Wednesday, August 27, 2025

Tomeca & Sound of Hope

Update on Conference Calendar

September Invitations for you

Member Musing from Fannette

Apply now Fight Prison Pipeline

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

"HOPE HAS A SOUND"

RevTomecaRichardsonMuSummary

YOUNG CLERGYWOMAN REFLECTION

Sharing 1st HTC Mission u Retreat!


This year's Mission u Study Leaders were all young clergywomen from the Horizon Texas Conference. Each of them shared a reflection of our time together during the closing worship at the retreat.


Study Leader Rev. Tomeca Richardson is the Sr. Pastor of McMillan and Morningside UMC in Fort Worth. She summarizes the message at her first Mission u where she led the study Practicing Hope Together: "We're bringing the sound of hope that the world is waiting to hear!"


Click to watch Tomeca's short video to hear the Sound of Hope and the message it brings!

OUR CONFERENCE CALENDAR

Marking calendar -pencil

2025 - New Plans as We Unify!


Our new Horizon Texas Conference is built on the traditions of three legacy conferences. Ideas are considered and seriously discussed. Our efforts honor the involvement of many long-time members from across Texas while doing our best to attract new women to our sisterhood.


Local Group's 2025 Annual Reports Due January 15, 2026

Local reports now cover January to December efforts like national has made the Reading Program. This should make it easier for local leadership to complete these reports because most officers serve calendar year terms. The Reports were approved by the Unification Team and presented at the Inaugural Event on Nov. 9th in Abilene. See the Annual Report forms on our website under the Resources tab. Now is a good time to see what is on the forms. At year's end they can be submitted easily online or by printing out a form and mailing it.


Saturday, November 1, 2025 - virtual

All members are invited to virtually attend a special HTC UWFaith meeting to elect officers and approve the budget for 2026. Plans are also being made for a membership-focused workshop that morning following the short business meeting.


Saturday, March 7th, 2026 in Dallas

Our next Conference UWFaith Annual Meeting will be a celebration of our first year as Horizon Texas UWFaith, all we've done together, and a new year.


See UWFaithHTC.org website for more information!


• Our website calendar is kept up-to-date and always available to confirm dates, details, and locations. Conference and most District events are announced in this newsletter, of course, and each edition has many coming events listed.

• District information - each District has a webpage that lists District officers, their contact information, District events and updates. Local officers are encouraged to keep in touch with their District counterparts, and reach out for support as needed.

• 2025 Conference Mission Project - The Jerri Savuto Center for Girls was chosen to bring us all together in mission for the girls escaping FGM and forced marriage, allowing the girls to attend school and thrive. Our support gives them life choices where they had none before. See the website for information, stories, and pictures from recent visits. All Districts and local groups are encouraged to do what they can this fall to help reach the goal of building a security fence this year to keep those girls safe!

SEPTEMBER EVENTS: Register now!

WRCC Partner Day 9.16.25

MID-CENTRAL / WEST DISTRICT Annual Autumn Gathering

Saturday, September 6th, 9:30 am

Program: Happy Dancing with Jerri's Girls and our 2026 Election. Join us for Faith, Fellowship, Food, Fun, and Mission Project at FUMC DeLeon. Full info with Registration form.

Hands Building Trust

METRO WEST DISTRICT Fall Gathering

Building Trust...A Good Starting Place


Saturday, September 13th, 9:30 am - noon


Its good to gather together - especially for this high-impact program! Join us at the Bethlehem United Community Center, 951 Evans Avenue in Fort Worth. Registration form. For more info, contact President Fannette Welton.

WRCC Partner Day 9.16.25

WESLEY-RANKIN PARTNER DAY

Tuesday, September 16th 9:30 am - noon

Free Lunch: REGISTER BY SEPT. 2nd!


Join us at Wesley-Rankin Community Center in West Dallas to celebrate the history and future of our Partnership with WRCC! Our organization has been with them since they began in 1902. Come see how the old neighborhood is changing, and learn about the innovative programs making a difference in West Dallas in 2025.


All are welcome for lunch with a tour and update on current programs. Lunch will be provided by WRCC. Pre-registration is required so they have enough food! Come alone or bring your group and register you and friends all at once. No cost.

Gather Together

METRO EAST DISTRICT GATHERING "Trusting God in Troubled Times"

Saturday, September 20th, 9 am - 11:30 am

Power and Strength abound when Women of Faith Gather! Join us for Fellowship, Praising God, program featuring Jerri Savuto Center for Girls and 2026 Plans! We always have a good time together. This time we'll meet at Ridgewood Park UMC. Full info with Registration form.

NW Fall Gathering

NORTHWEST DISTRICT GATHERING

Saturday, September 20th, 9:30 am - 2 pm

Join us for Fellowship, Praising God, program featuring our conference project at the Jerri Savuto Center for Girls and the business of electing 2026 officers and approving the budget. We'll have soup, salad and dessert with tea for lunch. Please Contact District Treasurer Jackie Berry with your intention to attend so we can plan for lunch. We'll meet at St. John's UMC in Lubbock. Complete info here.

