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Diocesan ECW Annual Meeting
October 27, 2007
Church of the Resurrection, Jessamine County
On Saturday, October 27, women from all over the diocese gathered at the Church of the Resurrection, Jessamine County for worship, food, fellowship and a little bit of business. For the homily, The Rev. Dr. Jan Dunnavant celebrated St. Margaret of Scotland with a duo drama of a conversation with St. Margaret with Dr. Kay Collier McLaughlin as Margaret.
A tasty luncheon was followed by a delightful presentation by Dr. McLaughlin about Women in the Work Place; Women in the World. A short business meeting included approval of the 2008 budget (click to download) and a decision to forward the offering for the day to the Diocese of San Diego for the victims of the wild fires.
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First Diocesan ECW Matching Grant Awarded
The purpose of this program is to provide financial support for projects of Episcopal Church Women groups in the Diocese of Lexington by giving grants which match, either in full or in part, the local ECW’s contribution to these projects. The amount available for each year’s granting will depend upon earnings from our investments, etc. as we will always operate with a balanced budget.
For our inaugural year, 2007, the Church of the Ascension, Frankfort received a matching grant of $1,500 to fully fund drilling an artesian well to provide clean drinking water for Sauls’ Village in Haiti. Good work, ladies and congratulations!
Applications for 2008 granting will be mailed at the end of 2007 with the fair share assessments and are available here.
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Sometimes You Just Want a Little Support . . .
And we’re there! On Monday, June 25, four members of the Diocesan ECW Board met with an energetic group of women from St. Phillip’s, Harrodsburg to discuss ideas for revitalizing and strengthening 
St. Phillip’s ECW. Representing three different congregations, each board member was able to share some ideas from their churches as well as other suggestions gleaned from attending the most recent provincial meeting at Kanuga and a folder of information and suggestions from the national ECW office. The women of St. Phillip’s had great ideas as well and it was a wonderful conversation that spilled over into a fabulous lunch at a downtown restaurant. Old friendships were renewed and strengthened and new friends were made and all were energized in their service of Christ.
Your Diocesan ECW Board stands ready to visit and get to know you! Sometimes our diocese feels big and nothing brings us closer than a visit and sharing a meal (not that we always have to eat but don’t we usually?) Anytime women can gather and discuss, problems can be solved or at least an idea for a solution can begin to form. Call President Susan Baird if you’d like a visit and watch out Harrodsburg – here comes the St. Phillip’s ECW!
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Women’s Weekend
The poet T.S. Eliot said that April is the cruelest month. Like the promise of the resurrection as salvation, so the month of May, with the promise of warm breezes and sunshine, hosts the Diocese of Lexington Women’s Weekend
at the Cathedral Domain. Formerly known as the Women’s Retreat, the 800 acres of the Domain allow room enough for both those who desire a thoughtful place to ‘retreat’ and those who want to fellowship, sometimes talking, singing, and laughing well past most of our regular bedtimes.
While a well-thought-out plan was placed before us on Friday evening, everything was, as always, optional. For those who just wanted, needed, a quiet weekend away in prayer, contemplation, meditation, quiet space was available. For those interested in renewing bonds with old friends and making new ones, enjoying the warm fellowship and worship with other travelers in our Christian journey, opportunity also abounded. There was plenty of free time, a Domain Scavenger Hunt and lots and lots of singing. Candace Armstrong, Assistant Professor of Music at Lincoln Memorial University, again led the music. Her keyboard was hauled from location to location and sometimes with only a few bars hummed to her, she supported and strengthened our praise and celebration of the gifts of God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost. In a variety of locations around the Domain: the Cathedral, the Shrine and the Chapel, we gathered for a variety of services: Compline, Morning Prayer and Eucharist.
Our speakers also offered variety. Historically the discussion portion of the weekend has been lead by Bishop Sauls but, due to illness, he instead sent three fabulous women of our Diocese to share their perspective on the topic “Mothers of our Faith.” The Rev. Joyce Beaulieu, College Missioner; the Rev. Melanie Mudge, Rector, Emmanuel, Winchester; and Dr. Kay McLaughlin, Communication Director for the Diocese, each brought their own unique and fascinating view point. Saturday evening the Rev. Johnnie Ross joined us for Eucharist and healing service and Sunday morning the Rev. Marcia Hunter also celebrated Eucharist and preached. The offerings at the services were designated for scholarships at the Domain and over $1,000 was collected to keep camps available to everyone.
One wonderful anniversary was celebrated with a gift from the Diocesan ECW presented to Ms. Rita Durbin, a fabulous cook at the Domain. Her employment at the Domain began at the Women’s Retreat in 1967 and she was presented with a gold cross necklace to honor her 40 years of faithful service.
With a warm sun and a cool breeze promising the end of the cold, dead winter, with women of faith around us, with our bodies and souls full of the food that nourishes, how could we not leave that mountain rejoicing, singing, praising and looking forward to our next time to gather for the ECW Women’s Weekend?
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Board Attends Province IV ECW Meeting at Kanuga
Members of the Diocesan ECW Board and Altar Guild attended the annual Province IV meeting in June 2007. Dates for the 2008 meeting are Monday, June 2 to Sunday, June 4 with an optional ‘play day’ of Sunday, June 1. For more information, contact Susan Baird.
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Newsletters Online
ECW Diocesan newsletters are available online! Click below to read or print our most recent newsletters.
Fall 2006 | Spring 2007 | Fall 2007
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