ECW of different parishes mingle after lunch
The ECW 2008 Fall Convocation began with Registration and Morning Prayer at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. St. Luke’s offers a Contemporary evening service at five o’clock each Sunday. We were treated to an incredible performance of Contemporary music by the Five O’Clock Choir.
Liz Ensey, president of the Birmingham Convocation opened the business meeting.
Gethryn Giles of Mentone made several announcements.
* Reminded us of the UTO Fall ingathering and explained the uses of the funds.
*CPC ingathering is held the first Sunday of May. This money goes to local seminarians for books.
*Updating and submitting the blue Missions & Ministries sheet to the Diocese will assist them in keeping parish ECW information current. This may be submitted by mail or by web mail.
*The theme “Missions and Ministries At Your Church” has been suggested for the 2010 ECW calendar.
*Women’s Weekend will be held May 15-17, 2009 at Camp McDowell. Cissy Wile will be the speaker. Focus will be on St. Anne and grandparenting.
*Parish Leadership Training will be held March 28, 2009. You need not be an officer to attend.
* So far ECW has raised ¾ of its Acts II pledge.
*The 2009 Fall Conference will be held October 8-9th at St. Andrews in Madison.
ECW SHARING
St. Luke’s sells homemade frozen soup for $5.00/container
St. John’s Episcopal Deaf Church is now the official name of the parish. They sponsor a Bazaar each year of handmade items.
Grace Episcopal has done home repairs for its older parishioners, given airplane tickets to those who couldn’t afford it in case of emergencies. A food bank is ongoing. Personal care items are collected and given to indigents. The community kitchen, Grace by Day offers hot meals daily to those in need. Participation in the Interfaith Ministries that operates homeless shelters for families. Many shelters do not allow husbands and boys over a certain age. This shelter serves the whole family. This year’s St. Nicolas Bazaar will be held December 6th.
Church of the Ascension will have a fashion show with Audrey Langford in 2009. The Bear project involves the dressing and distribution of teddy bears to children and elders as a source of comfort. Clothing for the bears is made by the ECW. Over 300 bears have been distributed. Lap blankets are made by the ECW and given to those in wheelchairs. There will be a garage sale in March 2009.
St. Michael’s will sell handmade items at their Fall Bazaar November 22, 2008. They also sponsor the July birthdays at Episcopal Place.
St. Stephen’s provides a birthday luncheon for residents at Episcopal Place.
Advent uses the Lenten lunches each year as a fundraiser. ECW cooks dinner for their choirs each holiday season during it’s vigorous seasonal practices. Many come directly from work and have not had time to nourish themselves.
St. Mark’s had its annual Fall Fling beginning with service under the pines on a crisp autumn morning. Following the service a cookout was held. A Chili Cook Off is scheduled for November 16th after church. During that time the documentary Traces of the Trade will be viewed. The church is in the process of submitting its history to the archives at Birmingham Public Library. Birthdays are acknowledged each month with a prayer during service and cake and punch served after service. Ten Thanksgiving meals will be to needy families. The Young Lions is a mentoring program for young Black boys from single parent homes.
Alms collected will be donated to the Haiti Nutrition Program. We were dismissed for lunch in the Fellowship Hall where the food was blessed and everyone ate and socialized.
A carved wooden cross was given to each attendee.
A ribbon or chain can be place through a hole in the
top and worn around the neck.
