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
Those of us planning for 2019’s Forum programs are looking at doing things differently next year. We would try to have what we might call “better conversations”, using skills we first heard about from our speaker, Sharon Shuman (author of Freedom and Dialogue in a Polarized World.

Our new emphasis on better conversations (as in listening even to those with whom we disagree) brought to mind a statement that my friend and workmate from Sacred Heart Home Health shared with us after the 16 election:

“We (humanity) are being given the opportunity to AWAKEN to the deeper truth, that we are really all connected. Those of us who feel this connection can support others by connecting, building bridges, acting with compassion, spending time in stillness. The more we heal the place in each of us that manifests as anger or disconnection or discounting others, the more the world will reflect that inner peace. Imagine what the world would be like if in one moment all of humanity could feel peace and unity within themselves - everything would change in a heartbeat.” Cordy Anderson, Eugene, OR

I think we are all hoping that our better conversations next year will help us to build those bridges and act with compassion. Wouldn’t that be a joy?

Our program for September 7 at the Unitarian Church will be on the topic of “Housing as a Human Right.” I think we are all touched by the sight of our homeless sisters and brothers sleeping on the street. I for one feel helpless and frustrated when I see these folks and realize they are all children of God and we seem unable to solve the problem of homelessness in our community and throughout the country. We had a British visitor who was surprised to see apparently homeless women and children on our downtown streets. He said “In our country we take care of our women and children. You would only see men living on the streets.” Not perfect but our British friends do seem to at least see that women and children don’t belong on the street. Interesting that men are not always protected.

Janis Leslie Evans, a homeless advocate in Washington DC, suggests that the next time you pass a homeless person on the street, try to remove all assumptions, values, beliefs and stereotypes from your mind and just “see the person as one who was born a child of God with humanity and dignity."

Pope Francis, speaking to Catholic Charities in Washington DC when he visited the USA in 2015 said, “We can find no social or moral justification, no justification whatever, for lack of housing.” More reasons for us to quickly find a solution to this problem that many of us are old enough to remember, did not exist, for the most part, when we were youngsters. We pray that we will find a solution or solutions, to the problem and we work to change systems so that this does not happen again.

Please join us on September 7 and become inspired to change the situation on our streets.

October, 2018

October 5
Friday
9-11:15 a.m.
St. Jude
4330 Willamette St.
Policy and Privilege

October 9
Tuesday
7:30 a.m.
Breakfast at Brails
1983 Willamette St.
A Look at our October forum

November 3
Saturday
10am
St. Mary’s Episcopal
13th and Pearl
Reaching for Wholeness in Harmony

OCTOBER FORUM
Family Forward - “grassroots power that works for Oregon women and families” - helped to bring paid sick days to workers. Nichi Linder, the Lane County Organizing Director, is our guest. She will outline actions planned at the state legislature in 2019: Paid family leave and affordable child care.

Ms. Linder, mother of two boys, ages 18 months and four years, lives in the world of our young families. Bring a friend. Many of us “elders” need to visibly stand in support of our children and grandchildren. Low wages, high rents, college debt all relate to the issues in Salem.

LOOKING AHEAD TO NOVEMBER
Our World Community Day Celebration will be about
Reaching for Wholeness in Harmony With God’s People.. We are delighted to host well known local author and columnist, Dorcas Smucker. Invite a friend or two to hear this interesting and inspiring speaker.

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