Issuu

From the President’s Desk

Marthas and Marys When stirring up meals and hospitality, something extraordinary can happen. By the Reverend Deacon Nancy R. Crawford

et’s face it, no matter how hard we try, women are most often found in the kitchen. Sure, it’s a stereotype that shouldn’t be forced on those who don’t like to cook and serve, but it is one of the oldest forms of hospitality found in history. As we women think about how we can Stir Up the Spirit!, let’s begin with the place where lots of things do get stirred: in a kitchen, and specifically in a first century kitchen. The most famous woman in the Bible who can be found in the kitchen is Martha. Jesus was traveling with his disciples, preaching, teaching, and speaking to those who challenged him. It’s tiring work. Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to him talk while Martha kept to the tasks at hand. Yes, Mary was being hospitable, but we are certain that Martha was in the kitchen preparing food for the weary travelers. And doesn’t our modern-day discussion always come around to this? If Mary had been in the kitchen with Martha, they could have prepared the meal and served, so that Martha could have listened to Jesus, too. COOKING AND STIRRING There’s a lot of cooking and stirring going on at my home parish of St. Mary’s, Eugene, OR. “Meals in Motion” was launched last year by Cheryl Crow and several other parishioners. These individuals wanted to start a ministry of food delivery for the temporarily homebound, but were overwhelmed by the thought of the telephone tree model of communication (lots of phone calls or emails to find out who could prepare a meal and when it could be delivered). That’s when 2

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Cheryl discovered an online scheduling program, TakeThemAMeal.com. Welcome to the 21st Century! According to Cheryl, there are several keys to the success of such a project: • Get a group of people who LOVE to cook to sign up as volunteers. The word went out at our annual ministry fair, and in our newsletter. More than 20 people have stepped up to cook, and surprisingly they are not necessarily the cooks for parish dinners or our program to feed the hungry. People who love to cook for individuals or a family may not want to cook for 50 to 100 people. • Make it known and acceptable in the church that the program is available for parishioners who are experiencing a “major life event.” Set pride aside and let the church care for you. But just as no one is pressured to be a cook, no one is pressured to have meals delivered. • Keep the ministry in front of the clergy and the pastoral care team to make sure they are thinking of this program when hearing of those in need. • The online scheduling! St. Mary’s uses TakeThemAMeal.com because it is so easy for

everyone to use. Volunteers log in with a secure password associated with the recipient, type in what day they will bring a meal, and list what they are bringing. The program allows the coordinator to set up individually tailored meal schedules for each recipient, along with things like: how many people to cook for, dietary restrictions, delivery schedule, address, etc.

INSPIRATION IN HOSPITALITY CONCEPT Since the program began a little over a year ago, 60 meals have been served to 10 individuals or families. Four of those households were new baby families, and six of them had family members with

2012-2015

medical conditions. In the book Radical Hospitality: Benedict’s Way of Love: Benedict’s Way of Love, by Lonni Collins Pratt, Cheryl found inspiration in the concept of being so hospitable that people don’t feel like they are being treated kindly because they are are guests – they are being treated kindly because others genuinely care. And like Martha and Mary who welcomed Jesus and his friends into their home – when something is stirred up in the kitchen, hospitality and conversation naturally follow.† The Reverend Deacon Nancy R. Crawford, Eugene, OR, is president of the 2012-2015 National ECW Board. She can be reached at president@ecwnational.org.

ECW National Board Listed below is the current leadership of the Episcopal Church Women.

President The Rev. Deacon Nancy R. Crawford 1595 E. 31st Ave. Eugene, OR 97405 541-543-1122 president@ecwnational.org

Secretary Lisa H. Towle 110 Dutchess Dr. Cary, NC 27513-4209 919-386-9531 secretary@ecwnational.org

Vice President of Program Shirley Greiman 25 Wolcott Woods Dr. 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 • SUMMER 2013 • Communiqué

Table of Contents Vol. 20, No. 2, Summer Issue

From the President’s Desk…Page 2

Marthas and Marys By The Reverend Deacon Nancy R. Crawford

ECW Cover Story…Page 6 Ancient Practices Revisited By The Rev. Jo Ann Weeks

Many Paths, One Journey…Page 9

A Poem By Patricia Walthall Hardy

Tech Talk…Page 10 Facebooking: The Intersection of a New Day and a New Way By Lisa H. Towle

Body, Mind, and Spirit…Page 12 Staying Balanced By Linda Owen Cantrill

Diocesan Discourse…Page 14 Sharing the News from ECW Provinces around the nation. 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 September 30, 2013. 4

