NATIONAL WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH...WORLD DAY OF PRAYER....ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING

Although the actual dates for two of these events are past, we can still observe them, particularly One Great Hour of Sharing. This observance is vital for UMCOR to meet the needs we address all over the world. As usual, narrow margins, two columns, back to back and trimmed down the center, vertically.
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NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT

UNITED METHODIST WOMEN

SOCIAL ACTION MARCH 2016

 

Already it is March—and that means it’s National Women’s History Month! And it also is time for the convening of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). The CSW is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. United Methodist Women is an active participant in this annual global gathering, especially through its Church Center for the United Nations.

Because women are central to development at all levels, women’s experience must be at the core of decision-making and policy-making at all levels. The experience of women, as well as their strengths and participation, must move society toward ending women’s exclusion and address women’s needs. This must be at the center of all development work. There is no issue to which this does not apply. Further, because of women’s historic exclusion, their inclusion would be the single biggest advance for the entire development agenda. It is clear that women play an essential role in the workforce, production, consumption, education, care work and environmental conservation, yet they continue to be underrepresented in policy-making and development policy.

This year for CSW 2016 United Methodist Women will focus on economic empowerment. United Methodist Women will bring in more than 20 delegates from the following countries: Ukraine, Santo Domingo, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Israel, Honduras, Japan, Bangladesh, China, Russia and the United States of America.

 

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March 4 is the World Day of Prayer, a worldwide movement of Christian women of many traditions who come together to observe a common day of prayer each year, and who, in many countries, have a continuing relationship in prayer and service. It is a movement initiated and carried out by women in more than 170 countries and regions, and it is symbolized by an annual day of celebration – the first Friday of March – to which all people are welcome.

 

 

It is a movement which brings together women of various races, cultures, and traditions in closer fellowship, understanding, and action throughout the year. Through World Day of Prayer, women around the world affirm their faith in Jesus Christ; share their hopes and fears, their joys and sorrows, their opportunities and needs…Through the World Day of Prayer women are encouraged to become aware of the whole world and no longer live in isolation; to be enriched by the faith experience of Christians of other countries and cultures; to take up the burdens of other people and pray with and for them; to become aware of their talents and use them in the service of society.

Through World Day of Prayer, women affirm that prayer and action are inseparable and both have immeasurable influence in the world.  

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One Great Hour of Sharing is March 6. Together, through these gifts, we reach children, families and communities who have experienced devastation in the wake of disaster. Think United States, Haiti, Japan, Syria: Wherever there is great human need, UMCOR is there by way of our gifts.

One of six church-wide Special Sundays with offerings of The United Methodist Church, One Great Hour of Sharing calls United Methodists to share the goodness of life with those who hurt. Your gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing lay the foundation for the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) to share God’s love with communities everywhere. The special offering underwrites UMCOR’s “costs of doing business.” This helps UMCOR to keep the promise that 100 percent of any gift to a specific UMCOR project will go toward that project, not administrative costs.

When you give generously on One Great Hour of Sharing, you make a difference in the lives of people who hurt. Give now. You may make your gift through your church or UMW; just put UMCOR in the notation.

 

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