At long last is this week's theme. It's not just that warm weather is finally here to stay. Registration for Mission u is open at long last. Finally we're unveiling our new Annual Reports. Maybe you haven't been holding your breath for these things, but your officers are excited and glad to share them with you. At last!

Wendy Campbell, President, NTC United Women in Faith

ATTENTION LOCAL GROUP LEADERS:

2024 ANNUAL REPORTS UNVEILED

Look now and you won't be surprised at the questions in August! Actually, they are a gift to you to help you see the scope of our mission. They are a tool to help you plan your programs, projects and activities.

This new form is very user-friendly and easy to complete and submit online. We suggest that you plan a leadership meeting in early August to fill out these forms together before they are due August 15th. You'll be impressed with all you've done in the past year! Click here for annual reports on our website.

RALLY FOR GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION Saturday, May 18th  9-11 am at Dallas City Hall 

Join with faith members and leaders, community gun violence prevention leaders, survivors of gun violence, coalition partners, Students and Moms Demand Action supporters, and Texas Impact to protest the proliferation of gun violence in our country. Security is well-planned.

Registration and more information here.

THE STOLEN LIVES PROJECT

/ VIDAS ROBOTAS

Your church or group can participate in this DIY art installation that memorializes victims of gun violence. It is a powerful way to visualize the reality of too many victims of gun violence in our communities. More info here.

Contact UWFaith member Katie Clark if you have questions about how you or your church can be involved in either of these programs.

UWFaith Lunch at Annual Conference

Tuesday, June 4th at First UMC Richardson

What are the Social Principles changes and how will that affect you or your mission work?

Join us for lunch on Tuesday along with Church & Society at the North Texas Annual Conference. We will learn about what changes were made and have Table Talk to discuss creation care, economic justice, human sexuality and marriage revisions. Register Now for lunch!

MISSION u 2024:

The Kin-Dom is Among You

The Retreat at UT-Dallas will include worship, study, scripture theatre, choir, healing service and fun! We'll have room for more participants and a dorm closer to the cafeteria. Study Leaders: Rev. Danielle Kim, Rev. Gracie Millard, Rev. Christina Hardy, Worship Leader: Rev. Rosedanny Ortiz. July 19-20, Friday morning to 5 pm Saturday. $130 includes meals, activities and lodging.

Virtual classes will be on Zoom with Shandon Klein as Study Leader. Choose from the always-popular Tuesday & Thursday evening sessions or the 1-hour Lunchtime class. $30

Click to Register. Download flyer

REGISTRATION CLOSES FRIDAY: May 17th

GET TOGETHER!

South Central Jurisdiction Gathering June 21-24 in St. Louis

This quadrennial event will include engaging workshops, inspiring worships, motivating speakers, renewing soul care, along with some fun! Join with your UWFaith Sisters from Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri. The Registration link has full information. Contact Cynthia Harry if you have questions about this event. REGISTER NOW

2024 Mission Project:

ABIDE WOMEN'S HEALTH SERVICES

The North Texas Leadership Team chose Abide for our Mission Project because it addresses the focus of our 2024 Racial Justice symposium: the Disparities in Maternal Health here in North Texas. Abide is a Black-led maternal justice organization and perinatal clinic that exists to improve birth outcomes in communities with the lowest quality of care.

You and your group can support this year's project financially, by collecting items, or by making layette items. Our support will help Abide reach more families and improve birth outcomes right here in the DFW area.

Full information & donation form on our website.

Great program idea: Learn more about Abide and what they do! Its easy with links on our 2024 Mission Project webpage: including

• a short videos with a walk-thru of their clinic and explanation of their mission by their founder, Cessilye Smith

• their informative 2023 Annual Report

REPRODUCTIVE DIGNITY

Kim Batchelor, Northaven UWFaith member and a member of the planning team for our Racial Justice Symposium, attended the SACReD conference on reproductive dignity in New Orleans last week.

The gathering brought people of faith together, including Kyle Riley from Texas Impact. Kim says they built connections while discussing strategies against travel bans, learning to understand the Jewish perspective on reproductive rights, caucusing and worshiping. Read Kyle's short blog with potluck insight!

