The Women Ministries is a fellowship of women open to all the ladies of the church. The group meets approximately every other month, usually at the church for a meeting and special speaker, bandage rolling, luncheon, food drive for the Union Gospel Mission or picnic.
Activities
The ladies with a desire to serve are organized into three committees and a leader for each is designated. These in turn rotate the responsibility of the variety of social occasions. A few of the activities held on a regular basis include:
Members
gather to measure, cut and roll bandages
from donated used sheets for medical use in Africa. We ship the completed
bandage rolls to the main office of the Covenant church in North Park,
Chicago. They ship the packages of bandages to hospitals and medical facilities
in Africa.
Each year the Women Ministries holds a fund raiser at Indian John Hill rest area on I-90 near Cle Elum. The volunteer men and women serve cookies (homemade or purchased), and coffee to travelers during a designated 2 1/2 day period. Donations are received which are used to support the activities of the Women Ministries, and purchase needed furnishings for the church - drapes, curtains, and kitchen needs, etc.
With their permission, ladies are assigned to one Sunday each year to serve as coffee hostess following the Sunday morning worship service. This entails arranging the serving table, making the coffee and providing the refreshments (cookies, breads, muffins, or cakes) and beverages and serving them in the downstairs fellowship hall.
Throughout the year, the Women Ministries organize various social occasions for the women of the church, and for the church body. These include: Mother Daughter Tea in the spring, memorial luncheons which are held after funerals held in the church, church potlucks, wedding reception luncheons, and an annual Christmas dinner. Pictures of 2006 Ladies Spring Luncheon
Each September, there is a 3-day weekend Women's Retreat of the North Pacific Conference at Cascades Camp near Yelm, Washington. This includes a special speaker, a variety of workshops on Saturday, fellowship with friends, enjoyment of the beautiful camp grounds and always, good food.
The Women Ministries provides a yearly gift to our SIMs - Special Interest Missionaries. The SIMs we support are rotated every three years. The two that we're supporting during the 2004-2007 period are Cathy Campobello in Columbia and Fern Enns (retired). We also send an annual monetary gift to the five Arensen wives, namely, Barbara, Carla, Esther Ruth, Kym and Patty, plus Lisa Arensen (Barbara's daughter), and Kristy Faber (Lanny Arensen's daughter). For more information on the work of these missionaries, see Support of Missions.
Purpose
The purpose of the Women Ministries is to create a fellowship amongst the ladies of the church and to serve and glorify the Lord by helping others. The Women Ministries exists to advance God's kingdom through ministries that equip women to grow, serve and reach out with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Leadership
Marian Anderson, Chairman
Ruth Milton, Treasurer
For more information on the fellowship of the Women Ministries, contact Marian Anderson at 966-1561.
Women Ministries is a fellowship of all the women of the Evangelical Covenant Church, locally, regionally and in the United States and Canada. It is an integral Part of the local church and the denomination.
The organization provides opportunities for women individually and in groups:
TO GROW in personal devotion to Jesus Christ,
TO AFFIRM their spiritual gifts and provide opportunities for growth in utilizing those gifts,
TO PARTICIPATE in evangelism and Outreach, touching others with the love of Christ,
TO MINISTER to the underprivileged, especially women and children,
TO PARTICIPATE in the ministries of the denomination worldwide.
Women Ministries seeks to achieve these goals through prayer, study, stewardship and service. It is a fellowship which seeks to build relationships with women of differing ages, talents and interests. It recognizes the need for each woman to know God and find her particular area of service in her church and community.
Women Ministries encourages programming based upon the needs and interests of women. While some may find fellowship in group meetings most meaningful, others may give their time to teaching, or to music ministry or youth counseling. Others may prefer community involvement or service. Each woman's Contribution is recognized as significant wherever her Christian faith finds expression.
Women Ministries seeks to help women grow in their faith and to communicate Christ's love next door or around the world.
Organizations in the same geographical area are members of a conference or region. There are eleven conferences or regions in the United States and Canada. If a conference is large or wide-spread, it may be further divided into districts. Conference activities include retreats, district get-togethers and an annual meeting. Many conferences encourage support for projects particular to their area, such as camps and conference centers and college scholarships. There is a conference board of Women Ministries which oversees conference activities and keeps in touch with local churches for encouragement and guidance.
The national organization of Women Ministries is composed of all local organizations in the United States and Canada. It meets annually to conduct its business and at special Triennial conferences which provide additional opportunities for inspiration and fellowship. There is an executive secretary of Women Ministries and an administrative office in Chicago, Illinois. Activities on a national level are guided by a ten member board elected by the denomination. Conference presidents periodically meet with the board.
In Spirit is the quarterly magazine published by the Department of Women Ministries. It contains feature articles, program helps, devotionals, Bible studies, and updates on the activities of women of the Covenant Church. Subscription information is available through your local leadership.
Once a year, all women are asked to contribute membership responsibility to the support of national Women Ministries through their local organization.
Special opportunities for giving are provided through:
National Project
All Covenanters are given the opportunity to respond to a special project each year. This may be a mission, benevolent, or educational project. The project is chosen after careful consideration by the national board.
Special Interest Missionaries (SIMs)
Women missionaries are remembered through prayer, letters, and an annual gift. Our current recipients are (tba).
Special Gifts
Women missionaries from our own church congregation are also remembered through prayer, letters, and an annual gift. These include wives and daughters — Carla, Kym, Barbara, Esther Ruth, Patty, and Lisa Arensen and Kristy Faber.
Memorial Gifts
These gifts go to the Covenant Ministers' Widows' Crisis Fund or as designated.
For further information about the local ministry at Wiley Heights Covenant Church, please contact Marian Anderson at 966-1561.