ACW helps strengthen and deepen spiritual life
ACW Diocesan Vice President Florence Joy Clements (third from the left in the 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 Christian
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.
We really need to have younger women join with us, as our numbers are dwindling due to old age and physical burnout. Many younger women are working full time and have families to look after and need some time to relax, but it would be wonderful if, when they ease up on work or retire, they would consider helping the ACWs. Many haven’t grown up, as some of our members did, in JA (Junior Auxiliary), GA (Girl’s Auxiliary) and AYPA (Anglican Young People’s Association) then the WA and ACW, but we hope they will be willing to keep this very important and vital segment of our church alive.
Many of our members enjoy fellowship, especially the Christmas and end-of-year potlucks or even restaurant visits. We also have our deanery annual general meetings, held in a different church in the deanery each year, and our two-day diocesan annual meeting held in a different area of the diocese each May. There is also a three-day national meeting held in a different diocese each year. This year it was in Newfoundland and our diocesan president, Joan Randall, attended. Next year it will be in the Diocese of New Westminster in British Columbia. What wonderful opportunities to connect and share experiences and Christian efforts with ACW members from across Canada.
ACW member Heather Carr, known to many of you, has served as branch, deanery, diocesan and national president. She is a wonderful and capable representative of our ACW and all it stands for.
There have been, and will continue to be, many changes in the ACW over the years. How soon we can expect more changes, and what they may be, remains to be seen. The fact remains, however, we have to continue to be the hands, the ears, the voice, the feet and the heart of Christ, so that we can carry on the work he began in us — the ACW.
Yes, we are living in a changing world, and we do need to keep pace with these changes. We are primarily known as a fund-raising group (although our national president calls it ‘fun-raising’), but we also do a lot of good works. If the ACW did not exist our members would miss out on a lot of fun, shared blessings and the satisfaction of a job well done. We would miss the smiling faces of children as they open the small gifts we buy for their Christmas parties in the church hall, our visits to seniors and shut-ins, and the opportunity to support bereaved families by catering to funeral receptions. We would even miss catering to our own parish confirmation and other celebrations.
The essence of Anglican Church Women is more than fundraising. It may be one of our major functions, but we encompass a broad sense of ministry and witness. We embrace all the roles women assume in service and witness to our faith.
Diocesan Communications
02 February 2010
