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.

Getting to Know-Frederick B. Howden Chapter, Santa Fe

The Frederick B. Howden Chapter of The Order of the Daughters of the King at Holy Faith, dedicated to prayer, service and evangelism, enters its 71st year with a more inward, contemplative focus, using as a guide the acclaimed book Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening by Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault. 
Father Semon is Chaplain to the chapter, which is named for Bishop Howden, who was Missionary Bishop of New Mexico and Southwest Texas in 1913. The Chapter was organized at The Church of the Holy Faith in June of 1942 with seven members.  Now at 40 members, we meet monthly, September through May, beginning with Evening Prayer in the Chapel, followed by a brief business meeting and a study related to our assigned reading.  Afterwards, we have light refreshments provided by volunteer hostesses, and a special time for fellowship – an integral part of our Order! In the photo below, chapter members celebrate their 70 year anniversary!

This past December we dispensed with our usual meeting format and held a joyous Christmas Tea after Evening Prayer and Service of Admission with the taking of vows by our three new members, Cha Foxhall, Janice McAninch and Carolyn Gentry.  We celebrated the season welcoming these new Daughters and also honoring our Daughter Lynsey Bernard with a few gifts for her baby due to join us in January!
Last June DOK hosted an exciting retreat entitled “Joy Inspired by the Holy Spirit - Realizing and Using Our Gifts.”  Held at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Retreat & Conference Center near St. John’s College, the goal of the retreat was to help participants refresh their Christian spirituality by focusing on the gifts and guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Holy Faith clergy were present and participated in this highly successful event.
Planning for a late summer 2013 retreat is underway, and details will be forthcoming.  Meanwhile, the Frederick B. Howden DOK Chapter continues with the following activities and programs in its 71st year:
Prayers without ceasing for those in need – We use the Parish Prayer List and our own Rule of Prayer to intercede for those in need, and issue emergency prayer requests to our membership as they are received by our Order. 
Layette program – Essential items needed for newborns continue to be purchased, packaged and distributed to young mothers in need.
Custom pillow cases for the sick - Beautiful pillow cases are embroidered, and are offered to members and other parishioners for people who are ill. They are embroidered with the words “The Daughters of the King are praying for you.”

Holy Faith is hosting a retreat titled: "Pray, Love, Remember"  led by Deborah Smith Douglas on Feb. 9. More info and registration forms can be found on the DRG Women's Blog.