Lent Book Study

 

Dinner with the Saints

Join via Zoom on Thursday Evenings
at 6:30PM starting March 6

Bring your dinner (or not) for a fun time of discussion and learning about the Lent Madness Saints at this intergenerational, inter-denominational, and coed event based on the Annual Lent Madness bracket. 

Each week we’ll learn about the saints for the next week or ‘round’ in breakout groups led by Cindy Davis, Marcia Miller and Pat Green+.

We'll compare the group bracket to the national winners to see how we are doing (group and individually with choices and voting).

Bios of the saints to be discussed will be emailed to participants before the meeting and/or you can purchase a Saintly Scorecard book from Lent Madness ($5). [Some are available from Marcia in Albuquerque]

The group will create a bracket weekly based on what we learn about the saints. We’ll check our guesses against actual winners the following meeting.

Individuals are encouraged to do online voting daily. Click on the Lent Madness Menu to sign up for daily emails with links to voting. 

Individuals may do the nationwide bracket competition. (due by March 6)

Individuals may do a personal bracket within the Diocese, and will be awarded points for correct guesses just like the National one: (bracket copy needs to be sent/given to Pat, Marcia, or Cindy prior to March 6)

Round of 32 - 2 points/correct
Saintly 16 - 4 points/correct
Elate 8 - 8 points/correct
Faithful 4 - 16 points/correct
Golden Halo - 32 points

Most total points gets Diocesan recognition. 

Led by Marcia Miller (St. Francis, Rio Rancho) and Cindy Davis, (Cathedral) and the Rev. Pat Green (Hope in the Desert)

Sign up to get the Zoom link (cynthiadavisauthor@gmail.com)

Lent Retreat with the Rev. Patty Soukup March 26

Wineskins, Women & Wisdom
Lent Retreat 2022

Our Women's Ministry Lent Retreat this year will be on Zoom only on March 26. This change from hybrid was based on many considerations. If you have already registered for in-person, you can join the small group at St. Luke's to participate in the retreat. Contact Cindy if you have questions.  

The Rev. Patty Soukup will be our speaker. She will present ways we can live “...in holiness in the present with an eye on eternity because [our] hope is in Christ Jesus.” Richard Rohr says, “The second half of life can hold some new wine because by then there should be strong wineskins, some tested ways of holding our lives together.” What is that new wineskin, and how is wisdom made complete by wise action and wise choices? 

The event is open to women in the Diocese of the Rio Grande and friends anywhere Zoom might reach. 

 

Tentatively the schedule will be:

8:30AM (MST): Gathering and Fellowship
9:00AM: Opening Worship 
9:30AM: Presentation(s), Quiet and Discussion
Noon: Lunch 
12:45: Regather, Presentation, Quiet and Discussion
2:00PM: Closing Worship

Registration, via PayPal for in-person and Zoom participation is below. Suggested donation is $10. The fees will be used for an honorarium. The account will show up as Footprints From the Bible. 

Lent Retreat with Canon Lee Curtis

 

 

Women's Ministry of the DRG invites all women to a
Lent Retreat with Canon Lee Curtis on March 12-13 via Zoom

Enrich your Lent by time with God and one another.
Invite a friend to join the event.

Friday March 12 we will gather at 6:30PM for fellowship, followed by a presentation by Canon Lee. The evening will end around 8:30PM with worship.

On Saturday, March 13 we’ll start at 8:45AM with fellowship and worship. Throughout the day there will be times for quiet reflection, discussion, and talks by Canon Lee. The retreat will end with closing worship at 2:00PM.

Contact Cindy Davis, Coordinator of Women’s Ministry, to get the Zoom link. You can join the retreat via phone if you prefer.

