"It’s hard not to be impressed by passionate people of faith driven by social justice. They’re bold. They’re at the very grassroots. They’re no-nonsense.”-Elaine Ayala, San Antonio Express News

Are you a bold, passionate person of faith? The world needs your passion. There are so many ways in just this newsletter to make a difference and volunteer. What will you choose?

Wendy Campbell, President, NTC United Women in Faith

As people of faith, you are encouraged -- like all Texans -- to participate in all elections. Voting is at the core of all civic participation. Click here to find out what’s on your election's ballot, and get some unbiased info about your options. This site is provided by Texas Faith Votes and Texas Impact. Make a plan to vote!

This election for local issues and school board races is VERY important! Your vote carries the most weight in a local election and the results will likely

impact not only you and your neighborhood, but state politics for years, too.

2024 Mission Project:

ABIDE WOMEN'S HEALTH SERVICES

The North Texas Conference Leadership Team chose ABIDE because it deals with Disparities in Maternal Health. This Black women-owned clinic in South Dallas provides birthing services along with pre- and post-natal care to women of color and works to reduce the disparities in Black maternal and infant health.

Our support will help Abide reach more families and improve birth outcomes in the DFW area. You and your group can choose to support this year's project financially, by buying items on their Amazon Wish List, by collecting items bought locally, or by creating layette handmade items. Full information & donation form on our website.

GENERAL CONFERENCE 2024

April 23 - May 3 in Charlotte, NC

Monday was UWFaith Day - watch the special UWFaith Presentation on YouTube (just 7:43 minutes). • 18 out of 19 of UWFaith's petitions have passed General Conference! Another will be voted on soon.

• Infographic on General Conference.
• Watch Live Stream at UMCGC.org/live
• 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.
• UWFaith Blog in member portal; news on UWFaith on FB and Twitter
• Use the Prayer Guide or sign up for the NTC Prayer Vigil.
• Subscribe to updates: tinyurl.com/UWFaithAtGC
• UMCGC.org is the official site offering detailed info about what is happening.

UWFaith Lunch at Annual Conference

Tuesday, June 4th at First UMC Richardson

First batch of Revised Social Principles passed at General Conference on 4/30 with 92% approval! What are these changes and how will that affect you?

UWFaith will be hosting a lunch on Tuesday along with Church and Society at the North Texas Annual Conference. Revisions are expected in Social Principles dealing with the church’s teachings on creation care, economic justice, human sexuality and marriage before General Conference finish this week. We will learn about what changes were made and have Table Talk to discuss how the changes will affect us, our missions and our organization. If you are attending Annual Conference this year please choose our lunch when you register. We will also need volunteers to staff our ministry table like we did last year.

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 No tickets needed



Four speakers who have lost someone close to a fentanyl overdose will share their stories. Come to the Family Life Center to hear how they cope and what can be done. Open to the public. Sponsored by Lake Cities UWFaith group. Contact Laura Fernberg for more info. 2-pg Flyer to download.

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

MISSING & MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND GIRLS

NATIONAL RED DRESS DAY

Sunday, May 5th, 2024

Wear red on Sunday, May 5th to raise awareness of and bring honor to the thousands of MMIWG (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls). This is a simple way to show our commitment to justice and healing for indigenous women and girls and remember our 2023 Mission Project. Wear red to show your continued support for systemic change amid this ongoing genocidal crisis. Thanks, University Park United Women in Faith, for sharing this.

Do you condemn the culture of violence that has spread in America? Did you realize that gun violence has become the number one cause of death for our children and teens in this country?

• There is a Rally on Saturday, May 18th,  9-11AM at Dallas City Hall in which we will have national and local speakers promoting actions we can all take to make a difference.  RSVP to attend and get updates.

• Share this petition with clergy you know to promote gun violence awareness and accountability from gun manufacturers and the NRA.

• The Stolen Lives Project -- is an opportunity to host an art installation. This is also known as "Vidas Robadas" and memorializes victims of gun violence and visualizes the reality of too many victims of gun violence in our communities. Contact UWFaith member Katie Clark if you have questions about how you or your church can be involved .

TX MATERNAL HEALTH POLICY NEEDS YOUR INPUT

The Texas Medical Board has now published the draft of their rule clarifying Texas’ abortion ban exception. Public comments will be accepted until May 8th and can be easily made with this Texas Impact printable comment form to print and scan, or copy and put it into your own email.

Then call your elected officials in Austin and tell them that you have submitted a comment. They will be glad to know that you have participated in the process. Encourage others in your community to do the same! 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.

MISSION u 2024:

The Kin-Dom is Among You

Download flyer now!

Retreat: Friday morning to 5 pm Saturday, July 19-20. 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.

Virtual Evenings and Lunch Hour: Dates yet to be determined. Study Leader: Rev. Shandon Kline

Registration will open with full information about May 15th.

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 -- VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for Grocery Bag Assembly

Volunteers are needed from 1 - 2 pm weekly. Just sign-up - no other requirements. This is a good project for a groups! Sign-up here.

SOUL CARE SATURDAY PHOTOS:

It was a great Soul Care Saturday! We were spiritually nourished, connected, and shared joy in a garden retreat center. See the photo album and please send your photos with captions and identifying people to share, too! Thanks, Karen, for organizing it! Questions about "Soul Care"?Contact Karen Anderson-Lain,

2024 NORTH TEXAS TIMELINE UWFaith READING PROGRAM

It has been decided to stick with our original Reading Program timelines for 2024. For one more year we'll follow the established procedures of previous years.

There will be changes in 2025. If you have questions, contact Dr. Dana Jobe. Happy Reading!

2024 Reporting Period: September 1, 2023 – August 31, 2024

2025 Reporting Period: September 1, 2024 – December 31, 2025

Connect with Dallas Bethlehem Center Connect with 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 abd more information.

Look at new and updated PROGRAM IDEAS on our website.

CHECK OUR WEBSITE CALENDAR FOR MORE INFO ABOUT:

• General Conference of the UMC: April 23 - May 3 in Charlotte, NC
• 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

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!