to help? Contact Karen Anderson-Lain, Chair.

LOCATION: Copeland Retreat Center @ Lovers Lane UMC, 9200 Inwood Rd, Dallas

TX MATERNAL HEALTH POLICY NEEDS YOUR INPUT

The Texas Medical Board has gotten the message from thousands of petition signers. Now the draft of their rule clarifying Texas’ abortion ban exception has been published. Public comments will be accepted until May 8th and can be easily made with this Texas Impact printable comment form. (print and scan it or copy it and put it into your own email)

Let your elected officials in Austin know that you have submitted a comment - they will be glad to know that you have participated in the process. Then tell your friends and neighbors! You'll encourage others in your community to 'get involved' too! And its not hard to make a comment using the above form and your opinion counts!

Questions? Contact Marilee Hayden, a member of the Texas Women's Reproductive Justice Team.

DBC Connection: Launch & Lunch Tuesday, April 23rd 11:30 am - 1 pm

at Dallas Bethlehem Center no charge!

Be a part of the new DBC Connection! Come to see how this national UWF mission is making a difference in our South Dallas neighborhood. You'll hear about the many programs introduced in the past several months along with new programs on the horizon. Tour the Center, see the garden and learn how all of these new initiatives are directly impacting the community. FLYER to download.

Lunch will be provided. Please register by 4/21.

LOCATION: 4410 Leland Ave. Dallas 75215. Carpooling is encouraged; park in the lot at the corner of Leland and Marburg.

GENERAL CONFERENCE 2024

April 23 - May 3 in Charlotte, NC

What is it? Think of the two-week gathering as a combination of a United Nations General Assembly, a U.S. congressional session and a time of rousing Christian worship. It's more than a thousand people from four continents, speaking 10 languages. General Conference brings together lay and clergy delegates from around the world whose decisions will affect how millions of United Methodists do church for years to come.

• Check out General Conference FAQ's.
• Short Sally Vonner video on Women at General Conference.
• Pray for the event and those attending, including the lay and clergy delegation from North Texas and our friend, Cynthia Rives, National UWF Vice-President from Denton.
• Use the Prayer Guide or sign up for the NTC Prayer Vigil.
• Subscribe to updates: tinyurl.com/UWFaithAtGC or watch Live Stream.

FAITH TALKS

IN PREPARATION FOR EARTH DAY

Thursday, April 18th, 1 pm CST

join our community, committed to honoring God's creation, practicing and loving sustainability! This month's panel features: Rev. Kristina Sinks, a provisional Deacon in the California-Nevada Conference UMC serving at GreenFaith, Rev. Dallas Conyers, a youth organizer with the Amanecer Project, and Pat Watkins, a former missionary working for the UMC General Board of Global Ministries as our first “Missionary for the Care of God’s Creation." REGISTER HERE

METHODIST DALLAS MEDICAL CTR. AUXILIARY

SPRING LUNCHEON

Thursday, May 2nd, 10 am in Hitt Auditorium

Celebrate a year of mission by the Hospital Auxiliary! Featuring Guest Speaker, John Mitchener, Chief Development Officer, MHS Foundation; Installation of Officers for 2024-2025; Presentation of Auxiliary Gifts to SANE and Breast Health Outreach; Memorial Service, and announcement of the Auxilian of the Year award. Oak + Lily will have a pop-up shop from 9:30 am - noon.

Make your reservation by April 25: email Phyllis or call Jane Morris. Guests are always welcome, just tell us how many.

LOCATION: Hitt Auditorium, 1441 N. Beckley Ave, Dallas, TX 75203

FUN FAMILY EVENT

TOUCH A TRUCK

Saturday, May 4th, 10 am - noon

Children and adults an see trucks, cars and other vehicles up close, and

meet the men and women who serve, protect and build our community. Held in the church parking lot behind First UMC Richardson. Click for tickets.

LOCATION: Parking lot on Custer Rd. behind the church at 503 N. Central Expressway, Richardson, TX

Contact us about bringing your vehicle to participate.

COMMUNITIES IN CRISIS: 4 FENTANYL STORIES

Saturday, May 4th, 10 am



Lake Cities UWFaith group is sponsoring this event with four speakers who have lost someone close to a fentanyl overdose. Come to the Family Life Center to hear their stories and how they cope. Open to the public.

Contact Laura Fernberg for more info. Flyer to download.

