Breathe in the breath of life God has given you today.
Spirit of God, we receive your breath of life. Help us to be fully alive to your Holy Presence today.
AMEN!
I AM RENEWED
"This was such a wonderful gift! To have an extended time of solitude and self care was lovely and really helped me enter into and process our time together. I also enjoyed the way you led the retreat. All the women were gracious and welcoming, and I felt immediately comfortable, despite being strangers!
I want to practice silence more frequently throughout my day. I am pausing more to dwell on the truth and my identity. I don't need to wait for a weekend to cultivate silent spaces to receive from the Holy Spirit."
- Sowing Seeds of Love Gift Recipient
The month of May is a celebration... of Pentecost, of AAPI Heritage, of mental health awareness, and probably much more.
Pentecost reminds us that God celebrates and honors diversity. WOW! welcomes women and men from diverse walks and backgrounds, but we also embrace our uniqueness in that we are a ministry founded and led by Asian women!
One month is simply not enough to honor the AAPI leaders who have sown into our community over the years; we will continue acknowledging them over the coming months here and on our social media. However, we have been blessed to have several amazing women come alongside us as volunteers this past year. Read about their experience below.
"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ"
- Romans 8:16-17
OUR VOLUNTEERS
How have you experienced knowing or discovering who you are in your work with WOW!
especially in the context of being an Asian American woman?
JANICENG
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to assist with WOW! After a year of dealing with Covid, I was tired of waiting around and applying to jobs. I had also been to previous WOW events, and remembered the warmth I felt there. The welcoming presence I always felt in interacting with anyone from WOW. Certain life circumstances also unfolded that made me reach out to some of the ladies there and over time I knew I wanted to be a part of not only this community but also one that is revolutionary. The overall present Christian Church culture does not elevate women. The current culture reinforces the separate roles and expectations between men and women in the church instead of as co-heirs. I knew that God had wanted me to create, use my strengths, and natural talents. When I came to WOW to volunteer, I was invited to explore, discover, and grow. I saw value in my voice and the input I was bringing. I didn't have to compartmentalize or codeswitch. My experience helped me to personally flourish, see myself as a whole being, and be a better person to myself and to others.
MARILYN LAW
It is a pleasure to partner with WOW! to build up God’s daughters. This is where women impact and bless others through collaboration and exercising our God given unique gifts. Working with WOW! community gives us a safe, encouraging environment to grow and affirmed our calling to serve God. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve and partner with WOW!
Although accounting isn’t my passion I know it has helped to support God’s ministry in WOW!. I see it as a necessary means to good stewardship. And it’s been a fruitful journey so far. I love the fellowship with the WOW! Team; As we pray and share life and ministry together weekly, we experience God speaking energy and life into us. It is a reflection of Christ Jesus’ love, the Holy Spirit’s healing and empowerment to be God’s children.
WOW! gives a platform for many women, including myself to contribute to spiritual formation work they offer. For me leading contemplative reflections with their board and also the overall WOW! community of friends has been meaningful for my own passions to serve God. As we explore together, going beyond our training and skills, we help one another thrive. God is using WOW! to see the value of women in serving in God’s Kingdom and not competing with men.Women are partners and co-heirs alongside men to steward what God has given us. May the Lord use all our efforts to anchor us now and empower one another to serve and live for Christ.
UPDATES
2020 ANNUAL REPORT FINDING REST DURING A YEAR OF UNREST
We released our Annual Report last week! Your friendship, your presence and participation has added life, nourishment and affirmation to the vision of seeing sisters soar.
Take a look at the wonderful
work you have been part of!
Rev. Ajung Sojwal’s approach to Song of Songs challenges the common notion that the physical is somehow inferior to the spiritual. This cultural mindset has led to the objectifying and controlling the female body. She lays out 5 themes of mutuality with a number of surprises to ponder in wonder. The book features a woman’s voice which becomes bolder as she faces societal disapproval. She takes control of her own body, recognizes her own beauty, and proclaims that she has only one vineyard and she decides who to give it to. The Shulammite woman is an excellent place to redeem womanhood, marriage, sexuality, spirituality, identity and our inner desire for relationships that are safe, mutual, honest, and deep.
How do you see the Shulammite woman reflecting the role of the ezer?
June will be our last monthly contemplative gathering
before a summer break for July & August.
COME and JOIN US Wednesday,6/23 at 12pm [EST] !
THE EXPLORATION
OF EZER
The role of an ezer is seldomly taught as a role for both men or women to pursue graciously or honorably for God’s redemptive work. It is often misused as a measure of secondary value or status for women. The word ezer/helper has been misunderstood using modern day context to define the word helper. It is time to unleash its true alignment with God as our ezer. Its implication is that all are called to be ezers.
