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10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will turn back to you.
14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God,
the God who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
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15 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.
(New International Version)
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History of WIC
In 1973 the Steering Committee for a Continuing Presbyterian Church took steps to form a new denomination. A Convocation of Sessions was held in May 1973, at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Atlanta. Then an Advisory Convention met in Asheville, NC in August. At this meeting, the Steering Committee sponsored a meeting of interested women. Six of those women were elected to serve as an advisory sub-committee to the Christian Education Committee.
The First General Assembly heartily endorsed a plan from the Christian Education and Publications Committee for the establishment of women’s organizations in churches and presbyteries. Thus Women In the Church (WIC) was born.
Isaiah 62:1 was selected as the theme verse:
“For Zion’s sake I will not rest and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not keep silent, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.”
Logo of WIC
An old-fashioned lamp was selected for the logo. Notice the rich imagery:
In order for a kerosene lamp to give light, it must be filled with oil.
The believer’s life must be filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit.
The wick must rest continually in the oil.
We must rest in Christ and draw life and spiritual strength from His Holy Spirit.
The wick must be regulated and trimmed regularly.
Our lives must be daily regulated and trimmed in obedience to God’s Word.
The lamp chimney must be kept clean and clear.
Our light shines to the world as we repent of sin and live in whole-hearted obedience to our Savior.
History of WIC at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church
Women In the Church at St. Paul’s was formed in the Fall of 1994 around Anne McDougall’s dining room table. It was decided then to adopt the name “Women In the Church (WIC)” to align ourselves with our sisters throughout the denomination, and to likewise adopt their logo, the lamp. For a brief time, the name was changed (it was believed that WIC was misunderstood and confused with a Federal Government’s program: WIC, Nutrition Assistance for Women, Infants and Children). Then the 2007-2008 Board voted to bring back the original name and logo and make a concerted effort to explain the intentionality and rich heritage of that name and logo.
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