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UNCSW 65 – Taking It Back Home: Report Back from the Presiding Bishop’s Delegation

National ECW President, Karen Patterson, will attend and speak at the UNCSW 65 – Taking It Back Home: Report Back from the Presiding Bishop’s Delegation”

The virtual meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 25^th, 5 – 6:30 pm EDT,“UNCSW 65 – Taking It Back Home: Report Back from the Presiding Bishop’s Delegation”. Featuring reports from our Presiding Bishop’s delegates on their experiences at UNCSW 65, highlights and lessons learned, and plans for “taking it back home” to their churches and communities.

Ms. Patterson’s invitation is as as follows…

We are envisioning a section, “Next steps: Avenues for Taking It Back Home”, where we would love to invite you to participate in your capacity as the President of National ECW, if you are interested. The idea is to explain how our delegates and Episcopalians might connect to the wider work of women’s and girls’ empowerment and gender justice through National ECW.

If so, would you be interested in speaking for 3 minutes?

Lynnaia Main | OFFICER, EPISCOPAL CHURCH REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UNITED NATIONS

Episcopal Church Women2021-03-24T20:18:14+00:00March 24th, 2021|

Women of The Episcopal Church Province IX January 2021 Report

Highlights:

At the province level, women are making use of the Zoom and WhatsApp platform to be able to be in contact with other women through studies and biblical reflections, and thus increase our faith and continue doing our ministries either virtually or in person when It has been possible to respect the number decreed by our authorities to hold a meeting, also with Bio-security campaigns to motivate our dioceses to observe the biosecurity measures. Following are the reports received:

HONDURAS:

Biblical messages and reflections: through them we have brought hope to all the people who have been greatly affected by the Covid19 pandemic, not only physically but also financially, having been fired from their job due to the forced quarantine that the government imposed for 6 months. Using the zoom platform we met to bring messages and biblical reflections to the different groups of women in the diocese.
Conversation Beigin +25 planned together with all the women who in previous years have been delegates to the United Nations, which was very attended, by women from both the IX Province and Mexico, Spain and the USA, it was very inspiring to continue motivating women in their empowerment and each one of the speakers had a very good presentation of the different topics such as the 12 spheres, different Conventions of women that have been worldwide etc.
GOD’S PROVISIONS, PRAYER GROUPS: This is what we call the activity we carry out in all deaneries to help many households with their food security under the motto Matthew 6:11 Our Daily Bread, give it to us today. 2020 for our diocese and our people has been difficult, coupled with the pandemic we faced 2 hurricanes in a row never before experienced in the history of our country, which left behind a lot of pain, mourning, hopelessness, more than 3.5 million were affected, however we are a people of faith and through the Prayer groups the Spirit of the Lord encouraged us all to continue forward, thanks to God many friendly hands The Daughters of the King of USA, Companion Dioceses, ECW sisters, gave us their love and solidarity.
GFS: With the Girls Friendly Society chapters we celebrate the 16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women and girls, each day a girl was in charge of a prayer against non-violence for girls and women.
Advent Reflection: In each congregation we celebrate this time with joy and hope, where one Sunday of that season a woman delivered a message of hope propitious for that time.
Diocesan Convention: We had our Diocesan Convention in which I was one of its conductors, which was very successful since all the delegates were able to join using the zoom platform, the pastoral of women we recorded a beautiful video where young women from different deaneries With their typical costumes they told us about their regions and sent their greetings to the conventional ones, it was really beautiful.
Virtual Virtual Meetings: The pastoral have met through Zoom and we are planning to schedule meetings using this platform and courses with women now that many are already using this platform.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:

The board of directors has met in person and virtually on several occasions, in which we discussed various issues.

PERFORMED ACTIVITIES:

In October they celebrated Cancer month
Women’s Annual Convention: On November 7 they held the 59th Annual Convention of the Women’s Association of the Dominican Episcopal Church. Under the theme
The Holy Spirit moves us to Testify of Christ (San Juan 15: 26-27) was very successful because of the number of women who participated, making use of the ZOOM platform.
Non-Violence Against Women: On November 18 they participated in a radio program on the occasion of the International Day of Non-Violence Against Women.
Retreat: December 5 Advent Retreat with the Theme: The joy of our opportunity to give Testimony of Jesus Christ in the midst of the pandemic and difficulties. Saint Luke 21: 5-19 Via Zoom from 6-30 to 8-30.

