Church Women United of the Barrington Area

All women are encouraged and most welcome to attend our three annual celebrations of worship and fellowship: World Day of Prayer, Friday, March 4, 2011, 1:00 p.m., at Cary United Methodist Church, Cary; May Friendship Day will be 7:00 p.m. Monday, May 9, 2011 at Lutheran Church of the Atonement, Barrington; and World Community Day, 10:45 a.m. Friday, November 4, 2011, The Community Church of Barrington.

Church Women United of the Barrington Area includes the following communities: Barrington, Fox River Grove, Lake Zurich, Cary, Wauconda, Island Lake and Prairie Grove.

WE ARE CHURCH WOMEN UNITED...biblically based through our shared Christian faith...gifted by our diversity of race, economics, age, theology...organized into 1,600 local and 52 state units to work for peace and justice...empowered through study and worship to act on behalf of women and children worldwide...financially supported by our constituency and faith groups.

OUR GOALS ARE...to deepen our understanding of what it means to be Christian women of faith in today's world...to develop a visible, ecumenical community...to achieve a more just, caring and peaceful society...to use responsibly and creatively the resources God has entrusted to us - our intelligence, time, energy and money.






Church Women United of the Barrington Area invites you to...

World Community Day

Friday, November 4, 2011
10:45 am -1:30 pm
The Community Church of Barrington
407 South Grove Ave., Barrington
(847) 381-1294

10:45 a.m. worship service followed by an agape luncheon

World Community Day (WCD) unites local faith communities to focus on justice and peace in the global society. Prayers for peace and justice are needed more than ever. This year's celebration relates the goals of justice and mercy from Micah to Jesus' demand that we re-examine our own hypocrisy.

This year's WCD celebration is very special. This will be the final celebration hosted by Church Women United of the Barrington Area. After 55 years, this local unit will be disbanding. It is fitting that the scripture for the celebration comes from the prophet Micah and asks us, "what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" We will be looking back at the work CWU of the Barrington Area has done these past years--working for peace and justice, to make a difference in the world-- as well as looking forward to God's plan for each of us.

Please bring a sandwich and a piece of fruit to share at the agape meal that follows the worship service. Beverages and dessert will be provided.

Attendees are invited to bring pencils, pink erasers, wide-ruled loose leaf notebook paper, 24 count crayons, and/or glue sticks which will be given to Beyer School in Rockford.




Church Women United of the Barrington Area honored nine Inspiring Women from as many churches for their dedication and contributions reflecting their faith, at the annual May Friendship Day. The event was held at Lutheran Church of the Atonement, Barrington.

From left to right: Jennifer Bullandr, Community Church of Barrington; Lorel Cunningham, St. Paul United Church of Christ, Barrington; Emily Tilsy, Salem United Methodist Church, Barrington; Geri Meyer, Federated Church of Wauconda; Sam Oliver, Barrington United Methodist Church; Sally Hilgendorf, Presbyterian Church of Barrington; Marianne Silhavy, Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Cary; Pat Kolasinski, St. Anne Catholic Community, Barrington; Peggy Lyons, Lutheran Church of the Atonement, Barrington



Church Women United of the Barrington Area has honored Candee Nustra and Linda Osikowicz with the Valiant Woman award. Local, State and National Units of Church Women United each year may name a woman who has given service to Church Women United, her own church, and/or her community for an extended period of time, and who lives the Gospel message in her everyday life. Many have noted about both women that they go above and beyond Candee Nustra has served as President of the Barrington Area Unit, which includes active participation by eighteen churches in Barrington, Cary, Fox River Grove, Lake Zurich, Prairie Grove and Wauconda. Her organizational skills, honed by her experience in the U.S. Navy, have been well used. She is active in the Unit's prison ministries and regularly helps in the kindergarten at Rockford's Beyer Elementary School which serves families of incarcerated parents. Ms. Nustra is a member of Wauconda Federated Church, where she is active in Sunday School, choir, Fellowship of Church Women and has served on many committees and commissions. She is a regular visitor at nursing homes taking part in worship and fellowship services. She is married to Dr. Frank Nustra, a dentist; they are the parents of two children and have a grandson. For many years, Ms. Nustra was office manager of her husband's office. Her many talents are used in hobbies that are creative and generously given. Linda Osikowicz, a member of Barrington United Methodist Church, has served as Program Chairman of CWU/BA, adapting worship and educational materials to leave participants with new ideas and opportunities for service. Trained as an elementary school teacher, she has been a Christian Education teacher and is very active in the United Methodist Women's organization, serving in many leadership roles, doing detail-oriented publicity work and offering creative ideas in the group's mission projects. She is active with the local CROP Walk and other community services and was a Girl Scout leader. Squeezed in with these activities, Ms. Osikowicz works in an office three days a week. She and her husband, Ron, are Deer Park residents and the parents of two college age children. Her hobbies include sewing, and as a mother, she sewed many costumes for her daughter's theater endeavors.