Church Women United of Lane County

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The mission that drives us . . .

Church Women United, an ecumenical movement of Christian women impassioned by the Holy Spirit, advocates on behalf of women and children throughout the world. We find unity in diversity, and we work for a world of peace and justice.

Church Women United of Lane County supports the National programs, priorities and goals, and celebrations.

Our monthly forums reflect the concerns of participants and explore issues of concern to local and state governments and to the citizens of Lane County,
Oregon.

Willamette Valley at rest. Photo by Mary Sharon Moore, 2010

A word from our President ...

Anne O'Brien, President

Anne O’Brien
A group of us from Beyond War Northwest have been studying with other like minded folks the interconnectedness of peace and justice and of sustainability. Peace and justice seem to go together naturally but sometimes adding sustainability to the mix might not make sense to us all. Yet, many of us can agree that peace and justice and environmental sustainability are intimately connected. We don’t see those connections made very often in the popular press, in advertising or even in highly publicized initiatives to fight hunger and poverty or to end war. A whole bunch of us, especially among my CWU friends, think that we must address global climate change and that peacefully ending conflicts is vital. But, how are these two issues related?

Our Seeing Systems authors point out that Martin Luther King actually tied all of this together in his “Christmas Sermon on Peace” in 1967.

“It really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality , tied into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly…This is the way our universe is structured, that is its interrelated quality. We aren’t going to have peace on Earth until we recognize this basic fact of the interrelated structure of all reality.”

That does sound good. I can just hear MLK’s voice crying out. But the question is: where is the hope in this? The authors point to the answer posed by author Jack Neslon- Pallmeyer who calls for us to embrace “authentic hope.”

People working together can increase their power and impact for positive change. We can interact with systems we’ve created to make them better and more ecologically sound.

People power can expand and we can work together to make a real difference for good.

I think you will be inspired along these lines after attending our March Celebration on March 7. Hoping to see you there.

Peace….Anne

March, 2020
March 7
Saturday
10-12:15
United Lutheran Church
2230 Washington St.
10-12:15 World Day of Prayer Celebration

April 3
Friday
9-11:15
1st Christian Church of Springfield
395 Centennial Blvd, Springfield
Asylum action for Hospitality

April 7
Tuesday
7:30
Breakfast at Brails
1983 Willamette St.
A look at our April Forum

MARCH FORUM
Our World Day of Prayer Celebration has been planned by the women of the African country Zimbabwe. Their theme is "Rise! Take your Mat and Walk. “They have provided some great music for the program. Our speaker, Patty Hine, from 350 Eugene, will have as her theme, "Climate reality for Christians."

The World Day of Prayer offering will help create projects around the world to assist those in need.

Plan to join us and bring a friend or two.

LOOKING AHEAD TO APRIL
Our theme for our April forum is “Asylum Action for Hospitality”. OCAN (Oregon community Asylum Network ) is working locally with those in need and have much to share with us.

See Forums for the programs for the rest of the year.