LOCATION: Lake Cities UMC, 300 E Hundley Drive, Lake Dallas, TX 75065

WESLEY-RANKIN COMMUNITY CENTER:

B3X: STEAM-based Summer Camp



VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! SUPPLIES NEEDED! B3X uses hands-on activities to reinforce science, math, reading and art learning for 200 children this summer. Click to see how you and friends can help: Amazon Wishlist for supplies, application and dates for volunteers.

2024 Mission Project:

ABIDE WOMEN'S HEALTH SERVICES

The North Texas Conference Leadership Team chose ABIDE because it deals with Disparities in Maternal Health. Abide is a Black women-owned clinic in South Dallas that provides birthing services along with pre- and post-natal care to women of color. It was founded as a non-hospital birthing center for normal Black pregnancies, reducing the disparities in Black maternal and infant health.

Your Conference Team is still working out the details to share with you about how you can support this mission project -- financially, creatively or by purchasing needed items. Until then, learn more with the resources on Disparities in Maternal Health from the February 24th event.

JERRI SAVUTO RESCUE CENTER

Support the Girls with a Monthly Gift

They want to go to school. We believed that the girls in rural Kenya could escape FGM if they had a place to stay safe. The Jerri Savuto Rescue Center is now a dream come true. The girls are attending school and thriving in their new home. Your monthly gift will help pay school fees, pay for supplies and other necessities for a growing girl! Contact Joyce Whiteley to make your gift.

Creation Justice Ministries

Real Faith in a Synthetic World

Celebrate Earth Day - or any day - with stories of individuals and communities makeing a positive impact, ideas to spark meaningful discussions for your group, worship resources to unite in prayer and reflection. This resource has an overview of the plastic crisis, a theological framing, sermon starters, advocacy ideas, and ideas for children."

Click to view the 26 page resource full of program ideas!

Earth Day Bible Study: The March / April issue of Response has a short version of the Bible Study: I Cry Aloud to God: Lament and Hope in the Face of the Climate Crisis -- a Bible Study on Psalm 77.

The 2024 Texas Legislative Event: 51 Women from N TX learned about state issues that concern us as United Women in Faith. Ask one or a couple of them to share with your group what they learned this year. Or look at the resources and choose a video to watch together. Discuss what your faith motivates you to do! See the topics & videos here.

Look at new and updated PROGRAM IDEAS on our website.

CHECK OUR WEBSITE CALENDAR FOR MORE INFO ABOUT:

• Earth Day Vigil: Livestream General Conf. event on April 20, 6 pm CST
• General Conference of the UMC: April 23 - May 3 in Charlotte, NC
• United Women in Faith Day at General Conference, April 29
• METRO Book Club: Friday, May 10th at 1pm
• NTC UWFaith Lunch at Annual Conference: Tuesday, June 4
• MISSION u 2024 Retreat, July 19-20 at UTD; Virtual sessions TBA
• DISTRICT ANNUAL MTGS in September

• South Central Jurisdiction Gathering: GET TOGETHER with your UWF Sisters*

next June in St. Louis! REGISTER BEFORE APRIL 30th for engaging workshops, inspiring worships, riveting and motivating speakers, and renewing soul care. Registration link has full information.



*Our Jurisdiction includes United Women in Faith from Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri.

DISPARITIES IN MATERNAL HEALTH:

Click for program recording, speakers' slides, advocacy video, and a list of articles, websites, videos and more. MATERNAL HEALTH RESOURCES

PHOTO ALBUMS - See pics from recent events. Please send your photos to news@UWFNorthTexas.org.

LOCAL OFFICER TRAINING HANDOUTS

2024 handouts for all local officers are available in our website Resource section. Helpful Hints for: Presidents, Treasurers, VP-Programs, Social Action, Secretary, Spiritual Growth & Soul Care, Education & Interpretation, Membership Nurture & Outreach, Program Resources (clean presentation uploaded), Communications and the Committee on Nominations. Questions? Contact your District officer.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

See ideas for individuals or groups in the Volunteer Opportunities at Local Missions section on our website.

WOW -- TOGETHER WE DO A LOT! Check out the 2 pages listing "All We've Done Together" with who UWF of N Texas supported, where we donated items, and many, many examples of activities and events we organized, presented and attended in the past year.

NEW! Follow us on Instagram & facebook: ntcuwf

Connect & follow our accounts and share.

We look forward to engaging with you!