PUERTO RICO :

The Society of Episcopal Women of the Episcopal Church Diocese of Puerto Rico held virtual meetings,
Biblical Reflections: October 2020 1- Weekly Reflection- reflection based on biblical quotes, carried out by Episcopal women from different parishioners.
Radio Program “Caminando Contigo”. Topics: Liturgical Dance; Prostitution and Human Trafficking; Organ Donation (2) 3- Radio Program “My Best Dress” –
Conversation Beigin + 25, Women of the IX Province-
Virtual Retreat held on December 5, where he discussed physical beauty and the beauty of the spirit, through the Zoom and Facebook Live 5- platforms.
72nd Annual SME Convention (Virtual) – The presidents of the local branches and all interested parties were called to participate in it, which was carried out through the Zoom platform and the corresponding reports were presented.
-Rain of Blessings “We are all called” -Virtual activity, through the Zoom and Facebook Live platforms, where the call to mission and the ability of women to carry out the work to which they are called was emphasized.

The other dioceses did not send their reports this quarter.

We will continue to do our work virtually in order to continue working in the work to which the Lord has called us , in the same way, we pray to our Lord Jesus Christ that He strengthen us spiritually by using us to bring love, joy and hope, bringing many more people to his feet and continue to make his Kingdom present.

With gratitude,

Submit by Rev Canon Consuelo Sanchez Navarro+

ECW IX Province Coordinator

Episcopal Church Women2021-02-03T16:10:41+00:00February 3rd, 2021|

Saint Andrew’s Saratoga CA – Exciting Times

ECW WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE

While our parish is going through some very challenging and exciting times, The Board of Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church Women (most times referred to as ECW), wants to make sure we are here for you. If you are a woman in our parish, you are a member of the ECW!

Many have asked what ECW is and what it does. We have attached a fun video to watch which gives you a sense of what we do. https://www.dropbox.com/s/6v75yeljcr2al9f/ECWvfinal.mp4?dl=0

We like to create social events, support spiritual growth and education, and raise funds through:

The Echo Shop
Bake Sales – Pi Day pies
Summerwinds Garden Party
United Thank Offerings (UTO) boxes for lent, to name a few….

Where do the funds we collect go?

Through the tremendous effort and dedication of the volunteers in The Echo Shop, we are fortunate to be able to distribute almost all of the proceeds to charities within our county. The agencies supported are not only vetted by us, but must have a church member as an advocate, in order to receive funds. Santa Maria Urban Ministries, The Canterbury Foundation and Next Door are just a few of the charities we support. Contact us if you are interested in more information.

What else do we support?

Saint Andrew’s Youth group and Children’s Programs, their ministries and scholarships
The Episcopal Church Periodical Club – supporting literacy around the world
The United Thank Offering – a ministry of The Episcopal Church for the mission of the whole church, as part of the Diocesan ECW.
Camp Saint Andrew’s
Scholarships for Women’s Retreats, events, and more….

We are happy to report that even with all the challenges this year, through the dedication of The Echo Shop volunteers, so far, we have been able to give $10,000.00 to Santa Maria Urban Ministry and $10,000.00 to Our Daily Bread to support the feeding programs at both of these agencies!

What else do we do?

We provide helping hands and support the children, youth and camp

programs. We help with our time, talents and participate in many church ministries and activities such as the Altar Guild, Women’s Group, Stephen’s Ministry, Eighties Ladies, BookClub, Sacred Threads, Prayer Shawl ministry, Vestry, and more. We lend helping hands to other ministries that may need us, as well as set-up, clean-up and decorate for dinners, brunches and bar-b-ques. In other words, we are always there to lend a helping hand.

The ECW builds community through our Summerwinds Garden Party, and the Spring Luncheon, held the end of May, where we vote on our new board and budget for the year.

This year with the challenges and opportunities that COVID has brought we have added Zoom board meetings on the second Monday of every month and Zoom ECW Friday Happy Hours from 4 to 5 pm, open to everyone, to stay connected and to catch up and chat.

