What is it like to learn about angels in the midst of a group of fun, interested, and interesting women? It is "Entertaining Angels Unaware", the Women's Ministry weekend just past.
There was worship, including music by Santa Fe Music Works led by Dr. Mary Badarak. Pat's sermon was an Ignatian-like reflection of Gabriel's thoughts on his visit to Zechariah and Mary. You can read it here.
There was information. The Rev. Pat Green led the 50 women present in an informative series of teachings about angels. You can watch videos of a couple of the teachings on the Women's Ministry Facebook page.
Did you know that angels are mentioned 273 times in the Bible? And mentions of the 'hosts of heaven' are encountered over 300 times. The Apocryphal and non-canonical books have even more mentions of angel interactions. We only have three angels named in the Bible itself: Gabriel and Michael, and the fallen angel, Lucifer. Uriel and Raphael are two that are named in the Apocrypha.
What are angels? Supernatural beings outside of time and space who proclaim God's Holiness. They, like everything else, are created and therefore under the authority of God and Jesus. Because angels, like all creation (and us) have free will, we know that 1/3 of them rebelled against that authority and 'fell' from heaven. There is, as far as we know, no redemption plan for fallen angels. There is a finite number of angels (an immense, even innumerable, number, but no new angels are created).
We humans don't become angels when we go to heaven, despite popular culture. We are now and continue to be saints who join with the angels in glorifying God. We CAN act in angelic ways with and for other people, of course.
Angels were an important part of Jesus' earthly life. From the Annunciation and Birth narratives (including the Flight to Egypt), to Jesus being ministered to by angels in the wilderness and in the Garden, angels were with Jesus. Then at the Tomb, angels made the grand announcement of the Resurrection. After Jesus ascended, angels tell the disciples to 'quit looking up to heaven'! Do you know how many Ranks, or Choirs, of angels there are? (Nine-you can download the handout to learn more.)
Angels serve as Worshippers of God, as Warriors of God, and as Witnesses to God's work in all Creation. We can ask for God to send angelic aid, and like the case of Elisha we can sometimes even see the horses and chariots of fire that God sends. (2 Kings 6:15-23)
There was a workshop on Praying with Icons. The Rev. Pat Green and Pat Catlett of St. Mark's, ABQ shared how icons are 'written' or 'painted', and then how to 'read' them. Icons are not worshipped themselves, they are a tool to bring us to an awareness of God's presence. We shared a time of quiet meditation while resting in the presence of icons brought by Pat Catlett.
For our closing worship we shared and blessed items that reminded us of Angels, and then went forth blessed to act like angels-to glorify God, and witness to God's work in our lives and in the world.