The Women’s Ministry Team invites all women to attend Faith and Flowers: A Celebration for Women on Thursday, May 1. Festivities will begin at 6 p.m. in the Christian Life Center with food, fellowship and music by Clint Ellison. The program will follow at 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Margaret Miller and Susan LaBarr will lead our worship and provide special music for our enjoyment.

Our keynote speaker, Marilyn Brown Oden will share with us her message of living your life with an attitude of abundance and joy. Mrs. Oden is an award-winning writer of both fiction and non-fiction. She is the author of nine non-fiction books and two novels. Her writings have been quoted in various publications, including “A Guide To Prayer For All Who Seek God”(Job and Shawchuck), the 2004 United Methodist General Conference Guide to Prayer and Practice and the publication, “Alive Now.” Some of her work has been translated into Russian and Indonesian. She has written articles for a dozen magazines and journals, including The Christian Century. Topics include: clergy and spouses, divorce, jury duty, leadership, politics, Russia, and socio-economic deprivation.

Currently Mrs. Oden teaches Spiritual Formation at Perkins School of Theology, SMU and enjoys frequent trips to Santa Fe, New Mexico which is her home away from home. She is a sought-after retreat leader and friend of United Methodist women around the world. Marilyn is married to retired Bishop William B. Oden and is a mother and grandmother.

Tickets for the event are for sale online for $10.00 until April 23 and may also be purchased Sunday, April 27 in the Narthex between services. Tickets are $15.00 at the door. A portion of ticket sales will benefit Christ’s Foundry Fellowship’s “1000 Bells Program,” which will help build a ministry center for the church in the Bachman Lake area of Dallas, Texas. Ryan Linch of Christ’s Foundry Fellowship will also be on our program to share important information about their ministry.

For more information about the event, contact Mary Beth Turner at 972.596.4303 or mbturner@cumc.com.