Episcopal Church Women2021-02-03T15:59:37+00:00February 3rd, 2021|

2021 Lenten Series on Women

There are hundreds of remarkable stories of women who have served the Episcopal Church with love, with persistence, with energy and with creativity. EWHP is presenting a series telling the stories of six women who have made an impact on the Episcopal Church. There will be time for discussion and questions. The Rev. Dr. Jo Ann Barker, President of EWHP will be emcee. The sessions will be presented as a Zoom experience where there is room for all who wish to participate. Ash Wednesday is on February 17, 2021; the series will begin on Thursday, February 18, and continuing on February 25, and March 4, 11, 18 and 25. Mark your calendars!

Here are the topics that will be presented:

February 18: Presenter: Dr. Joan Gundersen, Historian and Archivist

Title: Constance Baker Motley: Doing Justice

Meet the Episcopalian who became the face of NAACP in courtrooms across the South during the Civil Rights movement.

February 25: Presenter: Pan Adams McCaslin: One of first class of undergraduate women to enter The University of the South, Sewanee in 1969, and Chair of the Board of Archives for The Episcopal Church

Title: The Rev. Peggy Bosmeyer Campbell—First woman ordained in Arkansas—a priest, an organizer, a teacher

March 4: Presenter: Sister Hannah of the Community of St. Mary’s, Sewanee; A calling to prayer: a way of life through care for the body, the soul, and the earth.

Title: Sister Constance and her Companions—Known as the “Martyrs of Memphis,” as they cared for the sick and dying during the yellow fever epidemic of 1878.

March 11: Presenters: The Rev. Kim Jackson—priest in the Diocese of Atlanta and the first ever LGBTQ person elected to the Georgia state Senate.

The Rev. Nan Peete: Discussion Leader and VP of Episcopal Women’s History Project

Title: The Rev. Pauli Murray— was an American civil rights activist who became a lawyer, a women’s rights activist, Episcopal priest, and author. Drawn to the ministry, in 1977 Murray was the first African-American woman to be ordained as an Episcopal priest, in the first year that any women were ordained by that church.

March 18: Presenter: Dr. Marty Wheeler Burnett, Associate Professor of Church Music and Director of Chapel Music, Virginia Theological Seminary, and President, Association of Anglican Musicians.

Title: Hope, Joy, and Wonder: The Hymns of Rae E. Whitney

A celebration of the life and work of the Nebraska hymn poet, the prolific author of over 500 hymns. Participants will encounter a number of Whitney’s texts and explore the importance of including women’s voices in worship.

March 25: Presenter: Dr. Robin Woods Sumners—Professor of Child Development, Graphic Designer, writer and entrepreneur

Title: The Remarkable Life of Gertrude Sumners, Missionary Teacher in Kyoto, Japan from 1931-1967, civil volunteer worker during World War II, and life-long Episcopalian.

The Lenten Series will take place on the six Thursdays during Lent: Feb 18, 25; March 4, 11, 18 and 25; at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time; there will be time for discussion after each presentation.

The Rev. Yein Esther Kim is be the administrator for the series. The sessions will be live on Zoom.

You will be able to register in advance for each meeting:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

The sessions will also be recorded on the EWHP YouTube Channel.

2021 Lenten Series

Women Worth Knowing

Time

Feb 18, 2021 03:00 PM
Feb 25, 2021 03:00 PM
Mar 4, 2021 03:00 PM
Mar 11, 2021 03:00 PM
Mar 18, 2021 03:00 PM
Mar 25, 2021 03:00 PM

Time shows in Eastern Time Zone

Episcopal Church Women2022-09-28T17:10:26+00:00January 29th, 2021|

News from St. Jude’s in Hawaii

Aloha! I thought you might be interested in the following from St. Jude’s Epicopal Church in Ocean View, Hawaii.

Aloha!

Zooming into Advent

By Cynthia Cutts

Early into the mandated isolation of the 2020 pandemic, the women of St. Jude’s Episcopal Church, in Ocean View, Hawaii began to fight back. When the doors of the little church were shuttered, despite most of the aging population claiming to be “computer illiterate,” the EfM class and the Women’s Bible Study launched onto a digital format. Within a week, both groups were meeting with prayer, study, discussion and socialization on the Zoom app.

