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
We, the leadership of Church Women United of Lane County are very encouraged by our first attempt at using the principles from Sharon Shuman’s book, Freedom and Dialogue in a Polarized World at our February Forum. We welcomed about 65 people to take part in an exercise in looking at our beliefs around immigration issues. It seemed that most people thought it was a helpful exercise. We are hoping to continue these conversations in April when we try this again. We could get very good at this after a year. We’ll take a break as we take part in the World Day of Prayer for our March celebration and then onto dialogue in April. We hope you will join us. We are grateful to Sharon Shuman for sharing her expertise in this series of exercises.

REFLECTION ON THE PARABLE
OF THE GREAT FEAST (Luke 14:15-24)
World Day of Prayer theme
Mary Sharon Moore
Wow. I just received an invitation. To a who’s-who banquet! Hmmm, I wonder what I’ll wear.

But oops, my calendar shows I’ve got a couple of other options.

Eventually the banquet invitation falls silently into the trash.

How many invitations get tossed because I don’t understand that the best invitations come from a place of love, that my presence matters. I treat them like options, something I might take, or leave.

In Luke’s account of the Parable of the Great Feast, the invitation seems to be to a great celebration, a joyful gathering of community. An invitation to be my best social self at the table of bounty.

Sounds like heaven to me.

When I say No to such invitations, I sin against Love, God weeps, and heaven is less.

Come, my Host pleads, everything is ready!

March , 2019

March 2
Saturday
10-12:15
United Lutheran Church
2230 Washington St.
World Day of Prayer Celebration

April 5
Friday
9-11:15 a.m.
Asbury United Methodist
1090 Berntzen Road
The Question of Inequality

April 9
Tuesday
7:30 a.m.
Breakfast at Brails
1983 Willamette St.
A look at our April Forum

FEBRUARY FORUM
MARCH FORUM
On Saturday, March 2, from 10-12:15 at United Lutheran Church on 22nd and Washington, we will welcome you to our March Celebration, World Day of Prayer. Our program was written by the women of Slovenia and will be performed by 5 CWU members. We’ll have some special treats from our generous United Lutheran women and we’ll sing some hymns. We are delighted to have as our speaker, Alice Gentry. Alice is a formerly homeless person who now resides in Emerald Village. She has an interesting story to tell us about what happens when a fairly middle class single woman retires and just can’t afford the high cost of renting in this area.

LOOKING AHEAD TO APRIL
Is equality the basis of a free and democratic society? Are freedom and equality ideas that belong together and not in opposition? We are planning a short and terrific opening presentation to be followed by our small group discussions. Listening and sharing is our new format for 2019 meetings.

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