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Blog by Kathleen Gilbert, 
 UWFaith President - FUMC-Hurst UWF

When our unit’s executive committee met in July 2024 to plan for the coming year, we realized we were entering a season of rebuilding. Over the past few years, I’ve found myself reflecting on how much we’ve changed since Covid. Our numbers are smaller, attendance has declined, and we’re still learning what our members need today. The practices that served us well before no longer fit this new moment.

As president, I felt called to try something different—something that honored our longtime members while helping newer members understand who we are.

We began another year of “love in action” and at our August 2024 general meeting, I introduced the President’s Challenge. I asked each member . . . read more

30 minutes to make your job easier!

Training For Local UWF Officers

Saturday, January 10th on Zoom

No travel and no charge to attend!

This virtual training is for local officers - new and experienced. Sessions are developed to provide local group officers with current guidelines, best practices and ways to involve more women in your local groups. 

Each short training session will be presented at a unique time and provide the how and why for a specific office or role, with best practices and handouts. This allows an officer with two areas of responsibility to attend more than one session. Attend the session(s) applicable to your role or interest. Sessions will be just 25 - 45 minutes long - click the button below for the schedule.

All UWFaith officers should plan to attend a session!

* Local Treasurer Training: 

Each District will schedule their own session soon for local Treasurers. This will allow more time for questions & answers regarding local situations.

(District Treasurers will be trained on January 10th.)

ATTENTION LOCAL GROUP LEADERS:

2025 ANNUAL REPORTS

All local groups should complete the Annual Reports. These new forms are very user-friendly:

easy to complete and submit online and won't take long! Look at the forms now, then fill them out with your leadership team in the next few weeks.Thanks to those who have already submitted their reports!

The reports provide information we use for awards at our Annual Meetings that will be in the next few months. As the new Horizon Texas Conference, we are still getting to know each other. We know that local units are doing amazing things - and depend on your reports to learn about you, what you are doing and how to best serve you.


Paper forms are available - but they are actually more work and take longer than submitting them online. Ask someone to bring a laptop to your meeting and complete them together.

CLICK TO FORMS NOW! REPORTS ARE DUE ON JANUARY 15th

Texas Legislative Event
January 25 - 27, 2026

If you are committed to justice, freedom, and opportunity for all people, especially women and children, then this is for you!

Presented in partnership with other UWFaith across Texas and Texas Impact, the event includes two days of speakers, inspiration, and workshops where you learn about the issues and learn how to advocate effectively. On the third day of the event, attendees will visit the Capitol and meet with lawmakers.

Attend with women like you, who are ready to put their faith into action! 
Click to register now!

1. Give a minute. . .

or several minutes, to “Burn the Candle” in honor or memory of someone special to you or your group. Remember a special occasion or a woman who encouraged your involvement. Begin a holiday tradition! Each minute is $25.

Be a part of keeping it burning the candle for 400 minutes at our 1st Horizon Texas Conference Annual Meeting on March 7th. Each minute you buy represents the cost of 1 minute of all UWFaith global mission services in 2025. 

Use the form online at UWFaithHTC.org/candle-25 or print out a form and send your completed forms with payment to your local or district Treasurer.

Your honorariums will help fund UWFaith's vital, transformative mission work with women, children and youth in the US and around the world.

ASSEMBLY 2026 in Indianapolis

May 15 - 17, 2026

The keynote speakers for this quadrennial event will be: 

• Stacey Abrams (voting rights advocate, political leader, and bestselling author)

• Rev. Carolyn Abrams (Stacey's mom & retired United Methodist clergywoman)

Register online: www.uwfaith.org/assembly

Then reserve your hotel room in our CONFERENCE BLOCK at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown with an enclosed walkway to the convention center. Book by phone (317.262.8191) or online.

QUESTIONS?  Click to Contact: Julie Noel, our Conference Assembly Liaison 

Click to burn the candle!See above for full explanation of the Burning the Candle tradition. Honor or memorialize a dear friend, a role model, or someone you respect because of her / his mission work.

Names of donors and honorees purchased by 12/31/25 will be in the 2026 Program Book at the 1st HTC UWFaith Annual Meeting on March 7th. Click to burn the candle

Adopt-a-Girl at the Center now and send her Christmas greetings! $50 a month is what it costs to provide the basic needs for each girl, including room & board, school fees, medical care, and insurance. The Center needs sponsors for just 13 of the 74 girls living there. The girls will write a personal letter back to their sponsor and will be periodically updated on life at the JS Center.

