Sister Penny Illuminata
Of the Order Of Accumulated Cents
“SISTER PENNY: HER LIFE and TIMES”
I don’t remember being born, but I do remember that the happiest day of my life was when a nice lady from Sheridan named Lois Hall adopted me from a Riverton grocery store in 1998. She paid $18 for me and as of June 2004, I have made close to 5 miles of pennies for little children’s books, hymnals and prayer books for God’s work in the Episcopal Church. (Each mile represents $844.80 in pennies!) I’ve had a wonderful, fun, exciting life since escaping the grocery store shelf!
My first mother, Lois, thought I could be a reward for the church that raised the most pennies but the reward was really for ME. Since I came into the world as a BARE BEAR, the ladies in Riverton made me a little velvet jacket, and I felt so much better. I even had a ribbon for my hair, but I lost it somewhere.
I really “arrived” in style when I went home with the ladies of Rock Springs the next year and they made me silver lame shorts to match my top. It was really fun because everyone was fighting over who was going to take me home. That was pretty swell for an orphan bear and besides, the pennies were coming in!!!
In Rock Springs, I had lots of fun and the next year, I returned home to see my “mommy” Lois and all her friends in Sheridan. Lois took me shopping and bought me a pretty white dress, and I felt really special in it. (A girl needs to dress up once in a while! And besides, those shorts were making my knees cold in the winter.)
Well, I must admit that I was BEARLY into the dressing up phase when I went to a wonderful Episcopal Church and found out about the LORD that I was helping to serve. I soon found it un-BEARable not to be more a part of my Lord’s service. I BEARLY knew where to turn but then we went to the ECW convention, and I heard Sister Helena Marie talk, pray and play the piano. I knew immediately that I wanted to join their convent. Unfortunately, they didn’t take bears. So they let me become the first postulant of a new bear order called The order of “Accumulated” Cents just for me. I was so happy and have never regretted my decision for a single minute.
My first year as a postulant was spent in Sheridan where I was blessed to be dressed in the finest my order could provide. And the second year I traveled around Thermopolis. There I was given a special cross and further adornments in keeping with the order. In early 2004. before I left for Buffalo, there were two new postulants, Rose Dolores and Centava to help spread the good news.
It was a fun year with the St. Luke’s people in Buffalo. I prayed that I would continue to be able to serve God by sending miles and miles of pennies to the Church Periodical Club fund so they can help little children know about the Jesus I serve as well as supply prayer books and hymnals for churches that need them whether in Africa or at home. My life was just beginning!!
While in Buffalo, I went to the ladies ECW meeting (they call it a “Guild”). They were so excited to meet me and see all my clothes. It made me feel really special.
Louise Anderson took me to church and told everyone about me and my mission. She gave me to a very special man named Doyle Kincaid because he had given a whole sack of pennies to ECW. He let me sit on his lap in the choir, and I helped him sing tenor. He wouldn’t put me down and carried me out under his arm during the processional.
The very best part was that during the time when the congregation comes up for communion, Louise said she felt a little hand place a single penny in her hand and heard the whisper of one of St. Luke’s favorite little girls say, “This is for the bear.“ I cried and so did Louise. THAT is what my ministry is for and all about!!
Doyle took me all over Buffalo and I met lots of nice people. The best part was that the next Sunday when he took me to church, he gave me to Kathryn, the little girl that gave the penny the week before. Father Dick was substituting that day and he gave the nicest prayer for her and for me and he shared what a precious witness her gift had been because she gave all that she had and she gave it from her heart with love. My heart was so happy and I was even happier when I went home with Kathryn and her sister Hazel and their wonderful, faithful mom Heather.
From Kathryn: Penny has been living with me for sometime. She has been all over town with us. She’s been helping us color, explore, play putt-putt golf and tons of other things I am going to give Penny to Emily. She plays the piano for the church. Emily and her husband Don will take good care of her, I promise.
From Emily and Don Whipple: Kathryn gave Penny to us because we were going through too many trials and tribulations. She watched over us carefully. One day, I walked by her when I was having a particularly bad day and the sign on Penny – “By the Grace of God, I am a Survivor” was very apparent – and it became a mantra of sorts for me. I hope the next person who gets Penny doesn’t need healing as badly as we did, but whatever happens, I know her presence will grace the lives of those who have her.
Where is Penny now? What has she been doing? How many more pennies has she raised? If any one knows, please contact the CPC Editor.
Earlene is holding a certificate of recognition for her work for the Church Periodical Club.
Her church does not have a ECW formal group. However, Earlene is great at getting donations both
for Miles of Pennies and the National Books Fund. She was celebrated at a restaurant in Wichita.
Also in attendance was June Mendenhall, CPC Vice President and Ann Lawing, UTO and former National
ECW board member.