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Communiqué Vol. 20, No. 2 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

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, DR 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 • SUMMER 2013 • Communiqué

ECW Cover Story

Ancient Practices Revisited

Uses of EO’s, crystals, and stones for wholeness in body, mind, and spirit. Horatio: O day and night, but this is wondrous strange! Hamlet: And therefore as a stranger give it welcome. There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy. ~Hamlet Act 1, Scene 5, 159-167~ ~•~ That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun. ~Ecclesiastes 1:9~ By The Reverend Jo Ann Weeks

here is historical evidence dating back at least 5,000 years on the use of aromatic plants by the people of India, China, Mesopotamia, and Egypt. Aromatic plants were used as incense, perfumes, medicine, cooking, preserving the body for afterlife and for skin care and beauty products and for restoring youthfulness. The Greeks who learned about oils from the Egyptians used the oils for psychological conditions, such as anxiety, depression, and hysteria, for the pursuit of beauty and romance, for religious and spiritual exercises, such as meditation and prayer. In addition, oils were used for consciousness expansion, heightened perception, and awareness; as well as for creating conducive atmospheres for spiritual, intellectual, creative, and romantic activities. The Romans used the oils for fumigating their temples and political buildings. Their soldiers used oils before going into battle to bolster courage. HISTORICAL REFERENCES There are more than 500 references to essential oils throughout the Old and New Testaments and the Apocrypha, as well. Crystals and stones have existed since time began.

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The first historical references to the use of crystals come from the ancient Sumerians who included crystals in magic formulas. Ancient Egyptians used stones for protection, health, cosmetics and emotional issues. The ancient Greeks attributed a number of properties to crystals and many names we use today are of Greek origin including the word “crystal.” Crystals and stones have also played a part in all religions. Although amulets were banned by the Christian church in 355 A.D., gemstones continued to play an important role. During the Renaissance period, a number of medical treatises appeared extolling the benefits of precious and semi-precious stones in the treatment of certain ailments. Generally these stones were used alongside herbal remedies. For many and varied reasons, during the Age of Enlightenment, the use of precious stones for healing and protection began to fall from favor. Fast-forward to the 1980s and the use of crystals, gemstones, and essential oils began to resurface as healing therapies complete with scientific evidence of their healing properties. Both essential oils and crystals/stones have properties that treat the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. In other words, they treat the whole person.

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The resources available on essential oils, crystals, and gemstones is staggering. Information on how essential oils and crystals and gemstones heal (Clues: quantum physics and vibrational frequencies) can be found easily with the click of a mouse. Check out the biographies of Hatshepsut (first female pharaoh of Egypt), Hildegard von Bingen and Elizabeth I, among others, and discover their relationship with essential oils, crystals, and stones. One can find a great supply of books on essential oils, crystal and stones at www.amazon.com. There is no lack of information on the subject.* I recently read somewhere that if one wanted to learn about God, all one had to do was look at nature. The plant and mineral kingdoms are my teachers and I have a profound respect for them and their functions. On my morning walk, I talk to the plants, trees, and animals I pass. I let them know how grateful I am for their service and their beauty. Through them, I have witnessed God’s abundance and its availability to us and for us. I view them as aids in my discipleship. They have taught me about the energies which emanate from them and all of us. I work on making sure that my vibrations are high and that I emanate vibrations of love, peace and harmony. Their mission, like mine, is to serve and when one 8

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understands what it takes for crystals and stones to get from their home in the earth to us is nothing less than sacrifice. With the nicks, scratches, brokenness, and separation from their kind, they serve without judgment. The plant kingdom goes through similar trauma. Both essential oils and plants follow their mission of wholeness in body, mind, and spirit – for us! † (*Bibliography submitted on request.) DISCLAIMER: Never use crystal healing or any non-traditional complementary healing method discussed herein in lieu of obtaining professional help. Please consult your healthcare specialist for your particular needs. The Reverend Jo Ann Weeks, Priest-in-Charge, Grace Episcopal Church. Moreno Valley, CA. Diocesan Chaplain, Daughters of the King, Los Angeles, Chaplain, Order of St. Luke Healing Ministry-Certified Clinical Aromatherapist Professional member, NAHA (National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy) Healing Touch Spiritual Ministry Practitioner Charter Member, Healing Touch Professional Association Certification as Crystal Healer in progress.

