What is the Women’s Guild?
The Women’s Guild is a vital organization of the Armenian Church. It is comprised of women of all ages, who gather to share in fellowship and faith throughout the year. Each parish has a women’s guild, which is also connected to the Women’s Guild Central Council (see below). Apart from spearheading much of the cooking and baking that takes place for Church events, the guild also plans excursions and retreats. If you would like to participate in Women’s Guild and have fresh ideas please don’t hesitate to contact the pastor.
Women’s Guild Central Council
The Women’s Guild Central Council (WGCC) was established in 1986 to serve as a coordinating, advising, and communicating body for the local Women’s Guilds that function as integral parts of the life of every parish in the Eastern Diocese.
The mission of the Women’s Guild is to live and share the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ through worship, education, witness, service and fellowship as expressed in the distinctive faith-experience of the Armenian people. All women of the Armenian Church are called to participate fully in this mission.
With local parish guilds, WGCC sponsors a variety of national and international projects. Chief among these is the annual “Saintly Women’s Day” observance, benefitting Armenia’s children through the Children of Armenia Sponsorship Program (CASP), and its elderly via the Vanadzor Old Age Home (VOAH). Other benevolent, educational and cultural activities include the annual Women’s Guild Assembly and its “Woman of Wonder” awards luncheon, and the WGCC’s quarterly newsletter “Hye Reflections.”
For information, visit the WGCC’s Shutterfly share-site or its Facebook page. WGCC is eager to work with parishes seeking to build Women’s Guilds; contact the Women’s Guild Central Council at wgcc@armeniandiocese.org.