ECW Women Articles-Poems-Announcements Archives - Page 19 of 24

A Prayer for Wisdom and Courage

Lord Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace, you call us out of our aloneness and set us within communities and families, sending us out to bring your healing and peace to others: In this time of great need send your Spirit to lead us to those suffering abuse and violence. Give us the wisdom and the courage to love and care for them, offering them communities of friendship and shelter.

As you showed particular concern for those most overlooked and vulnerable, so give us eyes to see those who live in fear and darkness and give us hearts to stand with them, as you stand with them, against all degradation. All this we pray in your Name to our Heavenly Father, whose love calls us to go out and love others. Amen.

Faithfully,

Bishop David Reed Diocese of West Texas

Episcopal Church Women2020-05-20T16:06:05+00:00November 30th, 2014|

Prayer for Victims of Gender Violence

A Prayer for Victims of Gender Violence

God of all peoples, awaken our hearts and deepen our commitment to work for a world where every person is free and able to live their lives fully and joyfully. We ask for conversion of heart for traffickers and for strong laws that protect victims.

Help us grow in our awareness that we are all connected. Give freedom that is you gift to all your people.

(From the Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center)

Submitted by Lisa Towle

Episcopal Church Women2020-05-20T16:14:34+00:00November 28th, 2014|

Prayer for Violence to Women

O Gracious God, lover and comforter of all souls: give strength and courage to all women who suffer from violence. Shelter their hearts and souls from damage too deep, brokenness impossible to bear, and bodies bruised and bloodied.

Let them feel your Presence in their lives. Guide them to seek help and release from their trauma. Let their self-worth increase and their dependence on those who batter them with violence decrease.

We ask your Love to empower them, Blessed Jesus, and to bring them peace. All this we ask in your Name. Amen.

The Rev. Mary S. Janda

Episcopal Church Women2020-05-20T16:30:11+00:00November 27th, 2014|

You are a Beloved Child of the Holy, Always

YOU ARE A BELOVED CHILD OF THE HOLY, ALWAYS When darkness surrounds you, and the chill of night… invades

Remember this… You are a beloved child of the Holy, always

When there seems to be no recourse — when there are no tears left

Remember this… You are a beloved child of the Holy, always

When no one is there to believe you — when your aloneness is breaking you

Remember this… You are a beloved child of the Holy, always

Know this … Your tears will be wiped away — by those who will help you

Know this… Your story is real and will be heard — you are not alone

Remember this… You are a beloved child of the Holy, always

Written by: The Rev. Dr. Gwynne Guibord

The Guibord Center

Episcopal Church Women2020-05-20T16:37:17+00:00November 26th, 2014|

Prayer – Watches Over all Your Children

Almighty God, who watches over all your children and knows our needs before we ask: help us to understand more fully the plight of those who are imprisoned in lives controlled by human traffickers. Give us the strength and courage to unshackle these victims and bring them to your kingdom here on earth, so they may know the joy of your everlasting love. Grant this, we pray, for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Submitted by NECW President the Rev. Dcn. Nancy Crawford

Episcopal Church Women2020-05-20T16:39:52+00:00November 25th, 2014|

Almighty God of Creation and Liberation

Almighty God of creation and liberation, we send up fervent prayers for all those who are abused and enslaved around the world – most especially the women and children caught in the web of the sex trafficking trade. We lift up their physical and emotional suffering to you, merciful Lord, and ask you to give them strength and courage in bearing their present circumstances.

As your servants in ministry, we ask for wisdom and skills to work to overcome their desperate plights wherever we encounter the need, so we can help to bring each woman and child to a life free from abuse and exploitation. We ask this in the name of your most beloved Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.

AMEN

Episcopal Church Women2020-05-20T16:41:43+00:00November 24th, 2014|

Tamar and Tamar’s Midwife

We have had an interesting start to our 7-month book study. I hope you are enjoying every aspect of it and that you will join in the conversation. What did I know about Tamar before reading about her in Bible Women? I knew she was the first of five women mentioned in Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus, and I only knew that because Bishop Michael Curry of North Carolina told me so in a talk he gave a few years ago to the ECW of Oklahoma.