The Bible Study experienced an unexpected blessing, when women from across the country began joining for Monday morning classes. Some were clergy, who had served at St. Jude’s, some were members who lived off-island part of the year and some were invited guests, who liked the study and decided to stay.

As Advent appeared on the horizon, a plan developed to hold a Women’s Advent Tea on Zoom. The guest list included all of the Bible Study members from across the U.S., as well as the women in the church and guests from around the country. A “party packet” was mailed to each guest, which included a formal hand-crafted invitation, and an assortment of gifts, tokens, games and even refreshments for the event.

On the day of the tea, 24 women logged on to “Zoom into Advent” together. Each guest was asked to introduce herself and tell the group what she was thankful for that day. A program of speakers, videos, original art work and a dramatic monologue were shared. Party packets were opened to find a copy of the vintage book, “A Cup of Christmas Tea,” along with a lovely Advent calendar, a meditation card, hand milled soaps, a ‘ crystal tree ornament, Hawaiian specialty cookies for refreshments and of course, tea. The program closed with the with a short message, from the Reverend Mary Janda, in Utah.

The digital Advent Tea was very well received. Guests were excited to see familiar faces from Alaska to Florida, Utah to North Carolina, Colorado to Oregon, Georgia to Iowa, and of course – Hawaii. Twenty-four guests attended in 10 states!

For many in attendance, it was a rare social event within the COVID isolation. For several of the guests, the digital Advent Tea was the only party on their holiday calendars. Guests told us the festivities emboldened joy and hope. They found the program inspiring and encouraging. The party packet was a big hit, with gifts that were simple, but elegant. Everyone received exactly the same items, and yet everyone wanted to share their treasurers on the Zoom screen. It brought the group together in a tangible way, with laughter, gratitude, love and joyful expectation of the Christ Child. Zooming into Advent was a great way to begin the Advent season during the pandemic.

Episcopal Church Women2021-01-29T15:29:18+00:00January 29th, 2021|

Church Periodical Club Province VIII National Grants Announcement

National Book Grant applications are available for enhancing, supporting, and developing your ministry with written materials including books, eBooks, CD, audio books etc. for adults.

Applications are due March 1st , 2021, then reviewed at the board annual meeting with notification in mid-summer. Funds are sent in late summer/early fall 2021.

Information and grant application can be accessed on the CPC website

louisealoy63@gmail.com

These grants are part of NBF (National Book Fund). Further information or questions please contact Province VIII CPC Rep;
Louise Lani Aloy: louisealoy63@gmail.com or Province VIII ECW Canon Martha Estes: marthakestes53@gmail.com

Birth thru 18 y/o grants are under Miles of Pennies (MOP) and may be applied for throughout the year.

Please pass this forward and put in Diocesan and Church newsletters. Someone or school or organization needs our help.

Canon Martha K. Estes

Episcopal Church Women2022-09-28T17:10:58+00:00January 29th, 2021|

Church Periodical Club Quilt Fundraiser

The CPC TRIENNIAL QUILT Fundraiser is now LIVE!

The Province VIII ECW Board are encouraging each Diocese or Diocesan ECW to set up a fundraising page so we can see who raises the most for CPC!

Don’t delay to RALLY UP an account to purchase entries to win one of these amazing handmade quilts THE ALOHA or THE STAR QUILT.

Easy to buy your tickets.

Visit https://go.rallyup.com/churchperiodicalclub

The Church Periodical Club is an Episcopal Institution; its ministry is to provide books, magazines, tapes, videos and computer programs FREE to those who cannot otherwise obtain them, and to raise the money to do this.

The Church Periodical Club is an independent, affiliated organization of the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, dedicated to the Ministry of the Written Word, providing materials, both religious and secular, to children and adults both here and all over the world through grants.

The Church Periodical Club is an independent, affiliated organization of the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, dedicated to the worldwide Ministry of the Printed Word and to the Promotion of Christian Mission. It is the only organization in the Episcopal Church dedicated solely to providing free literature and related materials, both religious and secular, to people all over the world who need and request them and who have no other source for obtaining them.

