THE SUNDIAL. Volume MMXIV No. 5 February 2016 RECEIVE CHILDREN, RECEIVE ME JOIN IN A GLOBAL CELEBRATION

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1 THE SUNDIAL Volume MMXIV No. 5 February 2016 World Day of Prayer MARCH 4, :00 pm Lake Ave. Memorial Baptist Church 72 ambrose St. Rochester, NY RECEIVE CHILDREN, RECEIVE ME For 2016, the women of Cuba invite us to consider these words: Receive Children, Receive Me. The women of Cuba share their stories of intergenerational wisdom, traditions and experiences of God s profound love and acceptance. We will learn how Jesus responds to his disciples when the little children come to him, exploring Jesus adoring and passionate acceptance of the children, saying: Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs (Mark 10:14 15). As we listen to the women of Cuba throughout the worship service, we are invited to seek Jesus with childlikeness and boldness. And we are challenged and encouraged to wholly receive others, as Jesus calls us, into the kingdom of God. Rev. David Ryder, currently the pastor of Flour City Church, will reflect on the theme. Conversation and refreshments will follow the worship service. Plan to join in this celebration and invite a friend or two to come with you. No advance registration needed, and no registration fee. -Sophia Fretter, World Day of Prayer Committee JOIN IN A GLOBAL CELEBRATION World Day of Prayer is a worldwide ecumenical movement of women of many faith traditions who come together to observe a common day of prayer each year on the first Friday in March.

2 The Sundial -2- February 2016 From the President Well, the Christmas tree is finally packed away along with the manger scene and all things that remind me of the celebration we have just finished. Now I have to start treading down the road to Easter and all that it means. Not an easy road! As I think about the news and what is going on in the world with war, death, and even the violence in our own back yards, I sometimes wonder where God is in all this. How many gun shot wounds have we heard about lately - far too many! I am, however, always lifted from these depressing thoughts by Max Lucado. In his new book, You ll get through this, he writes: God at times permits tragedies. He permits the ground to grow dry and stalks to grow hard. He allows Satan to unleash mayhem. But he doesn t allow Satan to triumph. Isn t this the promise of Romans 8:28. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (NIV)? God promises to render beauty out of all things, not each thing. The isolated events may be evil, but the ultimate culmination is good. We see small examples of this in our own lives. When you sip on a cup of coffee and say, This is good, what are you saying? The plastic bag that contains the beans is good? The beans themselves are good? Hot water is good? A coffee filter is good? No, none of these. Good happens when the ingredients work together: the bag opened, the beans ground into powder, the water heated to the right temperature. It is the collective cooperation of the elements that creates good. Nothing in the Bible would cause us to call a famine good or a heart attack good or a terrorist good. These are terrible calamities, born out of a fallen earth. Yet every message in the Bible, especially the story of Joseph, compels us to believe that God will mix them with other ingredients and bring good out of them. But we must let God define good. Our definition includes health, comfort, and recognition. His definition? In the case of his Son, Jesus Christ, the good life consisted of struggles, storms, and death. But God worked it all together for the greatest of good: His glory and our salvation. I firmly believe that God has had a hand in the formation and the continued changes being made in our CWU unit. We just need to listen and remember - we are doing great things. Our current projects are satisfying a great need in our community, and we as women are all melding together like that great cup of coffee. Our collective work of all we do creates goodness. I still think that God smiles every time He looks at what we are doing in today s world. ~ Shirley London, CWU President

3 The Sundial -3- February 2016 Highlights from Advent Celebration 2015 On a bright December morning, the Horizon Room at BRICKSTONE (the newest addition to the St. John s Retirement Community) was the site for the 2015 CWU Advent Celebration. Participants entered a festively decorated room where hot coffee and TimBits awaited them as they were greeted by Sally Dodgson and Jean Weber, both Brickstone Residents. (We can thank Jean for all those red and green folded paper napkins.) There was time to enjoy browsing with Shirley London s cards, the Bake sale items, and viewing Gloria s Ulterino s second Book, Walking With Wisdom s Daughters. After a warm welcome from Kim Kenna, assistant to our Retirement Community CEO, Paul Bartlett, Shirley London greeted us and led us in the Annual Meeting and Election of Officers. Sue Forsyth led a beautiful installation of Officers. We then settled back to be awed and inspired in our Bible Study Program, led by Gloria Ulterino and Jennifer Case, members of Women of the Well. (This group, created and led by Gloria, is described on the front page of the November Sundial). With music and dialogue we were exposed to poignant thoughts between Mary and Elisabeth as Elisabeth sought counsel from her cousin during the early period of her confinement. I will always see these Luke passages in a new light, after experiencing Gloria, as Elisabeth, and Jennifer, as Mary, bring to life the deep feelings of these two women, their true commitment to each other, and their strong affirmation that with God all is possible. Gloria then led us in discussion of our reaction to the presentation, and we shared together some times in our lives when a challenge brought us closer to God, and how God continues to be with us in all aspects of our lives. Gloria and Jennifer are both very gifted in their skillful and beautiful way of interpreting the bible, and it was an inspiring contribution to our Advent Season preparation. After lunch we adjourned to the beautiful Wintergarden, where, warmed by the fireplace and entranced by the stunning Christmas tree, we concluded the day with a program of Lessons and Carols, with readers Sally Dodgson, Joan Wolfarth, Millie Jacque, and Flo Braker, accompanied by Esther at the piano. We appreciate and thank all those who helped in this program: our guests, Gloria Ulterino and Jennifer Case, and Jean Weber, Eleanor Pope, Sally Dodgson, Milred Jacque, Flo Braker, Ellen Kimbrough, Barbara Outterson, Amy Vallone, Lynn Ryder, Linda Leavit, and most of all, Elisabeth Hammer who brought everything in. ~ Esther Hammer, 2015 Advent Celebration Chair

