Mysterious Lent Retreat for Women in Socorro

Women of the Rio Grande are invited to come to Epiphany Church, Socorro on March 5 for a day of exploring the Mystery of God and how mystery novels can deepen our spiritual thinking. Studies show that mystery novels are a favorite genre and that the deductive thinking involved in reading them has an impact on our spirituality.

There will be discussion of  A Trick of Light by Louise Penny, meditations by the Rev. Canon Carole McGowan, quiet time, a ‘mystery lunch’, and plenty of fellowship with other women from around the diocese. We’ll start at 8:00 with fellowship and end by 3PM.

Registration is $20 to cover lunch and supplies. 

Register online at MysteriousLent.eventsbot.com or download a form here.

You are encouraged to read the book ahead of time. It is available from Rickie Sherrill with Good Books New Mexico (15.99, no tax),  on Amazon (book and Kindle), and elsewhere. Rickie will be at the retreat with her book tables so you can browse other books, too.

Contact Cindy Davis (cynthiadavisauthor@gmail.com) if you have questions.

The Very Rev. Canon Carole McGowan recently retired from St. Thomas of Canterbury, Albuquerque. She is now Diocesan Canon for Education and Formation. An avid mystery lover, Carole has studied the link between our personal theology and reading mystery novels, which she is delighted to share with us.

Study, Fellowship, Retreats, and more for Women in 2016

During the recent Does My Life Have a Message weekend, Katrine Stewart reminded attendees that ‘retreat’ is a time to regroup, rest, heal, strategize, and refocus our goals. A retreat gives us time to remember that we are under the loving guidance of our Lord. With that in mind, women are encouraged to take advantage of a multitude of retreat opportunities coming in 2016.

Mysterious Lent, Diocesan Lent Retreat for Women will be on March 5 at Epiphany Church, Socorro. The Rev. Carole McGowan will lead us in contemplation of a mystery novel (A Trick of Light by Louise Penny, available from Amazon and elsewhere) in relation to the mystery of God all around us. There will be discussion and quiet time, and maybe a ‘mystery meal’. Registration forms and more info will be available soon here.

Other retreats sponsored by the Women of the Diocese will be the Spirited Summer Weekend in Farmington on June 10-11 where we will focus on being co-creators with God. Our 5^th Annual Women’ Retreat will be held at the Bosque Center on November 17-18, with Elaine Wilson as our leader in contemplating the Puzzle Pieces of our lives that make up YOU…Yearning, Owning, Understanding.

An ongoing, weekly study opportunity is the Women of the Diocese e-study. During 2016, participants will explore the Biblical use and background of the Gospel of Luke, Revelation, and many of the Epistles. Both women and men are welcome to sign up by emailing wdrgstudy@gmail.com. Some participants share their insights with family, friends, or small groups. Others use the study as personal enrichment.

There are other retreats around the diocese, too. These include Beyond the Magi, a Quiet Day with Deborah Smith Douglas on January 30 at Holy Faith in Santa Fe;  A Day with Julian of Norwich at St. Alban’s, El Paso on February 27 led by the Rev. Dr. Jeanne Lutz. Contact the churches for more information.

E-mail Cindy Davis, Coordinator of Women’s Ministries, if you have questions about the women’s ministry, or ideas for future events. Keep up with upcoming events the women’s website and Facebook page.  

Purpose for 2016

Happy New Year Women of the Diocese of the Rio Grande

With credit to Ann Voskamp and her blog A Holy Experience, here are some of my 'purposes' for the Women of the Diocese this year. You can download her template by clicking here and set your own 2016 purposes!

Embrace Life

Engage in Fellowship

Be Available to God

Believe in Miracles

Break Free of the past

Daily Time with God

Do Live fully

Let Go of Control

Learn to be a Blessing

Live Joyfully

Give of Self

Grow in Grace