Many Paths, One Journey Our paths throughout life are many, As we make choices along the way; Some seem to lead down darkened lanes, While others brighten, with each new day. Some of us choose the well-traversed path, While others the path traveled less; A choice of following others before, Or choosing our own way to test. The years unfold, as we tarry along, And our lives are enriched with “life;” Some paths bring love and gleeful delight, While others find heartache and strife. Regardless of our choices, we wander along, Through each new experience we grow; And as we mature through our struggles and joy, Our direction, we come to know. Life’s paths narrow as our wisdom develops, We learn that God’s love is the way; And the many paths converge to just one, As we journey with the Lord, to stay. Written by Patricia Walthall Hardy, Province III; Submitted by Dorothy Arthur, Province III Representative.

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Tech Talk

Facebooking: The Intersection of a New Day and New Way Using social media to help create and maintain connectivity. By Lisa H. Towle

he connection between tool-making, women’s ministry and Facebook is stronger than you’d think. And it’s important. Please give me a few minutes to show you how and why. Recently, “The News & Observer” newspaper of Raleigh began a series of articles about the loss of hundreds of thousands of manufacturing jobs in North Carolina over the past 2 decades. Such loss and its devastating economic consequences have been experienced by many states. The point of the series was to illustrate that despite changing times and markets people continue to make a vast array of goods. One example: For more than a century a manufacturer in a small North Carolina town has been forging axes and other tools the same way. Their longevity was evidence that the tool-maker was good at what it did, but it had also become increasingly clear the old business model wasn’t sustainable. Seeking what it calls the “relentless pursuit of perfection,” the company’s management faced reality. “We can’t continue doing the same things we used to,” they said. And so they began developing a plan that would, in part, use the tools of a new age to identify and appeal to new markets. Not to put too fine a point on it, but the ministry that is Episcopal Church Women is in some key respects a lot like the tool-maker: It’s been around for a long time,

it has very effectively met genuine needs (albeit of a very different kind) yet it’s facing declining numbers and, worse, apathy. ECW stands at the crossroads of New Day/New Way and Old Day/Old Way. “We can’t continue doing the same things we used to,” indeed. The Universal Church is struggling with these same things, of course. Much ink and multitudinous hours of discussion have been devoted to topics such as “keys to authentic connection,” “facilitating transcendence,” and “facilitating true community.” These things will continue to demand time and energy, and they all involve better communication. (It means a lot that communication and community spring from the same Latin root meaning to impart, share, make common.) But there’s a no-cost, low-maintenance communication tool that Episcopal Church Women can use here and now to give people quick access to the ministry, to help them understand its purpose and to feel part of the community: Facebook. In what can feel like an increasingly fragmented and hurried world, some ECW branches/chapters/ guilds, like a few diocesan and provincial ECWs, and like the National ECW board, use a group Facebook page – part of what’s known as social media – to help create connectivity.

“The message of this article is especially for those

shaking their heads right now and thinking, ‘I don’t know the first thing about Facebook.’”

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NOT A QUICK FIX Facebook is not a quick-fix for whatever ails. Becoming a presence there won’t automatically reverse a decline in the number of people who choose to participate in ECW activity. However, it can do some mighty important things, foundational things. It will (a) signal the ECW in a province, diocese or parish is intentional in its thinking about moving forward, (b) it’s willing to meet people where they are, and (c) it wants to share. The message of this article is especially for those shaking their heads right now and thinking, “I don’t know the first thing about Facebook.” If you want ECW to live on where you are, if you want to strengthen the ministry, if you help spread the good news, then hopefully you’ll consider going the way of the old school tool-makers and use new words and actions to make it clear to newcomers, “We have room for you.” If your parish has a Facebook page (and many are now using Facebook rather than websites because Facebook is easier to manage) then ask whoever’s

responsible for it to include news about what’s happening with ECW. Or consider appealing to a younger woman in your community to sit down with you to help create and maintain a Facebook page specifically for ECW. Who knows? Seeking this kind of help could well open the door to her involvement in the ministry of Episcopal Church Women for what you’re really saying is, “We need you. We welcome you.” If your ECW uses Facebook, ask yourself, “How often do we post information to the page?” “Is our page linked to similar pages?” “Do we share news from the diocesan ECW or national ECW so members understand they are part of a larger network of women within the church?” Our evolution continues. † Lisa H. Towle was elected to serve as secretary of the National ECW board at the 2012 Triennial Meeting in Indianapolis, IN. She is also president of the Diocese of North Carolina’s ECW, which was recognized at Triennial ’12 for excellence in digital communications. ecwnational.org • SUMMER 2013 • Communiqué

