THE GRAPEVINE Episcopal CHURCH WOMEN SUMMER 2018 Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia

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1 THE GRAPEVINE Episcopal CHURCH WOMEN SUMMER 2018 Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia Helen Sharpe Williams, ECW President, presented God Bless the Children Love Gifts to each of the eleven high school graduates at Jackson-Field s commencement, June 8. This was the third year the ECW has given each graduate a gift to recognize this special milestone in their lives. L to R: Helen Sharpe Williams; Jackson-Feild alumna Leslie Ludwig and Ann Chaffins long-time member of Jackson- Feild development staff. ECW Love Gifts for Boy s Home and Jackson-Feild Graduates Past ECW President, Nancy Sands, presented the God Bless the Children Love Gifts to the seven young men at the Boy s Home graduation, May 11. Christ Episcopal Church in Danville VA provided $ for the $100 Love Gifts. L. to r. Graduate, Alvin Biggs, Nancy Sands and graduate, Shama Baggott. Alvin and Shama also received Eiise Holladay Scholarships. ECW Awards Over $19,000 in Scholarships The Diocesan ECW Student Work Chair, Tia Morings, reports the following high school graduates in five convocations from Danville to Virginia Beach received Elise Holladay Scholarship awards from $544 to $1,000 this year. Shama Baggott, Boys Home of Virginia; Alvin Biggs, Boys Home of Virginia; Haley Jane Brown, Eastern Shore Chapel, Virginia Beach; Ragan Lane Currin, St. Paul s, Norfolk; Andrew R. Curtin, St. Paul s, Norfolk; Brigit Davidson, St. Andrew s, Norfolk; Audre ana J. Ellis, St. Andrew s, Newport News; Adaisha D. George, Grace, Norfolk; Kayleigh J. Hall, Christ, Danville; Thomas Hennessy, St. Paul s, Norfolk; Hunter Kahler, Christ & St. Luke s, Norfolk; Jarrett Messick, Trinity, South Boston; Ella K. Thomas, St. Luke s, Powhatan; Margaret Hope West, St. Andrew s, Norfolk; and Hayley E. White, St. Andrew s, Norfolk. The Elise Holladay Scholarships are funded by the Flora A. Penick fund and by donations made by women of the church to The Book Remembrance and the Elise Holladay Scholarship Fund. Also, the following men and women who are continuing their education in accredited Episcopal Church training schools received $2,000 scholarships from the Tucker Memorial Scholarship Fund established by Episcopal Church Women in 1925 as a memorial to the late Beverly Dandridge Tucker, Bishop of Southern Virginia from 1906 to Frederick Walker, St. James, Portsmouth, Wesley Theological Seminary; Emily Zimbrick-Rogers, Christ & St. Luke s, Norfolk, University of the South; Charles Zimber-Rogers, Christ & St. Luke s, Norfolk, University of the South and Pilirani Glory Ilepele, Trinity, Portsmouth, Holy Family College of Nursing ECW Annual Report - Diocese of Southern Virginia Helen Sharpe Williams, ECW President My heart is overflowing with joy as I reflect on the past year as the ECW president. First, I must give thanks to the members of the Executive Board of the ECW, who have supported me from the beginning. I have gained tremendous knowledge from the women who serve so diligently on the board. Second, through my travels and the different meetings I have attended, the Episcopal Church Women, so richly endowed with grace, talent and beauty, both inside and out, have been cordial, friendly and stimulating with their thoughts and questions. I am deeply grateful for the hospitality. Continued on Page 2. Inside This Issue President s 2018 ECW Annual Report continued on Page 2 Leslie Ludwig, Jackson-Feild Alumna, Annual Spring Meeting Speaker Finance Report Goal for Congo PIRD Project Met and More So! United Thank Offering News St. Mark s Friendship Tea ECW Will Zoom in September 2018 Yearbook & Directory Available ECW Calendar Where to Find and Share ECW News 1

2 The President s Annual Report continued from the Front Page A few of the Highlights from November 2017 thru May The United Thank Offering for 2017 was $31, See page 5 for more information. The Annual Council Meeting of the Diocese of Southern Virginia was February 16 th 17 th. ECW had an exhibit table and a good representation of membership. Back Row, L. to R. Tia Morings, Dr. Angela Parker, Laura L. Manigault, Helen Sharpe-Williams, Deborah Austin and Louise Boss. Front Row, L. to r. Nancy Smith, Stephanie H. Kendall, Maureen Fuster, Ronda Toll, Sharon Goforth and Rose Parker. May 6 and 7, I attended the Province III ECW 99th Annual Meeting in Martinsburg, W. VA. The theme: Women of Faith Sharing the Word: Every Day, Communicamos, Every Where. The meeting opened with Eucharist and a welcoming dinner followed by the diocesan president s meeting. We shared our ideas and suggestions to improve the ECW. We discussed problems and possible solutions. On the morning of May 7th, we were in joint session with Province III Synod: speakers were the Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, Rev. Kay Jennings and other national church staff. We returned to our business meeting by mid-day. We discussed community building activities and other reports. National President, Lisa Towle, spoke to the group concerning the upcoming Triennial Conference July 5-11 in Austin, Texas. She explained some of the issues that will be presented during the conference. She encouraged all delegates to refresh themselves on the Bylaws and proposed changes. The Executive Board met at Christ Episcopal Church in Amelia, Virginia. The women of Christ Church were gracious hosts. The Rev. Michael Stone, rector of Christ provided the ECW with an inspiring sermon and Eucharistic. The women participated in a Retreat held at Chanco on March 24th. This event included prayer, reflection, music, and fellowship. I attended the Province III - Daughters of the King meeting at the Claggett Center. The theme was Spiritual Discovery through Our Words presented by Martha Johnson Bourlakas. Martha is the author of Our One Word. By focusing on the simplicity of one powerful word, women can move through what is negative and confusing, and distill what is hopeful and life-giving. Also in April, I attended the Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference of the Episcopal Union of Black Episcopalians Theme: Arise, the Struggle Continues. The meeting was at the Bishop John T. Walker Learning Center in Washington, D.C. The Rev. Joy Walton was the keynote speaker and Bible Study Leader. Rev. Walton framed her message in a Bible Study context taken from Psalm 133. The Finance and Stewardship Committees met at Grace Episcopal Church in April. The Finance Committee set the budget for the upcoming year. The Stewardship Committee reviewed special requests for financial assistance. The Annual Spring Meeting was held at St. Francis Episcopal Church Virginia Beach, Virginia. May 19, 2018 See the story on page 3. Christ Episcopal Church in Danville VA provided $ for the God Bless the Children - Love Gifts ($100) to the seven (7) young men graduates from the Boy Home. These gifts were presented by past President, Nancy Sands, to the young men of the Boys Home May 11 th, 2018.We will also provide Love Gifts for the young men and women graduates of the Jackson-Feild Homes- Gwaltney School. July 5 11 is the ECW 2018 Triennial in Austin, Texas. The diocese will have four delegates: Helen Sharpe- Williams, President; Deborah Austin, CPC Chair and Woman of the Year; Ronda Toll, UTO Coordinator; Nancy Sands, Past President. We are looking forward to representing the Diocese of Southern Virginia. Deborah Austin, Southern Virginia s Women of the Year, will be recognized at the ECW s Distinguished Women Luncheon July 8. Thank you. ECW Awarded $19,000 in Scholarships. See the Front Page. 2

3 Jackson-Feild Alumna, Leslie Ludwig, A Survivor, Speaks at ECW Annual Spring Meeting The ECW Annual Spring Meeting was held at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Virginia Beach. Many thanks to St. Francis ECW for hosting the meeting May 19. Prayer and Worship Chair, Ann Allen, led a prayer based on John 17 to open the meeting. President, Helen Sharpe-Williams, conducted the business meeting. For more information see the President s 2018 ECW Annual Report. Then Helen introduced the Leslie Ludwig, the guest speaker, a survivor of domestic abuse. One of the ways survivors of abuse can Love Thy Neighbor is to share their experience and their search for help. That afternoon Leslie shared her story of survival and recovery. I want to let everyone know what God s power has done in my life, she said. Twenty years ago, Leslie s world fell apart. A victim of rape at age 13, she was so disillusioned by the justice system and her parents and friends abandonment, she tried to take her own life. After hospitalization, she began running away until her mother charged her with criminal action. She became part of the juvenile system and finally found her way to Jackson-Feild and recovery. Leslie recalled that one of the Jackson-Feild teachers brought a guitar to class and they would run through a variety of popular tunes. Eric Clapton s song Tears in Heaven reminds me that God is with me, Leslie said, and that I ll find my way through night and day. Through the music Leslie felt safe and began to trust again. Thanks to Jackson-Feild she feels good about herself. She is married. She and her husband have one son. Today, Leslie describes her recovery like the mythological Phoenix and has started the Phoenix Gates Foundation with the motto From the Ashes We Rise. For more information go to Leslie also started a free mobile ministry last December featuring Contemporary Christian music for youth called Club J3-16. She and her friends perform at Jackson-Feild once a month. To book Leslie to speak or provide a musical evening call or her at