National ECW e-Communique Thanksgiving 2010

We have much to be thankful for as we gather with friends and family this week. In this issue we announce our Theme for the Episcopal Church Women's Triennial Meeting 2012, our participation with our AWE and EWC sisters in the 16 Days of Activism Campaign, hear from Social Justice Member-at-Large Irene Miller Radcliff, and keep up with United Thank Offering.

Wishing you a Blessed Thanksgiving,

The ECW Communications Team

A Season of Prayer for Sudan: Pray - Study - Act

The Rev. Irene Miller Radcliff

Pray
Sudan is the largest country in Africa. The people of Sudan have experienced many years of conflict, including violence in Darfur (western region), genocide and civil wars between the north and south areas Sudan. In January, 2011, the people will vote on a referendum for the southern region to become an independent country.

Therefore, as people of faith, in solidarity with our sisters and brothers in Sudan, and answering the call of The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, The Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts Schori for a "Season of Prayer for Sudan," we the Social Justice Committee of the National ECW Board, are inviting everyone to join us in this non-violent effort by praying for peace in Sudan. Your prayers for Sudan may be alone, personal or in communion with others.

The important thing is to pray. However if you have a special prayer or have written a prayer, please share it with us. If the prayer is from a source other than your own, please cite. We hope to receive many prayers for posting on the NECW web-site. Send your prayers to me via e-mail at: socialjustice@ecwnational.org

or via USPS:
The Rev. Irene Miller Radcliff
1094 Oakland Park Ave.
Columbus, OH 43224

Other things you may do to be in solidarity with our sisters and brothers in Sudan:

Study
Become more knowledgeable by:

Reading about Sudan in local and national newspapers
Go to www.afrece.org
Check local libraries for books about Sudan
Go to www.episcopalchurch.org
Search the internet for the history and facts about Sudan
Inform and get others in your church community involved in "peace in Sudan"
Support and pray for individuals and organizations involved in peace making efforts in Sudan

Act
President Barack Obama: "Sudan is a priority for this Administration, particularly at a time when it cries out for peace and justice." Contact:

President Barack Obama
United State Congress
US Senate & Representative

16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence

For many of us in the church, action begins with prayer. Prayer grounds us and helps us speak the truth into the world ...

The International Anglican Women's Network (IAWN) has set the issue of violence against women and girls as its #1 priority for the next several years. Our General Convention has passed many resolutions on this issue, but now for the first time women in the Episcopal Church have created a 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign through a partnership between ECW, AWE and EWC.

We encourage people, women and men, girls and boys, to mark the 16 day period from November 25th to December 10 each day in personal or corporate prayer and worship. Each day during this period subscribers to the eCommuniqué will receive a daily prayer or meditation. The complete booklet including all prayers, plus additional resources, is available on our web site at www.ecwnational.org/16Days.htm.

United Thank Offering: A Worldwide Gift of Thanks

Blue Box vs Blue Envelope:

Which side are you on?

October is a terrible month for me.My daughter died on Oct,25th,2006. Last year my mom died on Sept.29th,during my first UTO Board Mtg while I was in Oklahoma. Funeral was Oct.3rd and I was unable to attend because I had H1N1 Flu.

Coins went in the blue box because I was truly blessed with so many caring Episcopalians, calling, cards, food, fruit, etc. Now let me tell you about which side I'm on and why. Some times I would get my purse for a coin and would not have any. I decided to use my envelope for my IOU stickey pieces of paper. I have my blue box at the top of the stairs. Why? you ask. When I reach the top of my stairs, I sit down (an excuse to rest a minute), dig in my purse for a coin to Thank God for Dr.Berry, my "knee Dr."

I had to stop using the sticky paper because when I got ready to pay up, the papers wouldn't fall out, so now I use torn note paper. This morning I tallied up and I owed 8 dollars in my envelope. I thought how many blessings these 8 dollars plus my blue box would help in April next year during Granting session.

Let me give you a token of what I had in my envelope. Last week my sister and I were in Atlantic City, walking the Boardwalk, wind 25-35 mph. My hat blew off but not my hair, it was sewn in very well-$2; Paying $15 cab fare, coming back to condo to learn the Jitney only cost $2.50 each-$2; Calling ECW Treasurer and President to ask favors for our Annual Meeting to be held Oct 23, $1; the other $3 was for a special prayer being answered. The prayer goes like this: "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray to God to send me a man who's not a creep" Amen.

So I use both the envelope and the box. "Try it, you'll like it."

Blessings and Thanksgiving,

Georgie White

Province IV Representative to the United Thank Offering Board 2009-2012

Yes! We Have a Theme for Triennial at Last!

Wow!! It took a lot of discussion and note-taking, not-to-mention translating most everything into Spanish for our Province 9 representative, the Rev. Suyapa Rodriguez from the Diocese of Honduras, but your ECW Board has come up with a theme for Triennial 2012.

After careful thought and prayer we are pleased to announce the theme for the 2012 Triennial Meeting of ECW is:

Many Paths,

One Journey

There are several scripture verses that we found to speak to this theme, among them 1 Corinthians 12:4-13, Romans 12:4-8, and 1 Peter 4:10-11. We are asking you and/or your ECW group to pick up your Bibles and look for a verse that speaks to you personally. We want to hear from you! Please visit the Triennial Page at http://www.ecwnational.org/triennial.htm to find out more.

Thank you for subscribing. We do hope you will spread the word by forwarding this newsletter using the link below. Using the link keeps the formatting in tact, and also allows the person to whom you forward to easily subscribe. You will have to type in each email address, however, because you will not have access to your email address book. We know it requires extra effort, and we really appreciate you doing your part to share ECW with others.

Sincerely,

Christine Budzowski
National Episcopal Church Women

Member at Large, Multi-Media