Episcopal Church Women

The St. Thomas Episcopal Church Women (ECW) is a vibrant fundraising and fellowship group, comprised of women of all ages, that supports charitable organizations benefitting women and children on a local, national and international basis. The ECW at St. Thomas has also been a steward of our most public spaces throughout the church, helping to create and maintain the warm environment for which we are known.

 

All women attending St. Thomas are automatically members of the ECW. We hope that you will join in some of the activities that have been part of the rich legacy of this diverse community. Meetings are held every other month (except in the summer) to identify ways to support our charitable giving partners and the various needs within the church. Our goal is to disperse all of our fundraising proceeds over the course of each year, which averages between $3,000-$4,000.

 

 

Current ECW Officers:

Click on the Officer’s name to send an email.

Louise Armitage, President

Chris Forward, Secretary

Becky Ventorini, Treasurer

Susan Cowart & Berta Smith, United Thank Offering Coordinators

 

Fundraising:

The ECW holds two fundraisers per year – the “Treats and Treasures” sale shortly before Christmas and a spring bake sale. Proceeds go to support our outreach ministries and church needs such as:

 

• Share of McLean
• Casting for Recovery
• McLean-Falls Church Children’s Center
• Second Story
• Remote Area Medical
• Ascension Church, Beraud Haiti
• Renovating our Fellowship Hall, Kitchen, and Parlor
• Natural disaster relief through various national organizations
• Discretionary funds (for our Rector and the Bishop)

 

ECW Forms:

If you have an ECW expense that needs to be reimbursed, you can download this Check Request Form and send it to our treasurer, Becky Ventorini.

 

If you have a charity that you’d like the ECW to consider for a financial donation, you must fill out this form and present it at an ECW meeting for consideration. Please note, this Donation Request Form must be filled out, even for organizations that we’ve given to in the past, to ensure that all contact info is up to date. 

 

The ECW Book Group:

This lively and well-attended group has been in existence for over fifteen years. We meet on the 3rd Wednesday of the month (except in the summer). Guests are always welcome! We hope that you’ll join us, whether you’ve read the book or not! These are great evenings of laughter and thoughtful discussion. We also organize a Christmas dinner out, with a lively book exchange, each December. Each Book Group gathering raises money for Ascension Church, Haiti.

 

Lace and Grace Tea:

Approximately every three years, the ladies of the parish and their invited guests gather for a magnificent tea, resplendent with linen, china, and sumptuous food; the men of St. Thomas serve with elegance and grace. All proceeds from this event go towards our charitable giving and church projects.

 

United Thank Offering:

Twice a year we lead the effort to collect coins and bills as a sign of our gratitude. All donations from the congregation are used for local, national, and international projects through the Diocese.

 

Ladies’ Lunch Bunch:

The women of the church gather for a monthly lunch out, sharing fellowship and conversation.

 

Movies:

 

We occasionally screen a film that shines a spotlight on issues relevant to women and girls. Genres have ranged from documentaries (“He Named Me Malala”) to drama (“She Said”) to social satire (“Barbie”).

 

Parish Christmas souvenir ornaments:

 

The ECW provides 100 ornaments that are hung on our Narthex tree, and all families are invited to take one home on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

 

Hand-made Quilt:

For many years we created a handmade quilt that was the highlight of our fundraising efforts. One beautiful example hangs proudly in our fellowship hall today.