CWU Celebrates Friendships, Motherhood, And More

May Friendship Day 2006 was an opportunity for Church Women United chapters around the world to celebrate four ideas. During ecumenical services celebrated during the month, CWU groups celebrated friendship in Christ among Christian women of all denominations; the 50th anniversary of the Fellowship of the Least Coin movement of prayer for peace and reconciliation; the inspiration and signs of growth in the young women of the faith community; and the wisdom and perseverance of older women within the faith community.

While May Friendship Day was officially observed on May 6, the Newtown-Bethel unit of Church Women United decided to try something different for its service this year. Instead of hosting a Friday afternoon or evening service, the local group decided to host a Saturday morning breakfast event with the hopes that more women would be able to attend.

About two dozen people attended the CWU/Newtown-Bethel event held at Newtown United Methodist Church on May 20, with members of the local chapter offering readings of Scripture and materials prepared by the CWU National Celebrations Committee, and leading the singing of a few hymns. As Darlene Jackson, the president of the local chapter, pointed out, “May Friendship Day is a day of celebration, no matter what day of the calendar it is held on.

“This morning is a celebration of wisdom, of perseverance, and of role models,” Mrs Jackson continued.

Jeane Roberts, CWU/Newtown-Bethel Historian, also offered welcoming remarks, thanking those who attended and mentioning that part of the hope for Saturday’s gathering was to “entire more younger women to come onboard.”

The service explored the biblical story of Naomi and Ruth, sharing signs of growth that come from deeper connections and relations between generations.

In addition to suggested hymns, Scripture readings and prepared readings written by the Young Church Women United representatives, Mrs Jackson had invited three young women to join CWU/Newtown-Bethel to share feelings about their mothers. One of those women was Mrs Jackson’s daughter, Amy Jackson Ayala; the others were Linda Uhde, daughter of Marie Walker, and Michelle Weinstein, the daughter of Linda Manganaro.

With laughter and tears, the three young women paid tribute to their mothers in ways no one else could offer. With references made by each to the importance of the church in their mothers’ lives, the young women explained how they were each affected by their upbringing and the beliefs of their mothers.

“We all need that foundation in faith,” said Ms Jackson Ayala. “We must always have our pillars of faith, and we always need our mothers.”

On Saturday morning, the local chapter of CWU also made a donation to C.H. Booth Library’s children’s department. Mrs Jackson presented a copy of Go With Peace, a children’s book by Kelly Guinan, to Mrs Walker, a former employee who continues to volunteer at the library. Ms Guinan’s 172-page book is filled with hands-on activities that teach the skills of peacemaking.

Mrs Jackson also bestowed special certificates to two of her CWU/Newtown-Bethel members. Linda Manganaro was presented with a Certificate of Appreciate and Shannon Hicks was named an Outstanding Young Church Woman.