A Study Of Hypocrisy, A Valiant Woman Honored, All During World Community Day

Nearly 30 members and friends of the Church Women United (CWU) unit of Newtown and Danbury studied hypocrisy and celebrated the awarding of a Valiant Woman Award to Peg Forbell on Friday, November 11, during a World Community Day Celebration at Newtown Congregational Church.

The program had been postponed following Winter Storm Alfred, which left the church without power for nearly a week.

Deacon Norman Roos of St Rose Church led the study first with the Prayer of St Francis, some historical background and Scripture (Matthew 23:23–28 and Matthew 6: 1–8, 14–16). He first talked of the Pharisees and Jesus and some of the conflicts between them, including whether following all the rules was better than following the spirit of the laws.

Everyone was seated at tables for the dinner that preceded the program, so each table discussed the hypocrisy that Jesus accused the Pharisees of and then pondered the following questions: According to Jesus, what causes hypocrisy? Can you identify hypocrisy in the world today? Is it possible for well-meaning people to act hypocritically? Why or why not?

After each group shared their decisions, Deacon Roos went on to talk about the Holy Spirit as a hypocrisy detector and how each person can reflect those fruits and be examples to others of the Christian spirit.

Peg Forbell, who is CWU Newtown treasurer, was presented a CWU Valiant Woman Award by Jeane Roberts, a longtime friend and herself a Valiant Woman honoree. The award is CWU’s national recognition of outstanding and meaningful Christian leadership and stewardship.

Mrs Forbell was born and educated in Newtown, and is a longtime resident of Sandy Hook. She is married to Edmond “Stretch” Forbell, and is the mother of Sherman Forbell, April Bower, and Andy Forbell. She has a grandson, Eric Henry. She is well known in Newtown for her financial expertise and her needlework.

She has worked professionally with Nunnawauk Meadows Housing for the Elderly as program manager and assistant administrator and served as a volunteer on the board of directors. She is also financial secretary of Newtown Congregational Church; has served as vice president and coordinator for Meals On Wheels; and is currently treasurer and is a former chairperson of Newtown Commission on Aging; and former president and current treasurer of Newtown Woman’s Club. She was awarded the Connecticut Woman’s Club State Award for her needlework.

The World Community Day program was planned by Linda Manganaro, CWU celebrations chairman, in conjunction with Deacon Roos, who was introduced to CWU by Jean Conover, vice president of the unit and organizer the dinner portion of the evening.

Deacon Sue Klein of Newtown United Methodist Church, who also serves as the local CWU unit secretary, was accompanist for the hymns included in the program. Elizabeth Ricci of New Fairfield introduced the Fellowship of the Least Coin, a CWU program that collects penny donations  given with prayers that eventually become grants to help women and children around the world.

The evening program began with a prayer from NCC Associate Pastor Janice Touloukian and ended with a Prayer of Evangelism and a hymn, “Let All Things Now Living.” NCC Senior Pastor Matthew Crebbin was also able to join the group for its program.