The tentative agenda is:
Friday, March 12:
6:30PM (MST): Evening Prayer

6:45PM: Fellowship
7:00PM: Presentation, Quiet and Discussion
8:30PM: Closing Worship
Saturday, March 13:
8:45AM (MST): Gathering and Fellowship
9:00AM: Opening Worship (Morning Prayer with Homily)
9:30AM: Presentation(s), Quiet and Discussion
Noon: Lunch (optional fellowship for those who want to stay on screen)
12:45: Presentation, Quiet and Discussion

2:00PM: Closing worship

Evening Prayer online

Tonight, I invite you to join me for Evening Prayer at 6:30PM live on Facebook. Note that this is the Cathedral of St. John Facebook, not the Women's Ministry one!

You can find the service on BCP Online, or in the Book of Common Prayer (BCP), starting on page 115.

Other daily streamed services are listed on the Diocesan website. The list is always growing, so keep checking back for a service and time that works for you.

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday, so the shadows of Lent are drawing to a close, even if the self-isolation continues. Watch for innovative ways churches meet the challenge of Holy Week through virtual worship. 

Thoughts from the Retreat that didn't happen

As many of you know, the decision to cancel the ReLent retreat was made as a way to be loving stewards of each other's welfare in this strange time. The first cases of Corona virus had just been diagnosed in NM, so it seemed wisest not to risk the slightest chance of accidentally sharing it by gathering from various places in the Diocese.

Canon Lee Curtis was kind enough to record a video with some thoughts for us. His focus in the video is on ways to live and act DURING the challenges of social distancing and no in-person church services. Please take time to watch, and act, and maybe even respond with your own ideas. The cool thing about online is that you can do this anytime you have a few free minutes. 

Here are a few ideas that I offer, as ways to worship virtually until we can safely gather again. 

One important resource is the  Diocesan listing of online worship opportunities for every day of the week, and you can find Diocesan information about Corona virus on the diocesan website, too. 

Bishop Hunn is offering an interesting weekly Lenten Podcast on the Book of 1 Peter. Join at any time and follow along. 

The National Church and Presiding Bishop are continuing to add resources. If you subscribe to the Episcopal Church newsfeed, you can keep up with all of them. 

Plans continue for our Summer Events, and other opportunities to rejoice together. Keep up with them here, and via the calendar page.
Note: the Lectionary Study is on hiatus until the Great 50 Days of Easter. 

Meanwhile, I have been returning to a prayer from the New Zealand Prayer book, which may offer you some inspiration, too. 

God of the present moment,
God who in Jesus stills the storm
and soothes the frantic heart;
bring hope and courage to us
as we wait in uncertainty.
Bring hope that you will make us the equal
of whatever lies ahead.
Bring us courage to endure what cannot be avoided,
for your will is health and wholeness;
you are God, and we need you.  

RE-Lent Retreat, March 14

You can still REGISTER and ATTEND this event! 

Be inspired for Lent by Canon Lee Curtis!

All women are invited to St. Luke’s, La Union, NM (between Las Cruces and El Paso) on March 14 at 8:30AM for Fellowship, Learning, and Worship with the Rev. Canon Lee Curtis (diocesan Canon to the Ordinary)*. 

During the RE-Lent Retreat we will RE-Visit ways Lent prepares us to celebrate Easter RE-Surrection! 

We’ll begin at 8:30AM with coffee, followed by worship, presentations by Canon Lee, and quiet time at beautiful St. Luke’s. We’ll end about 3PM. Lunch is provided. 

Registration is $20 covers supplies and lunch. (Register below, or download the form to mail in.) Hotels are available in Las Cruces and El Paso if you want to come on Friday or stay over to Sunday.   

*Canon Lee Curtis was called as Canon to the Ordinary in August 2019. His ministry as Canon to the Ordinary is focused in three primary areas, Congregational Development, Transition Ministry, and Crisis response. Lee serves the width and breath of our Diocese to ensure that our congregations thrive and that all that we are a diocese are equipped to do the work of the Gospel in New Mexico and Far-West Texas.  

