"I was surprised," says Joanne Rush of Saylorsburg in regard to being the recipient of Monroe County's Church Women United Margaret Wyckoff Wells Award.

That award was presented to her at the annual Church Women United luncheon held in December at Our Lady of Victory Roman Catholic Church in Tannersville.Joining the luncheon were special guests Marian and John Wells, the daughter and son of the late Margaret Wyckoff Wells.Wells had formed Church Women United in Monroe County as well as many of its programs, such as a clothing room, The PATH House, Meals on Wheels and more. She was an amazing example of service to community. The award was named in her honor, and it is bestowed by CWU yearly.Also attending were Berks County residents, Lion Adele Argot, who nominated Rush for the award, and Past District Gov. Lion Bob Argot, both former members of the Western Pocono Lions Club in which Joanne and her husband, Charles, are very active and provide many hours of service.Joanne serves as Lion Tamer, is on the Scholarship Committee, serves as board member; is the club newsletter editor, and is the highest fundraiser in the club's annual bowl-a-thon.Her services to community over the years include serving as volunteer delivery person for Meals on Wheels, beginning in 2006 and continuing now. She also has served her church, Zion Lutheran in Brodheadsville, in various positions including church treasurer and financial secretary; singing in the church choir; being a member of Willing Workers; serving as Eucharistic Minister; and is a past member of worship and music committee as well as going on the church's first Mission Possible trip to Minnesota/North Dakota, and, according to The Rev. Ann Melot, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, "A few more since that."She is part of the Pocono District Council and has served Thrivent Financial of Monroe County as treasurer.Rush has also joined the church's Knit and Crochet group in the past several years, and in a church bulletin this summer delineated the impact that has had on her."I joined the Zion Knit & Crochet group … wanting to learn how to knit. My mother always crocheted, but I never had her teach me. After my initial project of making a scarf combined with a Bible study, I was off and knitting."Our group makes many items, including sweaters for needy children, preemie hats, helmet liners for soldiers, prayer shawls and blankets, among other things."Her testimony continues with having given shawls to members of her water aerobic classes and others."They all have told me over and over how much the shawls/blankets meant to them, along with the prayers for their recovery."The oldest member of our (water aerobic) group turned 90 and I gave her an afghan for her birthday. She was so thrilled and has told me often how she has it on her chair and cuddles up with it in the evening while watching television. She has since developed cancer and I know this afghan has brought her warmth while healing."I never realized how much a small thing could mean so much to someone who is ill or alone. I am so happy to have made them smile and feel that someone is thinking of them and praying for their recovery and happiness.After Argot detailed reasons for the nomination and selection of Rush for the award, Church Women United President Marlene Maula and CWU treasurer Donna Talcove presented Rush with a beautiful bouquet.The gathering included 13 churches. Various other houses of worship participated in the CWU Christmas 288 stockings/totes that were collected to be given to area group organizations such as Women's Resources, nursing homes and the two PATH houses, as has been spearheaded by Nora Cilurso for over 10 years.Our Lady of Victory's Father Richard Czachor opened the ecumenical gathering with prayer and Tony Gasparro of the church's music ministry led a singalong for the group after the covered dish luncheon and award presentation.