Basic HTML Version
7
By PIERCE BUFORD
A challenge, crochet thread, crochet needles, busy hands,
and a love for mission equal Mary’s Miraculous Mission.
In 2008 Mary Weber as Synod of Living Waters Presbyterian
Women’s Moderator challenged the ladies to use their hands
to serve God. She had no idea that this challenge would
grow into one of the greatest mission fund raisers ever: Neck-
laces for Missions.
At every Clean Water training session, at PCUSA confer-
ences (including General Assembly), regional events, pres-
bytery and synod meetings, Presbyterian Women events, to
name a few, these crocheted necklaces are displayed (using
the special necklace holder display made by Jerry Vaughan).
The necklaces are often what attract people to the LWW
booth, providing an opportunity to share the LWW mission
project.
Sixteen faith groups have attended CWU. When they do-
nate for a necklace, people are given the instructions on how
the necklaces are made so that the mission project is contin-
ued in their church (and Rotary) groups. Alternative Christ-
mas markets are an excellent event to use the necklaces.
Presbyterian Women (and it is understood that some Pres-
byterian men) have been busy crocheting hundreds of neck-
laces to support missions – mainly the installation of water
purification systems. Most recently hundreds of necklaces
were crocheted by Presbyterian Women in the synod to use
at conferences in 2012. It is not unusual that the donations
received at events are enough to cover most of the event’s
expenses.
Mary says, “From the beginning this project has been
God’s. He is leading it and only He knows where it might
go next.”
Pierce Buford of Birmingham, Ala., travels widely to promote LWW.
Mary’s necklace project,
a miraculous mission
By KATHY VAUGHAN
After being home only a
week from General Assembly
in Pittsburgh, Pierce Buford
and Jerry and Kathy Vaughan
hit the road again to Orlando,
Fla., and the Presbyterian
Women’s Churchwide Gath-
ering. The convention theme,
“River of Hope,” used a water
theme in a variety of ways..
“Mary’s Miraculous Mis-
sion” was a booth feature with
a picture of Mary Weber and
“The Necklace Story” sur-
rounded with samples of the
1,000 necklaces that Mary and
many women in the Synod of
Living Waters made for con-
ventions this year.
Since Mary and her neck-
laces have raised several thou-
sand dollars to support LWW,
a vase engraved with LWW
was presented in her honor
at the Synod of Living Waters
luncheon (photo, page 9). A
big
thank you to Mary and the
women of our synod for their
continued support.
Many of the 2000 registered
for the gathering visited the
booth and received informa-
tion about what is new with
LWW. It is amazing to see how
the word has spread about
LWW as only three years ago
many had never heard of us.
Now many not only know
about it but some have been to
Clean Water U, are registered
to attend a session, or their
church has a mission team.
Kathy Angi and Pix Mahler
helped raise awareness about
LWW during a plenary session
when they made a presenta-
tion on their work in the
Ukraine and Haiti. Kathy and
Mary Beth Lysobey presented
a workshop entitled “Yes, You
CAN Organize a Clean Water
Mission Trip!” and a forum
entitled “Let the Clean Water
Flow”.
After those sessions many
visited the booth to learn
more about LWW and men-
tioned the plenary, forum,
or workshop they had just
attended. Thanks to Kathy,
Pix, and Mary Beth for helping
spread the word about LWW
through their presentations.
Kathy Vaughan, a CWU admin-
istrator, attends Highland Presbyte-
rian Church in Hopkinsville, Ky.
Pierce Buford, GA moderator Rev. Neal D. Presa, and Kathy and
Jerry Vaughan met at the LWW booth in Orlando.
LWW ‘travel team’ crosses many a mile