UMW District Meeting

            Last Saturday, September 20, Summit hosted the Elizabethtown District United Methodist Women (UMW) meeting. 78 people from the churches in the district came out to support their church’s UMW. Some of the highlights of the meeting included a candle burning ceremony in memory of the members who had passed away; a guest speaker, Pastor Trish Smith from Stovall UMC; presentation of attendance banners; and the recognition, election, and installation of officers.



The donation box for one of the UMW's missions.

            In addition, the meeting included recognition of members who had completed parts of the UMW’s reading program and the UMW groups that had become “Mission Today” units. To become a Mission Today unit, a UMW group must complete a checklist of criteria that are designed to help the UMW use mission resources and to expand their missions. The missions of the UMW include helping women and girls become leaders; promoting social justice; being of service to the community; and providing opportunities for education and spiritual growth. They focus on women, youth, and children.

The district meeting is a transition time between years and an annual celebration of the district’s activities.

“It was a worship service, and then we gave out the awards… And we won both of the banners,” said Summit’s own UMW president Bennie Lou Hammons. The banners are given to reward the church with the most members present and the highest percentage of members present. This particular meeting is important because it will likely be one of the last for this particular group of churches.

“We’ve only got one more year in the E-town District,” said Bennie Lou. Soon, the districts will be reorganized and these UMW groups may find themselves in different districts.

  Each member of the UMW finds something unique about the organization that calls to them.

Joane Kennington from Radcliff UMC said, “I like the socialization and the common goals.”

“I like the fellowship with the women,” said Lynda Wood.

“Children have always been an interest of mine,” said Suzanne Tigges. Both Tigges and Wood attend Radcliff UMC.

UMW members waiting for the meeting to begin.

Many UMW members got their start by attending meetings with their mothers.

Carol Thomas from Hodgenville UMC said, “I joined the UMW when I went with my mother, since I was a child. I remember because they had cookies and lemonade.”

“I don’t even remember how long it’s been,” said Wendy Tyree from Hodgenville. “I was involved in Georgia, but then I moved to Hodgenville, and that’s where my involvement became more real. They’re the most amazing group of women you’ll ever meet.”

“A hundred years ago, I was in a college group, but I’m a 4th generation [UMW member], so it’s been a lifetime thing,” said Tigges.



Some of the district’s upcoming events include the Conference Annual Mission Celebration on October 25 at Advance Memorial UMC and the District Team Meeting on November 18 at 6:00 pm at Hodgenville UMC. And, according to Bennie Lou, there may be a Bible study in March.

For this church blogger, the most enjoyable part of visiting the meeting was knowing that, even though I haven’t been part of the UMW for years and even though some of the ladies gave me odd looks when I came up to them in “journalist mode,” I was still considered part of the group.

 

As Wendy Tyree told me, “Once in the UMW, always in the UMW.”

Bennie Lou and Velma working at the registration table.