Joy is a Seed and Joy is Change and Joy is God

 On November 4 and 5 Br. Angel of the Diocese of the Rio Grande offered an inspiring retreat on "Joy" at St. Mark's, ABQ (and on Zoom) led by Br. Angel Roque of the Diocese.  

After dinner on Friday, he gave the 30 ladies gathered in person at St. Mark's and on Zoom an overview of Joy as a seed, which when it dies changes and provides a harvest much fuller than we might expect. He pointed out that the seeming death at each stage as the seed changes to seedling and then plant and then harvest is simply a stepping stone and never 100% death. When we are fearful and run from our feelings we are running from the love and change that will enrich us and bring us to harvest. Jesus calls us to take a chance on change, on each other, and to wait for the germination which is different for everyone. 

 He asked us to consider what we are curious about and still want to learn, reminding us that these are things that never end. 

On Saturday he expanded the theme by talking about ways some seeds need stressors in order to germinate. He noted that there are 15 different words in Hebrew that are translated as 'joy' in English, so we may have to look more deeply at the root and context. 

We shared internal and external forms of Joy before exploring how we grow into God's Joy through story sharing and aligning our ministry with God's Joy. External Joy is what we try to gain from pets, food, society, 'worth' or other things. While Internal Joy comes from gratitude and knowing we are loved and blessed. 

Br. Angel reminded us that Joy and Love work together with Gratitude. The Sermon on the Mount says the 'poor in spirit' are 'blessed'.  This is humility and a recognition of our total dependence on God. When we allow our current nature to 'die' when circumstances change, we find Joy in the new life and in the Present Moment! Our real ministry is found in being In the Moment with God and being humble enough to let God work in and through us rather than wanting to do or be 'all'. 

Br. Angel left us with a feeling of hopefulness, new and renewed connections and friendships. He ended with some questions to continue to ponder as we grow into Joy. You can download them here with some scripture references on Joy from Br. Angel.

1. Do you find it easy to be full of joy? Why or why not?

2. Do you feel anchored in your faith? Or do you feel adrift?

Remember the Analogy of being adrift that Br. Angel Presented. Adrift does not mean bad necessarily it can be that God as other plans as well. 

3. What do you need to surrender to God? Will you surrender it to God? Are you ready?4. Do you believe that God loves you?  

The next Women's Ministry event will be a Lent Zoom Book Study and the Joint ECW/DOK Lent Retreat in Dallas with Canon Stephanie Spellers of the National Church Office on Feb. 24-25. Let Cindy know if you might be interested in joining a van-pool.