Our Members
CUMW 2011 SPECIAL MISSION RECOGNITION
Presented November 20, 2011, 10:30 Service
Each year, Concord United Methodist Women elect one congregation member to be awarded special recognition for their passion and commitment to mission.
A year and a half ago, our congregation was turned on its ear when we were “advised” that a new pastor, a KOREAN pastor, had been assigned to our church. WHAT??? we cried. WHY??? we cried. HOW “DARE” THEY??? we cried.
HELLO!!!! What the heck did WE know?????
PASTOR SUNG HO LEE
FIRST, he showed up at VBS! Observed, and PARTICIPATED!!
NEXT, he’s WORKING at our all-church work party!!!
Immediately, he began visiting our congregation members unable to attend services. An example is our late Maxine Allen. When he visited her, she was no longer communicating. So, he sang or played “Amazing Grace”, and she began to sing with him. Pastor Lee meets us where we live.
He reached out to members who no longer attend services, and asked them, “Why?”, to better understand what had happened to our once robust Concord United Methodist Church.
He attends meetings and participates in, I believe, EVERY church committee. He is CONNECTED to us, in a very real way. For instance, last week, Micheal Pope was unable to present a program on elder care at our UMW meeting due to a state-induced financial crisis within her department. Pastor Lee immediately stepped in, and presented an overview of his Advent Bible Study on the Book of Esther. He is HERE; He is WITH US; He is CONNECTED to us on every level.
He is praying with us... on the phone, in hospital waiting rooms at 5:00 am or in San Francisco as loved ones have surgery; WITH our loved ones as they recover, and as they pass away; he is with us at funerals, speaking knowledgably of the deceased and their families; has made time to get to know us... because he cares deeply and is truly here for us.
He rode in the Bike-a-Thon with us to raise funds for Heifer.
He went to Guatemala with Doug and Betsy McLeod (Suzanne Hargis, Maribeth Sayer and others) on a medical mission this year to serve the disadvantaged.
He walked in the Crop Walk to provide food for the needy, and raise much needed funds for the Winter Nights program.
He’s supported Betsy’s vision of expanding Race and Religion by reaching out to other faiths, to educate and enlighten us, and embrace our commonalities, not just our differences.
He’s a member of our Community Orchestra, and supports our music ministry in all its forms.
He holds membership meetings each month. He strikes up conversations with strangers at the door before our Sunday services, at the gym, in restaurants, over the phone, at funerals, extending invitations to all to join us in knowing Christ.
When he found that Luis did not attend church because his English was poor, he saw an opportunity! He spoke with Pepe, and Luis, and a new ministry was born.
There are many more areas in which he has made and is making a difference... a Web Ministry, Stephen Ministry, Christ Care groups, planning for the Mid-Week program... the list goes on.
Outside of our own church, he chairs the Conference Congregational Development Committee and the Circuit Leader Retreat Design Team; coordinates the Cross Cultural Ministers Gathering; is a member of the District Committee of Ordained Ministry; is Chair of the Japan Mission Society and the India Mission Society. He is also Chair of the Board of Directors of ARKS (young adults mission).
Pastor Lee has a vision for the future of this church... COME; GROW; SERVE. It is up to each and every one of us to ensure he succeeds. If you have a mission vision, a passion to serve, share it with him. He will help you make it happen.
And so, today, Concord United Methodist Women honor your commitment and actions for Mission.
Thank you... from the bottom of our hearts to yours.
Carolynn Robason
2011 President
2011 SPECIAL MISSION RECOGNITION NOMINATION:
BETSY McLEODConcord United Methodist Women have nominated our member, Ms. Betsy McLeod, to receive the 2011 District Special Mission Recognition Award.
Attached you will find an outline of Betsy’s long list of outstanding accomplishments, and examples of her giving heart. She is a passionate, involved member of both CUMW and CUMC, as you will see.
Ms. McLeod has been an active member of our church since she began attending in 1996. Since then, she has participated is almost every facet of both the church and UMW, as well as owning her own business and being fully committed to her family and friends.
