AUBURN - Topics that normally wouldn't be touched at most meetings or clubs are fair game at the Seventh-day Adventist Women's Ministry meetings.

On the third Sunday of every month, 18 to 20 women meet at the Seventh-day Adventist Church on Prospect Street in Auburn to discuss planned topics and any other issues that come up in their lives, said Lucille Cardinell, the group's leader and a retired nurse.

“Our purpose is to help all women with any problem that a woman faces,” said Cardinell. “The friendliness, the sisterhood ... we're all together. A lot of us have the same things that we're all going through.”

The ministry is religiously affiliated, but is non-denomination.

Women of any faith or even those with no religious beliefs are welcome at the meetings, said Cardinell.

Topics such as depression, substance abuse, health problems, stress and menopause are openly discussed at meetings.

Cardinell explained that many of the older women who attend the meetings were taught in their youth not to talk about their problems outside the home.

She said she is trying to get women to bring their problems to the group, talk them through and get help from the meetings.

“I'm trying to bring that out,” she said. “If you're hurt, I want to know about it.”

Cardinell said the meetings can be especially beneficial to younger women, as the more mature women can pass their advice on to the younger women. Cardinell said she welcomes any girl or woman over the age of 14 to the meetings.

Even if a member isn't comfortable speaking in front of the group, Cardinell said she still encourages women to see her privately about problems and get help on a personal level.

Cardinell also has speakers come in and talk to the group about different topics. Cardinell said the speakers can offer the group advice she may not have.

“I don't know all the answers,” she said. “I don't even know a third of all the answers.”

Sunday's speaker was Cardinell's sister, Denise Newvine, who has a master's degree in social work and teaches at Morrisville State College.

She worked for an all-women organization for 14 years, which enables her to understand the challenges and opportunities that women have, she said. She spoke on the topic of stress women face during the holidays. She gave the members helpful handouts and showed them a relaxation technique called “guided imagery.”

“I think they're very supportive of one another,” Newvine said. “In a world where women are still considered to be a minority group, this type of gathering can empower them in many ways ... it brings them together as one to share their fears, wants and needs, but mostly to give back to one another.”

Sunday's meeting also featured drawings for door prizes, a Thanksgiving meal, prayers and readings. Members had time to socialize, share stories and offer advice to one another.

Donna Richardson Jones, of Auburn, said the meetings have helped her in general.

“Coming here has been very supportive and very encouraging,” she said. “The prayers have helped.”

Diantha Pratt, of Auburn, credits the Women's Ministry and the Greater New York Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Women's Prayer Retreat with bringing her back to the church after having gone through serious crises.

“I have been an Adventist since 1967, but a string of events that were crisis-level got me so discouraged that I quit coming,” Pratt said. “But there was just so much love there - so much encouragement and support. I was loved back into the church.”

Staff writer Kelly Voll can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or kelly.voll@lee.net