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WOMEN
Bursting Forth in Joy
By Shirley Miller
Women’s Missionary Society
The Women’s Missionary Soci- ety (WMS) Paris Presbyterial ven- tured forth on June 4 to spread
some joy to ease Covid hardships of the past two years. With the theme “Bursting Forth in Joy,” 30 members and friends searched their closets for some stylish out- fits and traditional attire to wear
as they celebrated their coming together!
Women from Knox Presbyte- rian Church in Woodstock, Ont., were the welcoming hosts who transformed the church’s dining room into a worship/meeting cen- tre, a small dining area and a large centre for the display of prepared lunch boxes for a silent auction, which gleaned $600 to PWS&D for Ukraine relief.
Adding to the spirit-filled day were singsongs led by the Rev. Mark and Susan McLennan, wel- comes by president Judy MacIn- tosh and hosts Susan McLennan and Elaine Stevens, greetings from Cathy Reid, Council presi-
Updates from WMS Synodicals Across the Country
With the COVID-19 restrictions of the past two years, it has been difficult to maintain active membership of Women’s Mis- sionary Society (WMS) groups. However, communications be- tween all levels of the WMS has increased as members became more familiar with the Internet and online meetings. The follow- ing reports highlight how women in synodicals and presbyterials have adapted to the restrictions or, as they lifted, gathered for in- person meetings.
After a break of three and a half years, the Synodical of Quebec and Eastern Ontario (QEO) met online in March with our special speaker, the Rev. Dr. Cheryl Gaver, who gave a wonderful, educa- tional, “new-to-many-of-us” il- lustrated talk on part of her PhD thesis, entitled “Introduction to Indigenous Cultures.” Tragically, Cheryl died just a month later in April. She had so much to teach us!
We then had our Annual Gen- eral Meeting in April, again online, when we were able to update each other on our Presbyterial activities. As in most Presbyte- rials across the country, many groups are closing; however, we are encouraging group “orphans” to find and join other groups. This has become so much easier with people meeting online since it doesn’t matter where we live. God is working in us and through us in new ways, while supporting God’s work is still paramount in the hearts of WMS members.
In the early part of the pan- demic, we sent out a question- naire to all Synodical members to find out what was the general feel for what people wanted – or didn’t. As expected, mainly due to poor or non-existent internet con- nections, people did not care for online meetings, although most were willing to tolerate them, rec- ognizing that it is an excellent way to keep connected. Communica- tion between all levels of the WMS was considered extremely impor- tant, as was the desire to hear more about mission throughout the world and for Bible-related studies and workshops.
Since the questionnaire was distributed, members have be- come more familiar with meeting online and are acknowledging the benefits, but we are still looking forward to meeting in person. —Catherine Blatch, President, Synodical Quebec and Eastern Ontario
The Central Northwestern On- tario (CNOB) Synodical annual meeting was held on April 23, 2022. Our speaker was Nora Car- mi. She enlightened us on what is happening in Palestine and Israel. Our installation of officers was by Cathy Reid.
—Janice Terry CNOB Synodical President
The Women’s Missionary Society
Synodical of Southwestern On- tario works within our boundaries which stretch from Sarnia to Kin- cardine to Hamilton, Ont., with the intent to strengthening our bonds
in fellowship to others in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
The theme for this, our 75th anniversary, was “Justice for All Women” and our keynote speaker was Dr. Allyson Carr, Associate Secretary of Justice Ministries of the PCC. Allyson’s topic was, “What does justice for women mean? And which women?” Allyson explained the three major threats to justice for women in Canada as being poverty, gender- based violence and colonialism. When these threats are removed from women’s lives, justice for women will improve dramatically. What would really help women see justice is to provide a guar- anteed liveable income, improved access to safe housing and to en- courage power for the common good.
The Rev. Theresa McDonald- Lee brought greetings and a re- port from Camp Kintail north of Goderich, Ont.
The in-person gatherings of the Presbyterials of London and Paris met in June. London at Backus-Page House Museum and Agricultural Centre run by the Tyrconnell Heritage Society, and Paris- Knox Presbyterian Church in Woodstock hosted the Paris’ annual meeting themed, “Break- ing Forth in Joy.”
During Covid, those who knit and crochet made mini prayer shawls, sending them to shut- ins and the sick throughout the synodical. Recently, these mini prayer shawls have reached across borders by way of the Stratford Medical Missions Depot
in Stratford, Ont., (a non-profit organization) to include the peo- ple in the Ukraine and Cuba who receive a mini shawl along with a tangible prayer translated into their language. This small idea of charity now tallies over 1,400 mini prayer shawls distributed, and the number keeps growing. —Margaret McGugan, President, Southwest Ontario Synodical
Manitoba, Northern Ontario Syn- odical (MNO) has no functioning synodical executive. Ina Borger is the contact on Council Executive and follows the meetings online. She is a member of the Margaret Hamilton Auxiliary at St. John’s Presbyterian Church in Winni- peg, Man., which includes one member from First Presbyterian Church. Ruth George from First Presbyterian Church in Thunder Bay was our representative at Council in 2022.
—Ina Borger, Synodical contact
The Saskatchewan WMS dis- banded several years ago but three women from St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Saskatoon come together for lunch regularly. Marina Onclin and Arline Sander- son, former representatives from Saskatchewan Synodical on WMS Council, meet with a faithful member, Bernice Shih, to discuss WMS activities. Arline shares in- formation from WMS online gath- erings.
A generation ago, the WMS was a way of life for very many rural Alberta women. Farm chores
were worked around meeting times and raising money to fund overseas projects became almost an obsession. Across the entire province, these grandmothers, mothers and daughters all knew each other, and Synodical get- togethers were such a highlight for them.
Today, there are no active WMS groups in Alberta, but many former members are interested in hear- ing about ministry at home and abroad. Sandi Churchill and Lis- beth Duncan, as well as the Let’s Come Together series, attempt to spread that information. In October of this year, a Book and Bake Sale is planned in Calgary to raise funds for the work of the WMS. —Lisbeth Duncan and Sandi Churchill, contacts
British Columbia no longer has a functioning executive as many groups have disbanded. Susan Trapp is the contact on the WMS Council Executive. Kay Mori, from the WMS group in Kamloops was the B.C.’s Synodical delegate to Council this year. Several women regularly meet at Fairview church for coffee, four of whom have taken part for past five years in a Ride/Walk for Refugees.
A newsletter for former WMS members and mission-minded women has been a lifeline to 34 people on the contact list. News is supplied and Dot creates edits and distributes the newsletter. For information regarding the B.C. Newsletter, contact Dot at wm- sofbc@gmail.com.
—Susan Trapp, B.C. contact
Pictured (left to right): Judy McIntosh, Paris Presbyterial President; Marga- ret McGugan, SWO Synodical President; Cathy Reid, WMS Council President.
dent, and Margaret McGugan, Deb Melnyk (Simcoe) and Mary- Synodical president, and a wor- bel Brenneman (Embro), whose ship and memorial service led creative talents and organizational by the Paris auxiliary. Kudos to skills made for a fun-filled event.