President Fran Farrell welcomed over 100 ladies to the Bruce Presbyterial United Church Women (UCW) annual general meeting held on March 24 at the St. John’s United Church in Chesley.
Rev. Jim Haupt filled the opening worship with song and jubilation to be good and faithful voices in the choir. He welcomed all to find strength through the grace of God as he invited them forward for communion.
President of Hamilton Conference, Phyllis Buchner invited everyone to join her in Dundas for the annual meeting noting that Joyce Osborne will be installed as the new president. Buchner will be moving on to the national level where child poverty will be the focus this year.
Bev May thanked the ladies for making itsm out of nothing and being able to donate those homemade items across the world. Campbell soup labels, stamps, and pop tabs are still being collected to raise funds for various groups. Once new underwear for men, women, and children are collected, May will have a new tally to report for the ‘Bloomer Blitz.’
Canadian Food for Children have a multi-paged request for acceptable items including food, clothing, personal hygiene products, household goods, school supplies, tools, toys, containers, and building supplies. They will also accept cash donations.
After lunch, there was ample time to head to the book room. There was also time to look over a collection of plates donated by Barb Kelly and the family of the late Ruth Wolfe.
Guests Doug and Marion Brown entertained after lunch with gospel soul music, highlighting some of the music they learned while on a mission trip in Newfoundland.
Guest speaker Erin Greeno told of her experiences as the Central Ontario Conference Archivist for the United Church of Canada. She said it is important to properly preserve the story of church life and noted she can provide service and advice on the resources abounding in each church.
She encourages all ladies to shed their humility and step into the spotlight and tell their UCW story on tape. They have over 60,000 photos including many from the Angola missions and residential schools. Highly emotional responses
Anyone with items to send to the archives is encouraged to create a ‘box list’ of each item and deliver that box in person to Greeno at 40 Oak Street in Toronto. She can also be contacted at 416-644-3140 or egreeno@united-church.ca T
A workshop to be held in Port Elgin on May 5 will look further into archives.
Buchner installed the officers for 2014 and hoped some ladies would onsider the role of president and vice president. Officers installed included: past president Fran Farrell, recording secretary Ellen Underwood, corresponding secretary Sharon Cox, treasurer Susan Alton, leadership Elaine White, archives Bonnie Whitehead, citizenship Mary Wilkinson, supply Bev May, Area 4 Jean Meisenheimer, stewardship Eleanor Currie, Area 5 Mildred Francis, bursary fund Gregg Ziegler, Hamilton Conference U.C.W. Joyce Osborne.
Eleanor Currie invited the ladies to a field trip on May 5 to the Walkerton Water Centre with lunch at St. Paul’s United Church.
