Special CWU Service: The Importance Of Friendship

By Shannon Hicks

In presenting its annual May Friendship Day, the Newtown-Bethel chapter of Church Women United offered an ecumenical service at Lockwood Lodge on May 7 that welcomed not only friends from around town but also a few dozen residents of Lockwood Lodge and Ashlar of Newtown.

“In Faith, Women Shape the Future Through Friendship” was the theme of this year’s service. Following the welcoming remarks of co-president Darlene Jackson, the group’s second co-president, Jeane Roberts, challenged attendees to think of their earliest friends and of their current best friends.

“Friendships are important in our lives,” said Mrs Roberts. “We look around this room and see many friends.

“Friendships are a natural and integral part of every day,” she added.

There are a number of great friendships explored in the Bible; CWU’s service was written to focus on the role of women and friendships in the Bible. Men and women were welcome at the service.

Seven women from the Bible were featured during the ceremony, each representing a different characteristic of friendship. Lois and Eunice depicted faith; Mary Magdalene, gGratitude; Lydia, strength; Salome, serenity; Priscilla, hospitality; and Phoebe, courage. Members of CWU/Newtown-Bethel did readings representing each of these women.

The service used poetry from the book Eve’s Version: 150 Women of the Bible Speak Through Modern Poets (Pauline Durrett Robertson, editor) and verses from the Books of Acts, Corinthians, John, Luke, Mark, Matthew, Romans, and Timothy to communicate its message.

The hour-long event also included the hymns “What A Friend We Have In Jesus,” “Walk With Me,” “Called as Partners in God’s Service,” and “Blest Be the Tie That Binds.” Ashlar of Newtown recreation director and therapeutic manager Carl Anderson was the event’s guest pianist.

Before the service concluded Jeane Roberts was one of two people honored with the CWU Valiant Woman Award.

The Reverend Sue Klein introduced the award and its recipients. The Valiant Woman Award derives its name from the passage in the Old Testament Book of Proverbs that observes, “Who can find a valiant woman, for her price is far above rubies.” Women are honored for strong, committed service to church, Church Women United, and their community.

Recipients are presented with a plaque and a Valiant Woman pin.

Mrs Roberts has been a member of CWU/Newtown-Bethel for more than 15 years, and has served as president for many of those years.

She has been on the board of directors for Newtown Housing for the Elderly and a member of The Connecticut Interfaith Network on Aging. She has also worked for Sage Services of Connecticut, located in New Haven, when she implemented and coordinated programs to assist older people to live independently in the community. Mrs Roberts also led workshops and seminars, and supervised students at Yale Divinity School who were interested in working with older people.

In 1995 Mrs Roberts and her husband Skip traveled to Beijing for nine days to take part in the US-China Joint Conference on Women’s Issues. Mrs Roberts had been invited by the American Association of University Women (of which she is also a member) to be part of the association’s contingent at the conference.

Mrs Roberts is also well-known in town for her participation in League of Women Voters, American Field Service, and as a former member of the Board of Education.

Additionally, Mrs Roberts was instrumental in the founding of The Displaced Homemaker Fund. Established in 1989 by Church Women United, the fund is administered by a board of directors as part of The Newtown Fund. Displaced Homemakers provides one-time assistance for Newtown residents who are facing a financial dilemma — auto repairs, insurance payments, auto loans, adult education tuition, child care, or telephone bills — while trying to get back into the work force following a divorce or the death of a spouse. Fifty percent of the offering collected during Friday’s CWU May Friendship Day service was earmarked for The Displaced Homemakers Fund.

When the fund was established, then-Social Services Director Karen Hoyt called Mrs Roberts “a driving force” in its creation.

Last Friday afternoon the Rev Sue Klein called Mrs Roberts “the kind of person who is a grandmother extraordinaire. She is a gift to everyone, from aging women to children.

“She is a community leader … who puts God and her family above all else. She sees potential in others that they do not always see,” she continued.

The award for Mrs Roberts was arranged as a surprise by the members of CWU/Newtown-Bethel, and its recipient was speechless when her name was announced.

“For those of you who know me, this is a real rarity,” Mrs Roberts laughed as she received her award and hugs from co-president Darlene Jackson and the Rev Klein.

Also honored this year was the late Betty Williams. The committal service for Mrs Williams, who passed away in January, was held on May 7. Some members of CWU/Newtown-Bethel had arrived at Lockwood Lodge, in fact, having driven straight from Newtown Village Cemetery in order to attend the committal service and then take part in Friday’s CWU service.

Linda Manganaro, a dear friend of Mrs Williams, accepted the award on behalf of her friend. Mrs Williams’ plaque will be hung at Newtown Congregational Church, where she had been a member since 1969.

Mrs Williams served as a deacon for NCC and was a leader of the church’s Circle of Faith, part of NCC’s Women’s Fellowship. She was also a Sunday School Prayer Partner for NCC.

She was a member of Church Women United in Newtown/Bethel for many years, and was on its board as its worship coordinator and nominating committee. She often served as the reader of Scriptures during CWU services.

Following the service there were refreshments for attendees.

Newtown’s service echoed events observed by CWU chapters and attendees around the world on May 7. The CWU/Newtown-Bethel event was coordinated by Shirley Roman, following a service written by CWU Ecumenical Celebrations Committee under the direction of chairperson Mickey Liscom Simpson of Oklahoma and CWU President The Reverend Jerrye Gray Champion.