Remembering Sarita Jana Redd page 18
From the President’s Desk
ECW Women Are Stirring Up the Spirit: ¡Celebremos!
demeanor expected of women at the turn of the 20th century. The account also notes that much was accomplished due to her “creative spirit”– but it doesn’t include the feisty spirit of vision and persistence that is found in Katerina Whitley’s play, Yet We Persist. (A copy of this play can be downloaded from www.ecwnational.org. I recommend it for your personal reading, or as a play.)
President Nancy R. Crawford offers her views Women’s Society In the second half of the 19th century, women in this on a couple of remarkable and spirited Episcopal country seldom had control of money, but they had the Church women. gift of raising money. And so the General Convention By the Rev. Deacon Nancy R. Crawford
When
our new ECW board met for the first time together last October, it didn’t take long for the women to create the perfect theme for this Triennium: Stir Up the Spirit: ¡Celebremos! For me it was like a cool glass of milk with some Nestlé’s Quick having sunk to the bottom. A plain glass of milk is just fine, but when you stir it up with chocolate, Voilà! You have something special. That is how I feel about the women of our church. The Church could do just fine with “plain” ministry at home and throughout the world, but it is the women who add the spirit. We add laughter, tears, empathy, and a physical touch through our work. We also add flavor to all aspects of the church. Let’s face it: we know how to stir things up! Devoted to Mission The Episcopal Church calendar has set January 9 as the Feast Day of missionary Julia Chester Emery. Emery was the second secretary of the Women’s Auxiliary, which later became the Episcopal Church Women, or ECW. She was one of five sisters in a 19th century Boston family of Episcopalians, who devoted themselves to the mission of the Episcopal Church. If one were to read the synopsis of her life and ministry in the book Holy Women, Holy Men: Celebrating the Saints, they might have the impression that Emery was a remarkable woman of her times. She dared to visit missions around the world, but did so with the quiet
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of 1871, recognizing the potential of women, organized a Women’s Society, under the Board of Missions. The Women’s Auxiliary, in turn, under the leadership of Margaret Emery, sister of Julia Chester Emery, organized the Box Work, which raised more than $44,000 in only 4 years (the sum of which was sent to assist missionaries around the world). Years passed. Emery and the Women’s Auxiliary, hoping for change, asked to no longer be categorized as an “auxiliary,” but to have representation on the Board of Missions. The request was denied. The women persevered and responded by expanding their mission work and raising more money, now through the United Thank Offering (UTO). Again, years passed. Emery, once more hoping for change, asked if the Women’s Auxiliary could do more than raise money. Shouldn’t they help with new developments of the Board of Missions? Once more, the question was met with silence. In 1916, unable to make headway for women to be given tasks equal to their strengths, Emery resigned her post as secretary. Fortunately for us, more women stepped up to take
Julia Chester Emery (1852-1922) was a dedicated missionary, both at home and abroad. Her feast day is January 9.
her place, and to continue the struggle for voice and vote and equal opportunities in our church. From the Boston home of the five Emery sisters and the beginnings of the Women’s Auxiliary, to the sisterhood of ECW, we follow the instruction of the Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans: “Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality.” And, might I add, Stir Up the Spirit, and celebrate our lives in the church. Celebrating the Spirit I close with thoughts of Sarita Jana Redd (inset, right), president of the UTO Board, who died unexpectedly on January 26. During the last 3 years, she guided the UTO through its structural changes with graciousness, fortitude, and her unflinching belief in our Savior, Jesus
2012-2015
Christ. Julia Chester Emery and her sisters believed in the caring ministry of Box Works; Sarita Jana Redd saw to it that the UTO blue boxes stayed essential to the missionary role of our church. Let’s honor and celebrate the spirit of these women with our support and devotion to UTO and ECW.† Your sister in Christ, Nancy R. Crawford
------------------The Rev. Deacon Nancy R. Crawford, Eugene, OR, is president of the 2012-2015 National ECW board. She can be reached at president@ecwnational.org
(Editor’s Note: Read “Remembering Sarita Jana Redd,” on page 18 of this issue.)
ECW National Board Listed below is the current leadership of the Episcopal Church Women.
President The Rev. Deacon Nancy A. Crawford 1595 E. 31st Ave. Eugene, OR 97405 541-543-1122 president@ecwnational.org
Secretary Lisa Towle 110 Dutchess Dr. Cary, NC 27513-4209 919-386-9531 secretary@ecwnational.org
Vice President of Program Shirley Greiman 25 Wolcott Woods Simsbury, CT 06070 860-803-7525 vpprogram@ecwnational.org
Treasurer Kathy Mank 9559 Kelly Dr. Loveland, OH 45140 513-560-2126 treasurer@ecwnational.org
Vice President of Information and Communication Christine Budzowski 578 Washington Blvd. #861 Marina del Rey, CA 90202 310-821-0111 vpinformationcommunication@ecwnational.org
Member-at-Large Social Justice Deborah Gardiner 2119 Tallow Dr. Portland, TX 78374 361-816-0277 socialjustice@ecwnational.org ecwnational.org • SPRING 2013 • Communiqué 3
Passages Baum, Margaret Lake Margaret Lake Baum, of St. Michael’s Church, New York City, NY, in Province I, passed away on December 14, 2012. Baum was 100 years old. Holy Eucharist and Burial Office, Rite I were conducted for Baum at St. Michael’s Church, where she had been a life-long parishioner (joining at the church at age 4). Just 3 months earlier, the parish held a reception in celebration of Baum’s centennial birthday. One of the first women to serve on the church’s vestry, Baum was also its first female warden. A long-time Sunday school teacher and altar guild member, she later was appointed Sunday school superintendent, and director of the altar guild. She also supported the Episcopal Church Women’s activities, and remained an active member of the Women’s Auxiliary.
as province president at the time of her death, also served as ECW Board president of the diocese of Chicago from 2006-2009. Gesicki, and her family, were members of St. Peter’s Church, in the North Chicago deanery. She is survived by her husband of 42 years, Donald; son Bryan (Lindsay); stepsons Mark (Joanne) and Dwayne (Peggy); and grandchildren Addison Grace and Olivia James. Memorial donations can be made in Gesicki’s name to The St. Peter’s Perpetual Memorial, 621 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, IL, 60657, or to Stand Up To Cancer (www.standup2cancer.org), 1801 W. Olympic Blvd, Pasadena, CA, 91199-1224.
