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International Day of Peace |
 September 21 is the 25th annual International Day of Peace. It was established by the United Nations to mark our individual and collective progress toward building Cultures of Peace. Working as individuals, organizations and nations on this shared date, we can engage in practical acts of peacemaking. In 2001, a call for a global ceasefire was added to the resolution.
The message of the day is that "A significant portion of humanity is becoming actively engaged in building a world in which every life matters."
Individuals and organizations can join this worldwide event in any way they choose. In may be by attending a silent vigil or a peace concert. It may be in a moment of silence or a 24-hour worship service. Ring bells, plant a tree, fly a peace dove kite, create a pinwheel for peace. Go to the web site www.internationaldayofpeace.org/events for more ideas.
The motto for International Day of Peace is "May Peace Prevail On Earth." This thought is inscribed on 4 sides of Peace Poles that have been erected at 200,000 locations around the world. A different language is chosen for each side of the pole. You can download the file containing this statement in 80 languages from www.worldpeace.org/prayer.html. Look at the script. From the rounded forms of Armenian to squared shapes of Uzbek, the pen in used very differently to write the words. We are different. But the meaning is the same. The longing of hearts around the world is for peace! We can make it happen. Start today.
Ann Eachus, United Methodist Women Conference Mission Coordinator for Social Action |
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Hear Janice McLain and Paul Jeffrey Speak |
| Janice McLain and Paul Jeffrey are missionaries with the General Board of Global Ministries (click for biographies of Janice or Paul), and will be itinerating in our Conference. Find the location near you to hear them speak.
Janice McLain 9/9 9:30am Randle, 1pm Morton, 6pm Centralia; 9/10 2pm Rochester, 7pm Elma; 9/11 noon Aberdeen: First; 9/12 10am South Bend, 12:30pm Raymond; 9/13 noon Pe Ell; 9/14 noon Skamokawa; 9/15 Ocean Park UMC Camp/Retreat Center; 9/16 10:30am Winlock, 12:15pm Vader: Grace, 6pm Longview; 9/17 noon Castle Rock; 9/18 noon Battle Ground, 6pm Vancouver: Orchards; 9/19 10am Vancouver: First, 6:30pm Vancouver: Mill Plain; 9/20 Fern Prairie; 9/22 6pm Olympia: First; 9/23 9am & 10:30am Puyallup, 6pm Federal Way; 9/24 7pm Federal Way: Sunrise; 9/25 6pm Tacoma: Summit; 9/26 7pm Shoreline: Ronald; 9/27 6pm Seattle: Woodland Park; 9/28 7pm Seattle: Ravenna; 9/30 8:30am & 10:45am Stanwood, 5pm Bellingham: Garden Street; 10/1 5pm Lynden; 10/3 1pm & 6pm Wenatchee: First; 10/7 10am Spokane: Moran, 5pm Prosser; 10/8 Goldendale, 10/9 noon Lyle, 6:30pm White Salmon; 10/10 6pm Stevenson; 10/11 6pm Vancouver Heights
Paul Jeffrey 9/9 10am Battle Ground, noon Vancouver Heights, 6pm Vancouver: Orchards; 9/10 6:30pm Fern Prairie; 9/12 6pm Stevenson; 9/13 6pm Chehalis; 9/14 noon Bay Center, 5:30pm Hoquiam; 9/15 9:30am Vancouver District UMW Annual Meeting at Centralia, 6pm Olympia: First; 9/16 9:20am,10:30am & noon Renton: First, 6pm Auburn: First; 9/17 6pm Seattle: Bryn Mawr; 9/18 11am Sequim:Trinity, 7pm Port Angeles; 9/19 6pm Oak Harbor; 9/21 6:30pm Langley; 9/22 10am La Conner, 5:30pm Anacortes; 9/23 9:30am Langley, 5pm Mt Vernon: First; 9/24 7pm Walla Walla: Pioneer; 9/25-27 Lazy Daze Camp at Lazy F
Contact the hosting church for more details, or Noriko Lao for general inquiry. |
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2007 Containers of Hope |
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Your generosity allowed the PNW Conference to send two containers of supplies to conferences in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We sent medical equipment, sewing machines, notions, computers, clothing, books, and more! The containers should arrive before the rainy season when delivery is impossible.
We thank: Terrie & Mike Hobbs (Oak Harbor), project coordinators; Jan Hayes (Oak Harbor), coordinator of education and office supplies; Nellie Ann Mills (Shoreline), coordinator of sewing supplies; and Jan Kreidler (Sand Point), coordinator of mountains of clothing and OTC items.
Oak Harbor and Bothell sent teams to package donations. Special thanks to the Oak Harbor youth teams and to other Oak Harbor folk who turned king size sheets into 450 twin size sheets, pillow cases, etc. Others from Oak Harbor, Shoreline and Woodland Park made neckerchiefs for Scout uniforms. Dr. Jim Shaw came from Spokane to sort medical supplies. Most churches sent donations, and volunteers came from every district in the conference. We regret there is not enough space to name all who helped.
Because we sent two containers, we have a new need -- money to cover the cost of the second container. Please take another special offering. Send checks to the Conference Treasurer, directed to: Advance #101000-4/container.
THANK YOU ALL for your ongoing support!
Melvin Woodworth, Hope for Children of Africa Task Force |
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UMCOR Medicine Box Supplies Are Desperately Low |
| Medicine Boxes are often sent to places where medications and pharmaceuticals are not easily accessible to people. These basic medical supplies can often mean the difference between life and death.
