FSUMC United Women of Faith celebrates 65th anniversary

The United Women of Faith (UWF) at Fenimore Street United Methodist Church (FSUMC) in Brooklyn over the weekend commemorated its 65th Anniversary with a gala banquet on Saturday and a Special Worship Service on Sunday.

The gala banquet took place at Glen Terrace on Avenue N in Brooklyn, and the Special Worship Service was held in lieu of the regular 11:00 a.m. Worship Service at FSUMC, corner of Rogers Avenue and Fenimore Street.

The celebrations were held under the theme, “United Women in Faith with a Purpose: Celebrating 65 Years and Counting!”

During the gala banquet, which served as the Anniversary Luncheon, three members/former members were honored.

The Women’s Day Choir. Photo by Nelson A. King

They were: New Orleans-born Dr. Marguerite Casanave Thompson, “a treasured member of the Fenimore Street United Methodist Women in Faith”; Dr. Andrea Patricia Smith, currently serving as pastor of Bethany United Methodist Church, in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, whose parents were Barbadian immigrants; and Jamaican-born the Rev. Heidi Nurene Thomas, pastor at Bethel United Methodist Church and Bushwick Parish United Methodist Church – both also in Brooklyn.

“As we celebrate our sapphire birthday, we thank Dr. Maguerite C. Thompson, Muriel Johnson (deceased) and our founding mothers for creating, planting and passing the mantle to all our leaders and members,” said Marlene Ferguson, the Trinidadian-born chair of the Anniversary Committee, in the souvenir journal.

“Your hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed; and, today, we are the largest local unit in the New York Conference, with 29 years of Five Star Pledging and Gold Mission,” she added.

UWF President, African-American Benita Lynn Malloy, said she admired and respected FSUMC’s UWF for “carrying out” the organization’s purpose.

“Over the years, your tireless efforts to service children, youth and women in various capacities have not gone unnoticed,” she said in the journal. “You are an inspiration to our church community and the community-at-large.”

Rev. Roger Jackson, pastor of Fenimore Street United Methodist Church, addresses the congregation.Photo by Nelson A. King

The church’s African-American Pastor, the Rev. Roger Jackson, a native New Yorker, congratulated the UWF, stating that they have “exemplified first and foremost Christ-like characteristics through the various interactions with each other and the community-at-large through the church’s outreach ministries.

“In your work for the Kingdom of God, you have proven to seek to connect and nurture one another through Christian spiritual formation,” he also said in the souvenir journal.

“I commend you for being united to Christ and women of faith in Christ, working and living for the Kingdom of God here on earth,” Pastor Jackson added.

Rev. Wendy Paul Paige, pastor of Kings Highway United Methodist Church, preaches ‘She’s Right.’ Photo by Nelson A. King

During the near-three-hour-long Special Worship Service on Sunday, the Rev. Wendy Paul Paige, pastor of Kings Highway United Methodist Church in Brooklyn, urged UWF members and other women to “stand together”.

“God is calling us to unite as a body,” preached Rev. Paul Paige, who earned a Master of Divinity degree from Drew University in New Jersey in 2014. “Unite because God says unite.

“I’m so overwhelmed that God shows us [that] when women are uniting, something impossible becomes possible,” she added, preaching on the topic, “She’s Right”. “So, women, let’s rally; let’s recognize that we’ve been spoon-fed some garbage.

“Think of all the greatness that God can manifest,” Pastor Paul Paige continued. “We are called to create, because that’s what we are.”

During the service, St. Lucian-born Susanna Emmamus-Amossah read the Women’s History Moment, focusing on Kamora Freeland, a senior at Kingsborough Early College High School in Brooklyn—an honors student who skipped 11th grade and is heading to Spelman College in the fall.

Emmamus-Amossah said Freeland has become the youngest African-American female pilot to earn her private license.

Harriet Gooding reads UWF Mission Moment. Photo by Nelson A. King

In reading the UWF Mission Moment, Barbadian-born Harriet Gooding said the group is celebrating 65 years in “Purpose and Mission Work, with the focus on women, children and youth.

“Throughout the year, we have spread our giving through scholarship funds to graduating students, hosting a Christmas celebration for children/youth, honoring special women, among other things,” she said.

“We will continue to carry on our motto, ‘Faith, Hope and Love in Action Can Change The World,’” Gooding added.

The Worship Service also featured, among other things, Praise and Worship and Musical Selection by the Women’s Day Choir; a “Litany of Remembrance,” read by Malloy; and a liturgical dance by Angelica Nedd.

UWF presented a bouquet of flowers to the church’s First Lady Kim Jackson and UWF pin to Pastor Paul Paige.

Displaying citation and proclamation from Mayor Eric Adams and State Assemblyman Brian Cunningham: From left, Shanae Als; Benita Lynn Malloy; Syndney Renwick, Cunningham’s chief-of-staff; and Marlene Ferguson. Pastor Roger Jackson is at back. Photo by Nelson A. King

UWF received a proclamation from Mayor Eric Adams, declaring Sunday, March 10, 2024 as “Fenimore Street United Women in Faith Day.”

The group also received a proclamation honoring its “commitment to invaluable service” from New York State Assemblyman Brian Cunningham, the Jamaican-American representative for the 43rd District that encompasses the church. Syndney Renwick, Cunningham’s chief-of-staff, presented the award on his behalf.

“We want to thank the United Women of Faith,” said Pastor Jackson at service’s end. “You know, if you want anything done, find some women who are busy. I love you.”