“It is not the intelligent woman v. the ignorant woman; nor the white woman v. the black, the brown, and the red, it is not even the cause of woman v. man. Nay, tis woman’s strongest vindication for speaking that the world needs to hear her voice.”
Anna Julia Cooper is regarded as one of the most noted African American intellectuals in history. However, her name is not as popularly known as her male counterparts of the same era such as Booker T. Washington and Frederick Douglass. Her life is one of perseverance, determination, and triumph over adversity. One can only imagine that she must have been tenacious and dedicated to her principles. She was born in 1858 to an enslaved mother and her white slaveholder. She spent her life educating black youth and advocating for black women. Cooper was the fourth African American to earn a Ph.D. – and did it all while raising five children that she adopted after her brother died. The Anna Julia Cooper Center at Wake Forest University gives a summary of her biography:
US Postal Service 2008
“…Anna Julia Cooper spent her lifetime of over a century redefining the limitations and opportunities for women of color in a society set up for their disempowerment and subjugation. A distinguished scholar and educator, Cooper saw the status and agency of black women as central to the equality and progress of the nation.(more…)
“The achievements, leadership, courage, strength and love of the women who built America was as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well.” -President Jimmy Carter, 1980
The month of March has been recognized as Women’s History Month in the United States since 1987. In 1978, the week of March 8th, which is recognized as International Women’s Day, was celebrated as “Women’s History Week” by the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County (California) Commission on the Status of Women. This began a movement over the next few years, which led to President Carter’s 1980 Presidential Proclamation recognizing the week of March 8th as National Women’s History Week:
“From the first settlers who came to our shores, from the first American Indian families who befriended them, men and women have worked together to build this nation. Too often the women were unsung and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed. But the achievements, leadership, courage, strength and love of the women who built America was as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well.
As Dr. Gerda Lerner has noted, “Women’s History is Women’s Right.” – It is an essential and indispensable heritage from which we can draw pride, comfort, courage, and long-range vision.”
I ask my fellow Americans to recognize this heritage with appropriate activities during National Women’s History Week, March 2-8, 1980.
I urge libraries, schools, and community organizations to focus their observances on the leaders who struggled for equality – – Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, Lucy Stone, Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Harriet Tubman, and Alice Paul.
Understanding the true history of our country will help us to comprehend the need for full equality under the law for all our people.
This goal can be achieved by ratifying the 27th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which states that “Equality of Rights under the Law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.”
President Jimmy Carter’s Message to the nation designating March 2-8, 1980 as National Women’s History Week.
A Congressional resolution on Women’s History Week received bi-partisan support in 1981, and several states began to declare the month of March as Women’s History Month over subsequent years. In 1987, Congress declared March as National Women’s History Month in perpetuity. A special Presidential Proclamation is issued every year which honors the extraordinary achievements of American women.
Throughout the month of March, Oakton CoB will be highlighting the achievements of women; some of whom are famous for their inspirational stories, and some who may be less famous, but no less inspiring. Who are the women who have inspired you to persevere? Whom do you look to as a role model in your life of faith? Who is your heroine of women’s history?
The third annual Oakton Women’s Retreat will be held the weekend of March 9 through 11 at Shepherd’s Spring Retreat Center in Sharpsburg, MD. The theme of the retreat is “Reclaiming an Unnamed Woman in Scripture: Implications for Our Lives” and Rev. Kathie Kurtz will lead us.
The women in our church have a wonderful time of study, reflection, relaxation, and fellowship. We pray for the women attending this year’s retreat to have a similarly restful and renewing weekend.
Registration is due by February 21st. Please contact Shirley Roth or Kim Ferrari for further information.
Advent Worship services begin Sunday, November 27th
Join us during the season of Advent, as we prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of Christ at Christmas! Oakton Church of the Brethren incorporates seasonal music for piano, organ, cello, violin, and brass quartet. The service includes scripture lessons, a children’s story and a sermon as we come together in prayer. Every service offers a loving children’s ministry. Each Sunday of Advent, we light another Advent candle.
All visitors are welcome throughout the season of Advent and Christmas!
Sunday, December 4th 5:00 pm Prepare your hearts and minds for the Christmas Season! Join us for the annual Christmas Festival starting with cider, special live music, and a toasty fire outside the main doors. Afterwards, there will be an opportunity to sing some of your favorite Christmas carols, followed by inspiring music and a program performed by our children that will keep you in the true Christmas spirit throughout the year. We will conclude the evening with dinner and social time in the fellowship hall.
Saturday, December 17th 5:00 pm Caroling at family residences is a favorite tradition. We will meet at the church at 5:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome to join us. If you, or anyone you know, would appreciate a visit by the carolers, please contact the church office. All carolers are invited to a meal in the church fellowship hall following this event.
Saturday, December 24th 7:00 pm All are welcome for a communion and candle lighting service. Come, and invite friends and family, for this joyous celebration and reconnect with the spiritual reason for the season.
Sunday, December 25th 11:00 am Christmas Day Worship service, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today, in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2.11
Thursday, November 17 & Friday, November 18 10:00 am – 7:00 pm and Saturday, November 19 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Oakton Church of the Brethren’s 23rd Annual Christmas Craft Show is a three-day event featuring a wide variety of handmade creations and craft supplies for purchase, plus a soup and sandwich lunch and bake sale. The church is located at 10025 Courthouse Rd., where Courthouse Rd. intersects Rt. 123 near Oakton. For more information, call the office at 703-281-4411. Office hours are M-F 9:00 am – 12:00 pm.
The event is a fundraiser for church projects. There is no admission charge.
Come browse around and find one-of-a-kind presents; cards, tags and gift bags; fall and holiday décor; kitchen accessories; ceramics; jewelry; soaps; baby and children’s items; pillows and linens; scarves, hats and other attire; pies and cakes; yarn, fabric and sewing notions and more!
Now Recruiting Crafters!
Crafter signups are now under way for Oakton Church of the Brethren’s annual Christmas Craft Show. The three-day show is consignment-shop style, staffed by church volunteers, freeing crafters to do another show that same weekend.
There is a $20 crafter sign-up fee and 10 percent of crafter sales go toward church projects.
Our show is a local holiday tradition now in its 23rd year! We actively publicize the event, and our prominent location helps us draw a crowd. Again this year the show will feature crafts and craft supplies, as well as sales of baked goods and lunchtime soup and sandwiches.
Interested crafters should contact the church at 703-281-4411 or email for more details. You can also find us on Facebook!
