Episcopal Church Women of the Diocese of Delaware
ECW’s outreach project: Women’s Prison Ministry, September 8 - October 10.
Please start collecting travel size toiletries such as shampoo, conditioner, lotions, soaps, for the women. Three collection points available September 8 to October 10: New Castle County: St. James, Newport, Kent County: Christ Church Milford, Sussex County: St. John the Baptist, Milton. Or call Beth FitzPatrick at 529-1766 to arrange a pickup from your church.
2008 Annual Gathering A Success!
The 2008 Annual Diocesan ECW Gathering was held on Saturday, October 18, 2008 at St. Peter’s Parish in Lewes, Delaware. Click here to read the Rev. Carlyle Gill's sermon.
The Parish Hall was decorated in fall colors with the pumpkin centerpieces filled with fresh flowers. It was a beautiful setting and the tables were lovely. The continental breakfast was filled with fresh fruit and delicious pastries, coffee, tea, juice and water. The fellowship with about 75 folks was great fun.
After opening devotions, we had an overview presentation by Danielle Triello, the Episcopal Relief & Development's National Church Representative of the Millennium Development Goal #3, regarding “Promoting Gender Equality and Empowering Women”, with a good question and answer session in which most participated. We then broke into workshops, one being “The Basics of Life & Preventable Disease,” and the other: “Economic Opportunities Using Micro-Credit Loans”. The Economic Opportunities workshop was presented by Danielle and the Preventable Disease workshop was presented by Teri Smith-Jones, the Sussex County ERD Representative. Both were extremely enlightening and inspirational. It is absolutely amazing and wonderful what the Episcopal Church is doing to help the people in depressed countries throughout the world. We can make a difference!
The ECW Board held its business meeting in the Sanctuary immediately after the presentations. Joan Lyons of the Seaman’s Center in Wilmington spoke about their program helping the foreign seamen who bring all kinds of foods, automobiles, etc. into our port by ship. Many of us brought gloves, hats and scarves to give to the seamen to help them with the cold winters here in Delaware.
The UTO presented a certificate to the Diocese of Delaware and a $13,000 grant to help with their new Primeros Pasos, First Steps program. Presentation was made to the Rev. Earl Beshears. Trudi Cole, the Director of Primeros Pasos, gave the group a rundown on what they do and how they help the children and their parents.
The Rt. Rev. Wayne P. Wright, Bishop of Delaware celebrated at the Eucharist, which was marked by music written by women and a stirring sermon by Carlisle Gill, (found on this website).
Lunch was absolutely delicious, catered by Essential Chef. Loaded chicken salad, honey smoked ham with Bishop’s cherry chutney, three more side dishes and chocolate pecan caramel torte with whipped cream. What a treat!!
You missed a very special occasion if you were not in attendance, so please considering meeting with us to catch up. Our next meeting is October 17, 2009, at Christ Church, Dover. Please try to be with us. And stop by our table on Parish Life Day, November 22, at St. Anne’s School.
Next Annual Meeting: Saturday, October 17, 2009 at 8:30 a.m.
at Christ Church, Dover. Registration begins at 8:30 followed by a program, lunch, fellowship and Eucharist celebrated by Bishop Wright.
Board Meetings
Meetings begin at 11:00 a.m. and continue until 1:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Attendees bring a sandwich and the host church provides coffee and dessert. The meetings are open to everyone. Please plan to attend.
Board Members 2009
- Honorary President:
Holly Wright - Chaplain To The Board:
The Rev. Sarah Nelson - President, Rose Sombar, St. John the Baptist, Milton;
- Vice-President and Church Periodical Club Coordinator, Florence Keith, St. John the Baptist, Milton
- Recording Secretary, Stumpy Moore, St. James Parish, Newport
- New Castle County Representative, Ginny Wingate, St. Anne's, Middletown
- Kent County Representative, Phyllis Kemp, Christ Church, Milford
- Sussex County Representative, Lorraine Bozman, St. Philips, Laurel
- Church Women United, Charlotte Hunt, St. Paul's, Camden
- United Thank Offering, Beth Fitzpatrick, Church of the Ascension, Claymont
Claymont - Christian Social Relations, Dottie Vuono, Christ Church, Milford
- Episcopal Relief and Development, Barb McKee, St. James Millcreek, Wilmington
- Province III President, Helen Whitson, Cathedral Church of St. John, Wilmington
- Historian, Ellie Hoffman, The Cathedral Church of Saint John, Wilmington
- Parliamentarian, Stella Williams, Church of the Ascension, Claymont
- Member-at-Large, Claudia Pistek, St. Thomas’s, Newark
- Member-at-Large, Mary Parsons, St. Mary's, Bridgeville
- Member-at-Large, Gloria Conner-Bungy, Sts. Andrew and Matthew, Wilmington
National ECW
Click here to visit the National ECW website.
Hats for Seamen’s Center
May 20, 2008 was an exciting evening at Christ Episcopal Church, Milford, DE. That was the night some of the ladies of Christ Church and the girls from Girl Scout Troop 109 gathered to sew hats for the Seamen’s Center in Wilmington. The Seamen’s Center is a home away from home for the seafarers, many of whom come from tropical climates and many not be fully prepared for winters on the Delaware shore and surrounding areas. Thus the hats are a welcomed gift to these men.
The ladies of Christ Church together with the girls learned about the Seamen’s Center and learned to layout, cut and sew the hats. Pictured are the ladies and girls of Troop 109. The girls will be able to apply this learning session to be put toward their Community Service badge.
A total of 53 hats were cut and several sewn that evening. The hats were given to the Director of the Center, Ms. Joan Lyons, at the Annual Episcopal Church Women meeting in October, 2008, along with winter gloves being collected throughout the Diocese of Delaware.
Special thanks to all who participated. The men will know people care and will be grateful to Episcopalians in Delaware and the Girl Scouts.