EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN
ECW Spiritual Workshop and Potluck Tea
Saturday November 7 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Exploring Your Spiritual Gifts
Where do you feel a holy curiosity or joy? Are you listening to God’s call in your life’s journey?
Engage in a group exploration of your spiritual abilities, define your talents, and plan your next steps.
This experience will be navigated by: Rev. Deacon Marcia Blaize Callender
Join us for an afternoon potluck at CCR, sponsored by ECW, to share fellowship, learn, and reflect together in a community setting.
RSVP your attendance and indicate what treats you will bring (sweet or savory.) Teas provided by ECW. Donations welcomed -- with or without treats!
Email inquiries to ecw@christchurchriverdale.org.
Marcia Blaize Callender has served as the Rev. Deacon at Saint Michael’s Episcopal
Church on the Upper West Side of Manhattan since October 2024. Prior to
accepting her call to pursue the ministry of a Vocational Deacon, Marcia grew up
in home rooted in faith, honoring our history and celebrating the arts. Most
importantly we were taught that we were all gloriously and lovingly made by God. Marcia lives out those lessons in her life and in the lives of others, embracing the
possibilities, recognizing how truly special we all are, doing more than we can
imagine. “Our world is getting smaller, and we are called to step out of our
comfortable places and trust where the Spirit leads to make a difference with the gifts
we have been given”.
Since 1871, the National Episcopal Church Women (ECW) have championed women’s rights and the Christian foundation of God and family. They are a ministry of the Episcopal Church and celebrate that Episcopalians believe in a loving, liberating, and life-giving God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Their women’s ministry and children’s programs feed, educate, and provide community grants around the world. They are a volunteer organization that creates a legacy for Episcopal Church Women to lead future generations with stewardship in Christ.
The ECW at Christ Church Riverdale, Bronx, New York, supported by Reverend Emily Anderson Lukanich and the Vestry, reactivated their Parish chapter in 2026. ECW aims to empower CCR women through gatherings, spiritual growth, and fellowship. The Daughters of Bethany Daughters of the King (DOK) chapter, established in 2020, supports this effort and will collaborate to further Christ’s work. ECW Officers are: Stephanie Mitchell (President), Mandy Colgan (Vice President), Sarah Rybka (Treasurer), Elizabeth Weeks (Secretary), and Aija Sears (Altar Guild/DOK representative) and will be presented for approval for commissioning and installation later this year. The Lenten United Thank Offering (UTO) sponsored by ECW raised nearly $700 before its May submission.
Our first annual general meeting, an afternoon tea on Saturday, May 9, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., was a great success! Dianne Roberts, ECW Province II Chair, was our guest speaker.
Learn about ECW’s purpose and ministry to empower women of the Episcopal Church to carry out Christ’s work. Gather to meet other women of the CCR community. Grow your relationship with God and others through spirituality, fellowship and prayer.