Body, Mind, and Spirit

Staying Balanced

The Bible says, “Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.” Respect it! By Linda Owen Cantrill According to the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, falls are the leading cause of accidental injury in older adults. Every year, one-third to one-half people over the age 65 years and older experience falls. Half will fall repeatedly, and 5% of falls will lead to bone fractures. Almost two-thirds of injury-related hospitalizations for older adults are the result of falls, and it is estimated that injurious falls costs the healthcare system more than $1 billion each annually! This has become a nationwide epidemic and many falls can be prevented with assistance by the right treatment professional. THE FEAR OF FALLING Once a person has fallen, the fear of falling plays a significant role in his/her ability to continue to be physically independent. That’s where fall prevention comes into the picture, as falling is not a fact of life, and many falls can be prevented. Falls are divided into two categories: extrinsic (e.g., that occur in the home environment, caused by canes, walkers, footwear, or that are situational, such as in the drug store, crossing the street, or working in your garden). Intrinsic falls are due to age-related changes associated with vision, balance, gait, cognition, and the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and urinary systems. When a person is young, taking a fall is no big deal. You simply get up, and go on your way. But as we get older, recovery from falls is not so simple. Think of a child and learning to ride a bike; it takes coordination and balance. As we get better at balance, we simply take it for granted – similar to how we learned to walk; we “just did it,” never thinking much about it. As we age, we cannot always rely on our balance in the same way. Now, maintaining our balance takes conscious time and attention; “Scan and Plan” should be the motto – scan each environment for potential fall hazards, and plan ahead for the safest routes and approaches. We must think before we step up on a curb or go down a flight of stairs. When we attend a party we must be aware of our surroundings, often guarding ourselves from folks bumping into us, or making sure throw rugs 12

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are safety secured to the floor. We must check to make sure there is appropriate lighting so we can monitor our steps up the stairs or over cracks in a sidewalk or driveway. The list goes on and on. We must ask ourselves: If I am at the grocery store and someone barrels around the corner, can I stabilize myself? When I visit a friend and they have no railing as I walk up their stairs, can I stay balanced and safe? When I walk into a dark theater, can I find my seat and keep my balance? These are real life situations affecting people with balance issues every day.

Tips to better your balance include but are not limited to: 1) Improve your cardiovascular fitness by walking, using a treadmill, or pedaling on a stationary bike. 2) Single leg standing, single leg swinging, one leg at a time – use the back of a chair for support and safety. 3) Join a tai chi class. 4) Practice shifting your weight from side to side with both feet on the floor. 5) Find a friend or partner and get out and walk using long strides and a wide base of support (hip distance apart). Many people walk with a narrow base of support (small steps) thinking it will keep them safe, when in fact smaller steps actually put them at risk for falls because you have a smaller base of support. 6) Improve your flexibility by following a daily stretching regimen. Try a gentle yoga class! 7) Improve overall strength by participating in weight or strength training. 8) Perform balance and vestibular exercises with a trained professional.

Indeed, balance is a critically important factor in our day-to-day lives. THE MYTH OF BALANCE The myth is that balance is about standing on one leg or engaging in rigorous yoga practice. In truth, balance is so much more! A comprehensive balance program should ideally be multi-factorial and multi-dimensional. It’s more about moving in space while keeping your balance: knowing where your feet are, picking up your feet when you walk, feeling connected to your body, and the environment around you—also planning ahead for visits to friends and stores, making sure you are wearing the proper shoes, and having your hearing, vision, and feet checked for health regularly—the list goes on and on. A comprehensive balance and mobility training program can help address these issues to prevent falls and improve our overall quality of life as we age. COMPREHENSIVE BALANCE ASSESSMENT An important element for directing treatment and fall prevention is to identify the risk factors that are causing the problem. A comprehensive balance assessment will address muscle strength/endurance, flexibility/ joint mobility, motor ability (i.e., balance, coordination, speed, agility, and power), and physical impairments. These impairments can include vision, sensory/motor function, hearing, neurological function, limited physical function, and medication all related to the aging process. It is suggested that you meet with your physician to review all these items before starting a program and have your hearing and vision checked, as balance is a complex activity. Make sure to consult your physician before starting any new fitness program. Although a fitness instructor can give basic balance exercises, it is important that a qualified healthcare practitioner be consulted when a balance problem or falls persist. Most personal trainers are not educated in fall prevention, balance, and mobility to address this specific concern. The prescribed exercises should be given to meet your specific needs and should be incorporated into your everyday activities. Balance and mobility training is a specific multi-dimensional specific treatment program. Studies have shown that training at least two times weekly can improve balance up to 40% within 8 to 10 weeks, depending on the client’s concerns and challenges. Over the course of my career as a mobility and balance specialist, I have worked with dozens of clients from age 50-97 years old who have successfully improved their quality of life through balance and fall prevention train-

