Happy New Year everyone! I hope you find light, good energy, blessings, and resilience in the coming year. Our charge during our recent PNW executive meeting was to reflect on how we developed our faith, and my first thought was that I’m still developing my faith! It’s not a fully formed entity for me yet. I was raised in the church, and there has never been a time when I have not been a part of a supportive Christian congregation throughout my life. But I’m not sure my early faith came from church so much as from my mother. She taught me her belief that God doesn’t reject anyone and that the ideas of God/creationism and evolution can both exist harmoniously. She believed in a kinder New Testament vision of God through the example and life of Jesus. However, I would say we didn’t always have the same expression of our faith. I still consider myself a wonderer about many elements of the Christian faith; she was formative in helping me understand that God is bigger than all of us, is benevolent, loves us, and walks with us (internally) all our life- through joys and sorrows. I’m grateful for that example of a God who never lets me be genuinely alone and for the foundation of my faith rooted in a loving God.

In our district this past quarter, we have seen many examples of women living out the embodiment of a loving God. We celebrated Christmas together in various gatherings, read many impactful United Women in Faith books, had some excellent leadership training from national, and finalized our annual giving with our gifts to mission. On a personal note, I immensely enjoyed reading “The Girl with the Louding Voice” by Abi Dare in addition to Michelle Obama’s “The Light We Carry.” I’m currently starting “Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Our IMD committee is actively reviewing our Standing Rules for our mission work in the coming 2 years.

On the local unit front, Bonners Ferry United Women in Faith has been making health kits for UMCOR post-hurricane in North Carolina, and they are forming a group for families struggling with mental illness. One of their members serves on the local school board and keeps everyone apprised of the local bond needs and public school happenings. Sandpoint has heard an informative talk from Priest River Ministries Advocate for Women- a team that provides crisis intervention for trafficking and abuse for women in Bonner County. Asotin and Community United Women in Faith units had Christmas fundraising Bazaars and found that asking for donations rather than setting a price for items generally brings in more money. Community United Women in Faith also scheduled regular visits from Second Harvest food bank’s mobile truck, helping about 300 families each time.

In Clarkston, they’ve developed a theme for the year- “Creating Justice One Person at a Time.” They volunteer and support the food bank, Community Clinic, and local school by providing various school supplies. An active reading unit, they’ve read over 90 books in the past year with their regular book club meetings. They had a Christmas luncheon and enjoyed a “friendship tea” with four other UMC churches in their valley area. Combining programming activities with other units is such a great way to reach out, connect, and potentially even share the work and fellowship of United Women in Faith!

Spokane Valley United Women in Faith unit held a great eat-in/take-out Harvest Dinner fundraiser in November, earning over $1000 for pledge to mission. They also celebrated the holiday with their annual Christmas luncheon and a message from Sue Magrath about soul care during the holidays. They invited ALL the women of the church (and any guests they wanted to bring) to the free potluck luncheon to reach out to others in our church and community, and everyone left with a candle craft gifted to them. They are preparing for their first of 3 book club gatherings for 2025- each circle has chosen a book to discuss in a pot-luck-type gathering with anyone in the church who’d like to join in.

As you can see, our local units are active and engaged. We look forward to lots of fellowship and efforts toward mission giving in 2025!

Robin Gregory, President,
Inland Missional District