Have you ever Wondered...?

Thanks to the persistence of Sandy Martin of the Santa Rosa Chapter in Las Cruces and previous Diocesan President, we have some answers to questions you may have wondered about Daughters, but didn’t know who to ask.

 The National Offices says that there are 1,811 U.S. chapters, 220 international chapters, for a total of approximately 30,000 Daughters!

 Grace Sears, former National President and now Archive Chair fills in some other details:

 “Attached (at right) is a scan of an article Margaret Franklin wrote in 1894, just 9 years after the Order was founded. I don't know why I only scanned the first page--I still need to get a copy of the facing half page. 

 In her article, Margaret Franklin says that a committee of the original 8 members came up with a design for a "badge" and a motto. It sounds as if those decisions were made the same year, 1885, as the Easter Eve service that we regard as the beginning of the Order.

 The committee borrowed the motto from a popular motivational speaker and writer of the time, a Unitarian minister who became chaplain of the Senate. His name was Edward Everett Hale, and several versions of the words, "What I can do, I ought to do" are attributed to him. I have never seen a written source of exactly those words.

 What the Daughters did was add a line that changed the "oughts" into a prayer: Lord, what would you have me do?

 I also have a copy of a booklet published by the Order in 1892, apparently to introduce themselves to potential chapters. It includes the first constitution, adopted in 1891, but later amended at the first convention in 1893. It also includes the prayer of the Order, a somewhat longer version than the prayer we use today, but definitely the same prayer.  Who wrote it?  It was probably a collaboration, but that information has not come down to us. But we do know that the first Council in 1891, including the original members, adopted the Order's prayer as well as a constitution that names the Order's colors and describes its cross.”

What Happened At Assembly

 Assembly 2014 at Holy Faith in Santa Fe was attended by 50 women from around the Diocese. The Frederick B. Howden Chapter did a lovely job hosting the event. The theme for Assembly this year was, “We are One in the Spirit…and we Serve”. A few highlights from Assembly:

Welcome bags at registration were
filled with lots of goodies

Assembly Business

After Morning Prayer on Saturday, the business meeting was held. President's report is here. The exciting news is that we have 2 new chapters (Redeeming Grace in Carlsbad, and Santiago in Taos), plus a chapter in discernment at St. Matthew’s, Los Lunas. New Jr. Daughters have been added and other chapters are growing as well. The finance report was shared by Brenda Restivo, Treasurer. Although Assembly ended up being a bit over budget, the bottom line remains solid.
There were 7 ministries nominated for the grants this year at Assembly. The Layette Ministry of the Frederick B. Howden Chapter at Holy Faith, and the Casa de Amore Para Ninos Ministry, nominated by the Shepherd’s Daughters Chapter at Good Shepherd were awarded $642.50 each. The Diocesan Borderlands Ministry was also supported by $470 from the sale of baskets, and a backseat full of donations was sent to Compassionate Response.
Remember dues ($40) are to be gathered and sent to National by September 1! Chapter reports received can be viewed on the Chapter page of the blog.

Diocesan Assembly next year will be hosted by Shepherd’s Daughters in Silver City on August 7-8, 2015 with the theme, “We are One in the Spirit…and we Share”. I am considering having a retreat for all presidents on Friday before the Assembly opens and hope to have some of our Junior Daughters in attendance. We will have elections for officers, so please be in prayer for those who will be raised up to serve as our officers for the next three years. If God is nudging you, let me know!

Assembly Worship

Candles lighted in remembrance of
Daughters gone before

On Saturday morning, we gathered at Holy Faith Church for Morning Prayer and a moving sermon about Mary and Martha of Bethany by Diocesan Chaplain Jeanne Lutz. Before lunch, we had corporate communion, with another good sermon about bread and leaven. At the Eucharist, we remembered the 7 Daughters who have gone home to the Lord this past year. Jeanne’s sermons can be viewed on the Women's Ministry YouTube Channel and/or read or printed.

Our Assembly Speaker

The Assembly opened with a lovely dinner at the Sage Inn in Santa Fe, followed by the first talk given by our speaker, Marilyn Lawson, the Prov. 7 Daughters of the King Service Chair. She shared how her childhood experiences as her mother’s ‘apprentice’ in service helped her learn how important it is to serve one another. She noted, “We as Daughters of The King are to imitate that servant’s attitude in our own lives” and gave us 1 Peter 1:13-25 to meditate on.


Marilyn’s talks continued after the business meeting. She reminded us that “Daughters of the King will encounter Christ in those they serve. Those served will encounter Christ in YOU.” She said, “I encourage each of you to live our Rule of Service.” She noted that LOVE should be our primary reason for service and that we serve best when we explore areas where we are most connected. Marilyn stressed the importance of mentoring girls through Jr. Daughters. Juniors do not have to be Episcopalian and this can be a wonderful outreach to girls in your community, some of whom may have had greater life experiences than we have ourselves. It is important to help them find grounding and faith in a turbulent world. She also suggested looking at ministry to special populations (prison, mental illness, disability, bereavement, elderly, young adult, etc.). 

Marilyn Lawson with VP Peggy Way,
Treasurer Brenda Restivo and Barbara Caldwell

Marilyn shared many ideas for service from her own diocese (TX) and members present shared some service projects they are involved in including pillowcase dresses for Africa, community suppers in Ruidoso, an after school program in Silver City, and support of a medical mission to Honduras by the Carlsbad chapter.

Marilyn’s notes can be downloaded. I hope you will take time to at least skim through her notes. There are some really good ideas, including an exercise you could do as a chapter.
Videos of Marilyn's talks are on the Women's Ministry YouTube channel. (The Friday evening did not record well, so you'll have to read her story by downloading the notes.)

What’s Coming

Initial information about Triennial 2015 on June 19-23 in UT is here. Watch the Royal Cross for complete details. The registration will be $400 for the 4 days of Triennial and rooms are estimated to be about $100/night! Air travel might be around $4-500, and we are considering doing a van-pool if we can get enough interest. As an added bonus, the Prov. 7 Annual Assembly will be held in conjunction with Triennial so you only have to travel once and get 2 events. Each chapter can send a person as delegate! Consider getting someone from your chapter to attend if you cannot go yourself.

Don't Miss Assembly 2014: We are One in the Spirit...and we Serve

August 1-2: Diocesan Daughters of the King Assembly 2014 at Holy Faith, Santa Fe

The Frederick B. Howden Chapter is hard at work with plans to make this a fun and memorable Assembly. Most of us are staying at the Sage Inn, not far from the Plaza and church (the block room price of $104/night has expired, but some are still getting the hotel to give them that price). Share a room with a friend to split the cost. 
To make it easier on those traveling, we will gather on Friday evening (starting at 5PM) at the Sage Inn Sunrise Room for registration, light supper provided by the Chapter, and our first talk.
Saturday events, like the business meeting, Eucharist, and talks, will be at Holy Faith. Our host chapter is planning many lovely things for the Assembly in the way of welcome and meals.
After the Assembly there is the opportunity for a FREE private tour of the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. The hoped for visit to the Santa Fe Opera to see Carmen didn't work out cuz we didn't get enough interest in time to get the inexpensive seats. Maybe you just want to do some sight-seeing in the City Different and have dinner at La Fonda or one of the other delightful places in Santa Fe.
Registration forms for Assembly now available. The registration cost this year remains the same as last year ($40).
The theme is living our vow of Service. We'll hear from the Prov. 7 Service Chair, Marilyn Lawson.