(Note: the receipt will show Footprints From the Bible)

Note: We will be collecting items for Borderlands Ministry, and will have items from the Palomas Coopertiva for sale. 
Some suggested items to donate:
Cotton fabric
ThreadOther sewing supplies 
Used functional portable sewing machines, must do zigzag stitch
Crocheting supplies
Pop top tabs - soda can size 

Lent III, March 4: God’s Passion Strengthens Us (Dale Plummer+)

In our asking for God’s blessings upon the “gifts and creatures of bread and wine,” we are immediately united into the remembrance of Christ’s “blessed passion and precious death.” Our liturgy uses these words “passion” and “precious” to describe such a horrific torturous event. The strength to endure such torture must be beyond our own ability, but for God, God’s passion and strength is everlasting love and hope of a precious relationship with creation. God’s display of love and hope of preciousness seems to be beyond our total acceptance. For we so quickly return to our worldly presence just as swiftly as we entered into remembrance of Christ. 

In this third week of Lent, God’s strength and passion is presented to the Israelites in legalistic means found in the Exodus reading of the Ten Commandments. Here God’s relationship with humanity is demonstrated through laws of order to establish a right relationship. When the order is broken God’s response is explained in terms of wrath and anger. The question I ask, Is this the result of humanity making laws into idols, and our blindness to God’s passion and precious strength is interpreted as wrath and anger, and freedom from slavery and idolatry is too risky.

In my own journey, I am aware of my own passions by the words I use and the tone of my voice. I am also aware that the same words and tone also display anger. Passion and anger must have similar interior origins, so how do we concede the difference between passion and anger? The only response I have for certain is, “I know it, because I feel it.”

In John’s Gospel this week we reflect upon the story of Jesus encounter in the temple which has been transformed into a marketplace and taken over by money changers. As we visualize this encounter we hear Jesus order all these things to be removed as he goes about overturning tables and scattering the coins of the money changers. Hearing this encounter, do we rush to a conclusion that this is a display of Jesus’ anger rather than a witnessing Jesus’ passion that his Father’s house is to be a house of prayer and not a marketplace, and ultimately, the temple we seek is the temple of the risen Christ, for whom we “await his coming in glory.”

Activities and Prayer for this Week

He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40: 29-31 )

God promises that ‘those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength’.

• Discuss the points of interest to you, and your group.
• Each ministry strengthens the total ministry of the diocese. Consider how God empowers your ministry, both individually and corporately, for the upbuilding of the Diocese of the Rio Grande.
• Send a note or card to another parish in the diocese recognizing one of their important ministries.

Pray for the Diocese using the list of churches on the diocesan website,
or the list of diocesan ministries.
Prayer: Holy God, we lift up to you all the churches and ministries in the Diocese of the Rio Grande. Strengthen them so that they may not grow faint or weary in their work for your glory. We name especially (name the churches or ministries of the Diocese). In the Name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Share: Comment on this post on the website or Facebook toshare parish ministries you, or your group, identified as important.

Wild Lent Retreat at St. James', Alpine, TX

You can still attend this inspirational and relevant weekend! Even though the deadline for the special room pricing is past, Sharon at the Holland Hotel** has agreed to give the 'best available rate', pending room availability! You can also check with the other hotels in the Alpine area.  (Including the Holiday Inn, Hampton, Quality, Oak Tree...)

All women & men of the Diocese are invited to join Bishop Michael Vono and the Rev. Paul Moore, and others to reflect on the sociological, ecological and social justice issues impacting ministry in our diocese, especially the Border areas, while meditating on Jesus’ time in the wilderness. This retreat is sponsored by the Women of the Diocese and the Brotherhood of St. Andrew.
You can participate in an optional Big Bend National Park tour on Friday morning (leaving 8AM). We’ll carpool through part of the Big Bend National Park, whose landscape is very similar to the Judean wilderness where Jesus was tempted. This time of quiet reflection will offer an inspirational introduction to the weekend’s talks. (Park fees apply)
The main part of the retreat begins at 6PM Friday evening at St. James’ Church in Alpine with dinner and the first presentation based on Matthew 4 by Bishop Vono. 
Time for prayer and reflection will be available throughout the retreat (all day Saturday). Retreat concludes Sunday morning at Eucharist at St. James.