4 The Sundial -4- February 2016 Thank You We wish to thank all of our faithful contributors in 2015, without whom we could not continue to make a difference in this community. Individual Contributors to CWU in 2015 Barbara Alexander Marie Barker Betty Bierer Dayle Bird Dot Borden Florence Braker Alison Clarke Nancy Davidow Diana DeBruycker Mary Discher Sally Dodgson Gail Fischer Rev. Sue Forsyth Nancy Garlock Frances Garrett Joan Hamb Esther Hammer Donna Hartman Mary Ann Henry Barbara Hoffman Neva Hoffmeier Gretchen Hughes Julianne Hughes Merilyn Israel Helen Johnson Ellen Kimbrough Lucille Kinsella Gloria Klink Diana Kubick Areta Lacy Margery Leach Shirley London Rev. Susan Maybeck Gail Mott Jean Murphy Elizabeth Myers Eleanor Newell Barbara Outterson Eleanor Pope Vera Powley Helen Rice Margaret Roller Lynn Ryder Ruth Scott Deanna Smisloff Mary Smith Betty Smith Edith Thoburn Colleen Trevisani Doris Van Vechten Marjorie Wells Alison Wilder Gabriele Wohlauer Elizabeth Woolever If you contributed to CWU s financial appeal for 2015 and your name is not listed, please call the office at , so we can update our records. Group contributors will be published in the March 2016 Sundial. Special Thanks! To the gifted knitters from Aldersgate United Methodist Church and for their donation of afghans to the Warm Up Rochester Project.

5 The Sundial -5- February 2016 Upcoming Meetings CWU Board of Directors Friday, February 19, 2016 at 9:30 am Friday, March 18, 2016 at 9:30 am Friday, April 15, 2016 at 9:30am All Board meetings are held at Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1000 Winton Road North, All are welcome! The CWU Office will be closed the week of February 15 th in observance of President s Week. Announcements All submissions for the March Sundial must be received by Monday, February 22 nd Please send to: cwuroffice@yahoo.com HEALTH KITS PROGRAM Our Health Kits go to both women and men at the Mercy Outreach Center, a not-for-profit ministry of the Sisters of Mercy located at 142 Webster Avenue. The Outreach Center exists with the generosity of medical and administrative volunteers who give their time to help meet the basic health care needs of those in the community who are denied access to medical, dental and advocacy services because of their lack of financial resources. Mercy Outreach Center is a partner organization of Mercy Community Services, Inc., which also includes residential services, supporting young mothers who are without family support. Each Health Kit Consists of: Shampoo Toothpaste/Toothbrush Razor/Shaving Cream (man) Deodorant Bar soap Washcloth Small pack tissues Comb To Assemble a Health Kit: Please pack in a 1-gallon plastic bag. Please label your kit MAN if intended for a male recipient. Please bring donations to our monthly Celebrations or to the CWU Office.

6 The Sundial -6- February 2016 Special Thanks! To the women of Naomi Circle of Fairport United Methodist Church for their generous donation of Health Kits! This month, our most needed foods are: Canned Soup Tuna Fish Peanut Butter The Community Food Cupboard would also welcome volunteers to pack food bags, stock shelves, assist with food deliveries or serve as a board member. If you are able to give the gift of your time or would like further information, please call Ellen Kimbrough at Staples Ink Recycling Program Please consider donating your used printer ink cartridges to the CWU office. We earn $2.00 toward the purchase of office supplies for each cartridge we return to the store for recycling. Please give Amy a call in the office at for more details or to donate. UPCOMING EVENTS If you have a Facebook account, look us up and like us. Read about what the Church Women United Rochester & the Vicinity community is doing. We also list other relevant Community Events there. There are many ways to volunteer your time and get involved! Women s Interfaith Coalition Date & Time: Location: Wednesday, February 17 th at 10:00am Jewish Community Federation 441 East Ave., Rochester Sister Eileen Conheady will give a talk on the History of St. Joseph s Order.

7 The Sundial -7- February 2016 Church Women United in Rochester and Vicinity invites you to: World Day of Prayer MARCH 4, :00 pm Lake Ave. Memorial Baptist Church 72 ambrose St. Rochester, NY RECEIVE CHILDREN, RECEIVE ME For 2016, the women of Cuba invite us to consider these words: Receive Children, Receive Me. The women of Cuba share their stories of intergenerational wisdom, traditions and experiences of God s profound love and acceptance. We will learn how Jesus responds to his disciples when the little children come to him, exploring Jesus adoring and passionate acceptance of the children, saying: Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs (Mark 10:14 15). As we listen to the women of Cuba throughout the worship service, we are invited to seek Jesus with childlikeness and boldness. And we are challenged and encouraged to wholly receive others, as Jesus calls us, into the kingdom of God. Rev. David Ryder, currently the pastor of Flour City Church, will reflect on the theme. Conversation and refreshments will follow the worship service. Plan to join in this celebration and invite a friend or two to come with you. No advance registration needed, and no registration fee. -Sophia Fretter, World Day of Prayer Committee Church Women United 644 Titus Ave. Rochester, NY Phone: (585) Website: cwuroffice@yahoo.com