Prayer Books, books for seminarians, educational materials, medical textbooks, agricultural manuals and books for those in local and global mission are some of the publications The Church Periodical Club supplies. The Church Periodical Club operates at all levels of the Church – national, provincial, diocesan and parish. The goal is to make the CPC program a concern of the whole Church. That goal includes having an active and enthusiastic CPC representative in every parish and diocese.

Episcopal Church Women2021-01-29T15:21:18+00:00January 29th, 2021|

Good Book Club to start 2021 with the Gospel of Mark

Start the new year with a renewed spiritual practice of reading God’s Word. Forward Movement, with support from partners from around the Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion, will celebrate the time of Epiphany with a new round of the Good Book Club. Starting on January 1, 2021, and continuing through Shrove Tuesday, February 16, the Good Book Club features daily readings from the Gospel of Mark.

“Mark’s Gospel happens to be the gospel that we are reading during this year on Sundays,” said Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry. “The Good Book Club provides an opportunity for us to study that very gospel, but it also gives us an opportunity to do so in a very difficult time. In this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, the season of Epiphany may well be the most difficult days of this pandemic for us all. And it may well be that the Good Book Club is exactly what we need for the living of these days.”

Joining the Good Book Club is easy: Open your Bible and start reading! If you’d prefer to listen, try the Good Book Club podcast, available here and anywhere you listen to podcasts. A plethora of resources from Forward Movement and partners encourages you to choose-your-own-adventure for reading the Gospel of Mark. Highlights include:

If you’re looking for an introductory class for the Gospel of Mark, sign up for a free 90-minute webinar hosted by the Montreal Diocesan Theological College in the Anglican Church of Canada.
If your church is named for Saint Mark, share the story of your ministry and mission—and learn about the ministry of other St. Mark congregations—on Facebook, guided by the Episcopal Asset Map.
Back by popular demand is a free, online, live Bible study presented by ChurchNext.
Subscribe to weekly emails for a preview of the readings and reflection questions.
Join the discussion in Spanish, with regular videos and online discussions.
For those interested in daily reflections on the readings, check out A Journey with Mark available in print and as an ebook from Forward Movement.

This is the fifth series of the initiative to encourage scripture engagement, led by Forward Movement. Partners include the United Thank Offering, Episcopal Migration Ministries, Episcopal Church Foundation, The Living Church, Forma, GrowChristians.org, ChurchNext, the Episcopal Church’s communication, digital, and evangelism ministries, the Hive, Invite Welcome Connect, the Consortium of Endowed Parishes, Montreal Diocesan Theological College, Episcopal Asset Map, Building Faith, RenewalWorks, and the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast.

For more information or to access the reading list, a toolkit, and resources, please visit the Good Book Club website.

Forward Movement is a ministry of the Episcopal Church that inspires disciples and empowers evangelists. With offices in Cincinnati, Ohio, Forward Movement has been serving the Episcopal Church since 1935 by producing resources such as Forward Day by Day, books, apps, pamphlets, conferences, courses, and more. Visit www.goodbookclub.org to learn more.

Episcopal Church Women2022-09-28T17:11:59+00:00December 24th, 2020|

Order of the Daughters for the King

By Krisita A. Jackson

The Order of the Daughters of the King® began the year 2020 jubilantly planning for the celebration of our 135^th anniversary. Our Order was founded on Easter Eve in 1885 at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (now Church of the Resurrection) in New York City. Margaret Franklin gathered a group of women to “arouse their interest and urge their cooperation as a class of definite workers for Christ and His church”.

By March of 2020, our plans were confirmed for a Eucharistic and a celebratory reception on April 4^th. They ended abruptly as the pandemic unfolded. Reluctantly we all agreed it would not be safe or even possible to travel to New York City at that time.

Daughters were not undaunted and set about celebrating somehow. A committee came together to plan and present a virtual celebration. Nearly two hundred Daughters joined came together in community to remember our history, commemorate our founders, and celebrate 135 years of prayer, service, and evangelism.

Thus, began Conversations With Daughters. Our vision was to continue to gather as a virtual community to remain connected and be in community even during the pandemic. We have shared many stories and prayed together.

On May 2, 2020 we renewed our longstanding relationship of ministering with the Brotherhood of St. Andrew. We gathered to pray and prepare for the National Day of Prayer which was celebrated on May 7^th.

