Mission Update

Hundreds of details are in the works to make the United Methodist Women’s Assembly a success. The event will take place April 25-28, 2002, in Philadelphia, Penn. Here are some highlights.

Well-known theologians Barbara Kay Lundblad and Hea Sun Kim will lead Bible Studies each morning. Barbara Kay Lundblad is often a featured presenter on the radio program, "Protestant Hour." Currently, she serves as the associate professor of preaching at Union Theological Seminary. She’s taught preaching at Yale, Princeton, and Chicago Theological Schools.

Hea Sun Kim is a prolific writer who co-authored the 1995 spiritual growth study on Ecclesiastes for United Methodist Women and is the author of a Korean-English bilingual devotional for families. She’s no stranger to United Methodist Women or mission. She’s taught at several conference and regional schools of Christian mission and served as a consultant to the Women’s Division on Korean-American United Methodist Women’s issues. A daughter of missionaries, she received her theology degree from Perkins School of Theology.

United Methodist Women will be bringing kits for mission to Philadelphia. Kits will help fill the UMCOR depot on the Women’s Division-owned Sager Brown property in Baldwin, Louisiana. Kits will be used for emergencies and ongoing needs. Women can bring bedding paks, health kits, school kits, layettes, or sewing kits. Specifications are included with the registration packet or on the web site at http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/assembly . Volunteers are needed to help assemble kits onsite.

Send us your image of what the theme, "Sing a New Song" means to you! It should be 2-foot x 3-foot and it can be a drawing, painting, collage or photograph. All contributions will be displayed on the noteworthy wall in the exhibits area. By March 1, send your images to Claretta Nesbitt, 777 UN Plaza, 11^th floor, New York, NY 10017 . Email: cnesbitt@gbgm-umc.org .

Relax and listen to the songs of others each evening at the Assembly. Friday, April 26, will feature Sisters’ Grace. This trio will entertain you with the violin, violoncello and piano, delivering a repertoire of works by Mendelssohn, Schubert, Elington, Garner and African-American Spirituals. Tish Hinojosa will follow these performers with her unique style that comes from Mexican roots, a Texas upbringing, and her time as a Nashville tunesmith. Her music combines creative sensitivity with messages of social justice.

Saturday night will be filled with music from the 2001 Youth Mission Chorale. The 23 young adult musicians proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ in songs as they traveled across Southeast Asia during the summer of 2001. Their music, drama, personal experiences and witnesses will move you.

The Assembly even has an option for night owls. On Friday and Saturday evenings, after the evening performances, those who want to stay up late can meet in the Grand Ball Room to relax, talk, play games, have snacks or be entertained. This option is available until 11:30 p.m.

Do you want to meet other young United Methodist Women, network, or catch up with those who attended the National Gathering? You’ll get a chance on Thursday evening after the opening session. There will be an informal gathering of young women in the Grand Ball Room!

Funds raised from United Methodist Women’s 2002 Assembly Offering will be used to provide grants to programs and projects that assist women to move fro dependence to independence.

Registration forms for the event are due March 8. For those who are in the area, daily registration may be available, depending on space. For more information, go to http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/assembly/ .

See previous Mission Update article on the Assembly.

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