Our last meeting in person—at which we wanted to learn  whatever we could about Covid-19—was on March 21, 2020. Then everything shut down. We were, however, able to continue with part of our program during the pandemic, although having Zoom meetings with the girls could be a challenge. (Those Zoom meetings have continued through the time of writing in June 2021.) One of their blessings was that we could have our World Day of Prayer service—prepared by a different country of the World Council each year— on September 29, 2020 with members on a national level, and we created a wider community outside our branches.

Aside from Zoom, for Thanksgiving and Christmas, St, Margaret’s branch provided members of the community with survival shopping bags containing personal items, fruits, candy, and cookies along with a leaflet of prayers for each day of the week. St. Luke’s gave children’s gifts to the hospital. St. Luke’s branch had their fish dinner fundraiser on Good Friday this year. We were able to do our service project for the community. We are hopeful that we will reopen in person in September.

The St. Margaret’s and St. Luke’s branches of the Girl’s Friendly Society are part of the Girls’ Friendly Society of the Episcopal Church, which is in turn part of the worldwide Girl’s Friendly Society in the Anglican Communion. Girl’s Friendly Society is in seven dioceses on a national level and 26 countries worldwide.

For information about GFS/USA, contact: Angel Bookal Starke @ St. Luke’s Church

Patricia Bryant @ St. Margaret’s Church