May this month be a time of curiosity and sharing, conversations and celebrations, challenge and encouragement.
SACREDALLIES
Lord God,
We thank you for the significance of this month.
We lift up and thank you for our Black brothers and sisters who have shaped history.
We thank you for the opportunity to learn and reflect particularly at this time, here and now.
We pray that the learning happening in schools, homes and workplaces will be meaningful and deep-rooted.
We pray for open hearts and minds,
And spirits willing to learn and be transformed by you.
May this month be a time of curiosity and sharing,
Conversations and celebrations,
Challenge and encouragement.
Heavenly Father, help us to dig deeper,
Look closer, and think bigger.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Prayers for Black History Month
https://www.allwecan.org.uk/
Midweek Chapel Service:
"When girls live, everyone lives." Women working together in holy community have the power to bring freedom and see structural change. We are grateful to share Chaplain Brenda Bertrand's message from Fuller Theological Seminary this month. We pray the words you hear prompt you to walk in the company of our sisters, be sacred allies, and see the value of ezer communities in our world. Click here to watch >>
*We recommend listening from 16:35 onwards
Special Invitation: We believe lament and celebration are not mutually exclusive and to make more room for sacred allyship, we will be opening tonight's Asian Women's Pastoral Prayer gathering that we have hosted monthly since July 2021. Anyone who wishes to simply be may join us as we hold space to lament the way Christina Yuna Lee's life was atrociously taken from her and invite God to be present to the ways this affects our sense of being. Email may@womenofwonder.us for details.
REFRESH SILENT RETREAT: RECLAIM
For the first time since 2020, we were able to host our semi-annual silent retreat in person from January 21-23. One of the most wonderful things about our Refresh Silent Retreats is not just the connection we experience between God and self, but the connection that's shared amongst us as we embrace and move through the silence in community.
In responding to God's invitation to reclaim pieces of our own story, we are led again to the truth that what God seeks to reclaim in each personal story constitutes a vital and beautiful part of the larger story of God's redemption of all.
SHARE THELOVE
Sowing Seeds of Love invites you to give the experience of spiritual direction, spiritual discernment, or a half day silent retreat with WOW! to friends, family, or community members who you want to honor or appreciate in this way.
"It has been said "you are what you think about the most." Discernment forces you to think about WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE MOST.
As a Christ-follower, discernment has allowed me to see God in my daily existence. I have gained a different appreciation of who God is and the Holy Spirit's effort in my life. I trust fully God's ability to lead, guide and take care of me through this life. My life can be heavy, but if I look to where God says look and obey when He says obey God will do the heavy lifting." ~ Eva Eckles
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Gift spiritual care to those you love who would appreciate this added grace of heavy lifting!
Some people say, “Jesus I like, Paul not so much.” Paul is much misunderstood when it comes to his theology about women. Lisa Mathews gives us an inside look at Paul’s relationship with his ezer community. He considered these men and women as his brothers and sisters, bringing in a new social reality to the house churches. Lisa explores distinctive words Paul used to express honor to the 10 women he named in Romans 16. He exhorts the church to welcome them all with respect, honor and dignity.
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With this understanding, how can we bring our church relationships into a new social reality of ezer communities?
Look out for our 2021 Annual Report in the coming weeks!
UPCOMING EVENTS
EZER COMMUNITIES
The WOW! 2022 seminar series is divided into developing three overarching themes we believe will deepen our understanding, our commitment and our response to exercise and engage in ezer communities of justice. The themes are Advocating/Speaking Along or With Others, Mentorship, and Justice in Action.
We are delighted our friend, Rev. Ajung Sojwal will be speaking about the Power of Personal Agency through the stories of the Syrophoenician mother and Bartimaeus in March. Please note the day change and option to attend this teaching in person!
CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER/GROUP SPIRITUAL DIRECTION
Limited spaces open for Wednesday
We have loved introducing various contemplative prayer practices to our community monthly over the past two years. We feel the invitation to offer a deeper and more intimate journey in this season. We will be offering two committed group experiences: each meeting 4 times over the course of 6 weeks of Lent. (click on the image for more details)
