2018 A Year in Review

This has been a year of changes!  In June 2018, Kim Olivier was released as second counselor in the Stake Relief Society presidency.  She was replaced by Mendy Hunter of the Savage Mill Ward.  Then in December 2018, Cindy Erekson was released pending her move to Illinois and with her release, her counselors Lisa Larson and Mendy Hunter were also released.  Sister Debbie Wood was called as the new Stake Relief Society president with Camille Lund as First Counselor and Mendy Hunter as Second counselor.  They were sustained on 2 December 2018.  Lorie Pierce remained as Stake Relief Society Secretary.

Mendy Hunter (2nd Counselor), Cindy Erekson (Presdent), Lisa Larson (1st Counselor) - June 2018

Camille Lund (1st Counselor), Debbie Wood (President), Mendy Hunter (2nd Counselor) - December 2018

In addition to these changes, we have experienced the shift from twice yearly General Women’s Meetings becoming once yearly General Women’s Session of Conference, curriculum changes with the introduction of Council Sundays, the changes regarding Ministering replacing Visiting Teaching, and most recently the announcement of the 2 hour Sunday schedule with the introduction of Come Follow Me for home study.  It has been an exciting time to be part of the Church and part of the Relief Society.

Our Stake Relief Society held an activity in the Spring at which we served breakfast to 167 sisters and listened to an inspiring and uplifting message given by Sister Sandra Turley.  She helped us focus on Ministering in our lives personally and in our service to those around us.  We were richly blessed by the Spirit as Sister Turley shared the gift of her voice and her heart and her testimony of the Savior.

Lisa Larson, Sandra Turley & Daughters, Cindy Erekson, Kim Olivier - 28 April 2018

At our 2017 Stake Relief Society Women’s Conference, we began a quilt.  With the help of the Hampstead Ward Young Women, that quilt was completed and donated to a homeless shelter in April 2018.

The Stake Relief Society presidency held two leadership training meetings with the ward and branch Relief Society presidencies during 2018.  We discussed Ministering, Council Sundays and the 2 hour Sunday schedule change as well as local concerns.  Each meeting was held as a council meeting to practice and reinforce the principle of counseling together.

We again in December were assigned to provide meals to the missionaries serving at the Washington DC Temple Visitor’s Center during their Festival of Lights.  This year we were assigned 6 days and sisters from the following wards/branches fulfilled this assignment: Columbia 1st, Columbia 2nd, Clarksville, Ellicott City, Eldersburg, and Savage Mill.  Thank you to the sisters who helped us accomplish this task!

-Lorie Pierce

Stake RS Secretary