ACW helps strengthenand deepen spiritual life
ACW Diocesan Vice President Florence Joy Clements (third from left in photo below) spoke to the congregation at St. John’s Church in Oromocto on ACW Sunday
The purpose of the ACW (Anglican Church Women) is to unite women in a fellowship of worship, study and offering, which will deepen and strengthen their own spiritual lives as well as lead them into 
ChristianACW Diocesan executive service in the parish, diocese, community, nation and the world. We work for and sustain an informed interest in the mission of the Church.
Our new national motto is “The Love of Jesus Calls Us” and our diocesan motto is “Launch out into the Deep.” A little quotation I rely on regularly is: “Lord, remind me that nothing is going to happen to me today that you and I can’t handle together.”
As you may or may not know, all women in our churches are part of Anglican Church Women, but not all are active members of the organization and that is okay — many are called to help with some of our projects and do so willingly when asked, and we all appreciate that.
Roberta Tiltons and a few of her friends started the WA (the Women’s Auxiliary) in Canada in 1885. They struggled to be recognized as a viable part of the church, but it took some bishops a long time to accept that. Finally, on Nov. 4, 1903 the WA was brought to the Diocese of Fredericton. Then in 1967 the name WA was changed to ACW and our present primate, Archbishop Fred Hiltz, is very supportive of ACW. At our national meeting in Newfoundland last October he spoke of the amazing amount of work the ACWs do, and how important he feels we are. But it is not all work and fundraising, we have fun together too, and so we should do.
You probably know of the catering and receptions that your ACW does, but that is only a part of what we do. Most groups (if not all) open their meetings with a devotional time — readings and prayers. After the business is covered many have guest speakers for our edification. Some churches have spin-off groups of crafters and quilters. We give much money to our own churches and then contribute to the support of the wider church.
Our organization is aging and many of our members are unable to carry on the work of the ACW and some groups are dwindling in numbers as well, but there is no shortage of enthusiasm for the contributions we make to our churches and our outreach. We are a group of women dedicated to carrying on God’s work as best we can. Many of our churches would not be able to function without both the physical and financial help of the ACWs.
One of the ways the ACW helps church and rectory buildings is through the Extra-Cent-A-Day fund to repair roofs, update kitchens, and undertake other practical projects.
