Communique’ Summer 2020

Articles appearing within the Communique’ do not necessarily represent the opinions of the National Episcopal Church Women nor the Episcopal Church. The organization strives to provide a platform for women to present ideas and opinions that affect women’s issues. The editor may be contacted for comments or questions at: editor@ecwnational.org

Karen Patterson Episcopal Church Women President 2018 to 2021

Message From the President

Dear Sisters in Christ,

As we enter the summer of 2020, engulfed with the corona virus in most states, this issue of the Communique will cover many of the organizations in the Episcopal Church and how they have adjusted their organization to meet the needs of the infection that is so much a part of our lives. I hope you will find this interesting. I know I did. We will have more organizations included in the next Communique issue. This is a difficult time for all of us. Please stay in touch with your sisters and brothers in Christ as well as your families. We all need each other more than ever. Prayers and good works are always needed, but now the human connection is needed even more.

It is an honor, a privilege and a joy to serve as your President.
Karen O. Patterson
National President 2018 -2021

Girls’ Friendly Society and Covid-19

by Catherine Sopko, GFSUSA Junior Delegate

The outbreak of the coronavirus worldwide has had a massive effect on the church and the Girls’ Friendly Society (GFS). Though these times have been hard and there has been a major adjustment period, with the help of Zoom and other online tools, we have been able to connect in ways never thought possible before.

The Girls’ Friendly Society World Council, which was set to be held in South Africa in July 2020, has now been moved to the summer of 2021. Holly Shafer, a GFS ambassador and member from California, said, “The coronavirus is something that is still being researched and in trial phases of how to fight it, therefore I feel confident that GFS World is doing what is in the best interest of its members and attendees by postponing World Council and rescheduling for a later date.” […]

NECW Committees 2018-2021

Policies and Procedures
Lynn Fitzgibbon – chair; Samar Fay, Lisa Bortner, Cindy Mohr, Pat Wellnitz – Executive Committee liaison

Social Justice
Ema Rosaro-Nordalm – chair; Martha Estes, Cindy Mohr, Connie Sanchez, Pat Wellnitz – Executive Committee liaison

Communications
Karen Patterson – Executive Committee liaison, Martha Estes, Mary Beth Welch

Bylaws
Lisa Bortner – chair; Samar Fay, Lynn Fitzgibbon, Karen Patterson – Executive Committee liaison

Worship
Jan Goossens – chair; Jennifer Kenna, Margaret Noel, Ema Rosero-Nordalm, Connie Sanchez, Pat Wellnitz – Executive Committee liaison

Finance
Jeanne Plecenik – chair; Lisa Bortner, Jennifer Kenna, Margaret Noel, Mary Beth Welch, Karen

Sociedad de Chicas Amigables Covid-19

Escrito por Catherine Sopko, Delegada para la Sociedad de Chicas Amigables en USA

La pandemia del Coronavirus a nivel mundial ha tenido un efecto masivo en la iglesia y la Sociedad de Chicas Amigables. Aunque estos tiempos han sido duros y ha habido un periodo de ajuste, con la ayuda de plataformas de comunicación como Zoom y otras herramientas en el internet, hemos podido conectarnos de maneras nunca antes pensadas.

El Concilio Mundial de la Sociedad de las Chicas Amigables, el cual se iba a llevar a cabo en Sur África en el mes de Julio de 2020, ha sido pospuesto para el verano del mes de Julio de 2020. Holly Shafer, un embajador de la Sociedad de las Chicas Amigables y miembro de la diócesis de California, dijo, “El coronavirus es algo que todavía se está investigando en lo atinente a sus ramificaciones y al cómo combatirlo. Ergo, me siento confiada en que La Sociedad de Chicas Amigables a nivel mundial está haciendo lo que está en el mejor interés de sus miembros al posponer tan magno evento para una fecha posterior.” […]

Community in the Time of COVID-19

by Nancy Young, National President, The Episcopal Community

How can we be there when we can’t be there? This is a question that religious groups throughout the church are having to answer during this COVID-19 pandemic. At a time when we must practice social distancing, a time we cannot travel, a time of isolation, we face two primary challenges:

1. How do we support each other in this time of separation, turmoil, and grief?
2. How do we carry on the mission and business of our group? […]

Triennial Cross Wanted

The National ECW Triennial Planning Committee is looking for the Triennial cross from 1988 (Detroit). A display is being made for the 2021 Triennial as well as a donation shadowbox of Triennial crosses for the Episcopal Church Archives.  This is the only cross that we are missing.  If you would like to donate your cross from this Triennial, please contact National President Karen Patterson at 352-567-6254 or president@ecwnational.org. It is possible that there were crosses at Triennial  prior to 1988. Any information any one has on this would be appreciated.

