Kanuga
PROVINCE IV CONFERENCE
KANUGA CONFERENCE CENTER
HENDERSONVILLE NC
2011
Attendees from the Central Fla Diocese were Helen Laughton, Jackie Stewart, Brenda Perry, Joy Whelpton and Carol Ditkowsky.
Central Florida Project: NETSFORLIFE.
Jim and Patty Wanker from Port Richey, Fla. were the musicians for the conference.
June 5th
Sunday was the day set aside for registration of early arrivals. Where we looked for old friends and met new ones. It was a great day.
June 6th
After a late breakfast, we attended workshops for CPC, UTO and a President’s workshop, where we received updated information, learned of new practices and ways to share ideas that might inspire and uplift.
After registration and check-in we had a welcome reception on the patio. The scenery over the lake was breath-taking, the mountains were awe-inspiring. Province IV Women’s Conference couldn’t have chosen a better place on God’s green earth. The gong toll letting us know that dinner was being served.
Jackie Robie opened the conference with a welcome and a short business meeting where she outlined our schedule. This conference is a time for all women to celebrate our faith and friendship. Participants heard about new methods of sharing their faith, while being encouraged to share the powerful spiritual message of the fellowship exemplified by ECW.
Next on our agenda was the election of our new officers: Barbara Owens, President of ECW, Diane Burrows, Secretary/Treasurer; Kathy Gosselin, Representative to National Board, and Marcie Cherau, UTO Representative. They take office in June, 2012. We ended the evening with singing, praise and worship.
June 7th
The day began with morning prayers at St. Francis Chapel. After breakfast, we put on our best smiles for the group picture that was taken at the Lakeside Chapel. Jackie talked about the theme of our conference “Believe in a Miracle: Telling Your Story”. We split up into the different workshops that were offered.
A. It’s the Drama in the Story that Matters – telling your story in a new and spiritual way.
B. J O Y, Jesus, Others, You – telling your story everyday, to yourself and others.
C. Praying in color – telling your story through color
D. Scrapbooking – how to tell your story thru scrapbooking.
After lunch we adjourned to the Balthis-Rodwell building and were treated to afternoon Tea and Bible Study hosted by our chaplain Rev. Gigi Conner (tea was served in real tea cups and of course there were cookies). She talked about the Time of Purification. Her two characters were Simon and Anna. Simon was righteous and devote. His prayer was that he wouldn’t see death before he saw the Messiah. The Holy Spirit rested on him, Mary and Joseph brought baby Jesus to the temple, where he saw him. And she talked about Anna, from the tribe of Asher, after 70 years of marriage, and the death of her husband, she lived in the temple fasting and praying. For fun she had us to split into groups and make up a song in honor of Anna, which we sang to any tune (like old Mc Donald had a farm).
Between sessions there was plenty of time to meet and talk to our newly elected officers as well as get some shopping done at the bookstore, take a walk, meditate or just enjoy your friends.
This evening we were treated to a spectacular skit, “YET WE PERSIST” done by Katerina Whitley. She portrayed the “Nameless wife of Simon”. It was just like being there, over 2000 years ago and her talking to us from the woman’s point of view. She was mesmerizing. To checkout the skit go to www.ProvinceIV.org, you will be amazed.
The next skit was wonderfully done by the leaders of our ECW under the direction of Ms. Whitley going through the history of ECW and the different milestones that we have achieved since our inception.
We ended the evening with music and prayer lead by our chaplain, Rev. Gigi Conner, who asked us to reflect on how we , as women of the Episcopal church and members of the Anglican community strive to be active agents of God’s will in regard to people of other cultures, races, or beliefs.
June 8th
It was a blessing to begin the day gathered at Balthis-Rodwell building for music and praise. We received greetings from Province IV President, Canon Richard E. Miller. Province IV is composed of eight southern states and is home to 20 dioceses, making it numerically, the largest of the Provinces of the Episcopal Church. It has the largest number of clergy, baptized members, communicants, church school and day school pupils and is the largest contributor to the General Convention budget of any Province in our Church. Our hats are off to him for his outstanding leadership.
Jackie Robe gave her presidential report and talked about the Triennial Conference that will be held in Indianapolis in July 2012. She also presented to us a collection of statements from each ECW Diocesan President in Province IV talking of their mission work or their out reach, which is the root of our organization. Jackie will give this to all Bishops, Deputies to the General Convention and to guest of Synod, to remind them of the relevance of the work that ECW does. She will request that they pass it on to all women in their churches.
The Closing Eucharist with Healing Prayers was held at the Chapel of the Transfiguration by Rev. Connor. We each received a stone as remembrance.
Helen Laughton and Brenda Perry did a spectacular job setting up our display “Netsforlife”. There was a video running throughout the conference showing the necessity of the nets as well as brochures with information about our project and its needs. We even had a sample net across the display. There were other displays including a table for UTO and CPC.
God’s Blessing to you,
Jackie Stewart.