ing. It is never too late to improve your balance; let’s get started today! You can find your balance for a stronger, longer life.† Linda Owen Cantrill is a Balance, Mobility Fall Prevention Educator/Trainer, and Geriatric Specialist. She attends Holy Nativity Episcopal Church, in Westchester, CA. She can be reached at 310-428-2026; or check out her Website at www.spiritedbalance.com

REFERENCES 1) http://www.aging.state.ca.us/ California Department on Aging 2) http://www.balancetherapy.com/ Los Angeles Balance Disorders Institute of Los Angeles 3) http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/falls/ National Center for injury prevention 4) http://www.stopfalls.org/index.shtml New state wide professional organization to educate healthcare professionals including; physicians, physical therapist, occupational therapist, etc., regarding resources for training and prevention of falls. ecwnational.org • SUMMER 2013 • Communiqué

Diocesan Discourse

Sharing the News From ECW Provinces

Province I

A gorgeous New England spring day was the setting for more than 320 people who attended the 132nd annual Meeting of the Episcopal Church Women (ECW) of the Diocese of Connecticut. It was a day of praise, prayers, sharing, and thankfulness for the family of The Rt. Rev. Dr. the Episcopal Church. The ocLaura J. Ahrens casion was shared with ECW members from the Diocese of Rhode Island, New York, and Massachusetts, representing Province I and the ECW National Board. The Holy Eucharist was celebrated by the Rt. Rev. James E. Curry, and the sermon was offered by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Laura J. Ahrens. At the business meeting which followed the Eucharist, guests were welcomed by ECW Diocesan president, Valzie Peterkin, and the Rt. Rev. Ian T. Douglas, Bishop, Diocese of Connecticut. The keynote speaker, the Rev. Timothy B. Safford, Rector of Christ Church in Philadelphia, gave an inspirational message focusing on three of the Founding Mothers of the Episcopal Church, who were also members of Christ Church. The three women of different backgrounds shared a love for God and worked tirelessly in the church, even though their work went unrecognized, as well as unappreciated by many. Stafford said that these women – Deborah Franklin (the long-suffering wife of Benjamin Franklin), Betsy Ross (the seamstress), and Alice (a slave from Barbados) – can serve as role models for today’s ECW members. Their stories are reminders of women who work tirelessly and with devotion, but go unnoticed. The challenge is to recognize and thank them for their service. A luncheon followed the business meeting. ~~Submitted by Valzie V. Peterkin, Province I, Diocese of Rhode Island

Province III

At press time, Dottie Arthur, representative to the National Board, Province III, was making plans to attend a province board meeting at the Claggett Diocesan Center in Buckeystown, just south of Frederick, 14

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MD, on July 20. The luncheon meeting provides an opportunity for members to meet their board, and ask questions. In May, Arthur attended South Virginia’s Annual Meeting, which was held in Danville. There she met several ECW members, whom, she reports, were excited to hear about such upcoming plans as Triennial 2015. This fall, Arthur says that she intends to visit as many Province III diocesan meetings as possible.

Province IV

Province IV enjoyed its annual meeting at Kanuga, in Hendersonville, NC, in early June. Seventeen of 19 dioceses attended (note: the Diocese of South Carolina has withdrawn, so there are now 19 dioceses). The Rev. Carol Mead, of Mississippi, acted as chaplain and keynote speaker. The meetings were run by Barbara Owens – everything started on time and the experience was enjoyed by all the women in attendance. During Kate Gosselin’s workshop with the presidents, she asked them how many new ECW branches or chapters were started in the last year, as well as to inform her of special types of meetings, or gatherings that seemed to attract more people than usual. (Some of those results are listed hereafter.) Gosselin reports that the women enjoyed their input at the meeting, and have decided to share their concerns and celebrations with each other. As most of the dioceses are rather inactive during the summer, there are fewer reports from each president. THE DIOCESE OF ALABAMA Alabama has been pretty quiet. We have a couple of churches that are looking at forming ECW’s but nothing concrete as yet. The Birmingham Convocation had a very successful meeting in the spring. The speaker was Carolyn McKinstry. She was 14 years old and was in the bathroom minutes before the bomb went off at the 16th Street Baptist Church killing 4 of her friends. As it is the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights movement she was a most appropriate speaker THE DIOCESE OF MISSISSIPPI The diocese reports the Rev. Scott Gunn, executive director of Forward Movement Press, attracted a

they’re called, whether it’s DOK, Altar Guild, or other guilds, as well as short-term or one-time projects by individuals or small groups. The diocese reports “We’ve got some good stuff coming up for the next few months so the next report should be more exciting.”