Redd, Sarita Redd Sarita Jana Redd, Province VII, president of the United Thank Offering Board from May 2009 to the present, and ECW Distinguished Woman 2012, Gesicki, Joanna Mary passed away on January 26. She Joanna Mary Gesicki, president was laid to rest in a private burial of ECW Province V, passed away in Oklahoma City. on November 2, 2012, after a long struggle with cancer. She was 70. (Editor’s Note: Please see a tribute Gesicki, who held her position to Redd on page 18 of this issue.) Communiqué is looking for writers. Share the details of your ECW chapter’s latest activities, or write to a topic you would like to share with other Episcopal Women. If you are interested, or have questions, please contact TMEditor@ecwnational.org Submissions should be sent as 600- to 1,000-word documents, in Word (.doc) or Rich Text (.rtf) format. Send photos in .jpg or .tif format, at 300 dpi. Include a brief bio (50 words, or less) containing your name, parish, and province (and your email and website address, if desired). Deadline for the next issue of Communiqué is April 15, 2015. 4 Communiqué • SPRING 2013 • ecwnational.org
Communiqué Vol. 20, No. 1 www.ecwnational.org Christine Budzowski National ECW Vice President for Information and Communication Rogena Schuyler Silverman Editor tmeditor@ecwnational.org Copy Cats Printing Hattiesburg, MS, Printing Cristina Paraiso Artistic Advisor Submissions to the Communiqué are from unique and diverse people throughout the world. Opinions expressed in these submissions are those of the author, and not necessarily held by members of the ECW Board. To receive the Communiqué, to report a change of address, or make a submission, contact: Christine Budzowski 578 Washington Blvd., #861 Marina del Rey, CA 90292 vpinformationcommunication@ ecwnational.org Subscription to Communiqué is on a voluntary basis. Suggested rate is $12. Additional contributions are always welcome. Send check payable to the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society to: Kathy Mank ECW Treasurer 9559 Kelly Dr. Loveland, OH 45140 513-560-2126 treasurer@ecwnational.org
Table of Contents Vol. 20, No. 1 Spring Issue
From the President’s Desk…Page 2
Tech Talk…Page 10
Passages…Page 4
Diocesan Dialogs…Page 11 Sharing the News From ECW Provinces
ECW WomanSpirit…Page 6 Remembering Women’s History is Imperative By The Rev. Lindsay Hardin Freeman
A Tribute…Page 18
Stirring Up the Spirit: ¡Celebremos! By The Rev. Deacon Nancy A. Crawford
That’s Change With a “T” By Lisa H. Towle
Remembering Sarita Jana Redd
Journeys…Page 8
A Pilgrimage to the Holy Land Compiled by Rogena Schuyler Silverman
2012-2015 ECW National Board Province Representatives Province I representative Linda Guest 29 Hazelwood St. Cranston, RI 02910 401-741-5642 province1@ecwnational.org Province II representative Ginger Lief 310 Riverside Dr. #822 New York, NY 10025-4123 212-662-3257 province2@ecwnational.org Province III representative Dottie Arthur 2001 Parsonage Rd. Parkton, MD 21120 410-357-8857 province3@ecwnational.org Province IV representative Kathy Gosselin 8040 Summerbreeze Ter.
Spring Hill, FL 34606 352-410-9812 province4@ecwnational.org Province V representative Connie Ott 7995 Shagbark Cir. Cross Plains, WI 53528 608-798-3688 province5@ecwnational.org Province VI representative Mari-Lou Triebenbach 16520 30th Ave. N. Plymouth, MN 55447 763-559-4961 province6@ecwnational.org Province VII representative Lonnie Isaak 806 Ridgeview Dr. Independence, KS 67301 620-332-9376 province7@ecwnational.org
Province VIII representative Louise Aloy 1005 Laelae St. Wailuku, HI 96793 808-264-9830 province8@ecwnational.org Province IX representative Mayra Brown Calle Santiago No. 114 Gazcue Apartado 764 Santo Domingo, DO 809-482-2555 province9@ecwnational.org Parliamentarian Connie Skidmore P.O. Box 4588 Incline Village, NV 89450 775-232-9250 cwskid@att.net www.ecwnational.org ecwnational.org • SPRING 2013 • Communiqué
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ECW WomanSpirit
Remembering Women’s History is Imperative By The Rev. Lindsay Hardin Freeman
I never knew my grandmother, my father’s mother, for
she died some 30 years before I was born. What I did know about her was this: she was beautiful and she killed herself. Around the turn of the 20th century in Chicago, she became hooked on morphine, which, at the time was legally used to treat pain. Soon she became addicted, and began sending my father, a teenager, out on the sidewalks to buy opiates for her. Eventually, the emotional and physical pain became too much for her to bear. She put her head in a gas stove and ended her life. Several years ago, I came across two items: her Book of Common Prayer, and a note to my father–who at the time of her death was in his 20s–that read, “I’m sorry. I love you so much. Please forgive me.” A Dark Hole And with that, the stories of that side of the family seem to have ended. My father did not stay in touch with his relatives. Through my own genealogical work, I’ve learned a little. But the connections are gone. The stories are gone. There is still a break; three generations–and almost a century later–there is still a dark hole. A disconnect. This “disconnect” is what worries me about the Bible, especially Bible stories about women. I fear they are heading for the same kind of black hole. No longer are they routinely read and cherished. When I talk to groups about women in the Bible, it is usually the older women nodding their heads, who know the stories. They grew up on these stories. They had time to read them. But the middle generation–the Baby Boomers, not so much. I fear a permanent disconnect, and fixing it is a bit like taking care of the environment. We need to do it now. At right: Strong-willed sisters Mary and Martha of Bethany, who often welcomed Jesus and his disciples into their home, are depicted in an illustration by Karen N. Canton.