Betsy is a tireless contributor of time, effort, resources, encouragement, participation and leadership, both within the church, and within her community.
We hope that Betsy’s endeavors will be given all due consideration for this outstanding award. She truly lives to serve our Lord and Savior, and we feel that she is much deserving of this Award.
Betsy & Doug McLeod on Medical Mission to Guatemela 2011
BACKGROUND
Since age 9, Betsy has resided in Concord, graduating from Mt. Diablo High School in 1966. In 1969, she became a hair stylist, and has owned Betsy’s Hair Affair since 1975. Many CUMC parishioners are her beloved clients, and have been for many years. Some have become homebound due to health issues, and she visits their homes to continue providing her loving services.
In addition to her business, two days a week, she babysits the grandchildren of her late best friend. Betsy and her husband Doug also have three grandchildren of their own, and Betsy babysits one grandchild every other weekend.
Betsy’s grandfather was a Methodist Missionary in China. In 1939, he sent his wife and daughter (Betsy’s mother) to Hawaii when Japan invaded China, where Betsy and her siblings were born. They moved to California when she was 9. After high school, she knew her calling and attended Beauty College, and has been a highly successful hair stylist since.
Betsy began attending Concord United Methodist Church in 1996, and became a member of our church in 1997.
Some of her remarkable endeavors are as follows:
WESLEY HOME MENTOR
Eleven years ago, Betsy began mentoring a 16-year old from the Wesley Home. To this day, she continues to provide this young woman her loving guidance, caring heart and sympathetic ear.
CUMC CHRIST CARE GROUPS
Currently Group Leader
CUMC CHOIR
Member since 1997
Past President
Past Tenor Section Leader
CUMC BELL CHOIR
Former 2-year member
CUMC COMMUNITY ORCHESTRA (formed by CUMC Choir Director Doug Emigh)
Current Oboe performer since Orchestra inception
CUMW and Lydia Circle Member
Active member, and former Circle Chair
CUMC MISSIONS
Past Chair, and current member
Guatemala Mission member, 2005 and 2007
Guatemala Mission co-leader since 2008 (including a 2011 mission in July)
CUMC VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
Volunteer since 2005: Storyteller, crafts leader
CUMC SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER
CUMC WORSHIP LEADER
CUMC COMMUNION LEADER
CUMC BIBLE STUDY LEADER & PARTICIPANT
I, II, III, IV
CUMC CARING HEARTS COMMITTEE MEMBER
CUMC STEPHEN MINISTER
CUMC AD COUNCIL CHAIR 2008-PRESENT
CUMC CHARGE CONFERENCE PARTICIPANT
DISTRICT SCHOOL OF MISSIONS – Frequent attendee
CUMC DRAMA GROUP
CUMC EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Previous Member
CUMC RACE and RELIGION COMMITTEE
Current Chair; brings community leaders of different faiths to educate the public and our own congregation
CUMC SHELTER MEALS
Provides and delivers meals to Martinez, CA Shelter.
CUMC CONFIRMATION CLASS LEADER
Three years
CUMC CONFIRMATION CLASS SPONSOR
Sponsored Brittany & Courtney Fischer
CUMC WINTER NIGHTS PROGRAM
For years, has cooked, spent the night, entertains the children, and helps out wherever needed.
CUMC/CONTRA COSTA CROP WALK
Tireless fundraiser and participant; raises money for Contra Costa Food Bank
CUMC/CUMW FUNDRAISING CONTRIBUTOR
Countless hours creating then donating exquisite crafts, and selling raffle tickets for our church and UMW fundraisers.
PITTSBURG COMMUNITY BAND MEMBER
In closing, Betsy McLeod is a woman who lives her Christian faith in every facet of her life. She is a giving, nurturing, mentoring, teaching, living example of Christ’s love. She is kind, selfless, joyful, humble, and quiet. But this quiet little one is a huge presence in our community.