larger than usual crowd at Spring Conference in April. He did not require an honorarium, but used the money given to him to reimburse Forward for his travel expenses. He also gave those present at the meeting an opportunity to go online to order Forward Movement Press items and receive a 20% discount and free shipping. Limited to a one week time period. The dicocese is planning this year’s fall retreat that will be a joint venture with Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross. It is also exploring options that will attract more people by considering joint ventures with organizations such as the Companions, Altar Guild, and Daughters of the King. In addition, the diocese is returning its fall retreats to local churches in the state, instead of hosting it at the diocesan retreat center, Gray Center. However, it will continue to host the spring conference at Gray Center. Even though some of the reasoning for this change were financial, the primary motive was to be more visible in the communities in which it is located. Many women attend retreats at a church, but think it is too much to take a weekend away from home at the retreat center.

THE DIOCESE OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Last year’s annual Diocesan Meeting was a definite success. The turnout was pleasing to all in attendance, thanks to a well-advertised appearance by the Rev. Lindsay Freeman. (Everyone hopes that she plans to return this year.) In south Florida, ECW takes the summer off, as many of its members are snow birds and “migrate” north. The most successful event was the “Believe in a Miracle” gathering. Kathy Gosselin, a member of the team, explained how the thousand women in attendance could be described as “a women’s revival meeting.” Meetings start up in September with the first board meeting and then Leadership Council meetings in each of its seven deaneries. The annual meeting will be held in November. Our speaker, the Missions and Ministries Chair, has asked each deanery to make a trifold to show what they are doing for their outreach in mission and ministry. THE DIOCESE OF GEORGIA There is a new (newly revived) branch at Holy Nativity on St. Simons Island. The largest attendance was at the annual meeting in April where Judy Woodruff from PBS was a speaker and 70 ladies attended. Throughout the year the diocese will have two convocational meetings; a Day of Sharing in the fall and a quiet day in the spring.

THE DIOCESE OF EAST CAROLINA The Annual Meeting of the ECW of the Diocese of East Carolina was hosted by St. Thomas, Oriental, NC, on May 22. Members were welcomed by the ECW President, Rolayne Schwendy with a fun game and story. Our speaker was Susan Husson, Coordinator of the Interfaith Refugee Ministry in the diocese. She gave a wonderful overview of this caring ministry within our midst. The offering for the day totaled $465 and was designated for the Interfaith Refugee Ministry. During the business part of the meeting it was THE DIOCESE OF WEST TENNESSEE The diocese reports there are no new ECW chapters. announced a Task Force to study the revitalization of About half the churches in its diocese have ECWs, but the ECW of our diocese has been formed and all comthe group has contacts for women’s ministries in ev- ments and interest are welcome. Holy Eucharist was celebrated by the Rev. Lynn ery church. The approach is to support and try to be a resource for women’s ministries regardless of what Peterman and our Provisional Bishop, the Very Rev. ecwnational.org • SUMMER 2013 • Communiqué

The women of the Dioceses of Wisconsin are shown above at the 2012 Miniweek for Women retreat at Camp Lakota, WI. This year’s retreat will be held from August 15 through 18. Peter Lee, installed the new officers. As it is our tradition, all names entered into the Book of Remembrance were read by the Custodian, Betty Cochran. Following the service, a delicious lunch was served by the ladies of St. Thomas parish. THE DIOCESE OF EAST TENNESSEE The Neema Resettlement Ministry in Chattanooga was chosen to receive a UTO grant. We have been working with them to support the development of their community garden and literacy program for refugees. The UTO grant will make dreams possible. Erica Elizabeth Dean, of All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Morristown, Tennessee was chosen to be the 2013 recipient of our Mollie Hazen Tucker scholarship award of $2,000. Erica is enrolled for the fall at Pellissippi State where she will be seeking a degree in Media Technologies. The “small, but mighty” ECW chapter of St. Andrews Harriman will be hosting our ECW Diocesan annual fall gathering in September. The theme is “Nurturing Our Spirituality.” The women of St. Andrews ECW were inspired to host the fall meeting after attending last year’s Tri-Diocesan Spring Conference in DuBose, where they enjoyed fellowship, music, and worship. Also, St. Francis of Assisi, in Ooltewah, has formed an ECW, and the Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Knoxville has resurrected its chapter of the group. Both sponsor local in-reach and outreach programs, and coordinate with other ECW chapters in the diocese. On a sad note, Nancy Tanner, age 96, a member of our Diocesan Board, passed away June 30. Over many decades, she served in various capacities, such as past president, parliamentarian, and spring conference chair. She was a mentor, an inspiration, and good 16