La comunidad en tiempos de COVID-19

Escrito por Nancy Young, presidenta nacional de la comunidad Episcopal

¿Como Podemos estar ahí cuando no podemos estar ahí? Esta es una pregunta que los grupos religiosos a lo largo de la iglesia están teniendo que responder durante la pandemia de COVID-19. En tiempos cuando debemos practicar la distancia social y el aislamiento, nos enfrentamos con dos retos primarios:

1. ¿Como nos apoyamos mutuamente en estos tiempos de separación, confusión, y dolor?
2. ¿Como llevamos adelante la misión y negocios de nuestro grupo? […]

Visit to Good Shepherd Mission, Fort Defiance, Arizona

 “We open ourselves to the Holy Spirit through
our culture that embraces the teachings
of the Gospel so that, as a church, we are
empowered to respond to the needs of
our community”

In the month of February 2020, I was given the opportunity to travel and visit Good Shepherd Mission in Fort Defiance, Arizona with Canon Martha K. Estes, the VP/NECW representative for Province VIII. The invitation and purpose of the visit was for Martha to help Madeline Sampson, past Navajoland ECW Diocesan president, restart the ECW Chapter and install the newly elected ECW officers for Good Shepherd Mission. […]

Triennial 2021  –  Baltimore, Maryland

June 30th through July 6th

Visita a la misión del “Buen Pastor” en Puerto Defiance, Arizona

“Nos damos al Espíritu Santo a través
De nuestra cultura que alberga los mandatos
Del Evangelio para que así, como iglesia que somos,
nos sintamos llenos de fuerzas para responder a las necesidades de nuestra comunidad”

En el mes de febrero de 2020, tuve la oportunidad de viajar y visitar la misión del Buen Pastor en Fort Defiance, con Canon Martha K. Estes, el vicepresidente/NECW representante para la provincia VIII. La invitación y el propósito de la visita fue para ayudar a Madeline Sampson, otrora presidente diocesana en la tierra Navajo del grupo de Mujeres de la Iglesia Episcopal a revitalizar el capítulo del Grupo de Mujeres de la Iglesia Episcopal e instalar a los recién electos oficiales del grupo de mujeres de la iglesia episcopal para la misión del “Buen Pastor.” […]

Herstory: Church Women Making a Difference

by Ann Smith, Former National Episcopal Church Director of Women in Mission and Ministry and Companion of the Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross

There is a long herstory of church women taking an active role in helping when needed. During the Civil War, church women in both the South and the North made bandages from whatever materials were available. In the movie “Gone with the Wind,” Scarlett O’Hara complained that rolling bandages hurt her fingers.

During World War I, in February 1918, the Omaha Red Cross chapter sent its largest shipment overseas of church women’s rolled bandages and knitting. It included 30,560 bandages, 7,000 sweaters and 5,000 pairs of socks. […]

UTO: United Thank Offering Outpourings and Ingatherings

For I have learned, whatever state I am in, therein to be content. Phil. 4:10

Difficult times bring out both the best and worst in us. The COVID-19 pandemic and self-isolation are doing just that. Some people hoarded hand sanitizer and toilet paper that they then tried to sell to desperate people at a huge profit. A few truly troubled souls have walked around grocery stores licking packages to try to spread the virus as widely as possible. As a grace to our humanity, for every person behaving selfishly, there are thousands doing their best to help others. They are staying home alone, sewing and giving away facemasks, delivering food to people who need it, and connecting with others through online media in innovative ways. The worst will eventually pass and we will return to life as usual, but some things may be changed forever—some for the better and some for the worse. […]

Love Is Contagious – Back Door Ministry

Submitted by Deborah Caby, President

The Back Door Ministry, connected with Christ Church in Rolla, Missouri and its ECW members, is showing the community that there is also a spreading of love during the current COVID-19 pandemic. When social distancing mandates went into effect, the parish was unable to offer a sit-down Sunday meal via their existing Open Door ministry. How could Christ Church members continue to offer conversation and a kind face to those facing food insecurity and homelessness to the community as they previously had before? […]

Church Periodical Club

Have you read a book, a newspaper, a Bible, a prayer book, a magazine, a bill? Have you used a Kindle, CD, or DVD? Do you look up things on your computer or ask Google a question?

How fortunate you are, as many have limited or no access to these written words.

How about providing Bibles to Bible students? What about providing books for children coming to a food pantry? Children coming to a Peace Camp? Prayer books for campus ministry? Recovery (addiction help) for those in prison? The list continues. […] 

For I Was A Stranger and You Welcomed Me

St. Luke’s Guesthouse Temporary Shelter

Sheltering for Self-Sufficiency

In the Beginning…

It was not a Noah experience! God didn’t say, “Go and build a homeless shelter!” It happened slowly over time, with inspiration from the Holy Spirit and matching resources with a need.

It started in the year 2000 when my husband John, a family physician, went back into private practice and bought a large Victorian house in Southbridge, MA. He planned to use only about one-quarter of the space for his medical practice, but the house came complete with apartments and tenants. […]

Cornerstone Kids, Inc., the Children’s Haven

The mission of Cornerstone Kids, Inc. is to assist at-risk inner-city children in their educational, spiritual and emotional development in a safe, secure and nurturing environment.

Cornerstone Kids, Inc. is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit after-school program located at St. James House of Prayer Episcopal Church in Tampa. The program is structured specifically to reach at-risk, inner-city children who reside in low-income, single-parent households in Tampa Heights and surrounding neighborhoods. Cornerstone Kids, Inc. was started as a club in 1984 for the children in the neighborhood by Reverend Bruce Caldwell, the rector of the church at that time. He filled an unmet need for the underserved children of the area. […]