**Historic Holland Hotel: $120/night, (432-837-2800); ask for Sharon & mention “Diocesan Lent Retreat” for group rate until 2/15/17. www.thehollandhoteltexas.com.www.thehollandhoteltexas.com.

Complete schedule and full details in the downloadable brochure.
Register online at Wild Lent (use this one not the previous eventsbot link) or mail in the registration from the brochure. 

Tentative Schedule (subject to change)

Thursday, March 23

Arrival for those who plan to participate in the “Jesus in the Wilderness” Big Bend tour

Dinner on your own

Friday, March 24

8AM: Leave Alpine for drive to Big Bend Park

10AM: Meditative driving tour ‘with’ Jesus in wilderness

Lunch

1PM: Worship in Santa Inez church and conversations about common issues

4PM: Return to Alpine

6PM: Dinner: St. James’ Parish hall

7PM: Talk 1

8PM: Evening Worship

Saturday, March 25

9AM: Eucharist and Talk 2

10:30AM: Time for reflection/discussion

11:30AM: Lunch 

1PM: Talk 3 with time for reflection/discussion

3PM: Talk 4 with time for reflection/discussion

5:30PM: Dinner by the Brotherhood of St. Andrew

7PM: Talk 5

Discussion and contemplative prayer to close the day

Sunday, March 26

Talk 6 will be the Sunday sermon

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.

The Long and Winding Road

On March 21 over 40 women gathered at St. Andrew’s in Roswell for the annual Lent Retreat with Bishop Vono. Attendees came from Farmington and Alpine, Alamogordo and Albuquerque, as well as Roswell, Ruidoso, and Carlsbad. Many participants gathered at the Pittman’s the lovely home on Friday evening for informal fellowship with one another and Bishop Vono. It was a beautiful way to set the stage for the retreat on Saturday.

The Bishop’s retreat focus was living and sharing our faith in Lent and beyond. He used the Beatle’s song Long and Winding Road as a starting point. Via a form of Judaic Midrash Bishop Vono introduced the familiar stories of Moses and Paul and Jesus’ Baptism. Participants shared where they found Christ-like Grounding in Holy Ground such as Moses experienced. Bishop Vono encouraged conversation about hearing the Christ-Like Voice that calls us Beloved and into communion with one another. He guided the group to consider how being ‘knocked off our horse’, like St. Paul, can actually be part of the ‘long and winding’ journey to wholeness. The conversation was lively during the discussion time as the women discovered similarities, and differences, in story and experience. 

Bishop Vono asked us to remember that scripture points us to the Divine-human relationship. There are many times when we find ourselves standing on Holy Ground, like Moses at the burning bush. We can then chose to hide our face or to say ‘yes’ to God. Our baptism is the start of the journey during which we make or become a home for God through ever deepening hospitality. God’s hospitality is in us and we must imitate that hospitality and be living water to one another. Baptism is the doorway to God because there is no veil or barrier any longer between us and God. In fact, God de-lights in us and animates us with the light of Christ. God calls us ‘Beloved’. Sometimes we are knocked off our horse, like Paul. In those times, we can discover that the experience and through the Cross we are not really broken, but actually made whole.  

During a delicious salad luncheon, Shelly Currier shared how listening to and obeying the call of God has led her to a ministry very different from her training in nursing. She is the director of WINGS for LIFE in Roswell. These programs include work with children and families, esp. those who are at risk. The ministry is done in schools, through after-school programs, and even in the jail. WINGS for LIFE is a part of the international WINGS Ministry organization (wingsministry.org), which started in New Mexico 20 years ago. Women attending the retreat contributed craft supplies to WINGS for LIFE. 