info@phoenixgatesfoundation.org or clubj316@gmail.com. Spring Annual Meeting May 19, 2018 Finance Report Nov Apr Donations To Charities Thistle Farm Becca Stevens $ Women s Retreat Chanco on the James $ Chanco on the James (Budget) $ College Ministries (Budget) $ Dos Santos (Diocesan Budget) $ Mission of Holy Spirit (Budget) $ Jackson Field (Budget) $ Boy s Home (Budget) $ National Cathedral (Budget) $ Episcopal Relief and Development(Budget) $ Holy Cross Belize (endowment interest) $ Jackson Feild (Letcher endowment interest) $6, Church Periodical Club $ Women-to-Women $4, Account Balances Holy Cross, Belize $ CPC $ Miles of Pennies $ Historian $ Women s Retreat $ Chanco Scholarships $2, Elise Holladay Scholarship $ Love Thy Neighbor $ Women to Women $ Helen Sharpe-Williams, ECW Diocesan President, (L.) and Leslie Ludwig, guest speaker at the ECW Annual Spring Meeting May 19. Betty Mariner, ECW Diocesan Treasurer All Saints, South Hill Christ Church, Danville Christ & Grece, Petersburg Donating ECW Guilds Eastern Shore Chapel, VA Beach Emmanuel, Jenkins Bridge Good Shepherd, McKenney Hungars, Bridgetown St Aidan s, VA Beach St. Augustine s, Newport News St. James, Warfield St. Mark s, Suffolk St. Paul s, Norfolk Trinity, South Hill 1st Quarter Investments Letcher Jackson Field $ 78, Letcher Little Roses $ 99,, Taylor Administrative $ 83, Flora A. Penick $261, Tucker Memorial $138, Holy Cross Belize $ 15, Nov April 2018 Income $20, Nov April 2018 Expenses $24,771.44

4 Goal for Congo PIRD Project Met and More So! Susan Broaddus, Convener of W2W4 Congo Our small but dynamic group which we call Women-to- Women for Congo has met its goal of $5,125 to support 15 young girls and women as they re-invent their lives after suffering from GBV (gender-based violence). Some have chosen vocational training, others to finish their schooling. One teen could bear only intensive psychological counseling and we hope she will be able to attend school later on. Recently we received a gift for a 16 th person and another for a treadle sewing machine for the tailoring workshop. People are so generous! We have been asked by Espérance Kugonza, founder of PIRD (Program for Rehabilitation and Development in Ituri), to continue with the ones we started with who haven t yet graduated from high school. Although we started with 15, there are always others who can benefit. In March, 2018 fighting in the northern Ituri Province near the Uganda border caused masses of IDPs (internally displaced persons) to run to safety. We have raised almost $3,000 to help the church give relief aid to some of the IDPs. Many other aid agencies and churches have been active serving the thousands of persons who suddenly lost their relatives, homes and possessions, and flooded into the town of Bunia. It s never enough. Bunia has about 100,000 IDPs but in this huge Central African country, the World Food Programme says there are 4.5 million IDPS, 4.6 million children acutely malnourished and 2.2 million suffering from severe acute malnutrition. Although about 600 people in Bunia were recently provided with transportation by the local government to return to their homes, they have come back because their villages are still very unsafe. We are asking individuals, small groups, ECWs,and parish outreach committees for gifts of $250, but any amount will go a long way. It you can help, have checks made out to the ECW and sent to Susan Broaddus, 1323 Lafayette Blvd., #1, Norfolk, VA Please let me know if it is designated for relief work or to support an individual. In the photo, we see a family that just arrived May 21 st and have not yet got shelter from beating sun or heavy rain. The UN provides the white and blue tarps. They need food, clothing, mattresses, and HOPE! They need our prayers. Women-to-Women for Congo is a group of women from several parishes meeting monthly for the purpose of supporting our Anglican Church in the DRCongo. The truth is, we have become a group of friends who look forward to seeing each other on the first Monday of each month! Won t you join us? Contact me to get on the mailing list and to have directions to the meetings: broaddussusan@aol.com. 4

