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Celebrating CWU: Group disbands, but friendships remain

MARQUETTE – Life changes and evolves, but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy for the people involved.

Church Women United, organized in 1941, disbanded for good Nov. 6. The occasion was marked with a World Community Day Celebration at First United Methodist Church in Marquette. Miriam Hilton has been treasurer of the Marquette CWU since 1985.

She became choked up after the final meeting, but issued this statement: “Today, young women often have to work outside the home and their children’s activities keep them fully occupied. Time for Bible study is limited. Television brings the world’s problems into our homes. Christian outreach is offered by hundreds of agencies. God’s work goes on.

“But nothing can replace the friendships forged around the tables and across the pews as we discussed the challenges to our faith and calls to action that Church Women United brought to the Christian women of Marquette. We’ll miss celebrating together.”

Hilton provided some background on the group.

Originally called the Marquette Council of Church Women, the group was formed “to build our faith through interacting with our Christian sisters of all denominations and to provide a vehicle through which church women may join together to work on the many issues facing Christians today.”

In 1965, 16 different church groups paid dues of 10 cents a member to belong to CWU. They met in different churches for three annual celebrations: World Day of Prayer on the first Friday of Lent, May Fellowship Day on the first Friday in May and World Community Day on the first Friday in November. Over the years, Hilton said, the women built friendships, learned about Christian women throughout the world and raised money for women’s issues. Locally, they raised money for protection from and defense against domestic violence and homelessness, and scholarships for women attending Northern Michigan University. However, they also worked toward the education, health and justice for women in other countries.

Hilton acknowledged that nowadays there is less need for women to work for missions now that many are part of the church structure and can advocate for whole church involvement. Thus came the decision to disband – which evoked memories.

Pat Virch made a speech at the Nov. 6 gathering, noting she had been asked one time what the World Community Day Celebration was about.

“And I said, ‘Well, all I know is that we get this printed little program and we read through it and we know that we are united with all these other women around the world in this day of prayer.”

It meant a lot for her to be part of the group.

“So, when we moved up here in ’63, it became important to me to still be in touch with this Christian group,” Virch said, “and I got to meet all these lovely women from all these other congregations, and it was a real rewarding part of serving, that most of the time it was while I was president of our own church women here in the First Methodist Church.”

Much of the good work in town, she said, has been accomplished through Church Women United.

“So, take real, honest pride in the participation that we’ve had in this group,” Virch told her fellow members. “And it’s sad that we have to close it, but it comes to that point.”

Donna Berryman also talked at the Nov. 6 event.

“It was a wonderful group when we started,” Berryman said, “and we all worked very, very hard to help, to be helpful, and we felt that we were helpful.”

Mary Densmore said the socialization was an enjoyable aspect of being a CWU member, agreeing with Hilton.

“And as she said, you know, wherever you go, you run across someone you met through Church Women United,” Densmore said.

A display at the final gathering showed many memories of the group, including a scrapbook of newspaper clippings. For the Nov. 4, 1960 World Community Day, for example, the call for medical supplies for world missions was put out, with needed items including absorbent cotton, iodine and bandage rolls. Virch said good works will continue.

“We’re still very active, definitely, but serving through our own churches and through the needs that we’ve been aware of,” Virch said.

The members of Church Women United likely will still keep in touch.

“We’re all friends anyway,” Hilton said.

Christie Bleck can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250.

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