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Why should we care about these women from so long ago? Why even read the Bible stories of Ruth and Naomi, Sarah and Isaac, the passionate woman in the Song of Songs, and Martha and Mary of Bethany? And, it’s not just women. What about man, such as David, Jonathan, Peter and Paul? Why should we love these people? The lessons of our faith, the lessons that will make a difference in the 21st century are where they’ve always been: in the Bible. Here are four examples of women who faced terrible challenges, not so different from those faced by many women in current times. Wartime Should women be in combat? It’s been done before. Check out two victorious women warriors from about the 12th century BC. Deborah helped lead 10,000 men into combat, riding alongside Barak, Israel’s general. Moreover, she started the whole thing, advocating for war to protect her village, a tasty morsel waiting to fall
Heartbreak How does one deal with the death of a child? Ponder about Mary in your heart, just as she pondered about Jesus. Mary shares the grief that confronts mothers and fathers who have lost their children. She stood before the Cross, watching Jesus breathe his last. She saw him murdered at the hands of her government. Don’t let our spiritual grandmothers fall into a black hole. Don’t let them vanish, disconnected from us, their spiritual granddaughters and great-granddaughters — for they have more relevance for us now than ever before.†
Above: The author’s grandmother, Marguerite Grable, in happier days. Grable’s suicide left a disconnect in the lives of her descendants.
The Rev. Lindsay Hardin Freeman is the author of The Scarlet Cord: Conversations with God’s Chosen Women (John Hunt Publishing) and the editor of Wisdom Found: Stories of Women Transfigured by Faith (Forward Movement). The keynote speaker at the 2012 Triennial meeting in Indianapolis, Freeman’s goal is to free Biblical women from their dreary literary caskets and bring people closer to God in the process. For more info: www.scarletcordbook.com
Below, right: An illustration by Karen Canton of the Old Testament heroine, Deborah, who participated in a battle to save her village from the Philistines.
to the Philistines. And Jael, a murderer-housewife, ended the battle by nailing the Philistine General Sisera in the head, as he slept in her tent. Read the story to find out what he was doing in her tent (Judges 5:23-27). Abandonment Feeling abandoned and verbally abused these days? Read Hagar’s story (Genesis 16:21). Driven out into the desert to die because of Sarah’s jealousy, Hagar cried out desperately to God to save her and her son. He did. She was one of the very few people whom God spoke with directly. Her descendants number in the millions. Stress Do you have too many irons in the fire? Review Martha of Bethany (Luke 10; John 11-12). Yes, Martha was stressed. However, had she not kept such a welcoming home, Jesus and his disciples would not have been regular guests. You may be stressed, but just perhaps you are giving aid to the Lord, seen and unseen. And remember to reflect, like Mary. Jesus wants us to have that balance.
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A Pilgrimmage to the Holy Land Tour offers a unique journey into a spiritual mecca.
“Jerusalem is a port city on the shore of eternity.”
~Yehuda Amichai (1924-2000), Israeli poet
The Holy Land. It’s where we all want to go, “some day.”
For those of Jewish faith, it is a blessing to pray at the Western Wall, a remnant of the Great Temple. For followers of Islam, it is where Muhammad visited during his night journey and ascension to the heavens. For Christians, it is the land of Jesus’ extraordinary life, ministry, death, and resurrection. If you dream of walking the same centuries-old streets that Jesus and his disciples walked, and yearn to see the cradle of Christianity firsthand, now is your opportunity. Join National ECW president, the Reverend Deacon Nancy Crawford, Vice President Christine Budzowski, and Province 6 Representative MariLou Tribenbach, for the first Episcopal Women’s Holy Land Pilgrimage, May 31 through June 10, 2013. The 11-day pilgrimage will be conducted by local Anglican guide and instructor Canon Iyad Qumri, who has guided tours for Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, and former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams. According to Qumri, who offers an unique perspective as the only Anglican guide in the area, “[Me and my colleagues] in the Holy Land are looking forward to your upcoming Canon Iyad Qumri pilgrimage. We are here to help you take in the religious, historical, cultural and everyday delights of walking in the footsteps of Jesus and the disciples as well as those of 2,000 years of pilgrims like yourselves. Numbers of international visitors [to the Holy Land] continue to be record-breaking, but we will do everything possible to make your experience unique, personal, and memorable.” Qumri says that the itinerary is deeply grounded in Scripture. “We will experience the stories come 8 Communiqué • SPRING 2013 • ecwnational.org
Dome of the Rock, Temple Mount, Old City, Jerusalem.
to life as we travel the same paths and walk in the footsteps of Jesus, Mary, Deborah, Ruth, Hannah and Anna, Elizabeth and Zachariah,” he promises. A Glance at the Itinerary After a couple of lengthy travel days from the U.S. to Tel Aviv, the prilgrims will continue on to the city of Nazareth. On the third day, pilgrims will be able to take in such sights as the Zippora Basilica of the Annunciation, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Sefa Amr, and excavations of the Roman/Byzantine City of Sepphoria. On the fourth day, the group will visit the Sea of Galilee, Magdala, Capernaum, the Mount of the Beatitudes, and the Church of the Loaves and Fishes. On the fifth day, the tour leaves for Jerusalem. On the way, the group will travel to Mt. Tabor, Qumran, and the Dead Sea – the site of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. The more adventurous of the group will have the opportunity to swim (or float) in the
The Mount of Olives
Travel and Booking Information The maximum number of participants is 40. De-
posits are fully refundable if the traveler is unable to go. Send deposits ASAP to reserve a place. Deposit to reserve/hold space: $200 (land only)* Deposit for group air fare from New York: $200 *Final payment due April 1, 2013 for land portion. Send deposit check to: Worldwide Golf and Travel, Inc. 1303 Avocado #100 Newport Beach, CA 92660 The Mount of Temptation Monastery Dead Sea at Rocky Beach. The sixth day, Shepherd’s Field and Bethlehem Church of the Nativity in Manger Square are scheduled. There will also be a guest speaker, who will offer insight on Contemporary Issues and the Israeli Perspective. Day seven offers a tour of the Western Wall, the Golden Dome of the Rock, the Holy Sepulcher St. Anne’s Church, and the pools of Bethesda. On the eighth day, its on to Nablus to visit the Church of the Good Shepherd in Rifidia, and Zabadeh, where Jesus spoke with the Samaritan woman at the well. The ninth day offers Beth-Phage and the Mount of Olives. A walk down the Palm Sunday Road ends in the Garden of Gethsemane. On the tenth and final day of the tour, pilgrims will be able to walk the Stations of the Cross Walk and pray the stations. The afternoon is free.  Accommodations During the first three nights of the trip, the group will be staying at the Sisters of Nazareth Guesthouse, in Nazareth. The remaining nights will be spent at The Holy Land Hotel, in Jerusalem. The Holy Land Hotel is located in the heart of Jerusalem, and offers well-appointed, air-conditioned rooms, with such amenities as satellite TV, free inroom WiFi, and room service. Rooms offer views of such sites as the Mount of Olives, the Mount of Scorpus, and the Old City, which includes the Golden Dome, the Rock, and the Old City Walls. The hotel
Air travel information The airline departure and return fare from New York is $1,400. The schedule is the following: • 5/31/13 - 20:30 - Depart JFK (Delta 268) • 6/01/13 - 14:20 - Arrive Tel Aviv • 6/11/13 - 00:40 - Depart Tel Aviv • 6/11/13 - 05:25 - Arrive JFK Those traveling from outside New York will have additional fees for transportation to JFK. For information on Travel Guard Insurance, call 866-388-6233. The travel Group Number is 05642092.
