Episcopal Church Women (ECW)
The Episcopal Church Women, (ECW) of St. Mary’s Parish is made up of a group of women whose purpose is to be united in a program of worship, fellowship, and service to the church, community, Diocese, nation and the world. All women who regularly attend St. Mary’s and give of their time and talents are considered members of the ECW.
During the year, the ECW gives their support to several outreach programs. These include:
Food Donations – Besides a monetary donation, non- perishable food items are collected weekly for the food bank at Union Methodist Church in Bridgeville. Every other month there is a “POCA” collection for potatoes, onions, carrots and apples.
Education Committee - In May of this year, the Education Committee, headed by Jeanne Torbert, presented its first $500 scholarship to Suzely Gonzalez, a senior at Woodbridge High School who will be attending college at the University of Delaware where she will be majoring in Finance. A check and certificate were presented to her at the Woodbridge High School Awards Night Ceremony. The congregation had an opportunity to meet Suzely when she and her parents came to St. Mary’s worship service and coffee hour.
Financial Donations - Besides the above monetary donations, a donation was also made to the Bridgeville Library for the children’s summer reading program. The women also discussed applying online to make quarterly donations and become a partner with Love Inc., a program that provides hot meals for the homeless.
Empty prescription bottles – These bottles are collected and to sent to areas overseas that use them for patients to hold their medicines.
There are many women who serve the church in other ways. The Altar Guild, which is responsible for preparing the altar for service, and helping the priest and other servers with their vestments. Coffee hours after the service are well attended. The women also direct the once a month pot luck Sunday.
Apple Scrapple, is the main fund raiser for the ECW., St, Mary's Apple Scrapple luncheon includes our home made Chili and Chicken Salad, also offering hot dog, baked goods and beverages. The women appreciate all of the help given by all of the volunteers, male and female, who contributed to its success.
This year the women developed The Episcopal Women of St. Mary’s Parish in Bridgeville, DE By-Laws as previously there have not been any By-Laws. They will be ratified at the next ECW meeting in February.
Group Home - The visits to the home are on the third Thursday of the month from Sept. through May. Alice Min brings a craft or activity for the four residents to participate in. Afterward they have a desert. Alice also makes up a snack bag for each of them to have the next day. At Christmas the residents and helpers are given gift cards which are donated by ECW.
Seamen’s Institute is a place where the seamen coming off ships can get help and items they may need and can call their homes in foreign countries. Some come from South East Asia and have no winter clothes when they arrive here. Through donations they can get coats and hats to keep them warm. The combined donations from St. Mary's Church and the donations from ECW is sent to the Institute.
United Thank Offering (UTO)
The United Thank Offering (UTO) is a ministry of The Episcopal Church for the mission of the whole church. Through UTO, men, women, and children nurture the habit of giving daily thanks to God. Envelopes are handed out twice a year at St. Mary's (March & November) and donations is mailed to the Episcopal Church UTO coordinator. This year(2024), we raffled a quilt during the Apple Scrapple Luncheon and sent the money to the UTO.
Episcopal Church Women (ECW)
The Episcopal Church Women, (ECW) of St. Mary’s Parish is made up of a group of women whose purpose is to be united in a program of worship, fellowship, and service to the church, community, Diocese, nation and the world. All women who regularly attend St. Mary’s and give of their time and talents are considered members of the ECW.
During the year, the ECW gives their support to several outreach programs. These include:
Food Donations – Besides a monetary donation, non- perishable food items are collected weekly for the food bank at Union Methodist Church in Bridgeville. Every other month there is a “POCA” collection for potatoes, onions, carrots and apples.
Education Committee - In May of this year (2024), the Education Committee, presented its first $500 scholarship to a senior at Woodbridge High School who will be attending college at the University of Delaware where she will be majoring in Finance. A check and certificate were presented to her at the Woodbridge High School Awards Night Ceremony. The congregation had an opportunity to meet with the winner and her parents when they visited St. Mary’s worship service and coffee hour.
Financial Donations - Besides the above monetary donations, a donation was also made to the Bridgeville Library for the children’s summer reading program. The women also discussed applying online to make quarterly donations and become a partner with Love Inc., a program that provides hot meals for the homeless.
Empty prescription bottles – These bottles are collected and to sent to areas overseas that use them for patients to hold their medicines.
There are many women who serve the church in other ways. The Altar Guild, which is responsible for preparing the altar for service, and helping the priest and other servers with their vestments. Coffee hours after the service are well attended. The women also direct the once a month pot luck Sunday.
Apple Scrapple, is the main fund raiser for the ECW., St, Mary's Apple Scrapple luncheon includes our home made Chili and Chicken Salad, also offering hot dog, baked goods and beverages. The women appreciate all of the help given by all of the volunteers, male and female, who contributed to its success.
This year the women developed The Episcopal Women of St. Mary’s Parish in Bridgeville, DE By-Laws as previously there have not been any By-Laws. They will be ratified at the next ECW meeting in February.
Group Home - The visits to the home are on the third Thursday of the month from Sept. through May. Alice Min brings a craft or activity for the four residents to participate in. Afterward they have a desert. Alice also makes up a snack bag for each of them to have the next day. At Christmas the residents and helpers are given gift cards which are donated by ECW.
Seamen’s Institute is a place where the seamen coming off ships can get help and items they may need and can call their homes in foreign countries. Some come from South East Asia and have no winter clothes when they arrive here. Through donations they can get coats and hats to keep them warm. The combined donations from St. Mary's Church and the donations from ECW is sent to the Institute.
United Thank Offering (UTO)
The United Thank Offering (UTO) is a ministry of The Episcopal Church for the mission of the whole church. Through UTO, men, women, and children nurture the habit of giving daily thanks to God. Envelopes are handed out twice a year at St. Mary's (March & November) and donations is mailed to the Episcopal Church UTO coordinator. This year(2024), we raffled a quilt during the Apple Scrapple Luncheon and sent the money to the UTO.