We learn a lot about ourselves by studying our genealogy and finding a place where we belong. Tracing one’s family pedigree is regarded by many societies as vitally important. It is your name and your background that opens doors for you, determines who you marry, and what work you might do. In our more democratic and diverse country we no longer bar the doors because of one’s name or ancestry. And yet, knowing and telling the story of our family is an important way of understanding how we came to be the people we are. I have a friend who is very much engaged in genealogy. She has gotten past the trunk of her family tree and even the larger branches. Now she is researching those smaller twigs of her family that bring the excitement of new discoveries and the joy of connecting to previously unknown family members.

Tamar is one of those smaller twigs in the genealogy of Jesus. In the genealogies of the Book of Genesis there are no mothers named, but in Matthew’s genealogy we find “Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar.” Lindsay Hardin Freeman+ notes that Tamar was not a Jew (p. 66), and neither were three other women in Jesus’ family tree: the Canannite, Rahab; the Moabite, Ruth; and the Hittite, Bathsheba, wife of Uriah.

When God spoke to Abraham, the first name in Jesus’ genealogy, God said: “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them. So shall your descendents be.” We see now that the family of Jesus includes Tamar and other women who are not descendents of Abraham, yet can be counted beyond the stars. Why do you think Matthew included Tamar as one of only 5 women named in Jesus’ lineage? How does it make you feel to be a member of the family of God, to be counted beyond the stars?

Studying one’s family can dig up some quite interesting stories. Can you imagine discovering someone like Tamar? She is the real stuff; you can’t make this up! The hope of motherhood is a strong incentive to do whatever is necessary to achieve it. “Take note, please, whose these are: the signet and the cord and the staff.” What have your maternal ancestors done to achieve motherhood? What have you done? I myself went through years of fertility tests and treatments. It was embarrassing and humbling, yet in the end, with the birth of my second son, worth it.

What did I know about Tamar’s midwife before reading about her in Bible Women? Why, absolutely nothing. Because of Lindsay’s book, I am learning that several midwives spoke in the Bible. At a time in history when any childbirth could be difficult, the birth of twins would be not only painful but dangerous. How blessed Tamar must have felt to have an accomplished midwife at her side. To have known that twins were coming and to have the foresight to mark the first born (though in this instance the crimson thread was premature – “This one came out first.”) are great attributes of a veteran midwife.

Although these two women are not well known outside of Bible scholars, and although their words are few, they both play a vital role in the continuity of the Hebrew line from Abraham to Perez to Jesus.

How have these 2 women impressed you, both individually and collectively?

Tamar depicted in Claire’s illustration has a posture and presence to her as she holds the objects of Judah’s pledge in her hands. What does Tamar’s posture say to you?

What “For reflection” questions from these Chapter 3 Genesis women jump out for you?

What would you add to the “What might we learn from” lists for Tamar and Tamar’s midwife?

++++ Coming December 1st ++++

Miriam

Content provided by Author Lindsay Hardin Freeman

Illustration: Claire Elam

Episcopal Church Women2020-05-22T17:52:11+00:00November 16th, 2014|

Triennial 5K Walk-Run Sponsorships

*Closed*

PARTNER SPONSOR $5000

Our Partner Sponsor is our premium level sponsor and will receive

Top name and logo placement on Race Tees, banners, and all race materials
Top logo placement on our Triennial Web Page sidebar, and each monthly eCommunique through June 2015
Half-page article in the Communique Spring 2015 issue
Recognition and introduction on Race Day as Partner Sponsor
Ten Race Tee Shirts

SPIRIT SPONSOR $2500

Logo placement on Race Tees, banners and all race materials
Second level logo placement on our Triennial Web Page sidebar, and each monthly eCommunique through June 2015
Quarter page article in the Communique Spring 2015 issue
Recognition and introduction on Race Day as a Spirit Sponsor
Five Race Tee Shirts

SUPPORTING SPONSOR $1000

Logo on Race Tees and race banner
Logo on Triennial web page sidebar and in monthly eCommunique through June 2015
Recognition on Race Day and Race Bag as a Supporting Sponsor
Two Race Tee Shirts

ADDITIONAL LEVELS:

$500

Name on Race Banner
Recognition on Race Day and in Race Bag
Race Tee Shirt
Sponsor name on 5 Race Crosswalks

$250

Name on Race Banner
Recognition on Race Day and in Race Bag
Race Tee Shirt
Sponsor name on 2 Race Crosswalks

$100

Recognition on Race Day and in Race Bag
Race Tee Shirt
Sponsor name on 1 Race Crosswalk

Episcopal Church Women2020-05-22T13:50:48+00:00November 15th, 2014|

Eve, Sarah, and Hagar

And so it begins – our 7-month book study of Bible Women. We begin today with a look at Eve, Sarah, and Hagar. Imagine you are sitting with a group made up of people who are reading the book along with you. Some opening thoughts are shared and questions are raised. You may be ready to jump in with a comment, or you may want to hear from others first. The comments may take us down one path, but you can always say, “I’d like to go back to what Mary had to say”, or “I’d like to turn the focus to what peaked my interest in the readings.” Feel free to come in and out of the study group because we all have events in our lives that will keep us away from the internet.