It was a time of deep sharing, great fellowship, good food (thanks Julian of Norwich Chapter of the Daughters of the King), and  deep learning. 

You can view the videos of the Bishop’s talks on the Women's Ministry YouTube Channel.

Lent Retreats and Devotions

Believe it or not, Ash Wednesday is less than a month away (March 5)! During Lent many of us take on new spiritual disciplines, or give up something, or attend retreats. As Women of the Diocese of the Rio Grande we are blessed with many opportunities for spiritual nourishment before and during Lent. There are 3 retreats in March that sound deeply spiritually nourishing. I am sure that there are others around the diocese...these just happen to be ones I was informed were happening. More info on each of these is on the calendar page.
There is the Bishop's Retreat: Holy Lent Through Love at the Cathedral on March 15 (8:30-3). The cost has been reduced to $20 for this event (those who have already registered will get a refund of the additional fee.) Bishop Vono will be with us to inspire Women of the DRG to a Holy Lent Through Love. His message will be based on Galatians 5, There will also be time throughout the day for quiet reflection on the Bishop’s message, including opportunities to walk the Labyrinth, join the Society of Mary for the Rosary, and just meditate in the quiet of the Cathedral.  Lunch is provided by the St. Agnes Chapter of the Daughters of the King. Register online, follow the link on the blog, or email Cindy Davis.

A simultaneous Day Camp for children (ages 5-12) will be offered at the Cathedral on Saturday so interested mothers can participate in this refreshing time of quiet and preparation for Lent.

Another option in the Women's Spirituality Gathering and Quiet Day on March 1 with Deborah Smith Douglas at Holy Faith in Santa Fe. Last year nearly 90 women found relaxation and inspiration from Deborah's talks. There is no cost, bring your own lunch. Contact the Very Rev. Peggy Patterson(Details on the calendar page.)

On March 8, you can attend "Seven Words, Seven Witnesses" at San Gabriel Mission in Corrales. No cost. Contact the Rev. Rhonda McIntire (Details on the calendar page.)

Lent can also be a time of picking up a new devotional habit. The Daughters of the King of the Diocese have just completed a Lent Devotional called "Renew a Right Spirit Within Us". This includes meditations by Daughters, Bishop Vono, and the Very Rev. Jeanne Lutz. Prayers and prayer activities with special meaning to Daughters around the Diocese will deepen your Easter preparations. If you'd like to get a copy for yourself, contact Cindy Davis. The cost is $5 (covers printing and postage).

Other Lent study and devotion books can be obtained from the Forward Movement, Christian Book Distributors, and others. Many of them can also be purchased through our own Rickie Sherrill with Good Books New Mexico!

There are of course online resources for Lent, too. One fun one is Lent Madness. Learn about saints of the church throughout Lent and find out which saint gets the most votes.  Join the new Women's Ministry Facebook page and share your own favorite Lent devotionals or something that inspires you and see what inspires other women around the diocese. We can inspire one another to keep a Holy Lent.
 

Five Golden Rings

On the Fifth Day of Christmas...

 A ring is a circle-a symbol of completeness, eternity, infinity, and God. Most religions use circles—think of Stonehenge, the Wheel of Life, halos... The Celtic cross has a circle in the center representing the sun. We talk of being part of the ‘inner circle’ or having a ‘circle of friends’.

There is the well known poem by Edwin Markham that epitomizes the way God works:
Outwitted
He drew a circle that shut me out--
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But Love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle that took him in!
 
As we look forward to 2014, there are already 5 opportunities listed in the calendar...our 5 Golden Rings...to be part of the growing circle of Women of the DRG.  I hope you will add one or more of these upcoming events to your calendar! Each time we gather as Women of the Diocese of the Rio Grande, we make our circle larger and more complete.

Online registration info is available on the calendar page for the upcoming Lent Retreat in ABQ and for the June Christ & Chocolate & Cherishing Retreat in Taos!