Our conversations continued as the pandemic grew. Led by our International Committee we met virtually with members of The Order throughout the world. This Conversation informed us of the hardships Daughters in International countries were suffering. Daughters in Cuba, Haiti, Spain, Germany, Israel, Honduras, Mexico, and other countries shared how they were coping during the pandemic. We learned they were more fearful of starvation than dying of disease.

Following this call the Executive Board agreed that grants from our Self Denial Fund could be extended to assist in providing food and other immediate needs to allow the Daughters to continue to serve their communities. Grants totaling over $10,000 have been made to Panama, Honduras, Malawi, Uganda, Mexico, Columbia, Dominican Republic, and Spain. The Daughters in the Diocese of Central Florida additionally, at the request of our National Chaplain, Bishop Gregory Brewer, contributed $5,000 to the Daughters in the Diocese of Cuba. They have used the funds to plant crops and buy livestock to provide eggs and milk for the children. Daughters in Province III gathered contributions for the Diocese of Honduras.

We were all delighted to see and hear from our Junior Daughters on our 4^th Conversation With Daughters. We learned of a variety of service projects undertaken by Junior Daughters. They are sending cards, participating in drive by hellos, and doing sidewalk drawings, The Junior Daughters of St. Barnabas in Deland, Florida, serenaded us with a song arranged by their church’s music minister.

Spirituality and the Practices that open us to transformation were the focus of our next Conversation. We learned of a variety of methods of prayer, including Centering Prayer.

As May ended with the death of George Floyd, the committee’s focus turned to tackle the sin of racism. President Jackson published a Statement of Racism anchored by the words by our National Chaplain.

“It is urgent for Christian leaders to speak into this racially charged moment of our nation’s history. Silence in this matter can be interpreted as complicity with a demonically empowered status quo that prefers one kind of human over another. Please do not opt out. Call us all not only to repentance and faith, but also service. Challenge us to ask the Holy Spirit to empower us for mission. May God help our churches become beacons of healing, serving our deeply divided communities in the Name of Jesus Christ”

The next four Conversations With Daughters focused on this topic. Our goal was to first define and educate Daughters about systemic racism as it exists in America. We explored the realities of life faced by parents of children of color and parents of white children and how they differently educate their children to successfully function in society. Our Conversations continued with a discussion of the Beloved Community and, in breakout rooms, we shared our stories. In a future call, we will come together to discuss our growth and experiences in facing and efforts to dismantle racism in our lives.

Our Tenth Conversation With Daughters introduced our Nehemiah Prayer Vigil, Past President Sharon Lundgren shared her vision that we could encircle in PRAYER our families, churches, cities and our nation from Sept 1 – Oct 22, a total of 52 days, so that the Holy Spirit can come into our country and bring about Peace and Healing. This is much like Nehemiah did in 52 days to bring Peace and Healing to the Jews in Jerusalem 450 years before Christ. We will come together in October to share our stories about how we have seen the Lord work as we prayed.

In 2018 at its Triennial Convention, we were introduced to our 2018-2024 Strategic Plan. The Plan was the culmination of nearly six years of focus groups, surveys, and committee work to develop six goals. The overall goal of the plan was to provide a unified vision of our Order and identify a path for sustainability. Our Conversations With Daughters- Part 11- 14 will focus on the spiritual aspects of our Strategic Plan using our Companion Booklet. There are Scripture and reflection questions, as well as action acts for each goal.

The Order has continued to thrive in many ways during the pandemic. We, of course, have met virtually. Daughters in chapters have trained and admitted members via Zoom and in social distanced settings. Regular chapter meetings have become virtual. Provinces have reluctantly cancelled in person annual retreats and assemblies and innovatively replaced them with virtual meetings. Our Executive Board and National Council meet regularly.

Daughters are finding new ways to serve. Our members are serving in food pantries, participating as clergy, choir, lectors, altar guild for online services, sending cards, driving the elderly to doctors, assisting with errands, and working in soup kitchens, and telephoning church members to keep in touch.

Daughters thrive in community. It is a part of who we are – to be physically together in worship, prayer, and fellowship. We have evolved in this time of need and continue to sow the work of The Order of the Daughters of the King®. Everyday we aspire to live the vision of our founders: prayer, service, and evangelism.

