The 4th annual summer weekend for women of the diocese was
held at St. John’s, Farmington on June 10-11.
Two dozen women, representing 6 congregations (!), came together to explore how, in
the words of Madeline L'Engle “we were made to be
co-creators with our maker." (from Walking on Water) We also considered the ideas of Hildegard of
Bingen and Julian of Norwich and explored creativity through the words of Vida
Dutton Scudder who said, “It is through creating, not
possessing, that life is revealed.”
Our opening activity was making a mandala representing what we thought of as 'creativity' or 'co-creating'. It grew so big that it extended beyond the poster board and became more of a collage than mandala.
Over the weekend participants experienced
making icons using their own photo as a reminder that we are in the image of
and therefore icons of God to the world. (Several of the women are pictured.) Some attendees were extra creative with their images and made icons using magazine pics (including one of a dog, which I didn't get a separate photo of, although you can see it below).
We also explored the idea of Scriptural/Spiritual Scrapbooking by looking at the story of Abigail in II Samuel. Along with the guided activities, attendees had time to sit in the church, make sun-catchers, or just color images provided.
The final activity was to choose a packet of beads, share some
with one or more others, and then make a bracelet. The result was a ‘hands
across the diocese’ image of women committed to living their God-given creativity
in whatever form that takes. As co-creators with God we can sing, dance, paint, AND/or we can make a welcoming home, provide a space (physical and spiritual) for our family to grow, work for social justice, bake, sew, pray.., The list is endless and diverse because "humankind, full of all creative possibilities is God's work. Humankind alone is called to assist God. Humankind is called to co-create. With natures help, humankind can set into creation all that is necessary and life sustaining". (Hildegard of Bingen)
Attendees came away with a deeper understanding
that “Creativity is a way of living life, no matter what our vocation, or how
we earn our living.” (Madeline L’Engle, Walking
on Water) More pictures on the photo page of this blog, including our canine guest.
The next event is our 5th Annual Bosque Center
Gathering on November 18-19. This will be an opportunity for fellowship,
worship, and delving into YOU…Yearning, Owning, Understanding the
Puzzle Pieces of your Life. Because God is active in our lives, we all
have Yearnings. Some of these have
come to fullness, others have not. We must Own
and recognize where we are on our journey. This will help us Understand how everything that happens
is part of the Puzzle of our life. Tools
we use to put together the puzzle include learning practical, prayerful,
and personal ways to use the Bible and Book of Common Prayer. Registrations
for this event will be available here later this year.