Spiritual Alliance for Communities for Reproductive Dignity is an organization “collaborating to advance Reproductive Justice through congregational education, culture change, community building, and direct service.” https://www.sacreddignity.org

COMMUNITIES IN CRISIS

Ruth Bowen, Conference Social Action Officer, attended the Lake Cities UWFaith program "Four Fentanyl Stories" earlier this month. She shares the important message:

Each speaker shared their personal story of a friend or family member dying from an overdose of fentanyl mixed with other drugs. The important takeaways:

1) Drug OD and addiction affect both adults and youth.

2) More education is needed about addiction as a disease and its relation to mental health issues such as severe anxiety.

3) We need to stop stigmatizing people with addiction problems-- all people deserve support and help,

4) United States is the biggest consumer of fentanyl,

5) We all need to know the signs of overdose,

6) Mental health was common to all four presentations, and how it continues to not receive the adequate funding and acknowledgement it needs,

7) We need to advocate for more educational programs like this one!   Thank you, Lake Cities UWFaith group!

2024 NORTH TEXAS TIMELINE

UWFaith READING PROGRAM

Did you know that podcasts, movies and attending Mission u count in the Reading Program? Check out the many options to participate here. Plan your summer reading to include some on the list to qualify. Contact Dr. Dana Jobe with your questions.

Happy Reading! 2024 Reporting Period: September 1, 2023 – August 31, 2024

SOUL CARE RETREAT FOR YOUR GROUP?

Conference Spiritual Growth Coordinator, Karen Anderson-Lain, will consider providing Bible study, activity, and rest reflection for your UWFaith group. Be spiritually nourished, connected, and share joy in a your own get-away-location.

Contact Karen Anderson-Lain to check availability and arrange a date.

Connect with Dallas Bethlehem Center and Wesley-Rankin Community Center! Each of these 'national mission institutions' are local - in North Texas -- and have amazing, new programs meeting the needs of their communities. Have you heard about them? Request they speak to your UWF group or Sunday School class, or schedule a tour for your group to visit and see their mission up close. Schedule it now and for credit on your unit's annual report due in August. Click on name above for contact and more information.

Great program idea: Learn more about Abide and what they do! Its easy to make your own program with links on our 2024 Mission Project webpage. It's interesting to learn about their mission, midwives and happy families. Use

• short videos with a walk-thru of their clinic and explanation of their mission by their founder, Cessilye Smith

• their informative 2023 Annual Report

• explore the many ways you can participate in this years project!

CHECK OUR WEBSITE CALENDAR FOR MORE INFO ABOUT:

• RALLY for Gun Violence Prevention, May 18th, 9-11 am
• Human Trafficking & Social Media, 5/18, 10 am zoom
• St. Luke Community Scholarship Tea, May 18th, 1 - 3 pm
• NTC UWFaith Lunch at Annual Conference: Tuesday, June 4

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.

WESLEY-RANKIN COMMUNITY CENTER:

Brighter Bites -- This national nonprofit distributes produce and educates families on the importance of nutrition. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for Grocery Bag Assembly. Sign-up to help on Tuesdays from 1 - 2 pm weekly. Just sign-up - no other requirements. This is a good project for a groups! Sign-up here.

In 2025 our Conference will grow to include United Women in Faith from Paris to Amarillo, Waco to Denton, Rockwall to Fort Worth, De Soto to Abilene! [North Texas + Central Texas + Northwest Texas)

You can maintain your traditions because we'll all still be organized for mission, spiritual growth and fellowship. Dallas Bethlehem Center and Wesley-Rankin Community Center will still be our local missions associated nationally with UWFaith. Because of this larger geographical area we will have more sisters in our Conference community. Districts will stay the same. The unified Conference will have a new name, but still have Mission u, Racial Justice events, Soul Care events, mission projects, and newsletters. 



Our Committee on Nominations is now seeking nominations for the 2025 new unified Conference Team. Volunteer or suggest someone you know would be good with this Nominations Form. There are plenty of ways you can participate in leadership and important committees that take us into the future. Contact NTC President Wendy with questions.

Read the official letter about Unification here.

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.

LOCAL UNIT ANNUAL REPORT? They are almost ready for you and will be due on August 15th. Your reports provide us with lots of information, like the 2023 "All We've Done Together" report. Be ready to share this year's info.

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Connect & follow our accounts and share.

We look forward to engaging with you!