Please consider adopting a girl during this vulnerable Christmas season. $50 a month or $600 for a year. The Jerri Savuto Center for Girls is now a 501(c)3 so your gift will be tax deductible.

Adopt or donate here. Questions? Contact Joyce Whiteley

Books on 2026 Reading Program!

Add some of the new books chosen for the UWFaith Reading Program to your list! There are many new selections in these categories - something for everyone!

• Education for Mission

• Leadership Development

• Nurturing for Community 

• Social Action • Spiritual Growth

Download the 2026 catalog, which lists movies, videos and podcasts too!
Books are available from UWFaith or your favorite bookstore.

2026 UWFaith Bundle

Get the 2026 Daily Prayer Guide and Program Resource together and save!
The Daily Prayer Guide is a devotional companion that includes daily lectionary Scripture reading, advocacy day reminders, prayers and mission personnel reflections as well as pictures from mission personnel.  

The Program Resource contains monthly programs for your group, and includes Scripture study, and activities.

Order them separately or together Bundle price of $28.00 (Full value = $34.98).

Bundle price is only good through December, so order now!

Give a Special Mission Recognition Pin (SMRP)


An individual, circle, or unit can recognize someone for their efforts with a Special Mission Recognition pin. You can choose from several categories of pins and different designs. Pins are one of the 5 Channels of Mission Giving with levels ranging from $40 to $2000. You will receive a beautiful pin with a certificate naming the honoree and the donor, and will be signed by the UWFaith General Secretary.

• Must a SMRP recipient be a UWFaith member? NO
• Must a SMR recipient be a woman? NO

Contact your local or District Treasurer to buy one today. 
Info shared by Cat Williamson, East District Treasurer

2025 MISSION PROJECT CELEBRATON


Click to watch the video of our Nov. 1st interactive virtual celebration with the girls at the Jerri Savuto Center. The girls living at the Center in Kenya offered prayer, scripture, testimony and a clever "Newscast" telling us about recent developments and how they are grateful for our support! Your HTC UWFaith officers greeted the girls and shared your messages of encouragement, prayers and love for them.

It is a rare opportunity to hear thanks from the beneficiaries of our international mission project!

2025 MISSION PROJECT UPDATE
Nov. 1st Celebration Video Highlight: 
The Jerri Savuto Center News

In this 7 minute clip, the girls give a newscast full of gratitude and fun. This was written and performed just for us in the Horizon TX Conference! Click to watch the news now from news anchor, Divora, and her reporters Orian, Monica, Joy, Linda, Massie and Faith. Their gratitude is genuine and you'll be enjoy how clever they are!

Thanks to all 2025 Mission Project Donors!

The funds have been sent to Kenya so that building the new security stone wall can start. The season when the girls are most vulnerable is in December. The wall will help protect them before 'FGM season' when many girls get "The Cut." Your donations are changing lives!

New Photo Albums have been added!

• Fall District Gatherings

• UWFaith Sundays

• Local Events

Share your event photos by emailing them to us at photos@uwfaithhtc.org . 
Be sure to include caption info including your local group, event description, and names of those in the photos!

Click for details about these events on our website calendar

December 31 • End of current Reporting Period for local units & the UWFaith Reading Program

January 10 - Local Officer Training - Virtual sessions for each UWFaith role 
. see above for registration link

January 15 • Local Unit Annual Reports due - forms are all available online

January 25-27, 2026 • Texas Legislative Event "Hope: Action & Accountability" in Austin; see above - Early Bird pricing ends 12/14

March 7, 2026 • HTC UWFaith Annual Meeting, Plan to be in Dallas that Saturday!

May 15-17, 2026 - Assembly 2026 in Indianapolis. Visit uwfaith.org/assembly

Click for how to submit your events.

• 2025 / 2026 Conference Calendar explained - see FAQ's

• Soul Care blogs - read Karen's thoughtful messages anytime

• Member Musings blog - send your thoughts/perspectives to news@uwfaithhtc.org

• ANNUAL REPORT FORMS - They aren't due until January 15, 2026, but now is a good time to familiarize yourself with the questions.

• 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!

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

• District information - each District has a webpage that lists District officers, their contact information, District events and updates. Local officers: ask for support as needed from your District counterparts and keep in touch!

• 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.