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friend to many. She lived a full life. THE DIOCESE OF TENNESSEE First let me say that Tennessee had seven delegates to attend the Province IV ECW Conference in Kanuga and we all had a great time. Personally I enjoyed the workshops, music, speaker, etc. and it was very well planned and organized. So thanks for everyone’s hard work. During the last 2 years, the Diocese of Tennessee has added four new ECW groups, as well as seen the restart of a fifth. The annual fall meeting will be September 14, at Church of the Messiah in Pulaski, Tenn. That is my home church and we are real excited about having the women there. My term as President ends on that day and our new president will be installed. She is Kathryn Ann Hinton from Nashville. She attends Holy Trinity in Nashville and most of you met her at Kanuga. She will do a great job. Our guest speaker for the event will be Caroline Bauerschmidt, wife of the Rt. Rev. John Bauerschmidt, Bishop for the Diocese of Tennessee. We look forward to hearing her message to the women. She will be speaking on “Women’s Evangelism.” THE DIOCESE OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA We have formed a couple of new ECWs. In May we held our 3rd Annual Spring Fling which is a fundraiser for our Scholarship Program which allows women funds for becoming a priest or deacon. Most of our women take the summer off to just do fun things, however, many of them continue with their mission work of working in their parishes’ thrift stores, food pantries, women shelters etc. We have a new Piedmont Deanery Donna Murray who is holding at her home a Hot Dog/Ice Cream Social July 25 for the

ECWs in Piedmont, Foothills, and Asheville Deaneries. Donna was our CPC Director before taking over the position of deanery chair. The board is busy working on our 92nd Annual Women’s Gathering October 17, 2013, which will be held at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Gastonia NC. Our keynote speaker is a national known gifted speaker. She runs her own retreat center here in Lake Lure. Lynn Carnes works with corporate and non profit entities and we all look forward to her being our speaker in October. She will be speaking to the women about “Transformation with Fun and Flare” and how our lives change in so many various ways.

This is a time to relax from everyday routines, to allow self-discoveries and friendships to be revealed, to renew the body, mind and spirit…and, of course, to rejoice in being you! Participants can plan their own agenda, taking part in as many—or as few—activities as they desire. (Be sure to show up for the great meals!) More information can be found at www.womensminiweek.com, Representative Connie Ott says: “A chair is waiting for you on the beach!”

Province VII

The Episcopal Church Women from the Diocese Province V of Oklahoma met for their Annual Conference and The Dioceses of Wisconsin (Milwaukee, Fond du Bishop’s Day at St. Andrew’s Church, in Grove, OklaLac and Eau Claire) will hold their 34th Miniweek for homa, April 25-27. Women, August 15 through 18 at Camp Lakotah, Wau- St. Andrew’s hosted a wonderful event with the Rev. toma, WI. The theme this year is “RELAX, REVEAL, Susan M. Smith as keynote speaker. Social and enviRENEW, REJOICE.” ronmental issues were stressed at this conference. The

Above is the new board of Diocese of Oklahoma, which was elected during their annual conference. ecwnational.org • SUMMER 2013 • Communiqué

