REPORT ON BIENNIAL MEETING

Biennial Meeting Day

The Biennial Meeting was held on April 28, 2007, in the sanctuary of the Grafton Evangelical Congregational Church. As neither Barbara McGovern, President nor Kathy Olmsted, immediate past president, could be with us, Gloria Bamford our past, past president presided.  The meeting was opened with a short reflection led by Judy Robillard on the subject of "Beams".  Rev. Duane Brown, pastor of the church, offered the official welcome to the Grafton church.  There were several items of business put before the group.  There is $367 in the treasury designated for a local mission project.  Where should this go?  An update was given on work being done by the By-law Revision Committee.  It was noted that the Board Meeting earlier this month was held at the Cottage Hill Academy in Baldwinville, and it was suggested that people who have not seen their new facility were encouraged to visit the facility.  An announcement of the women’s retreat to be held July 22-23 at Warner Farm was also made.  Finally, the election of officers for 2007-2009 was held and the full list is found on the inside cover of this journal. 

Following the meeting, the installation of officers was held as part of a worship service to introduce the theme for the next two years:  "Journeying Together--Meeting the Future.  Worship was led by Rev. Shirley Anderson, pastor of the Millbury First Congregational Church.  To symbolize the passing on of responsibilities, walking sticks were passed from the former officers to the new officers.  The Grafton choir and a flute and organ trio added to the worship setting. The offering $127 collected during worship amounted to, which will go to the MACUCC Seminarian Scholarship Fund.

As a finale, a bicycle and two bike helmets were presented to Barbara McGovern in absentia as a token of her dedication to gathering bicycles for children who would not otherwise be able to have one.  This was only one of her mission projects during her term as President of MA State Women’s Fellowship 2005-2007.

After the installation, a delicious lunch was served by the ladies of the church.  This was followed by a lively presentation by Elena Huegel, the Global Ministries and UCC missionary to Chile, where she is the Environmental and Christian Education Specialist for the Pentecostal Church of Chile.  She told us especially of her work developing a Shalom Retreat Center in the Andes Mountains, a dream she had held for many years.  She relayed greetings from the Pentecostal Women of Chile to our women, several of whom have participated in a visitation to that area.  She also told us how important and meaningful the prayer shawls have been in several instances in her work and travels.  Her enthusiasm and her dedication sent us on our journey homeward with a renewed spirit.