5 Diocese of Southern Virginia Ronda Toll, UTO Coordinator The ECW sends out a heart-felt thank you to everyone who donated to the United Thank Offering in A total of $31, was collected for UTO in $26, was collected in the Spring and $4, was collected in the Fall. Here s more happy news donations for 2018 have already started coming in! $2, has been collected for This number includes $ collected in the Blue Boxes at February s Annual Council in Williamsburg. This number is up from $ collected at Council last year. Again, thank you!! Donations collected during April and October 2018 In-gatherings throughout the Diocese may be mailed as follows: Ronda Toll, UTO Coordinator 42 Cherbourg Drive Newport News, VA Contact Ronda at or rtoll@cox.net with any questions or requests for UTO materials. Donations are collected for UTO throughout the year donations will be collected until December 10, United Thank Offering News The National UTO Board has created a simple prayer (memorable and easy enough for children to recite) that can be said when making an offering in a Blue Box. Here s the 2018 prayer: Almighty God, I give you praise for blessing me in many ways. Create in me a grateful heart and with this gift, a blessing start. Amen. St. Mark s Friendship Tea Province III Joyce E. Haines, Province III UTO Representative Everything is focused on Triennial, July 5-11, 2018, in Austin, Texas. After much delay, the United Thank Offering Ingathering date was finally announced: The Ingathering will take place during the 5:45-7 p.m. worship service on Friday, July 6, 2018." During the service, two triennium ( ) amounts will be revealed: the total amount each province collected and the amount each diocese in the province collected. Each diocesan coordinator will place a ceremonial check in the basket for the amount her diocese collected during Ingatherings. Our diocesan coordinator is Ronda Toll. The National Board of Episcopal Church Women and the National Board of United Thank Offering have published their event schedules. The following links will give access to all sorts of information about General Convention schedules, orientation materials, reports, budgets, etc is the same for ECW s Triennial meeting. Table 4 Table 5 Table 6 ECW President, Tia Morings, welcomed everyone to St. Mark s 3rd Annual Friendship Tea, June 9. The fun began when she asked everyone to introduce themselves using an adjective that started with the same letter as their first name.. All the guests including Pretty Pam and Joyful Juliette selected the tea of their choice, served by Deborah Austin. and enjoyed delicious tea sandwiches, and desserts. Ettora Elliott shared Tea wisdom and Ann Watson Hill, assistant rector at the United Church of Christ, in Hampton, spoke on the Whispers of God s Love. Guests l. to r. clockwise Table 1: Princess Benn Coker, Karen L. Jenkins and Sylvia Gainey. Table 2: Seated : Ann Watson Hill, Ettora Elliott. Standing: Rachel Wilson, Nancy Smith, Tia Morings, Marian Edmonds and Deborah Austin. Table 3: Rachel Wilson, Jordyn Sharpe and Leah Wilson. Table 4: Pam Wilson, Joy Wilson, Anjanee Williams and Sarah Wilson. Table 5: Standing: Dr. Madelene Beard and Emma Jackson. Seated: Raphalia Watson, Christine Banks and Sharon Goforth. Table 6: Juliette Rouse, Maxine Thornton, Annette Montgomery and Renee Roper-Jackson. 5 Table 1 Table 2 Table 3

6 ECW Will Zoom in September When the ECW Diocesan Board meets in September, they won t have to leave their homes. President, Helen Sharpe-Williams, is working with Ann Turner, diocesan communication officer, to gather members via Zoom. Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems Whether you use a computer, phone or tablet to join the meeting, you just need to make sure your device has video capability and microphone enabled. Zoom is very user-friendly and you do NOT need a Zoom account to participate. Watch for your invitation to Zoom Yearbook & Directory Available The 2018 ECW Yearbook and Directory is now available. To receive your copy, contact the Diocesan Communications Officer, Ann Turner, aturner@diosova.org or (The ECW directory is not posted on the diocesan website due to privacy concerns.) Where to Find & Share ECW News Weekly Enews Sign up online at diosova.org and click on News and Publications for the latest news from around our diocese in weekly newsletters. Diocesan Enews distributed on Wednesday, includes ECW news. Send the news by Tuesday to Ann Turner, aturner@diosova.org. Parish Enews distributed Tuesday The Diocesan Connection is a quarterly print-ready newsletter available for individuals and churches to receive via . If you have news you would like included in the Diocesan Connection, or would like to be added to the list, please contact Ann Turner, aturner@diosova.org. National Episcopal Church Women Signup at ecwnatinal.org/ For online news about ECW & the ECW COMMUNIQUE MAGAZINE 2018 ECW CALENDAR September 8 Diocesan ECW Fall Board Meeting October October 20 Grace Episcopal Church The Rev. Harold James Cobb, Jr East Brambleton Ave. Norfolk, VA IN GATHERING: UNITED THANK OFFERING, UTO Diocesan ECW Fall Annual Meeting St. Cyprian s Episcopal Church The Very Rev. Dr. Ronald E. Ramsey 1242 West Queen St. Hampton, VA The Grapevine is a quarterly print-ready newsletter available for individuals and churches to receive via We appreciate your help sharing the news. If you have news you would like included in The Grapevine, or know of someone who would like to be added to the list, please contact Nancy Smith at nsmithwtr@aol.com. The deadline for Fall issue is August 1,