Rt. Rev. Dr. Edward Konieczny, bishop of the Diocese of Oklahoma, led worship for the conference and gave an inspirational presentation. Fran Rahn and Robin White of Grove co-chaired the event. They deserve loads of credit for putting on a wonderful program and making all comfortable during their stay. The new ECW Board was elected during the business portion of this conference and the 2014 site was selected to be St. John’s Episcopal Church in Norman. THE DIOCESE OF KANSAS In Province VII, more than 170 women and girls from the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas gathered on April 19 and 20 at St. James Church, Wichita, the site of the first-ever diocesan-wide Women’s Summit. The theme for the event was Women and Girls: Made in the Image of God. The summit began on Friday evening with dinner and the keynote address by Dr. Deirdre Good, professor of New Testament at General Theological Seminary in New York. A beautiful candlelit Compline service concluded Friday’s events. Saturday began with a presentation by Jodie Simon, an instructor in the Women’s Studies department at Wichita State University, on the topic of images of, and messages to, women as presented in advertising and the media. This was followed by Melissa Tubbs Loya, PhD, a Hebrew Bible scholar and instructor at the Kansas School for Ministry and St. Paul’s School of Theology, who spoke on what the Bible tells us about who we are as women, particularly in contrast to those messages and images in the media. The women attending were divided into small age-diverse table groupings for discussions following each presentation. A celebrative Eucharist was held to conclude the event. There is significant interest in repeating the summit on an annual or biannual basis.

Province VIII

DIOCESE OF HAWAII The May ECW meeting, held at St John’s By the Sea (Kahaluu) Kaneohe, Oahu, opened with morning prayer lead by the Rev. Malcolm Chun, who spoke of Hawaii’s last queen, Lili’oukalani (1883-1971), who was baptized and confirmed into the Anglican Church. The queen wrote 150 songs—many of which were hymns. Her kingdom was seized by U.S. soldiers on January 17, 1893, in a military coup. She was placed under house arrest for 1 year. During that time, the Rt. Rev. Alfred Willis, the Bishop of Hawaii, was allowed to visit the imprisoned queen. He presented her with 18

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a copy of the Book of Common Prayer and a Bible, the only books she was allowed to have. It was during this time of confinement that she wrote the famous hymn which is sung each Sunday at the Cathedral of St Andrews, Honolulu:

KeAloha O Ka Haku or Queen’s Prayer:

O kou aloha nô Aia i ka lani A ò Kou òia ìò He hemolelo hoì Koù noho mihi àna A paàhao ìa Ò òe kuù lama Kou nani koù koò Mai nânâ ìnoìno Nâ hewa o kânaka Akä e huikala A maèmaè nô No laila e ka Haku Ma lalo o kou `êheu Kô mâkou maluhia A mau loa aku nô `Âmene

Your loving mercy Is as high as Heaven And your truth So perfect I live in sorrow Imprisoned You are my light Your glory, my support Behold not with malevolence The sins of man But forgive And cleanse And so, o Lord Protect us beneath your wings And let peace be our portion Now and forever more Amen

Louise Aloy, representative of ECW Province VIII, announced that Sean Brown, a member of her church, Good Shepherd, Maui, has been accepted to study at the Asian Rural Institute, Japan. A collection was taken to help Sean defray the $10,000 cost to attend this institute, which was launched in 1973, to educate young people in community development and sustainable farming methods. Aloy reports that she is “thrilled that a young person from Hawaii was accepted into this program.” Also in attendance at this meeting was the Rev. Martha Nanugak Blanchett, who grew up in the village of Tunutuliak, Alaska. A native of the Yupik tribe of southwest Alaska, she is the first indigenous woman to be ordained in the African Methodist Episcopal Church (denomination –AME Zion – Alaska: Deacon 1986 and Elder-Priest Level 1988). Bishop Mark MacDonald recognized Martha, who has assisted in various Episcopal ministries, as an ecumenical partner of the Episcopal Diocese of Alaska. Martha and her husband, the Rev. David H. Blanchett, who served Diocese of Alaska (Bishop’s Staff Office 2003-2011 as 20/20 and Ecumenical and Safe Church Officer), moved to Hawaii for reasons of David’s health. She remains active in the AME Zion church, and returns there four times each year as an evangelist. David is a “Priest in the Pew” (or PIP) at Good Samaritan Episcopal, Honolulu. Martha served as the ECW Diocese of Hawaii keynote speaker at their Honolulu-based retreat in March. (The photo below was taken by her husband.)†

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

The Rev. Margaret Nanugak Blanchett

National ECW Treasurer 9559 Kelly Drive Loveland, OH 45140 ecwnational.org • SUMMER 2013 • Communiqué

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Coming in the Winter Issue of Communiqué: • Perspectives — Personal Reflections on the Holy Land • EpiscoMom — Dealing with Family, Work, and Spirit • Diocesan Discourse – News the Provinces • Tech Talk — Communication in the Church • Pathways – Following an Ancient Philosophy in the 21st Century

...And more!

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Calendar of Events Do you have something coming up in your diocese that you would like to share with the rest of the ECW? 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. August 2-4 – “Kindle in Us the Fire of Your Love,” is the 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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