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The Girls’ Friendly Society (GFS) is a
worldwide organization of women and girls throughout the Anglican Communion that
has been in existence in the United States since 1877. The organization ministers to girls of
every race, creed and religion. We
have a fourfold program of worship, study, service to others and
recreation. Our purpose is to
provide a program that includes all of the
above, focusing on girls from 5-21.
There has been a GFS Branch at St.
James’ for over 50 years. Both the
junior and senior groups meet on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. This year as part of their focus on
service to others the girls have raised money for Episcopal Relief and
Development, specifically for Katrina relief, continued to support St. Mary’s
Bainbridge by baking cookies once a month for their soup kitchen, shopped for
Christmas gifts for children at St. Mary’s Family Respite Center and collected
socks for Covenant House.
In addition the senior girls cleaned a
trail at the Lower Providence Township Park and made fleece blankets for a
senior center. The junior group
enjoyed making Easter candy which they will share with St. Mary's
Bainbridge. Our teenagers have also
accepted responsibility for supplying communion bread for parish use at services
of Holy Eucharist.
On May 13th we celebrate GFS
Day, when all branches in the Diocese of Pennsylvania come together at one
location for fun and fellowship.
Each Branch will showcase their activities over this past year. There will be games and songs and each
girl will make a prayer bead bracelet.
The day ends with worship that will highlight the prayer beads and their
use in worship.
Each summer the girls can attend a week
of summer camp at the GFS Holiday House in Cape May, New Jersey. Senior girls are eligible to serve as
part of the Holiday House wait staff during the months of July and August.
A very enthusiastic sponsors’ group who
support the work of the girls is active within the Diocese of Pennsylvania. Angie Myshko, co-chair of the
diocesan sponsors' group can be reached via email at
gfsangie@verizon.net.
If you would like more information about
the Girl's Friendly Society at St. James, please email gbl@cblenet.net.
We invite all girls from the parish and local community to join us.
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