is walking distance from the City Center, as well as Herod’s and Damascus Gates, which lead to religious and historical points of interest. Land and Air Transportation The land cost of the journey is $1,760, and includes most expenses–meals, transportation, etc. An extra $520 will be charged for a single room. For more information, call Lynn Headley at 714963-5932 or 714-920-7981 (cell), or by email: lynnheadleygc@earthlink.net. For additional Holy Land tour information, a complete itinerary, and helpful travel tips, go to http://episcopalwomensholylandpilgrimage.com.† ~~Compiled by Rogena Schuyler Silverman ecwnational.org • SPRING 2013 • Communiqué 9
Tech Talk
That’s Change with a “T” Embracing digital technology
By Lisa H. Towle, ECW Secretary
Years ago, a physi-
cian I knew had a cutout of a purple dinosaur on the outside of her office door. It wasn’t the infamous Barney, but still, the dinosaur was cute and smiley. Its message, though, was serious. Above the head of the dinosaur, in big letters, was the word, EVOLVE. Below its feet were these words, OR DIE. It’s a message to take to heart. It took decades of dedicated work and lobbying before women in the Episcopal Church were allowed to officially organize. General Convention authorized the Board of Missions to create the women’s “auxiliary” to the Board of Missions 142 years ago. More than a century later the entity known as Episcopal Church Women is one of the largest ministries in the church. We didn’t get to this point by living in the past. Honoring it? Yes. Burying ourselves in it? No.
and ability to pivot can be used as a gauge to measure the health and dexterity of the whole. And the whole is changing. Approved at General Convention 2012 was a resolution calling for a task force charged with presenting a plan to the next General Convention in 2015 for reforming the Church’s structures, governance, and administration. At the same time, though entirely independent of that effort, was a vote by Triennial Meeting delegates to approve a resolution calling for an ad hoc committee to research and review the present function and structure of the ECW National board as well as the mission and purpose of Episcopal Church Women, with appropriate recommendations to be presented at the 2015 Triennial Meeting. (Full disclosure: I co-presented the resolution.) Thinking in New Ways All to say, the ECW has made a difference in parishes, dioceses, provinces, the nation, and beyond. However, if we want a future that continues to make a difference, Episcopal Church Women must learn to think and act in new ways. This isn’t about continuing to just manage what’s been. This is about leading. It is about meeting people and their needs – where they are, and not where we think they should be. It’s about being nimble enough to act thoughtfully and quickly.
Digital Technology While engaged in active discernment about the future and preparation for Triennial Meeting 2015, thanks to technology and God’s help, there are things we can The Information Age All along the way women, following the admoni- now do to be more collaborative and welcoming. Please, tions and examples of Jesus, picked up the cross and don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that digital technolmoved forward, and in so doing made strategic de- ogy is a magic wand that can be waved over any circisions about the evolution of the organization. We cumstance and make it all better. What I am saying is – younger, older, or somewhere in between – live in that such technology is of our time and can, in key and what’s variously known as the information age/com- affordable ways, help us journey forward. Some are already well along this path while others puter age/digital age, and we find ourselves at another of those crossroads. The Rt. Rev. Michael B. Curry, have yet to begin. Taking first technological steps as well Bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina, frequently as growing what exists will be the subject of coming aruses the phrase “making disciples and making a differ- ticles in Communiqué. Our evolution continues.† ence” to talk about the missionary focus of his diocese. Lisa H. Towle was elected to serve as secretary of the The wording works in many ways. Episcopal Church National ECW board at the 2012 Triennial Meeting in Women everywhere can choose to use the power of Indianapolis. She is also president of the Diocese of North technology to make disciples and make a difference. While the ECW profile certainly varies from dio- Carolina’s ECW, which was recognized at Triennial ’12 for excellence in digital communications. She can be reached cese to diocese it is in key respects, a microcosm of at secretary@ecwnational.org the Episcopal Church. Generally speaking, its health 10 Communiqué • SPRING 2013 • ecwnational.org
Diocesan Discourse
Sharing the News From ECW Provinces Province
I representative Linda Guest, Diocese of Rhode Island, were chosen to serve on the Social Justice Team and the Worship Team at the National Commission on the Status of Women Meeting, in New York City. In addition, Province II representative, Linda Guest, Province I Ginger Lief, Diocese of New York, was also in attendance. ~~Submitted by Linda Guest, Province I, Diocese of Rhode Island ECW Province II
of the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Tortola/Virgin Gorda of the British Virgin Islands), gathered at Emancipation Garden in downtown Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, at the start of the Service of Light. After a short ceremony officiated by the clergy, the procession began led by rows of young girls carrying a banner emblazoned with the words Our Future, followed by the United Thank Offering banner and individual parish banners. The procession preceded singing songs of praise on the way to the Diocesan Office where Bishop E. Ambrose Gumbs dedicated the first Episcopal Church Women Memorial Garden on the diocesan grounds. After the Bishop concluded the short but prayerful service with the sprinkling of holy water, the known names of the departed sisters of the Episcopal Church Women were read by a representative from each parish or mission. From the Memorial Garden the procession then continued on to The Cathedral Church of All Saints, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, for the formal opening Eucharist Service. Plans are underway for gathering names of deceased Episcopal Church Women to be displayed under a glass covered box in the Memorial Garden. This year our Convention will be held at St. Paul’s (Anglican) Church, Sea Cow Bay, Tortola in the British Virgin Islands (our third deanery), during May 24-26, 2013. ~~Submitted by Carol Thompson, ECW President, Diocese of the Virgin Islands
