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Dr. Carla Cardoza, 
 Head of School - Lydia Patterson Institute

Dear Friends,

Every new school year brings a sense of anticipation, but this one feels especially meaningful.

On August 3rd nearly 160 young people will begin their daily journey across the U.S.–Mexico border to attend Lydia Patterson Institute. Some will return to familiar classrooms and lifelong friendships. Others will walk through our doors for the very first time, filled with excitement, curiosity, and perhaps a few nervous butterflies.

As I walk through our campus during these quiet summer days, I often find myself imagining the moments that have yet to unfold. Which student . . . read more

How are you raising funds for your gift? Please share by replying to this newsletter. 
Get full information about this mission project on our website.

2026 VIRTUAL Mission u: 
Experiencing Emmanuel

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

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

• Explore how we experience God in times of joy and in challenging times of sadness, fear, or anxiety
• Contrast those Bible “God is with us” stories to our own experiences of faith, hope, and love in action!

Register for 4 two-hour sessions in this transformative mission education event and feed your soul! Led by HTC Clergywomen on Zoom. All are welcome, no membership required. Bring a friend! Questions? Contact Becky Baird, Registrar

NORTH TEXAS FAITH VOTES

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


This is a faith-based, nonpartisan opportunity for North Texans to engage in the democratic process. Sponsored by Texas Impact, faith leaders, and community members from across NorthTexas.

Come to learn, connect, and hear inspiring speakers on immigration, public education and the impacts of recent legislation on our communities. Also: breakout sessions, lunch keynote speaker and a celebration of our election officials and volunteers who support our elections.

Register by Thursday, 7/30, no walk-ins and space is limited.
Presented by Texas Impact & a diverse network of interfaith voices

Deb Hughey -- Luncheon Planning Team and 
 UWFaith member

On June 2nd at Horizon Texas Annual Conference in Wichita Falls, we (HTC UWFaith) partnered with the Methodist Foundation for Social Action and the Church & Society to host the inaugural “Voices for Justice” lunch featuring the Rev. Ginger Gaines-Cirelli, Sr. Pastor of Foundry UMC in Washington DC. The topic of Rev. Ginger’s presentation to a room of over 200 participants, was “Reclaiming Christian from Nationalism”. The lunch was a sell-out!

Pastor Ginger’s message reminded us that we, as people of faith, are called to be a shining reflection of the God in whose image we’re created. Shining our light as a reflection of God’s unconditional love, includes a call to “sacred resistance”, words found in our tradition of baptism liturgy asking us if we “accept the power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?” We are truly called to seek good, justice and liberation. 

Rev. Ginger ended the presentation with a reminder that we are not called to the work of resistance by ourselves, we are working with a God that is with us and for us, and always present. We are called to the positive work of seeing good, justice and mercy both with God and together in community. The group gave a rousing round of applause and left the lunch nourished both physically and spiritually to continue to God’s kingdom work. 
 -- Deb Hughey, Luncheon Planning Team

CLICK TO SEE PHOTOS FROM ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2026
Please share your photos by sending them to photos@uwfaithhtc.org

Children as Young as 10

A Crisis of Arrests In Texas Schools!

A groundbreaking data analysis shows how districts across the state of Texas are arresting and citing children for common misbehavior. Of course, this leaves children with lasting trauma. The Texas Legislature sends schools even more police and has rejected bills to raise the age of criminal responsibility. Click to read the report and please consider mobilizing your group on one of the UWFaith ongoing legislative advocacy campaigns to interrupt the school-to-prison pipeline. Start with signing your name:

• Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools

• Tell Congress to Support the Ending PUSHOUT Act

HTC UWFaith members (l-r: Charla Edwards, Sally Vonner, Wendy Campbell, Cynthia Rives, Karan Marshall, Becky Barnebey and Barbara Weaver) after handing out postcards at Annual Conference in June in Wichita Falls.

Almost 2,000 postcards were signed in our Conference and delivered to our elected officials! Please send pictures of your deliveries to your Congressional Reps and the Governor to photos@uwfaithhtc.org.

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!

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 before Tues, Sept.1 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.

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


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 4-13 • Virtual EVENING Mission u classes - see info above
August 18-27 • Virtual MORNING Mission u classes -see info above

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.

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

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

• 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!

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

• 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.