|
I am writing just
one week after Hurricane Irene swept up the East Coast of the United States,
taking down trees, causing electrical power outages and damaging roads and
buildings with flooding rains, and leaving communities disabled in its
wake. The effort to clean up and
repair, the waiting for electricity to resume and for downed trees to be
cleared away, have both engaged and tried our patience!
Today is Labor Day;
this weekend we have had beautiful weather for picnics, relaxation and beach
days. On this occasion, we are
able to forget our worries and delight in our many blessings, thanking God
and those whose labor we have depended upon. I think of the many people who came to
our communities from other parts of the country and even outside this country
to make repairs so that we could again enjoy light, communication,
refrigeration and air conditioning, among the other privileges of living
here.
This brings me to
the subject of social justice and AWE – Anglican Women’s
Empowerment. Many women in other
countries do not have these privileges.
They suffer from hunger, poverty and lack of education; they may be
victims of war crimes who are sick or orphaned, or victims human trafficking;
they have been caught in unending cycles with no relief in sight.
AWE is committed to
combat these situations. The
annual UNCSW (United Nations Commission on the Status of Women) meeting held
in New York City,
in which AWE participates, is from February 24 to March 4, 2012 this year. Nine women from African countries are
being brought over to this meeting to bear witness to the experiences of
rural women. Last year, we only talked about becoming involved with AWE; this
year, we have contributed to the fund to enable these women to come to the United States
for the UNCSW meeting! We are grateful to people like Shirley Greiman, Kim
Polhemus and Rosemary Williams for helping our Board to get involved.
Members of the Connecticut ECW Diocesan Board have had the privilege
of getting to know Mugisa Isingoma of Congo
during her visits here in Connecticut and
elsewhere in the USA
with her husband, Archbishop Isingoma.
She has been present at an Annual Meeting and Luncheon and has spoken
to numerous groups in this diocese. She is a gracious, soft spoken woman with
a sense of humor. She also has a
sewing center where they make beautiful clothing, some of which has been sold
here.
Women have been
horribly victimized in war torn Congo,
and Mugisa, who serves as the national president of the Mother’s Union, founded with others the organization, United Women for Peace and Social Promotion. Recently our Presiding Bishop, The
Right Reverend Katherine Jefferts Schori and the Reverend Margaret Rose had
the opportunity to visit Mugisa and talk to the women in Congo. Rev. Rose listened to them and their
requests. The women would like to
have people come to teach at the new Anglican
University of Congo in the
Diocese of Boga and also to establish partnerships in the church. This past June, the Reverend Pam
Strobel left Christ Church, Greenwich
to become a missionary there, with her family.
So, we have a lot
of work to do – here, and there!
The Fall Retreat
and Business Meeting will take place on September 17th at Camp Washington. The Reverend Ellen Kennedy will lead
us in a service of Holy Eucharist, and we will be planning our 2011-2012
activities. We invite you to
participate in the United Thank Offering, White Envelope and any other
activity which appeals to you.
Please read the pages that follow and be sure to visit our website at
ecwct.org. Let us know of your
parish ECW’s projects or ministries, or your interest in participating
on the board. We are currently seeking
new program leaders and a treasurer
for 2012. You are important to us!
To go to the AWE
website, click on the icon on the last page of the ecwct.org website.
Yours in Christ,
Sylvia R. Corrigan, President
Episcopal Church Women
|