Recovering from Ravages of Sandy The Province II Diocese of New Jersey is still recovering from damages wrought by hurricane Sandy. In the midst of the storm we are still trying to do the work God has given us to do. In our diocese the Church of the Holy Spirit worked with volunteers who helped with repairs and restoration of homes who were without insurance, primarily those of the elders. Holy Spirit provided lunch and dinner and over night accommodations at the Light House Alliance Church. Soup was served for the recovery workers by our neighbor church, First Presbyterian. We had eight churches seriously damaged by the storm and many others with minor damage. In addition, the ECW of the Diocese of New Jersey made a contribution to the Episcopal Relief and DevelECW Province III opment, that funded shelter and food for respondents. There is still work to be done and we ask your prayers West Virginia Will Host Province III Meeting and whatever support you can give us. ~~Submitted by Province III will hold its Provincial Meeting in West Eugenia D. Wilson, president, Province II, Diocese of Virginia, over the weekend of April 27. Discussions will New Jersey include rotating meetings and involving more dioceses, as well as rousing more women to attend the 2015 Trien*** nial Meeting. In July, Province III will host the NationEpiscopal Church Women’s Memorial al ECW Board at Claggett Conference Center, outside Garden Dedicated in Virgin Islands Frederick, MD. On Saturday, July 20, all are encouraged In the early evening of the last Friday of May 2012, at to attend Holy Eucharist and discussion. Come meet the the beginning of our 3-day Annual Diocesan Conven- National Board and hear the plans for the next 3 years – tion, the Episcopal Church Women from each of our and the Triennial. ~~Submitted by Dottie Arthur, Provthree deaneries (St. Thomas/St. John and St. Croix, both ince III Representative, Diocese of Maryland
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ECW Province V A Gathering in the Botanical Gardens
The 2013 ECW Province V Annual Meeting will be
held April 4-7, at the Doubletree Hotel by Hilton, in the St. Louis suburb of Chesterfield, MO. The theme of the event, which is hosted by the Diocese of Missouri ECW, is “Gather Us Together.” The event will begin with a tour of the Missouri Botanical Gardens on Friday, April 5. A repast of heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served in the evening, and the St. Louis Sirens, a women’s song and dance ensemble, will present the entertainment. On Saturday, April 6, there will be a business meeting, seminars, and individual meetings for UTO, CPC, and DOK. The day will end with a banquet, featuring the Rev. Gay Jennings, president of the House of Deputies, as the keynote speaker. During the weekend, exhibitors and vendors will be available, along with a professional massage therapist. The outreach project will be the Episcopal City Mission, which provides chaplains to the three detention centers in the area. Eucharist will be offered on Sunday morning before everyone goes home. To receive hotel and meeting registration information, please contact Karen Birr at ksbirr@charter.net or 314-831-7728. *** Interfaith Conveners at Work in Chicago Our board members have worked for 3 years to make our ECW chapter more in tune with today’s issues. We are now organized and focus on such issues as: the Arts; diocesan liaison, education, ending hunger, and health and wellness. We also are involved in international outreach, peace and justice, interfaith and harmony, and women’s issues. Each theme or subject is headed by a convener, whose job is to keep an updated list of speakers, as well as publish any activities on the diocesan website. At this point, the Peace and Justice convener serves on a Bishop’s committee. She has also incorporated women’s issues into the committee. Our two annual meetings, the Fall Forum educational meeting and the Annual Meeting, will focus on one of the themes (2012-13 is the Arts). The categories are broad and the scope is left up to the convener, who may seek the assistance of others in her committee. I am the convener of Interfaith and Harmony. During my term as 2009-12 ECW president, we held a Fall Forum at a mosque and enjoyed a large turn-out of men
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and women. The speaker was Lucinda Mosher, a published expert on Christian/Muslim relations, who works out of Detroit and New York. In addition, I am active in Sacred Spaces – Chicago 2, an interfaith consortium of nine diverse religious groups in downtown Chicago. Within a 10-month period, each group hosted an open program, discussing specific faith-related issues, beliefs, and architecture. The gatherings were held monthly. At the end of the program, the leaders of the these religious groups came together to pledge solidarity in times of crises. The series was coordinated by Suzanne Morgan, who served as ambassador for the council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions, an organization founded in Chicago in 1893. It was the first gathering of representatives from a variety of religious and spiritual groups (Angli- Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool cans and Episcopalians were not among the represented). Among the faiths represented in this ongoing effort are Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. We’re hoping for greater attendance in coming years. In November, I was invited by the Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religion to an event honoring Ebrahim Rasool, the current South African Ambassador to the U.S. In the 1980s, Rasool was very active against apartheid. He also facilitated the organization’s 1999 meeting in South Africa. ~~Submitted by Susanne Luard Lenz, Province V, Diocese of Chicago ECW Province VI The Diocese that Sews Together Nebraska women have taken on another sewing project with a great outcome. Recently, when two Nebraska missioners left on a plane, they were carrying 48 pounds of reusable sanitary pads and panties. That was just under 200 sets. The project is the brainchild of Claudianna Todd, All Saints Episcopal Church, Omaha. She had been to the Sudan, to the Diocese of Twic, East, a few years ago, and learned that a girl’s education was severely impeded because she stayed out of school when she was menstruating — there were no pads available.
