Durham (III)

Durham Convocation Contact

Robyn Furges is chair of the ECW of the Durham convocation. She can be reached via email.

Durham Convocation Report
Annual Meeting 2021

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 

Durham Convocation Report
Annual Meeting 2020

The Durham Convocation Spring Gathering was scheduled for May 2, 2020 at St. Bartholomew’s in Pittsboro, however, because of the COVID-19 pandemic our meeting was cancelled. Our last meeting was held during the 137th Annual Meeting at St. Luke’s Durham NC.

Happening around the Convocation

St. Bartholomew’s - Pittsboro

ECW started to meet online but decided to move to in-person meetings in the Parish Hall with the requirements of wearing masks and social distancing over the last three months. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday September 15th. The ladies of ECW continue to assist with the Community meals at St. Bartholomew: 100+ meals are served via takeout or delivery.

On a sad note, I am sorry to report the death of Mary Ellen Kiesau - the daughter of our past Convocation Chair Carolyn Townsend. A scholarship fund “The Mary Kiesau Community Fellowship Fund” has been established with the Community Foundation of North Central Washington. The Fund will support the independent projects of artists, photographers, and naturalists working to further their own creativity, professional development, and the community’s connection to the land, art, and each other. To honor Mary’s legacy and support the Mary Kiesau Community Fellowship Fund, please contribute online or send your check, payable to the Mary Kiesau Community Fellowship Fund to CFNCW, 9 South Wenatchee Avenue, Wenatchee, WA 98801 

St. Cyprian’s - Oxford

Ms. Helen Othow is now the Interim ECW President. The ECW sponsored a social distance Easter Egg pick up with candy & egg filled baskets. Also, there were photos taken of the children and parents in front of the church lawn on Easter Sunday.

St. Luke’s - Durham

The St. Luke’s ECW have been inactive since the Diocesan directive. Many of the ladies do not have a Zoom account and the consensus is to wait and resume the meetings in person.

St Philip’s - Durham

Prior to the mandatory stay at home, the St Philip’s ECW met to package toiletry items for the women residents of Urban Ministries.

St Titus’ - Durham

The ECW had a Zoom meeting on April 9, 2020; this was an opportunity to connect with the women of the church and give an opportunity to talk about how they are handling the stay at home order. The group agreed to send words of encouragement and to engage our super seniors.

Closing Prayer

Keep us, good Lord, under the shadow of your mercy. Sustain and support the anxious, be with those who care for the sick, and lift up all who are brought low; that we may find comfort knowing that nothing can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen