The Anglican Church Women held their Annual General Meeting at St. Cuthbert’s, Delta on Saturday, April 28th, 2012.
At the beginning of her address Trudi told the ACW group that her inspiration for doing the work she does on the downtown eastside can be summed up in the phrase... “What you do for yourself dies with you, what you do for others live on.” She also stressed that this work is a way for her to live out her faith in Christ.
Next on the agenda was a Celebration of the Eucharist. The preacher and presider at the Eucharist was the Venerable Stephen Rowe the Archdeacon of Fraser. During his sermon he shared with the ACW congregation his views about change and how things change in the world and in the church. He gave some advice about how we can prepare for those changes and meet them by asking ourselves where our passions are in ministry.
As Christians we have to figure out as individuals, as groups, as parishes, as a Diocese and beyond, what are we passionate about? In the days we now inhabit, when the Church is slimmer and resources are limited we need to focus on doing less and doing it better. We can’t do all that we used to do … we can’t manage all the tasks we used to cover … so I present this challenge to all of you. Think and pray about your own passions in the work that you’ve undertaken as ACW. Think and pray and discuss with your fellow membership in your parish and your area, as well as across the Diocese and figure out what it is that you are passionate about.
And then you need to ask yourself … what are we doing that we need to stop doing …what are not doing that we ought to be doing.
(For the complete text of ARCHDEACON STEPHEN’S SERMON please click the link)
Following the exchange of the Peace and prior to the celebration of the Eucharist Archdeacon Stephen commissioned and blessed the 2012 ACW Executive.
Sixty ACW members representing two dozen parishes attended the business meeting from 10 am to 12 noon and a large majority of them stayed to enjoy the rest of the day together.
The ACW Executive is in year two of a three year term so there were few personnel changes with the exception of the annual election of Officers at Large. As well as the reports of the activities of the various ACW Branches and an update on the Diocesan ACW outreach to the parishes in the Diocese of the Yukon, the members distribute the funds raised through their “United Thank Offering” to their favourite charities.
Once the members had adjourned to the hall and found seats, ACW President Sheila Puls thanked the hospitality ministry folks from St. Cuthbert’s in advance for the hot chicken lunch freshly prepared by excellent cooks and served by the men of the parish. The head table consisted of: the Reverend Sue Foley-Currie, ACW Chaplain, Priest-in-Charge of St. Michael’s, Surrey, Beth Fortin, vice-president of the St. Cuthbert;s ACW branch, the Reverend Alan Carson, Incumbent, St. Cuthbert’s, Delta, Sheila Puls current ACW President, the Venerable Stephen Rowe (attending on behalf of Bishop Michael), Archdeacon of Fraser and the Guest Speaker, Trudy Shymka of St. James’ Community Service Society.
Following homemade ginger cake with fresh cream, Trudy gave an inspiring talk about her work as a staff member at St. James’ Community Services and their current focus to rebuild the Powell Place Facility on the downtown eastside under the project title of The Umbrella – Powell Place Expansion. The Powell Place emergency shelter for women located at 329 Powell Street has been moved to a temporary location at 625 Powell Street until the resources have been gathered to re-build on the original site. The rebuilding of Powell Place will help end women’s homelessness in Vancouver by increasing the number of emergency shelter beds from 26 to 52. With the expansion and improvement of the space, St. James’ Community Services will also work to increase its resources to create and maintain programs where women who have had very difficult lives or have suffered recent catastrophic events will be able to put their lives back together, acquiring new skills and new confidence within a community, learning from shared experience.At the beginning of her address Trudi told the ACW group that her inspiration for doing the work she does on the downtown eastside can be summed up in the phrase... “What you do for yourself dies with you, what you do for others live on.” She also stressed that this work is a way for her to live out her faith in Christ.
Next on the agenda was a Celebration of the Eucharist. The preacher and presider at the Eucharist was the Venerable Stephen Rowe the Archdeacon of Fraser. During his sermon he shared with the ACW congregation his views about change and how things change in the world and in the church. He gave some advice about how we can prepare for those changes and meet them by asking ourselves where our passions are in ministry.
As Christians we have to figure out as individuals, as groups, as parishes, as a Diocese and beyond, what are we passionate about? In the days we now inhabit, when the Church is slimmer and resources are limited we need to focus on doing less and doing it better. We can’t do all that we used to do … we can’t manage all the tasks we used to cover … so I present this challenge to all of you. Think and pray about your own passions in the work that you’ve undertaken as ACW. Think and pray and discuss with your fellow membership in your parish and your area, as well as across the Diocese and figure out what it is that you are passionate about.
And then you need to ask yourself … what are we doing that we need to stop doing …what are not doing that we ought to be doing.
(For the complete text of ARCHDEACON STEPHEN’S SERMON please click the link)
Following the exchange of the Peace and prior to the celebration of the Eucharist Archdeacon Stephen commissioned and blessed the 2012 ACW Executive.
If you are interested in the ministry of the ACW please speak to someone in your parish and ask if there is currently a chapter, if there isn’t then contact a member of the executive and find out how to start a chapter in your parish. You can contact the Current President of the Diocese of New Westminster ACW by visiting the ACW PAGE on the diocesan website or by email
Images: Top,. ACW Projects display. Top centre, Head Table, Lower right, Preacher, Archdeacon Stephen Rowe. Below, lunch is served by the men of St. Cuthbert's. Below 2, Archdeacon Stephen commissions the Executive.