Women from the Diocese of Nebraska work together sewing sanitary products for Sudanese women. The project is called “The Red Tent Project.” Photography on this page are courtesy of Beth Agar. So Claudianna came back with an idea. If we could find a pattern to make reusable pads and purchase panties, it would be possible to help girls stay in school. It would also help adult women who were menstruating be more a part of their communities. On Claudianna’s second trip to the Sudan, she took pads and panties, and saw the grateful responses of the girls and women. When she came back, she presented her idea to anyone who would listen. Finally, the Daughters of the King Assembly adopted it as a project, as did the Sudan Mission Team at All Saints Church. The Daughters of the King christened it the “Red Tent Project.” Last fall, Claudianna had two training sessions in her home for people to learn how to make the pads, as well as spend time in fellowship. Inspired by Claudianna’s project, Beth Agar, from St. Martha’s in Papillion — with strong support from her parish priest, Ernesto Medina — held her own weekend sew-a-thon. Agar and her crew made more than 120 sets of sanitary products, using two different patterns. ~~Submitted by Sandra Squires, ECW president, Province VI, Diocese of Nebraska
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ECW Province VII Oklahoma ECW Reestablished
Jan Ridle, president of the Diocese of Oklahoma ECW,
reports that the ECW has been reestablished at St. Michael’s in Norman. Ridle credits Debi Smith for taking the lead in getting the new group up and running. The ECW Board of the Diocese of Oklahoma held its Fall Retreat last October. The Rev. Debora Jennings, Triennial chaplain and ECW Devotional Life Chair, led the retreat. Two days were spent in exploring the Nag Hammadi Libraries. Among the new projects adopted by the board is the expansion of the Pillowcase Ministry. The project, initiated by Linda Atwood, Church of the Resurrection, Oklahoma City, will provide new pillows and handmade pillowcases for each child who attends Camp New Hope at St. Crispin’s Conference Center in the summer. This camp is an extension of the Prison Ministry for children whose parents are currently incarcerated. As many as sixty children attend this camp each summer. St. Crispin’s also provides a Royal Family Camp for children who have suffered abuse. Each of these children will receive a new pillow and pillowcase. For more information about the pillowcase ministry, contact Jan Ridle at jridle@sbcglobal.net. *** Kansas Women’s Summit in April An intergenerational event for Episcopal women – mothers, daughters, grandmothers, and granddaughters – will take place in the Diocese of Kansas in April. The theme will be “Women and Girls: Made in the Image of God.” (The theme was borrowed with permission from the Diocese of Long Island.) Diocesan Bishop Dean E. Wolfe asked that the event, called Women’s Summit, be planned for women of all ages. The program will address three questions during the Summit: 1) What does the Bible say to us about who we are as women? 2) What does contemporary society and the media say to us about who we are as women? 3) What do we say to each other about who we are as women? The Women’s Summit will be held at St. James’ Episcopal Church, Wichita, early evening, Friday, April 19, through late afternoon, Saturday, April 20. Options for overnight accommodations for those from outside the Wichita area include a hotel or an area home. For more information, contact Ellen Wolfe at deanandellenwolfe@sbcglobal.net, or Fran Wheeler at frances. wheeler11@gmail.com.
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Celtic Prayers for the New Millennium
Joann Rachele, president of the ECW for the Diocese of
NW Texas, reported that the speaker for their September 2012 women’s retreat was the Rev. Mary C. Earle. Mary, who is a retired Episcopal priest, is an excellent teacher, writer, and leader, and she shared her knowledge about the Celtic prayer tradition. About 30 women learned that Celtic prayer has meaning in the new millennium. The retreat took place at Quarter Master Ranch near Abilene. *** Fall Gathering Offers Talk on Prayer The Fall Gathering for the Diocese of Arkansas ECW took place November 10, in Fayetteville. Beth Maze, wife of the Very Rev. Larry Maze, retired bishop from Arkansas, was the featured speaker. She spoke to “Praying In, Not Up” – a meaningful topic for anyone on the path of spiritual growth. *** Province VII Summer Retreat at Camp Allen Kindle in Us the Fire of Your Love,” is the theme of the Province VII ECW summer retreat, which has been schdeduled for August 2-4, at Camp Allen Conference and Retreat Center in Navasota, TX. Confirmed speakers are the Rev. Jane Patterson, the Rev. Catherine Thompson, and the Rev. Carlye Hughes. The camp offers tennis and basketball courts, a campfire pit, and a nature trail. Families are welcome to attend. *** Province VII Women Meet Electronically The members of the ECW board of Province VII have stepped into the 21st century during a recent board meeting via Skype. Although it was a first-time experience for the women, all agreed it was an efficient and cost-effective way to meet. President Jackie Meeks reported that the charge was $8, and the number of participants was not limited. Each participant was able to see the other women on her computer screen, so faceto-face interaction was not sacrificed. Meeks commented that “using electronic meetings is an opportunity for all to be involved. By meeting via Skype in the evenings or a weekend, women working outside the home or who have young families can be involved. I’m really proud of the ladies in our province for their willingness to try Facebook and Skype.” Find and “Like” their page on Facebook by searching “ECW Province VII.” ~~All submissions by Lonnie Isaak, representative, Province VII
Santa Cruz County, as well as cutbacks in grants and aid from the State of Arizona and other groups, the preschool has been unable to offer scholarships to as many children as in the past. This has caused the enrollment to drop below the number needed for the preschool to be financially viable. St. Andrews preschool must have an additional $4,200 to operate through the end of its school year, and is asking for a one-time donation. This money would be used to provide partial scholarships for families who cannot afford to pay the $400 per month tuition. To receive a scholarship every family pays, on a sliding scale, what they can afford. Those interested in making a monthly donation or a one-time gift can send a tax-deductible check to: St. Andrew’s Preschool and Child Care Center, 969 W. Country Club, Nogales, AZ 85621. ~~ Submitted by the Rev. N. Jean Rogers, St. Andrews, Nogales, and Marilyn Hedges, St. Andrew’s Preschool and Child Care, Nogales, AZ, Province VIII, provides academic and social education, as well as medical outreach, ECW Board President, Diocese of Arizona, to local youngsters. Photography is courtesy of the Rev. Jean Rogers. Province VIII ECW Province VIII St. Andrew’s Preschool Reaches Out When St. Andrew’s Preschool children move on to elementary school, they are ready academically and socially to meet the challenges of “higher” education. According to the Rev. N. Jean Rogers, “When I was called to be the rector of St. Andrew’s, Nogales, I never dreamed how my background as a public school teacher and administrator would help to fulfill the dream of several parishioners. “These parishioners believed that along with the St. Andrew’s Clinic, which provides medical outreach to disabled children from Mexico, there was also a need for the parish to provide a safe learning environment for preschool children in Santa Cruz County, which would ensure children success in their future educational pursuits. We wanted to be a part of the educational success of children, as studies have shown children who succeed in school face fewer social, economic, and health problems later in life.” Until recently, the preschool financially operated in the “black.” However, due to high unemployment in
*** ECW Holiday Gathering in Aloha State The Episcopal Church Women from the Diocese of Hawai’i gathered for their annual holiday gathering at the Wai’oli Tea Room in Manoa Valley. Forty-six women (and one gentleman) enjoyed a delicious brunch. We had our own private dining room decorated with festive holiday trimmings. ‘Twas da Night Befo’ Christmas was read in Pidgin. It was hilarious and brought every table to laughter. We also played a Pidgin word game to name a favorite Christmas carol. That was hilarious as well. It was all “good fun.” We ended the morning singing a couple of Christmas carols and then there were lots of hugs and well wishes for the Christmas and New Year holidays. A hui hou, until we meet again. The highlight of the event was adopting the Episcopal Student Center at the UH Campus in Manoa for the holidays. Each member was asked to bring something for the center. A list of needed supplies was given to the group. Donations were in ample supply, as members were very generous in the giving of disposable utensils (such as forks, spoons, and chopsticks), paper products
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ECW National Board Contribution Form 2012-2015 Copy this form for contributions from individuals, parishes or dioceses. 
