By Sue Lewis
This year’s Orcas Island Community Church women’s luncheon theme is “Uniquely Gifted.” Together we will celebrate the women of Orcas who serve daily in our community with their many artistic and valuable life skills. Come see a beautiful display of handcrafted works done by the women of Orcas Island. (If you would like “to lend” OICC something for the luncheon display, please feel free to call the church office at 376-6422 and speak to Monique, the church secretary, for details.)
Muriel (Mo) Gallo-Chasanoff
Our speaker will be Muriel Gallo-Chasanoff (affectionately known as “Mo”) who is a native Orcas Islander. Her mother, Laurie Gallo, is a long time island resident of Orcas, as is her father, Mathew Chasanoff, who is one of our talented Orcas Elementary School teachers. Both parents have gifted Mo with their own special qualities of love and respect for the diverse beliefs of the people in our community. In her walk with the Lord Mo generously shares their loving and caring nature with all those she touches.
Muriel was not raised in the church. She got to know God through OICC’s Summer Senior High Camp at Lake Chelan. One year later she committed her life to Christ. In her last year of Religious Studies at Grinnell College in Iowa, Muriel decided to go into Christian ministry.
After graduation she was accepted into a Divinity program at Vancouver School of Theology and Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia. Two days after being the guest speaker at the luncheon she will graduate with a Masters in Divinity and enter full-time ministry. Her passions are children and youth, pastoral care and helping people of all ages and stages of faith to develop an intimate relationship with God.
The Orcas Island Community Church’s Women’s Spring Luncheon will take place Saturday, May 4 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Camp MoranEnvironmental Learning Center. (A Discover Pass is not required if parking on the grounds of the ELC).
The cost is $15 per person. Reservations are required; forms are available at the OICC office. Deadline for reservations is April 26.
