I. Overview 

  Church women United is a national organization of women of Protestant, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and other Christian faiths. It was founded in 1941.

   The Conyngham/ Sugarloaf Valley chapter of Church Women United was begun in 1960 by Laura Bechtel, wife of Rev. Russell Bechtel of St. John's United Church of Christ in St. Johns.  Today, the following churches are represented: Black Creek United Methodist, Christ Lutheran, Christ United Church of Christ, Conyngham United Methodist, Good Shepherd Roman Catholic, St. John Bosco Roman Catholic, St. Johns Lutheran, St. Johns United Church of Christ, and St. Paul’s United Methodist.

   Church Women United holds three meetings each year: World Day of Prayer in March, May Friendship Day, and World Community Day in November. The various churches take turns hosting the meeting on the first Friday of each of these months.  A worship service and meeting are held from 1:00-2:00 PM,  where a free will offering is taken, following which the women of the church provide coffee/tea and dessert.  The service is written by different women each time, often from developing countries, so that participants receive information about women’s problems about which they would not hear otherwise.

   For many years the local women have purchased gifts and packed Christmas stockings, first for residents at the White Haven Center, and more recently for
Danville State Hospital.  They also support the local Food Pantry, the Salvation
Army, and United Charities.  In addition to the dues paid to the national group, which helps to fund the programs, pennies are collected at the May meeting for a special "Offering of the Least Coin" to aid in less developed countries.  A special fund for blanket purchases is an ongoing project.

II. Current Information

   next meeting:

      November 7
          Christ United Church of Christ, Conyngham               
              1:00 PM  -  coffee/tea and dessert 
           

      The local chapter of Church Women United recently contributed $75
      each to United Charities, the Valley Food Pantry, Meals on Wheels,
      and the Salvation Army.

       (Those attending should notify their church contact person at least four
        days in advance.  Each contact person should then inform the contact
        person at the host church of the number attending.