Because of the severely low supply of Medicine Boxes, UMCOR has not been able to fulfill requests for them. This recently happened in Zimbabwe, a place where obtaining supplies is increasingly difficult due to the current economic crisis there.
The Medicine Box helps the day-to-day treatment of common ailments that plague babies and their mothers, children, and adults. The Box contains 18 essential medicines and medical supplies that are enough to respond to illnesses and injuries in a population of 1,000 people for a period of three months. The cost of the Medicine Box is $425.
You can send a lifesaving gift designated to UMCOR Advance #982630, Medicine Box through the Conference Treasurer. |
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Mission Travel Study to Palestine & Israel
February 3 -- 15, 2008 |
 Annual Conference delegations across the U.S. are invited to join General Board of Global Ministries staff in exploring what makes for peace in the Middle East.
Program Highlights
§ Exposure to Land & Peoples Today
§ Meeting with Israeli & Palestinian Religious leadership, "How is religion helping or hurting the quest for a just and durable peace?"
§ Solidarity visits with Palestinian and Israeli families & worship with religious communities
§ Conversations with Political, NGO, & Human Rights leaders across the spectrum of both communities
§ Visiting Advance Projects and Area Partners, exposure to their work, how it is impacted by situation and how they are working to build hope for people
§ Strategizing with Palestinian & Israeli Peace workers about most effective methods to communicate what is needed for a just & durable peace
§ Learning from Annual Conferences whose work on this issue is developed, presentation on models from other denominations, presentations on mission & advocacy work going on in US from a variety of arenas
§ Planning - to develop accountability plans for individual commitments and possible actions for Annual Conferences, Jurisdictions, General Church, meeting within and across AC groups
Costs
Approximately $1000 (accommodations, all meals, ground transportation, tips, fees, honorariums, supplies and materials) + airfare to Tel Aviv + personal spending money
Visit http://new.gbgm-umc.org/about/us/me/resources/travelseminars for more information. If you are interested in participating, please contact Noriko Lao, Conference Mission Secretary, by October 31. |
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Eagle River UMVIM Team Back Home |
 The 2007 Juneau UMVIM Team of 10 able bodied workers have returned home! Team members were from ID, MN, IN, AZ and WA. Most of the ten days was working at the Eagle River UM Camp (26 miles north of Juneau) - extending the main lodge by 30 feet - a 20 x 20 room space and a 10 x 20 covered deck. We overwhelmed them by installing rigid insulation and decking on the floor and framing all three walls of the new room! The next VIM teams will set roof trusses and complete the roof.
Two outhouse interiors were brightened with paint. Record snowfall damaged cabin hand rails and steps and broke four windows in the main lodge. All are now repaired. Fire wood was cut and hauled to the woodshed. One talented artist restored two lodge murals, painted camp signs and all the kitchen cabinets.
The team worked at the 4th of July BBQ at Douglas UMC serving about 700! We did play and sightsee in the area, driving to both ends of the road. And of course we made many new friends as we shared our lives, faith and love.
TEAM: Tom & Mary Louise Hager, Ed Jones, LaVonne Trotter, Alverna Godinez, Rhonda Huckaby, Judy & Larry Dirks, Gene & Ernie Gibson. |
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Construction UMVIM Team to Hawaii
April 7 - 9, 2008 |
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We will work at United Methodist Camp Mekokiko, mid way between Hilo and Kona. Costs for the two weeks will be $350 per person, including food, ground transportation, GBGM insurance, a "Camp Mekokiko" T-shirt, and donation to the camp building fund. This may be of particular interest to some of those who are planning to go to the United Methodist Women's Quadrennial Meeting in Honolulu April 4-6. Five out of 14 spots are already filled. If you are interested, contact Tom Hager at tomterrific3@juno.com or 509-493-2445 after Sept. 10. |
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Come and Join NOMADS ! |
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Hard to believe we are already thinking of where we should be in service this next winter, but once again, the possibilities are immense! The NOMADS Winter and Spring listing of project opportunities was posted this past week and there will be seven work periods, three weeks each, from January 7 through May 29. For the first three months, when most of the work is done, there will be 90 projects looking for 466 working units! A working unit is usually a couple, but we have many singles on the road as well. Each project has its unique requirements with work for all levels and skills. This is where you could fit in, if you are seeking some sun and warmth away from the NW! It is an opportunity to be in service, meet new friends, acquire new skills, travel (with a tax deduction advantage) and have an exceptional time away from home. It is amazing (but maybe shouldn't be) that the right skills arrive for the critical jobs. Come and join our community of like minded Nomads On a Mission Active in Divine Service!
For more information and detailed work opportunities, go to: www.nomadsumc.org. Conference contacts are: Tom & Mary Louise Hager at tomterrific3@juno.com, Terry & Shirley Carlson at tscarlson1935@aol.com, and Charles & Carol Townsend at cctowns@yahoo.com. |
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Share Your Mission Stories |
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How are you engaged in mission? Have you had an invaluable UMVIM or NOMAD experience lately? Do you have openings on your UMVIM team that other church members can join? How do you get youth and children involved in mission? Does your church have a great community outreach program -- a food bank, after-school program, etc.? What joys does the Covenant Relationship with a missionary bring to your congregation? Do you have exciting and enjoyable ways to raise funds for mission?
Please share your mission stories with the readers of H.A.I.L. Send your article of about 250 words in length to the editor at norikolao@cs.com. Send the picture (in JPEG format) separately. H.A.I.L. is published as needed, that is, whenever there is enough news. So, there is no specific deadline, except for timed materials. To keep the H.A.I.L. going, please send in your article. | |
