Lively Lent!

This week is the deadline to register for a retreat that promises to be fun and educational and inspirational! "Lively Lent" at St. Francis on the Hill, El Paso will start on Friday, March 1 with dinner (thanks to the ladies of St. Francis!), conversations with Bishop Vono, and some sharing of Lent ideas with Pastor Pat Green of St. Mark's on the Mesa. You can download the registration form or email Cindy if you want to attend!

Throughout the retreat we'll experience ways to live Lent in thought, word, and deed. Come see how Lent is really a time to examine and live more deeply into our Baptismal covenant. Lent is a wonderful opportunity to renew our commitment, made at baptism, to “continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers.”
To “persevere in resisting evil, repent and return to the Lord.”
To “proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ.”
To “seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself.”
And to “strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.”

On Saturday morning, we will hear a Keynote talk by Bishop Vono, followed by Eucharist and lunch. After lunch we will learn about the Las Palomas Ministry from Susan Hutchins as a way to "strive for justice and peace...and respect the dignity of every human". Then there will be time for a couple of workshops focusing on hands on and hearts on ways to live a Lively Lent. A prayer workshop will be led by the Rev. Shannon Collis, new rector at St. Francis on the Hill (ways to "persevere, repent, and return to the Lord"). Cindy Davis will lead an introduction to using journals as a study and meditation aid as well as how to use non-traditional books as guides to "proclaim by word and example the Good News". We will end with dinner and closing worship, but hopefully many will return for the Sunday service at St. Francis on the Hill so we can be a lively and visible presence of the Women of the Diocese in action, living out the newly created Mission Statement: "to empower all women in their diverse Christian ministries." 

All who are attending are encouraged to bring canned goods, fabric, or a monetary donation to support the La Coopertiva border ministry at Las Palomas. Women in the program use fabric, recycled bags and other items to make lovely crafts which are sold. Proceeds return to the women to help them break the cycle of poverty.

You can come for just Saturday, if that fits your schedule better. Already women from Albuquerque, Silver City, Las Cruces, Roswell, and of course El Paso will be attending. What a wonderful way to make new friends and learn how to make Lent a time to really live the vows made when you were baptized!

If you cannot come to the retreat, you will find that the Footprints From the Bible blog (by Cynthia Davis) is looking at these same topics during Lent. Watch this blog for a summary of the retreat, too. 

We Are the Branches

Women of the Diocese met for the Crazy Quilt Conversations Retreat in November of 2012. At that time, it was determined that a mission statement and plan for going forward to empower, support, and grow women’s ministry in the Diocese was important. To further that goal, a focus group of interested women from across the Diocese met at the Cathedral on February 10 for discussion. We started by sharing whether we were a grape leaf, tendril, fruit, or branch based on John 15.

The most important item of the meeting was formulating a mission statement. This was distilled to read: “The mission of the Women of the Diocese of the Rio Grande is to empower all women in their diverse Christian ministries.” Implementing this mission will include communication of opportunities and ways to welcome women from all demographics. Several ideas for future retreats were considered, including online (watch for something after Easter) and leadership workshops. Bishop Barbara Harris will be here on Pentecost weekend (more info to follow). Mark your calendars for the Mind, Body, Spirit Retreat on June 21-22 in Taos and Abide, the second annual retreat at the Bosque Center on November 9-10. Plans for events in 2014 are already starting, too. Check the blog calendar and watch for info in e-newsletters. If you aren't receiving the info, it's because we don't have your email. Send that to Cindy to be added.

Already women across the diocese are coming together for exciting events like the many Lenten retreats offered around the diocese this year. One of these was organized by Dean Peggy Patterson at Holy Faith in Santa Fe. Over 80 Episcopal, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic ladies gathered on February 9 to hear Deborah Smith Douglas and soak in a day of absolute quiet in the Lord during the Deep Peace and High Anxiety: Pray, Love, Remember day.

Retreats for Women in 2013

There are so many retreats around the Diocese this Lent, a new and updated list is in order! This is wonderful news that there are so many opportunities for Spiritual Growth in Lent and beyond! I hope that you will have a chance to take advantage of one or more of these retreats! Some of the retreats are in the northern part of the Diocese and some in the south. The Feb. 9 retreat at Holy Faith is anticipating over 80 ladies! Looking forward to seeing some of you there! Watch for photos here!
February 16: Centering Prayer Retreat at the Cathedral, Albuquerque with Susan Rush of the Contemplative Center, sponsored by the Daughters of the King. (Free, donations accepted for food & supplies) Contact Martha Ernest, or Cindy Davis
February 22-23: Stations of the Cross with the Rev. Rhonda McIntire (overnight) at the Bosque Center, Albuquerque. RSVP to the Rev. Rhonda McIntire of San Gabriel, Corrales. ($75, includes room and 3 meals.)
February 23: A Study of the Book of Ruth led by Canon Scott Ruthven at St. Andrew's, Las Cruces, sponsored by the Santa Rosa Chapter, Daughters of the King. R.S.V.P. 575-522-2622 or bcb88005@yahoo.com (9-1, with lunch to follow)
March 2 (8-6): A Lively Lent in Thought, Word, and Deed a retreat for women at St. Francis on the Hill, El Paso with Bishop Vono as keynote speaker. $40 (There will also be workshops with ideas for an active, lively Lent and a presentation by Susan Hutchins of the Our Lady of Las Palomas border ministry. Attendees are encouraged to stay and attend St. Francis on Sunday. Donations for Las Palomas are being requested.) More info and registration form here.
March 23: A Lent Retreat for Women with Canon Kathleen McNellis sponsored and hosted by the Julian of Norwich Daughters of the King in Roswell. (Contact Kathleen Pittman at St. Andrews, Roswell for more info.)
May 18: A Day with Bishop Barbara Harris, first woman Bishop of the Episcopal Church, in Albuquerque. (Watch for more information about this exciting opportunity to meet and learn from the first woman bishop of the Episcopal Church)
June 21-23: Body, Mind, Spirit: A Time of Pampering and Renewal at the San Geronimo Center in Taos. (Plans are in process to make this a time of refreshing both physically and spiritually in the cooler summer beauty of Taos.)
November 8-9: Second Annual Women’s Retreat at the Bosque Center, Albuquerque.
November 14-17: Cursillo Weekend at the Bosque Center, Albuquerque.

If you know of other Retreat opportunities, please email Cindy Davis so they can be posted on the blog and highlighted in the newsletter.
More info about all these retreats can be found on the Varieties of Gifts blog for Women of the Diocese of the Rio Grande.

Retreat at the Bosque Center, Albuquerque. (Dates and