And so it begins. I wonder if God said that when Eve ate the forbidden fruit? I came to understand Eve better when I read her account in Lindsay Hardin Freeman’s earlier book, The Scarlet Cord. God and Adam took long walks around the garden, leaving Eve alone to become lonelier and lonelier. Have you ever experienced that kind of loneliness? You’ve moved to a new city and your spouse has gone off to work leaving you home alone to handle the housekeeping or perhaps to attempt to meet the needs of little children. Or, your spouse has been placed in an assisted living arrangement and all of a sudden your companion for life has left you alone. So Eve accepted the invitation of the serpent. Well, that got God’s attention, didn’t it? “Then the Lord God said to the woman, ‘What is this that you have done?’ The woman said, ‘The serpent tricked me, and I ate.’”

Sarah seems to be a woman who is never alone. Extended family is always around, and guests are promptly welcomed and cared for. The wealthy household includes slaves and eventually children whom Sarah can call her own. God doesn’t ignore Sarah as he had Eve; he blesses her and gives her a new name for an abundant life. And the Lord promises a son for Abraham and Sarah. “The Lord said to Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh? … Sarah shall have a son.’ Sarah denied, saying, ‘I did not laugh’; for she was afraid. He said, ‘Oh yes, you did laugh.’”

What I find interesting about these two women is that when they are able to have a conversation with God, they both get quite defensive. If God spoke to you, would that be your reaction? Has that ever been your relationship with God?

Finally, there is Hagar. She is the least known of the three women, I think. She does not have the pop culture status of Eve, known to churchgoers and non-churchgoers alike. She doesn’t have the familiarity of being named aloud as Sarah is so often named now in the Great Thanksgiving Eucharistic Prayer C of the Book of Common Prayer. Hagar is a slave out of Egypt, perhaps lonely like Eve, or perhaps like Sarah, surrounded by family members who travel with her, though also slaves. She can’t say that anything is her own, not the father of her son, Abraham, not even her son, Ishmael. Life is harder for a slave and abuse is common. She finds herself banished, with her son in mortal danger. (Here is an example of the challenge and richness of reading Genesis. This story comes from Chapter 16 before Ishmael is born and also from Chapter 21 after Ishmael is born. We often find the same challenge with the Gospels.) God hears Hagar weeping and comes to Hagar in the form of an angel. God promises her that He will make a great nation of her son, Ishmael. And her response is not defensive. She makes no excuses for herself, but rather names God, “You are El-roi”, which means, “the God who sees me.” How open she is to God’s care for her.

How have these 3 women impressed you, both individually and collectively?

What other “For reflection” questions from these Chapter 3 Genesis women jump out for you?

What would you add to the “What might we learn from” lists for Eve, Sarah, and Hagar?

Which of these women do you see portrayed in the illustration above by Clare Elam?

++++ Coming November 15^th ++++

Tamar and Tamar’s Midwife

Content provided by Author Lindsay Hardin Freeman

Illustration: Claire Elam

Episcopal Church Women2020-05-22T18:07:52+00:00October 13th, 2014|

Meet the Illustrator – Claire Elam

Claire Elam is a talented young artist who is a recent graduate of Bennington College, Vermont. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Arts with a concentration in painting and ceramics. Claire has published work in the college’s The Silo, editions 69 and 70, and in 2014 she took part in “Things Have Changed Between Us”, an Usdan Gallery show. Claire held a personal showing of her work at South Street Café, Bennington, titled “Domesticity and Other Things”. She has electronically curated for Visual AIDS, a contemporary arts organization fully committed to HIV prevention and AIDS awareness; she continues to work with ideas of feminism, gender, and home. She is a member of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Eugene, Oregon and has designed and painted several whimsical murals for the church’s Sunday school wing. Claire has been commissioned to provide an illustration with each blog entry to help us better connect with the women who speak in the Bible.

Episcopal Church Women2020-05-22T18:44:32+00:00October 5th, 2014|