The Durham Convocation meeting was held on July 31st, 2021 at 10am via Zoom.
Attendees: Mary Scholle, Dorothy Smith, Carolyn Townsend, Robyn Furges, Ronnie Lilly, Carolyn White, Carol Koesch, Vickie Hammie, Helen Othow, Mary Hawkins, Marva Davenport.
The meeting was opened with a Welcome from the Durham Convocation chair, Introductions, and an opening Prayer. I gave an update on the planning for the Annual Meeting/and Harris Evans Conference. I advised the group of the current vacancies on The ECW Board: (President, Vice President, Lex Matthews Coordinator) and the need for parishes to send in their pledges for this year.
Mission Report- Mary Scholle
The proposed Mission grants for this year:
The Prevention of Child Abuse America, NC Chapter, is a part of the oldest and largest organization to prevent child abuse and neglect.
ACK St. James Church School – Kenya
This is an Entrepreneurial program for women. Studies have shown that when we teach women how to earn income- the entire community benefits from that income. Mary reported that our giving to Mission programs was one of the best ways to directly help women and children.
UTO – Dorothy Smith
Unfortunately, with the pandemic and church closures around the Diocese; UTO financial giving has decreased.
The 2022 UTO grant application is open and available to parishes. The focus of this year’s grant is Care of Creation: Turning love into action by caring for God’s creation to protect the most vulnerable who will bear the largest burden of pollution and climate change through justice, Advocacy, Environmental reparations, and Development of formation materials. The Deadline is February 4, 2022, for the National office. The Diocese should receive the application by November 21, 2021.
Happening around the Convocation
St. Bartholomew – Pittsboro
There was a UTO spring ingathering at St. Bart this year. The ECW meetings are held in person while following the CDC guidelines. Several ladies from the ECW participate in the weekly Community lunch. Also, they will begin a new program called the Chuck Wagon which will distribute Cooked Frozen meals to low-income adults in need.
Celebration Hill is up and running. This is a venue developed by the church for outdoor events and community use of the space and grounds for Prayer or Meditation. There is a slight incline in the landscape and the ECW is Fundraising for a Handrail in the space.
St. Philip’s – Durham
The ECW does not meet in the summer. The next meeting is scheduled September 13, 2021. The group has been on a decline with the loss of several members and there is no expectation for new membership. The group has decided to scale back. The ECW participated in a service project during the pandemic. They also sent written notes to keep in touch. At the next meeting the ladies will vote on where to direct the remaining funds in the current account. The recommendation is to donate the funds to the St. Philip’s in the Trees ministry.
The group participated in the Sandwich Brigade with Urban Ministries of Durham. Due to social distancing Urban Ministries had to move their residents out and they started the Sandwich Brigade to feed the residents at various locations. The Church is also experiencing change – St. Philips has called a new Minister: The Rev. Maryann Younger. Her first sermon will be held on October 10, 2021.
St. Cyprian’s – Oxford
The ECW sponsored a Black History program in 2020 that was a “Great Success”, there was a community choir and the children performed on the African Drums. This Fall, there will be a celebration of the 275th Anniversary of Granville County. The children will perform during the event. Also, on 10-2-21 there will be a Cultural Festival in Downtown Oxford. All are invited to learn about the different cultures represented in the county.
Vickie Hammie advised the Group that the ECW president Ms. Helen Othow was recognized during the Black History program as the Outstanding Member of the Community. Ms. Othow has created and supported many Educational and Summer Enrichment programs.
The St. Cyprian’s ECW chapter had an UTO Spring ingathering.
St. Titus’ – Durham
In January the ECW presented a Gift Basket to our Priest Stephanie Yancy for her birthday as a show of appreciation and gratitude for her leadership during the Pandemic.
In February, we hosted a Virtual Pancake Supper for Shrove Tuesday. We handed out kits of pancake mix and met online after dinner to share, play games and fellowship.
This summer we had an online Book Club meeting to celebrate our own Syrena Williams who authored her first book “21 Day Spiritual Meditation Journal” Syrena gave a reading from her book and shared about the importance of Daily Meditation and Journaling.
Treasurer’s Report – Carolyn Townsend. There is $420 in the Durham Convocation account. Small Grants are available. If interested please send the application to the Durham Convocation Chair.
The meeting was closed with the Episcopal Church Women Prayer.
Submitted by: Robyn Furges
Durham Convocation Chair