View this as a webpage / Use link to share with a friend

Weekly Witness - Texas Impact podcast Episode 520

Ever wonder if creating opportunities for young women has ever made a difference? 


Watch this interview with Ilka Vega, who some of us met long ago as a student from Lydia Patterson (LPI) at our Texas Legislative Event. Her experience attending the event and meeting UMW members changed her trajectory. Rev. Scott Atnip and Ilka talk about her journey from Lydia Patterson, her work in climate and immigration advocacy and her current work. (She mentions some programs we love!) She has traveled the world serving in various mission, justice, and advocacy roles. She serves as the Executive for Economic & Environmental Justice at United Women in Faith. It will give you hope! Watch the video or listen to the podcast

2026 Mission u: 
Experiencing Emmanuel

VIRTUAL PM: Tues/Thurs, 7 - 9 pm, Aug. 4-13

VIRTUAL AM: Tues/Thurs, 10 am - noon, Aug. 18 - 27

Register Now to "experience Emmanuel" in August at our Virtual Mission u classes!

• How do “God is with us,” stories in the Bible help shape our faith, hope, and love in action?
• How do we experience God in times of joy and in challenging times of sadness, fear, or anxiety?

Register for 4 two-hour sessions in this transformative mission education event and feed your soul! Featuring young clergywomen as our Study Leaders. 
Questions? Contact Becca Bilz Davis, Dean

United Community Centers in Fort Worth

Bethlehem Center • Polytechnic Center • Wesley Center

‘Christmas in July at Bethlehem’ 
Saturday, July 25th 10-11:30 am

This mini Christmas celebration will include food, music, fun, and crafts! Children from all three centers will attend. This is a special opportunity for UWFaith members to visit the center, help with crafts, have fun and show the children some love! Support UCC by bringing paper products (paper towels, toilet paper, paper napkins, paper plates) and canned goods. Register here.

The United Community Centers are a National Mission Institution of UWFaith.

Leaven- Mini-Retreat "Be ye yeasty" 
Thursday, July 30th 10 am or 6:30 pm

“God’s kingdom is like yeast that a woman works into the dough for dozens of loaves of barley bread—and waits while the dough rises,” (Matt. 13:33, The Messenger).

Consider how "leavening with God’s yeast" helps transform us into being spiritually mature. Guests welcome! No cost for this virtual event. Register now to get the reading and link for virtual event.

NORTH TEXAS FAITH VOTES

READY . . . SET . . . GO!
August 1st in Denton, August 2nd in Dallas


Join faith leaders and community members from across NorthTexas for learning, connection and civic renewal, with a panel discussion on immigration, public education and the impacts of H.R.1 on our communities. Also: breakout sessions, lunch keynote speaker and a celebration of our election officials and volunteers who support our elections.

Registration is needed, no walk-ins and space is limited.
Presented by Texas Impact & a diverse network of interfaith voices

Past and Future Partner Day

Tuesday, September 15th 9:30 am - noon

Come with a friend or bring your Circle to West

Dallas to learn about the current and innovative programming that WRCC has for children, youth, adults and their strong Senior community. It will also be a party- we'll join the Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration! Register here please. No cost.

Learn more about their expansion plans! You'll hear more about Wesley-Rankin's extending their model into Pleasant Grove to reach more families while maintaining their West Dallas mission to give all neighbors equitable access to opportunity.

UWFaith member Vanessa Simon delivers advocacy postcards to Congressional Representative Keith Self's local office in McKinney with his District Director.

Almost 2,000 postcards were signed in our Conference - and they're still being delivered! Please send pictures of your deliveries to your Congressional Representatives and the Governor to photos@uwfaithhtc.org.

Reply to this email if you'd like to deliver to Governor Abbott in Austin, or Rep. Lance Gooden in Terrell. It's a great opportunity to DO something!

Click here to report your efforts to UWFaith national.

Thanks to those who have gathered signatures and those who delivered postcards to their elected officials.

These postcards were advocating for UWFaith's priority issues: Climate Justice & Ending the Criminalization of Communities of Color. As UWFaith we advocate to elected officials serving at all levels of government. We have been at this work for more than 150 years!

Do you have a mission idea? 
Don't miss this grant!! 
Application due July 25

Grants shall be given as initial seed money for:

• awareness-raising or education on gender issues,

• literacy, health, violence against women or children, leadership development, and other social issues,

• women's programs promoting justice, peace, & reconciliation,

• enabling women to meet ecumentically

Applications are due July 25 and can only be made every 5 years. The programs should also have local fundraising and donations. The grant is for less than $4,500 and is not recurring.

Click for Guidelines | Application form PDF | Application form in Word

The Fellowship of the Least Coin (FLC) is a worldwide ecumenical movement of prayer for justice, peace and reconciliation. Christian women around the world give their "least coin" so that even the poorest women of each ountry can be a part of this fellowship of love and care.


Questions? Contact Julie Noel, our Texas Church Women United President

Mi$$ion takes money! Let's make it happen!
'26 Mission Project Goal: $20,000 


Be creative! Try one of these ideas:

• Host an event for everyone to learn a new craft from one of your talented members

• Have a painting party, a dance party or a music party, a recital, a talent show and collect for the project

• Arrange for a speaker to learn more about Lydia Patterson. Contact LPI Board member & UWFaith Dist President, Barbara Dorff, for ideas. 


Share your ideas and event pictures to inspire the rest of us by emailing info@UWFaithHTC.org and we'll share them in a future issue.
Full information about this mission project is on our website.

For details about these events & more, see our website calendar


July 16-18 • HTC '26 Mission u Retreat! full info & registration
July 25 • Christmas in July at Bethlehem UCC mission - see info above
July 30 • Soul Care Mini-Retreat, 10 am & 6:30 pm options, info & registration

August 1 & 2 • Ready, Set, GO! Get ready to vote! see info above
August • Virtual Mission u classes - see website calendar for dates 
Sept 15 • Past & Future Partner Day at Wesley-Rankin CC- see info above
Oct 3 • Soul Care In-person Retreat @ FUMC Ft. Worth more info soon

Click for how to submit your events.

• BLOGS - Soul Care and Member Musings - read them anytime. Send your thoughts & perspectives to news@uwfaithhtc.org

• Local Officer Training - Recordings available with guidelines, ideas, best practices

• Our website calendar is kept up-to-date and always available to confirm dates, details, and locations.

• Looking for a program? Need a quick or short program? Check out our Program Ideas in the Resources tab on the website. Send us your ideas too!

• Resources from our 2025 Racial Justice Event are posted on our website with links to watch the plenary session, explanation of the Charter for Racial Justice and more.Look at the RJ Event photo album.

• RESOURCES include an important reminder of the role the church plays in standing for justice and supporting vulnerable communities.

-- Check out the resources for the humane treatment of immigrants and refugees. Provided by the Horizon Texas Conference, immigration resources can be accessed here.

-- Check out the new resources for Creation Care here, including Bible verses, ways you can combat climate change, devotional, FAQ's, podcast and more!

United Women in Faith believe love in action can change the world.

United Women in Faith welcome ALL women of faith, no church membership required. We connect and nurture women through Christian spiritual formation, leadership development, creative fellowship, and education so that they can inspire, influence, and impact communities, locally and globally.