Minto United Church’s United Church Women (UCW) group is celebrating its 60th anniversary and is inviting past and present members — and family and friends — to join in the celebrations.
The event occurs on Sunday, Nov. 13, with a church service at 10:30 a.m., followed by a lunch and program afterward in the hall.
The anniversary theme is “Past, Present and Future.”
This celebration is actually nationwide because it was in 1962 when several women’s groups in the United Church of Canada joined to form the UCW, explained Jan Coward, Minto UCW chairwoman. Locally, the ladies of Minto UCW work in and fundraise for their church and support the wider community through outreach activities.
“I think it’s very important. They’re very important girls, very important,” she said, noting the group is always looking for new members.
Coward joined Minto’s UCW nine years ago because she wanted to be involved in her church. When she was younger, she taught a United Church program called Canadian Girls in Training (CGIT) and belonged to a UCW. After moving to Moose Jaw over a decade ago, she joined to make friends and help her parish.
One member she has come to know well is Vivian Wilson, who has been a member of Minto UCW for all 60 years, which is a “pretty special” accomplishment.
“She is our angel. She is our angel in UCW and she is our angel in the church. And she is a guiding light. She is a pretty special gal,” Coward said. “She joined when she was a young bride and raised her four children … and did a lot of work with the UCW.”
Wilson is Minto’s kitchen and lunch co-ordinator and has a knack for knowing if even a teaspoon is moved, and while she works independently, she directs the group during suppers, teas or funeral lunches, the UCW president added. She can also quickly determine how many bread loaves are needed if 100 people are coming for lunch.
It was 1962 when Wilson moved to Moose Jaw and joined the UCW, right as the other women’s groups were combining into one, she explained. There were about 60 women who formed the first UCW; there are about 20 members now.
“I always went to church, but I was raised a Lutheran. And when I got married, my husband was United. So, when we came to Moose Jaw, Minto was the closest United Church, so that’s where we went,” she continued.
“I joined the women’s group because I wanted to be involved.”
With a chuckle, she agreed that she does oversee the kitchen, and people must see her first for approval before buying anything. Whether it’s a lunch or anniversary, she co-ordinates it all.
Wilson recalls the UCW over the decades being involved with — and participating in — more activities, such as creating cookbooks and holding a “Cookie Walk.” That event saw members create 264 cookies, with customers taking an ice cream pail, filling it, and then paying by weight.
“That went over really big for a few years. But now we don’t have enough people to do that,” said Wilson, adding the Cookie Walk is one of her favourite memories because it was so fun.
“I enjoy the Minto UCW. I enjoy all the women. I like to work,” she added.
Wilson made clear she isn’t the only Minto UCW member who has been with the group since its founding, as there are also three other ladies. Furthermore, she knows there are several others at St. Andrew’s and Zion, for a total of 15 women in Moose Jaw.
“The UCW is important in the church,” she added. “It brings people together. It’s fun.”
Minto United Church is at 1036 Seventh Avenue Northwest.
