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  Marilyn Fortin

From the President:

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.  - Corinthians 12:4-7

As I reflect on my time as a Council Member I cannot help but be thankful for all the women who have worked so faithfully before me to make WICC what it is today. The building blocks are in place and we continue on to an exciting and invigorating future. I move into the position of President with a new Board of Directors. I have the wisdom and experience of familiar board members continuing on in their terms and the excitement of youth taking on board positions to stimulate and challenge us to be fresh and new. With a Council of 26 members we are as diverse geographically as we are culturally and denominationally.  Our sisters bring their many gifts of wisdom, knowledge, healing and dedication to this Council. Their dedication is expressed both in time spent away from home to attend Council meetings and in their continued work at home for the common good. Each time we come together we share our greatest gift - the gift of our Faith.

With thanks to many women across Canada we continue to have successful World Day of Prayer services. WICC continues to promote an educational day of preparation called the World Day of Prayer, Festival Day. This is an opportunity to learn in more detail about the country that wrote the WDP service and to share more of the rich diversity that exists within God's church, on the First Friday of March. Each year as the offerings increase, so do the World Day of Prayer Grants that are distributed in Canada and around the world to empower women and children.

The women on the Women's Inter-Church Council of Canada continue to write ecumenical, thoughtful and often times thought-provoking prayers for the Fellowship of the Least Coin, Prayer Concerns.

Ecumenism is the foundation upon which our Council was built. Without it there would be no sisterhood. Of course, we will always have the common bond of belonging to and serving the same God, but without recognizing what connects us, we miss the point of ecumenism completely. As I begin my Presidency, I know that we as a Council, will keep the spirit of community in our hearts and minds as we do the work we are called to do.

Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many.

-Corinthians: 14

This is the spirit of the Women’s Inter-Church Council of Canada

Blessings and Peace,