More Retreat News

The Bishop wasn't the only speaker at the Lively Lent retreat. In the afternoon, we had 3 workshops providing insight into ways to live more fully into Lent and into our baptismal vows and ultimately be more fully aware on the Road to Jerusalem and Emmaus.

Susan Hutchins shared her work in Columbus and Palomas with a slide show. She works with the poorest of the poor in these sister communities. The simplest items are warmly welcomed-blankets, gloves, etc. Women are empowered to begin cottage industry making baskets and other items from donated supplies.

Part of the ministry is the Shoebox ministry at Christmas gives the Palomas children (1000 last year) a chance to have something special. Recently she asked diocesan churches for blankets because families in Palomas did not have any. Her living room was filled with donations from across the diocese which she delivered to many families. One touching story was of the way a family handed the blanket down the line to the youngest child because he was the one who did not have anything to sleep under.

The Rev. Susan Collis, of St. Francis on the Hill, shared a series of hands-on ways to pray in untraditional ways.
1.      Write a card to someone you’ve been meaning to contact.
2.      Braid together 3 ribbons: you, God, issue while praying about the issue.
3.      Use play dough to form an image of your issue and manipulate it to see what happens. Or just play with the dough and see what emerges.
4.      Use bubbles as a medium to send your prayers heavenward.
5.      Create a prayer plaque or scriptural reminder to place on your desk or in your prayer area.
6.     (This last one is a little hard to describe) Take a rock. Hold and pray into it an issue while walking, kneeling, or standing. Offer it to God. We placed ours in a water basin on the altar.
Participants found these prayers very inspirational and shared some of their insights and experiences.

Finally, Cindy Davis shared some ideas for using journaling as a conversation with God and offered ideas for places where inspiration for jounaling can be found, including pictures, quotes, the Bible, music, nature, etc.

To close the day we had a time of brainstorming the future of women of the DRG. This conversation continued in Roswell with the ladies there. Check back for some of those thoughts.

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. 

Our Lady of Las Palomas

Last time I introduced you to a ministry that I learned about at Diocesan Convention. Today, I've got another ministry by and for women. It is the Our Lady of Las Palomas  ministry in Columbus, NM and Palomas, Mexico.
Funded only by grants (including a couple from the SE Deanery of the DRG) and donations, this ministry works at "empowering women and their families to be financially sustainable." They do this by teaching skills and providing resources to help women in a variety of ways.
There are four facets to this ministry: the Cooperative, the Micro-Loan Program, the Hunger Project, and Retreats for Youth and Adults. The Cooperative is the basic ministry that teaches women skills like using recycled cloth, plastic, and yarn to make sturdy and attractive bags and bowls.
The Micro-Loan program is funding for equipment like a sewing machine or loom that will help a woman become more self-sufficient.
The Hunger Project feeds families on both sides of the border through donations. Finally retreats can be held at the facilities.

What can women in the Diocese do to help this ministry? Donations, of course are always welcome. They do not have to be just monetary donations, either. Fabric yardage and non-perishable food items are always needed.
Women's groups or churches can purchase a 'crate' of the hand-crafted items to sell during a special event or retreat. Each item has the name of the woman who made the bowl or shawl or bag, so you have a special link to another woman.
The work produced by these women is exquisite and sturdy. Many of them are widowed because the men of their family have been killed by drug cartels or other violence. The love that executive director the Rev. Susan Hutchins has for this ministry and more importantly, for these women, is a reflection of the love of God to each of us.