Marian Osburn submitted this final article.
Church Women United (CWU) is a National, ecumenical Christian women’s movement representing Protestant, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and other Christian women. Founded in 1941 as the United Council of Church Women, this organization has more than 1200 local and state units in the USA and Puerto Rico. CWU members represent 26 supporting denominations and organizations.
Church Women United in Morrison, IL, was organized January 11, 1965, with delegates from seven churches: First Presbyterian, Morrison United Methodist, Ebenezer Reformed, St. Anne’s Episcopal, St. Mary’s Catholic, Bethesda Lutheran, and First Baptist.
That first year they held the three traditional celebration days, namely World Day of Prayer, May Fellowship, and World Community Day.
The names have changed through the years, but the celebrations continued.
In May of 1967 the organization received certificate #75 that proclaimed that United Church Women of Morrison is a member of the United Church Women of Illinois, Inc.
Some of the projects that CWU started or helped with through the years are
- Least Coin
- Blanket Sunday
- Meals on Wheels
- International Thanksgiving Fellowship
- Morrison Friends Food Pantry.
Monetary donations given to Self Help, Pads, Helping Hands, Morrison Ministerial Association, and other organizations was raised by bake sales. Layettes and baby clothes and cleaning buckets were sent to Church World Service.
After 50-plus years of service to Morrison, IL, and the world, the CWU of Morrison, voted to disband earlier this year. Our members are getting older, our numbers smaller, but we still believe in the Power of Prayer and the love of our God.