Episcopal Church Women2020-11-20T18:29:38+00:00November 20th, 2020|

A time to remember: Navajoland 60 years ago

Navajo Children By Esther H. Moon

Navajoland! I was going to vacation on an Indian Reservation! At 21, I was going to visit my friend Ruth who just landed a job as a housemother for Good Shepherd Mission at Fort Defiance, Ariz. I took my first train ride to Gallup, N.M. The ticket was less than $40 round trip. It took me two days just to go one way. I arrived at Gallup at 7:15 a.m. on Sunday, August 15, 1959. From Gallup, it was a 32-mile drive to Fort Defiance.

When I arrived at the mission, I was blown away by the budding structures of the Episcopal church and their service to the Navajo children. Also visiting and learning about the work of the church amongst the Navajos were about a half a dozen college students from all around our nation. They were Episcopal Young Women on a summer church experience. They were not far off in age from becoming Episcopal Church Women. They assisted the Navajo children who were students at the mission. The primary goal of the mission in regard to the children was education, along with feeding them decent meals and assimilating the youngsters into western ways and thinking. I remember eating lunch; the cook fixed chopped bologna and pickle relish sandwiches. The children were overjoyed with the lunch.

The chapel service at the Good Shepherd Mission was at 10 a.m. This was my first experience of a dual-language Episcopal service. English and Navajo were spoken in the service of Morning Prayer from the 1928 Prayer Book. Twenty years later the Book of Common Prayer was revised to have more inclusive language. Canticles were intoned in an almost chantlike song. The sermon was spoken twice, once in English and then in Navajo.

The next day my eyes were opened to a new environment and culture. In 1959, 85,000 Navajos were governed by a tribal council. There were 76 districts of Navajo on the reservation, and each district had a representative. The council meetings were in English and translated into Navajo. The Episcopal Church was involved by sitting in on the tribal council. The Navajo Council Center was located at Window Rock, Ariz. The Director of Indian Affairs was not sympathetic to the needs and plights of the Navajos. At that time, I did not know of any other religious organization being around and as supportive as the Episcopal Church. To better understand the life on the reservation, I was driven about 10 miles to an outlying area. There, out in the middle of a hot and sandy land, were numerous Hogans–the homes of the Navajo. They were gathered into groups or neighborhoods. We took for granted all the comforts of home, like running water, electricity and central heat, which the Navajo did not have. They were a poor but proud group of people.

During the time I was there, they were celebrating an Indian ceremonial at the fairgrounds in Gallup. There were numerous exhibits of Indian arts and crafts. To my delight, there was a parade through town with Indians dressed in their native garb, dancing down the street. I was most fascinated with their sand paintings on the ground, how each color and grain of sand was made into a unique drawing. The jewelry was handcrafted and intricate in design. The artistry and skills are passed down from one generation to the next. At the fairgrounds, even in 1959, there was a lecture presented about the Navajos and the strides they were making in their education.

Now 60 years later, the Episcopal Church is still an important part of life in Navajoland. Let us pray that Covid-19 is eradicated soon. We, as women of the Church, know that our prayerful and monetary support makes a difference. Let us give the Navajo more washing stations, update their medical care, and improve their standard of living. And above all, let us remind them that God is the Great Physician.

As the Episcopal Church Women grows in Fort Defiance at the Good Shepherd Mission, let us be the plow which pushes the workers forward in caring for families of Navajoland.

Dear Father in heaven, You are the Great Healer of all mankind. Please touch the little ones and the big ones, too. They struggle to rise above the ills which have come like a mighty sword to their land. Put Your strong arm in the way of any further ills. Speak to those who have the ability to shore up their fight against any and all disease. Let them see Your light as the beacon of hope and wellness. We pray, O Lord, in Thy precious and holy name. May You be the glory over their entire nation. Amen

Esther H. Moon – Retired, Communication chairperson of the Episcopal Church Women,
Diocese of Los Angeles, CA- Province VIII

Contact: Good Shepherd Mission

1 Kit Carson Dr., Fort Defiance, AZ, 86504

www.ecofnavajoland.org

Episcopal Church Women2020-11-20T18:29:10+00:00November 20th, 2020|

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