How many Day Alliance members does it take to create a legend?
The answer is: nobody knows.
Since its launch on April 19, 1921, this group of All Souls women and men has been too busy doing the work to preserve almost a century of records like that. The Day Alliance, initially known as the Women’s Day Alliance, has planned and executed countless meals for the parish as well as receptions for a long list of important life events like weddings, memorial services, infant dedications and seasonal parish celebrations.
Until the building closed, the Day Alliance continued to offer luncheon programs on the second Thursday of each month, bringing in speakers on a variety of topics ranging from climate change to Academy Award predictions to wine tasting. In-person meetings will resume as soon as it is safe.
A Vital Resource to our Church Community
During WWII, the Day Alliance roster stood at around 50 active members, far more than the current membership of about half that number. Time and shifts in the culture have taken their toll, even as the gifts of time, treasure and talent offered by this active group continue to be a vital resource to the health of our community.
The Day Alliance has been a dependable and frequent source of financial support for All Souls from its earliest days through today. Every dollar earned through the unrecorded number of bake sales, cookbook publishing and sales, catering for special events, and monthly luncheon programs has been generously shared.
Financial support from the Alliance has been as important within these walls as it has been to local, regional, national and international charities. Kitchen equipment and maintenance has been provided. Chancel flowers purchased and arranged. Scholarships presented to seminarians. In-house beneficiaries have included our ministers’ discretionary funds, the youth choir’s annual trips, our own Sonen Library, furnishings for Thoreau Lounge. More recently, you may have noticed fresh paint in the bathrooms. Again, the vitality of this devoted group is parallel with the vitality, and beauty, of our church home.
Building Close Relationships
Ruth Richards, past-president and recent first vice president, recalled joining the Day Alliance soon after coming to All Souls because it was one of just a few “small connection groups” available. In a congregation this size, it is helpful to build close relationships through activities like Day Alliance, Wednesday Connections classes, an activity like book study or yoga, or singing in a choir.
Annual dues in Day Alliance is $10. Monthly programs, including lunch, are $10 for members and $12 for guests. Program topics typically are suggested by Alliance members or guests and frequently emerge from discussions among the Alliance board.
There is nothing the Day Alliance would like more than to continue its charge to deliver fellowship, knowledge, and service into its second century within our faith community. In order for that to happen, it is imperative that new members join its ranks.
Leadership Gathering Online
Wednesday, March 31 | 7 p.m. | allsouls.me/leadership
Join our ministers to hear where we’re headed and share your wisdom to help guide us.We ask our leaders, and our All Souls Tulsa & All Souls Everywhere members to attend if possible. Our collective leadership is needed to plan how we are moving forward, together.
“All Souls could not be, and would not be, what and who we are today without the dedication of our Day Alliance members. We are grateful for your love and service.” — Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar
1 Comments
[…] All Souls Day Alliance (our longest-standing group originally formed as the Women’s Alliance) lifted up the centennial of the women’s suffrage movement last month. They recommend keeping up with the League of Women Voters for events throughout the year, including the Women’s Suffrage Luncheon on March 10. Learn more about Day Alliance from Anita Larsen’s post, Day Alliance: Almost 100 Years of Love and Service. […]