**This form is not used for United Thank Offering or Church Periodical Club donations.**
 Name of Donor or Organization: ______________________________________ Address: ______________________________ Contribution for: Amount ____Annual pledge _______ ____Aid to Delegates _______ ____Unified Gift “Nets for Life” _______ ____Triennial Meeting Endowment _______ ____Women to Women _______ ____Communiqué _______ This gift is an: ___ Honorarium ___ Memorial for ____________________________________ An acknowledgement may be sent to: _______________________________________ _______________________________________ (Name and address) Make checks payable to: Domestic & Foreign Missionary Society (DFMS) and mail to:
Kathy Mank
National ECW Treasurer 9559 Kelly Drive Loveland, OH 45140 16 Communiqué • SPRING 2013 • ecwnational.org
Members of the ECW Diocese of Hawaii meet for Christmas brunch. Photo courtesy of Louise Aloy
(plates, napkins, towels, and toilet paper), drinks (such as bottled water, juice or soda), bags of rice, frozen pizza, and individually-wrapped snacks. Donations for the center are accepted year round. Contact Malcolm Hee, through the cathedral, for information. ~~Submitted by Louise Aloy, ECW President, Diocese of Hawai’i, Province VIII *** News from the Diocese of Utah After a blessed and wonderful Trienniel 2012, the nine women of Utah returned with ideas to invigorate and rejuvenate the women of their parishes. Seeing the role of women in the ministry of the church as transparent to mission and the backbone of service, the women desire that the image of who we are and what we do adapt to women in current day. We have developed the motto of “reflecting the past to inspire the future.” Suzanne Miller, of The Church of the Good Shepherd, Ogden, a recent ECW member and young mother, joined the national commission which will be exploring women in the church and the ECW. It is the belief of our members, that as a body of Christ we should adapt to our changing environment to provide spiritual strength and purpose to our women’s lives. Laura Orcutt, of St. James Episcopal Church, Midvale, invited Winifrid Follett, Province VIII Diocesan ECW President, to speak to the people at our Diocesan Convention last October. She and Laura hosted an ECW booth during the 2-day event. Winifred also hosted the first ever ECW workshop during the con-
From left, ECW Province VIII members Laura Orcutt, Paisley Motes, Robin, Nazanin Heydari, Debby Carapezza, Shahrbanoo Nourmohammadi at St. James Food Bank, Province VIII. vention to inform women about ECW and its surrounding ministries, such as Daughters of the King (DOK), United Thank Offering (UTO), and Church Periodical Club (CPC). At Good Shepherd, Ogden, Linda Gardner began Easter Dresses for their companion diocese (the Diocese of Mexico). This is the first diocesan-wide service project undertaken in many years. Many women who attended diocesan convention from the diocese volunteered to participate in the project. Linda hopes to send the dresses to Mexico at Easter. In September, Good Shepherd hosted a luncheon for the women in the northern province parishes with guest speaker, the Rt. Rev. Scott B. Hayashi, Bishop of Utah. He spoke about the need for the women in northern Utah to come together and support one another in the important ministry of ECW. He also spoke about the five marks of mission and of his desire for the women of the diocese to democratically elect a diocesan ECW board. The 27 attendees enjoyed luncheon, as well as “swag” from Triennial and General Convention. The Rev. Isabel Gonzalez and Laura Orcutt traveled together to attend the event. In January, Sharon Stetz, spiritual director and chaplain, hosted the annual diocesan women’s retreat, Women at the Well (WOW) for the diocesan women’s group. Stetz gave those gathered the opportunity to retreat, re-
fresh, and renew with the waters of the ever-living and ever-present Christ. There were approximately 27 women from three parishes in attendance. After publishing its first-ever diocesan ECW newsletter in August, Laura Orcutt is spear-heading the effort to improve communication among the women throughout the diocese by publishing the newsletter three times a year, as well as other means of communication. Please see our Facebook page to see what the women in our diocese are up to, as well as what we have planned. You can find us by entering “Women Ministries of The Diocese of Utah” in the search field. God has blessed us with a wonderfully rich and beautiful environment in Utah. We hope all women will experience this when they come for Triennial 2015 in Salt Lake City. When you’re here, please take time out to visit the splendor of the area. Utah is truly a spectacular state to experience. The people are warm, friendly, and service-oriented, and they are willing to assist a stranger as if they were a friend. ~~Submitted by Laura Orcutt, Contact, Diocese of Utah, Province VIII †
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A Tribute
Remembering Sarita Jana Redd
Women from around the country share memories of their friend. Sarita Jana Redd, president of the United Thank Of-
to service in the Church, the staff of Communiqué asked fering (UTO) board, passed away suddenly on January women of the ECW and UTO to offer their remem26, 2013. She was 55. A private service and burial were brances of Sarita Jana Redd:* held in Oklahoma City, OK, on February 2. My mother gave 100% to fighting for UTO. She beRedd served as president of the UTO from July of lieved with great passion what the United Thank Of2009 until the time of her death. During her presfering meant, stood for, and does. She wanted idency, the governance of the UTO moved UTO to be the perfect example of misfrom its status as a committee of the sion for the Episcopal Church. Episcopal Church Women (ECW) to Today, ladies, it is you who are left being an independent, autonomous with her duties, her desire and pasboard, although it maintained its sion, please do not let her down. ECW affiliation. Continue to work as hard or A resident of Oklahoma City, even harder than before. She Redd practiced employee benewants the best for the United fits law and was a human relaThank Offering Board. tions consultant. She became ~~Maria Atondo, translator, an Episcopalian early in the UTO Board 2009-2015 2000s, and quickly became active in many aspects of the *** Church. She served as a lay Sarita was a