MEMBER MUSING

Fannette

Fannette Welton with her mother, Nancy at McMurry University

HOPE FOUND

Last month, over 70 women and a few men gathered in Abilene at McMurry University to participate in our Conference Mission u Retreat. We were there to learn about Practicing Hope Together. I, along with other members of the Conference Leadership Team and their carpool buddies, went a day early to help set up. As we sat around assembling the "Soul Care" goody bags, ten women who barely knew each other became united in action and conversation. I realized that was exactly the “hope” I have been looking for!


I long for the days of community with no agenda, where we can sit as brothers and sisters to learn about each other or just be in fellowship.

Lord, let it be so!


-- Fannette Welton, Metro West District President

Share your story, aha moment, viewpoint, experience or perspective by sending it to news@uwfaithhtc.org.

GREAT TIMES TOGETHER!

Looking at family photo albums is a good way to get to know each other - likewise for us! Remember good times and be inspired by what others are doing. Enjoy!

Mission u group photo '25

HTC MISSION U RETREAT PHOTOS



The photo album of the first Horizon Texas Mission u Retreat is available online ready for viewing with lots of your pictures!

City.Point.UWFaithTeaParty2025

Faith • Action • Sisterhood

HTC Local Events


Just added: the City Point UWFaith Tea Party! Share your events and mission projects with us!

Jerri Savuto Girls Ctr mission

Jerri Savuto Center for Girls


Learn about our Conference 2025 Mission Project in Kenya. See the joy of the girls in pictures from a recent visit by HTC mission teams.


Send Pics

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

DO IT QUICK! Deadline to apply is Monday, 9/1

Grant Opportunity for Your Project to Interrupt the School-to-Prison Pipeline

Deadline to Apply: September 1, 2025


The Office of Racial Justice invites United Women in Faith Districts and Local Units to apply for funding to support their local work to interrupt the school-to-prison pipeline and/or end mass incarceration. Project goals should be clear and demonstrate a healthy mix of ambition and realism. Collaborate with other organizations is fine.


What is YOUR vision? Goals may be at any level, from changing the practice of an individual school to shifting federal juvenile justice policy. Consideration will be given to funding requests of $100 - $1,500 to support district and local unit projects. Funding is limited.

MISSION EDUCATION

What Will We Do About Racism?

The Time to Act is Now! This high-impact speech was made by Garlinda Burton at a national UWFaith meeting in March. It has been reprinted, along with a Methodist timeline, Antiracism Actions to Consider, and a call to white sisters "to see it, name it, and tackle it." You'll find it powerful whether you read it alone or in a group. Consider sharing it with your circle, Sunday School class and family.

Read it here or in the July/August response magazine.

ext Link

• Mission Rooted In Spirit - from the July Soul Care Mini-Retreat, this excerpt is posted here as requested.


• Keep Reading! You have until 12/31/25 for this year's Reading Program list. What book do you recommend? Send a short review of a book on the UWFaith Reading Program list that made an impact on you to news@uwfaithhtc.org.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR, INCLUDING 2026

Click for details about these events on our website calendar


September 6 • Mid-Central / West District Annual Autumn Gathering in DeLeon: Happy Dancing with JS Girls and 2026 Election. see above


September 13 • Metro West Gathering "Building Trust...A Good Starting Place" at Bethlehem UCC Center, see abovee


September 16 • Wesley-Rankin Partner Day see above


September 20 • Metro East District Fall Gathering, Trusting God in Troubled Times, at Ridgewood Park UMC see above


September 20 • Northwest District Fall Gathering at St. John's in Lubbock. 9:30 am - 2 pm. see above


September 27 • Metro North District Fall Gathering. details coming soon


October 28 - Zurawski v Texas showing in Ft Worth details coming soon


October 30 • Soul Care Mini-Retreats at 10 am or 6 pm. virtual


November 1 • SPECIAL HTC UWFaith Election & Workshop, 10 am - noon virtual


December 31 * End of current Reporting Period for local units & individuals on the UWFaith Reading Program


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


January 25-27, 2026 • Texas Legislative Event "Hope: Action & Accountability" in Austin; Registration opens Labor Day weekend


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.

RESOURCE QUICK LINKS


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

• Member Musings blog - send your stories 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 simple forms.


• 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!


• Officer Training Handouts are available on our website under Resources. Watch for videos of the recent Officer Training sessions to be posted there soon.

Assembly 2026

ASSEMBLY 2026:

May 15 - 17, 2026 in Indianapolis

Mark your calendar! Next year's event will include great speakers, fellowship, networking dinners, folk art auction, workshops, town hall meetings, Legacy Banquet, optional Ubuntu Day of Service and Soul Care Retreat. Questions? contact our Horizon Texas Conference Assembly Liaison, Julie Noel

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.