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Addendum - Part 1

1988 was the year of great change in the organization of the Women's Association. These changes were brought about following the merger of the north and south Presbyterian Churches, with the idea of blending the concepts of each group for their mutual benefit. The changes were approved by the General Assembly in 1987 and set in motion in 1988. Beginning in January, 1989 our women had new bylaws, a new purpose, a new relationship with General Assembly though the Women's Unit, new leadership concepts, and most of all a whole new vocabulary: Women's Association became PW (Presbyterian Women); Presbyterial had been dropped in favor of PWPD (Presbyterian Women in Presbytery of Detroit); meetings are now "gatherings". The Association's political type of structure was changed to a collegial style of leadership headed by a Coordinating Team; officers became Moderators, Vice-Moderators or Members-at-Large; Chairpersons became Chairs but Secretaries and Treasurers retained their titles. Each Church was assigned an "Enabler" - a trained volunteer who provided support services to PW in the congregation. Despite all the changes, the center of life remains the same. That center was and is Jesus Christ.

Passage of time has taken its toll of our original supper groups which were so active at the beginning of this half century. Homebuilders and Married Mariners are gone. But time and tide wait for no man and in their stead we have Our Night Out (young married) and Tie Binders in place of Three Score and Ten. Presbys continues on, joined by a number of former Married Mariners.

We have Sealarks, women alone, organized in 1981; Moms R Us, a discussion group for young mothers; M and M's, people in their thirties and forties; Fan Club, friends and neighbors catering to the senior citizen; The Couples Fellowship, enrichment of marriage through Bible study and prayers and the Christian Book Review Club.

Other fellowship groups not now active were the Square Dance Club formed in 1973; Green Thumb for gardeners; SOLO for single adult men and women established in 1977 and Singles Together in Christ.

Again, ministering to the whole person our drama group and our Dance Club have added an artistic outlet for our young members, unexcelled by professional standards. We organized the Sandbox Players as long ago as 1964. The Westminster Players are well-known for many of their productions, some of which were Pure as the Driven Snow, Drop in the Bucket, Gaslight, A Thurber Carnival, Solid Gold Cadillac, The Four Poster. We have staged several talent shows. Our very active Dance Club performs at least once each year with their proceeds going to different charitable groups.

A few of the performing art groups from outside our Church who have presented their talents for us were Deerfield Illinois Youth Choir presenting Jesus Christ Super Star; Cumberland College Choir: Marysville, Tennessee College Choir; Payap College Dance Club; Alma College Choir; and Covenant Choir, Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Not all of our activities have been for study but for Christian fellowship. We have sponsored women's bowling, men's softball teams, ski trip, hayrides and couple's bowling. We have arranged trips to Tiger baseball games and University of Michigan football games. We enjoyed trips to Attic Theater and Windsor Theater. We have planned adult bike rides, trips to Bob-Lo, visits to Cedar Point and to the Detroit Zoo. We have had Youthaiders' bridge tournaments, couples' bridge, paper drives, sleigh rides, roller skating. basketball tournaments and car washes. We participated in ladies' softball, golf outings and apple-picking excursions.

Because of those many trips and jaunts we purchased a twelve-passenger van in 1975. Only now must the vehicle he replaced.

Truly, with Christian overtones, we have provided "something for everyone".

In 25th chapter of Matthew's gospel, Good News Bible, we read, "Lord, I was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave are drink; I was a stranger and you received me into our houses, naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me, in prison and you visited me. The righteous will then answer him: 'When, Lord, did we ever see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we ever see you a stranger and welcome you in our homes, or naked and clothe you? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?" The King will answer back, 'I tell you, indeed, whenever you did this for one of the least important of
these brothers of mine, you did it for me!" Our charitable giving has reached, literally to the ends of this earth and we hope that the lesson learned from Matthew prompted us to action.

Just a few of the places receiving our monetary gifts, in the ecumenical field, are Ludhiana Hospital, India; Chiang Mai Mission, Thailand; Iona School, Jamaica; St. Paul's Church, Kenya; Ethiopia and Merida. We have contributed to American Bible Society, Wycliffe Bible Society, Portuguese Bible Society and Gideon Bible Society.

Other missions receiving our help have been Payap University, Thailand; Waldensian Society, Italy; Taiwan; Ramon Celes, Yucatan; Guatemala Earthquake victims; Newton Hospital, Punjab, India; Baring College, India; Indonesia; Moffett, Seoul, Korea.

Some of the national projects we have assisted include: Camp Ozone, Tennessee; Kayenta; Louisville Seminary and Princeton University. Others have been Indiana tornado victims; Buckhorn, Kentucky; Presbyterian Layman; Holt International Adoption Agency; San Angelo, Texas Presbyterian Church; Michigan Council of Churches; Gary, Indiana Neighborhood House; and Nazareth Church, Texas. Colleges we have helped financially are Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa Valley, North Carolina; Mary Holmes Junior College; Alma College; and Campus Crusade for Christ. In Alaska we have assisted Jackman Boat Mission, Ketchikan Presbyterian Church and Skagway Church.

Closer to home we have contributed to Camp Grindley, Mack Avenue Teen Center, South Oakland Mobile Meals, Rose Bell and FISH. Still others are Detroit General Hospital, Poor Patients Fund, Detroit Council of Churches, Royal Oak Halfway House, Afro-American Mission and reconstruction after the race riots in Detroit. The list continues: Drake House; Youth Island; Presbyterian Village; Institute of Advanced Pastoral Studies; TV School; Spanish Mission in Detroit; SYNANON; Detroit Parent-Child Center; Royal Oak Drug Addict Center; Christian Development Fund; and Detroit Suicide Center. Others have been Neighborhood House and the Baptist Children's Home, now Judson Center. Detroit Presbyterian Churches include Trumbull Avenue, Grandale, Warren, Southwest, St. Andrews and Sashabaw. Continuing the list are Royal Oak Salvation Army, Christian Communication Council, Focus Hope and Cass Corridor ministry.

In addition to the monetary gifts we have contributed good used clothing, food, books, medical supplies, blankets and knitted articles to mission projects needing our help. Nor, do we turn away worthy, needy transients who might come to our church doors asking for help. We no longer give them money but we do donate chits for food or gasoline if that be the nature of their request. Our own members requiring temporary monetary relief may receive assistance from our Deacons' Fund.

On a more personal plane, our members are encouraged to volunteer their services as kitchen workers or drivers for South Oakland Mobile Meals and as helpers with the South Oakland Shelter program.

Verily, we have followed the old saying, "What you give, you can never lose."