blessing in all Eucharistic minister, a vestry our lives – quiet yet powerful; member, senior warden, and unassuming yet strong; compresident of her parish ECW. posed yet open; challenging yet She was both a UTO coordinator dignified – a true lady. She was for her parish and her diocese, and the heart and soul of the new UTO served as Province VII Representa– keeping us all on track and letting the tive on the UTO Board before becoming wider church know just how committed representative for Latin America. we all are to “the change our change can make.” In addition, Redd served on the INCO55 Special Task Force-Ad Hoc Committee. She was recently Sarita is sorely missed – and shall be long-remembered. honored as the recipient of The Distinguished Woman May she rest now after a job well-done. ~~ Marjorie Reeves-Briden, UTO coordinator, Diocese from the Diocese of Oklahoma at the 2012 Triennial. Redd, whose personal motto was “Strength and Hon- of Rhode Island or,” joined the UTO Committee in late 2008, and was *** then elected president for the 2009-2012 Triennium On January 18, Sarita and I discussed the 125th anand the 2012-2015 Triennium, during the time when the organization moved from committee to Board. She niversary of the United Thank Offering. Her excitement was the only board member to have ever served two was evident in our dialogue of this valuable ECW service. However, even as we mourn her passing we must terms as president. continue to give God thanks for the dedicated service of our sister. We could honor her memory by continuing Remembrances To honor the life of a woman, who dedicated her life her plans for UTO, even now as she rests in the nearer
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presence of our Lord. ~~Carol E. Thompson, ECW diocesan president, Diocese of the Virgin Islands
of The Episcopal Church. The branch of our church that Jesus admonished His followers to pursue, to believe in, to reach out to assist in any way possible. These were the poor, the underprivileged, the little ones who needed *** shielding from an unjust world, and unjust society. She sang from her heart a song from within. ~~Marcie Cherau, Triennial Meeting office convener, Deeply spiritual where God made the difference in her UTO Board 2012-1015 decisions. Heaven was her path and lighted all the way. *** ~~Anne Curran Gordon, vice president, UTO 2012-2015 When Sarita’s mother told me the news, I could not breathe. I feel like I have hardly breathed since. First *** and foremost, I have lost a friend. I have loved SariEver since I can remember, I have called the sunlight ta’s abiding vision – her strong and unyielding battle sparkling on the water “dancing diamonds.” Sarita, my to keep UTO in the hands of the women on the UTO dear friend, was a dancing diamond. She brought “spar- Committee (now Board). She has given and given and kle” to those she encountered. given – now she expects us to car~~Barbi Tinder, grants convener, ry on! communications convener, UTO ~~Robin Sumners, communiBoard 2009-2015 cations convener, UTO Board 2012-2015 *** UTO was part of Sarita’s DNA. *** She was passionate about UTO A death in the family. Sarita Redd and her UTO family. She went to is and was a formidable woman, battle for us, for anyone or anywho brought tremendous energy thing she cared about, and she did to the role of UTO board presinot fight to lose. What a warrior dent. She was an effective agent we had. She was a great example for the changes that were necesfor how we all should live out our sary in the life of the UTO. She lives. Be passionate, be honest, insisted on professionalism, and take care of each other and take at the same time cultivated the facare of business. milial “feel” of UTO on its most ~~Renee Haney, Secretary, UTO Board 2012-1015 central committee. ~~The Rev. Mark Harris, chair, UTO Study Committee *** 2009-2012 I love Sarita very much and miss her presence on this earth! She was an amazing woman of strength and hon*** or (she signed her emails with those two words!). When it Sarita worked tirelessly at anything she did because she was time for business, her professionalism was unques- wanted the best result no matter the effort on her part. tionable! But, most importantly, she was a person of im- There are certain people who pass through our lives mense love! Rest in peace my sweet sister! whom we will never forget because they are stamped ~~Patsy Duncan, Diocese of Oklahoma permanently on our hearts and minds. Sarita was one of those special God bearers in my life. *** ~~Connie Skidmore, parliamentarian, UTO Board Sarita dove into everything she believed in, and gave her all to those ideals and causes that she felt were the *Memorials may be sent in Redd’s name to The Unitmost merited. UTO was at the top of her list. It was the ed Thank Offering Memorial and Gift Trust Fund: The cause she felt was most worthy of a fight; the cause that Episcopal Church, 815 2nd Avenue, New York, NY10017. needed recognition, respect, and justice. The United Gifts should be made to The UTO Memorial and Gift Thank Offering – the arm of the mission and ministry Trust Fund #852. †
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• EpiscoMom – The New Working Episcopal Mother
• Diocesan Discourse – News from the Provinces
• Tech Talk, Part 2 – The Blessing of Social Media
• Get Moving – Respect Your Body; It’s God’s Temple
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Calendar of Events Information for this calendar comes from Episcopal Church Women throughout the Church. If your group or diocese has plans for meetings, special events, special missions, or other happenings, please send all pertinent information for inclusion in the next edition of Communiqué to: TMEditor@ecwnational.org. April 4-7 – Province V Annual Meeting in Chesterfield, MO, at the Doubletree Hotel and Conference Center. Theme for the meeting: “Gather Us Together.” For information, contact ksbirr@charter.net. April – Board meeting at Rosaryville Spirit Life Center, Ponchatoula, LA April 18-19 – Diocese of Kansas Women’s Summit. The theme will be “Women and Girls: Made in the Image of God.” May 30–June 10 – Episcopal Women’s Holy Land Pilgrimage. August 2-4 – “Kindle in Us the Fire of Your Love,” is theme of the Province VII ECW summer retreat, scheduled for August 2-4, at Camp Allen Conference and Retreat Center, Navasota, TX.
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