Humor in Religion

 On Saturday, October 23, Camille Donoghue, Women's Ministry Council member, led us in a fun exploration of how humor can give us energy and make us laugh and helps our brains. Humor can also make us think, or re-think, our biases. Camille shared memes that demonstrate how we think of ourselves as 'poor me', how God sometimes feels frustrated or even how God might be shaking God's head at our actions. 

Sadly, we forgot to record the event, so we are sharing the slides, which will still give you a chuckle, and the prayers from the event. 

You can view them:

Humor Slides

Prayers from Holy Humor.

Remember to register for the upcoming Women of Valor and Worth retreat on Nov. 12-13 with the Rt. Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori. In-person registration is fast approaching!

Make plans to attend the Women's Ministry Christmas Party on December 11. It will be in person at St. Francis, Rio Rancho; and on Zoom. 

Merry Christmas from ANEW2

 The ANEW2 Christmas Party via Zoom was fun. We had a couple rounds of Advent Bingo and a dynamic talk by Hannah Curtis. She spoke of her passion for sharing Christ, working for justice, and widening our definition of the Divine and of our role in the Kingdom. 

You can view the video of her talk here.

The Christmas goodies handout can be downloaded so you can enjoy some of these yummy recipes this year. (If you have one you forgot to share--through the magic of technology, we can still add it!)

Coming up with Women's Ministry in 2021 are several exciting speakers and events. ANEW2 events resume on Jan. 23. More info for all of these is on the calendar page of this website: 

Jan. 8-9: Wintertalk (NMCC) The beginning of diocesan conversations about and with the multiple cultures of our diocese. Register on the NM Conference of Churches website for this free seminar. (Not a Women's Ministry event. You have to register for this Free conference via the NMCC link.)

Jan. 23: Why Gratitude Matters: A Theology of Thankfulness (Rev. Canon Heather Melton, Staff Officer UTO)

Feb. 27: All you need is Love (Linda Rounds-Nichols) Please email your fav love songs to Linda with ’DRG Women’ in the title of your email. 

March 13: Lent Retreat via Zoom with Canon Lee Curtis

April 24: Borderlands Ministry with the Rev. Susan Hutchins

May 22: Mothers and Mentors (tentative topic)

June 26: TBD

July and/or Aug.: Bringing Creativity to Worship (in person at St. John's, Alamogordo and St. Bede's, Santa Fe--pending COVID)

Sept. and Oct. Online events pending

Nov.: In Person Annual Fall Weekend Retreat-pending COVID 

ANEW2 Christmas Party! Sign up Now!

 

All women of the diocese are invited to come together on December 12 at 10AM for the ANEW² Zoom Christmas Party. Email CindyDavis, Coordinator of Women’s Ministry to be on the list to receive the Zoom link. You can join Zoom via phone, too.

We’ll be eating together virtually, so start thinking about what wonderful goodies you may want to prepare to tempt the rest of us. You can share your recipe with the group by emailing it to Cindy because we’ll be compiling a hand-out. 

See you then!

Comfort Back Packs Drive Successful!

The Women’s Ministry of the Diocese is taking the theme of Presiding Bishop Curry’s Way of Love for 2019. This is his initiative to encourage us to be part of the “Episcopal branch of the Jesus Movement”. 

Our Christmas event this year was a two-part Christmas party to Bless children in the NM foster care system. Thanks to Camille Donoghue, Women’s Council member, for spearheading this wonderful idea. We got a jump start on this by the donation of 3 GIANT bags of stuffed toys from Holly in El Paso!! 

Multiple ‘comfort backpacks’ for these children were decorated at a Christmas party at Holy Family Episcopal Church on December 8. Live Christmas caroling was provided by Santa Fe Music Works, under the direction of Dr. Mary Badarak (music director for Holy Family). The women also shared hot chocolate and cookies along with fun conversation. 

Part two of the party was held at St. John’s Cathedral on December 15. Women from Albuquerque and Los Lunas gathered for a soup luncheon and cookie exchange. They sorted items, like stuffed animals, coloring books, blankets, and baby supplies, that were collected for the ‘comfort backpacks’. About a dozen backpacks were filled and delivered to the Albuquerque office of CYFD. 

The remaining items will be used to finish filling the Santa Fe Back Packs for delivery to the Santa Fe office of CYFD. These will Bless the children who receive them, who often don’t have their own things when entering the foster care system.

Throughout 2019, Women’s Ministry will continue to find ways to be part of the Way of Love with other exciting events. All women, lay and ordained are encouraged to be part of this ministry and join in our gatherings!

Cookies, Stuffed Animals, Blankets, and Crayons!

The Women’s Ministry of the Diocese encourages all women to join in donating ‘comfort backpacks’, or their contents, for children in foster care this holiday season. These children often don’t have anything except a plastic bag to carry personal items from home to home. They don’t have any special stuffed toys or blankets to provide solace in this traumatic time. The Women’s Ministry is reaching out to these children by decorating and filling ‘comfort backpacks’ this Christmas. Information about these ‘bags. 

There will be two Christmas parties where you can bring your donations, or you can do this as a parish or women’s study group. You can also donate online toward this Women’s Ministry project.  Download a flyer for your church!

Holy Family Episcopal Church (10A Bisbee Ct., Santa Fe) will hold its first Women of the DRG Christmas Party for the Northeast Deanery on December 8th at 3:00 p.m. Bring your favorite Christmas cookies. We will decorate ‘comfort backpacks’ for kids in the NM foster care system. Coffee, tea and cocoa will be provided, along with fabric markers to decorate your bag. Cost is $10.00 to cover the cost of the backpack. Supplies to go in the bags will be provided by participants at the Northwest Deanery party (see below). Please RSVP to Camille Donoghue for the Santa Fe party!

The Christmas Party in the Northwest Deanery will be at the Cathedral (318 Silver SW, Albuquerque) on December 15 at noon. We will have a soup luncheon, cookie exchange, and collect items for the ‘comfort backpacks’. A list of items is available. For the cookie exchange bring a couple dozen of your favorite cookies (homemade or store bought), and we’ll share so everyone goes home with a nice assortment of goodies. 

You are invited to come at 10:30 a.m. to hear the Children’s Messiah, presented by the Cathedral choirs and members of the Santa Fe Opera. This is a performance for all ages, and Handelian wigs or costumes are encouraged.

Contact Cindy Davis if you have questions. 

Christmas Potluck & Cookie Exchange w/ Outreach Collection

Christmas Potluck and Cookie Exchange for women of the Diocese is Saturday, December 2 at noon in Kaseman Hall. Bring a favorite potluck dish, a couple dozen cookies (store bought or home-made) and donations for Women’s Circle of Empowerment or Borderlands Ministry. Suggested items are below and on the downloadable flyer. Share the info with a friend at church and come join the fun!! 

Borderlands Collection Suggestions

à Shampoo or Hand Soap

à Hand or Body Lotion

à Feminine Hygiene Products

à Diapers & Baby wipes

à Facial tissues

à Gloves or Mittens

à Jackets

à New, unopened underwear

à New, unopened socks

à Bandaids

à #2 Pencils or Pens

à Stuffed toys

à Rice or beans

Women’s Circle of Empowerment (ABQ)

à New washcloths

à Travel sized shampoo, soap,  etc.

à Socks

à Feminine hygiene products

à Toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash

à Hand sanitizer

à Water bottles

à Individual packages of crackers

à Juice boxes