Women's Ministry in 2025

Coming in 2025

These are some of the events for fellowship and study planned for next year. Looking forward to seeing many of you at one or more of these events. 

February 8: Elements of Mystery: Holy in the Ordinary with Deborah Smith Douglas (this is an event sponsored by Holy Faith, Santa Fe)

Lent 2024:Sharing Hearts with Sacred Story: Zoom Group with Cindy

Summer Gathering (Date and Location TBA)

Annual Fall Gathering in October (TBA) 

Read the full e-news with info on many upcoming events.  

Please contact Cindy Davis if you have ideas about a good book for a future Book Study and/or an idea for an interesting speaker or topic. 

ANEW2 on January 23: Why Gratitude Matters

 

Women's Ministry of the Diocese is staying online in 2021 via ANEW2, our 4th Saturday Zoom gatherings. Join us on January 23 at 10AM for the perfect way to begin the year: Why Gratitude Matters: A Theology of Thankfulness. Contact Cindy Davis to get the Zoom link.  Our speaker, the Rev. Canon Heather Melton notes, "We live in a time where gratitude is more important than ever as the pandemic has shown us how closely linked our lives are with one another. Saying thank you is one way of acknowledging the love received from another and the gift that God has placed in the moment you experience gratitude. We will consider the importance of gratitude as a Christian virtue, the impact gratitude can have on our lives and health, our experiences of receiving and giving gratitude, and how we can deepen our spiritual disciplines around gratitude." Heather resides in Farmington with her family, including twin daughters. She is UTO Staff Officer for the Episcopal Church.

ANEW2 Continues in 2021 Feb. 27: All you need is Love (Linda Rounds-Nichols) Linda is collecting the titles or even the phrases from the love songs you remember (Love me Tender, All you Need is Love...what's your favorite?)! Please email your favs 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 July and/or Aug.: Bringing Creativity to Worship (in person at St. John's, Alamogordo and St. Bede's, Santa Fe--pending COVID) Nov.: In Person Annual Fall Weekend Retreat-pending COVID

Women's Ministry in the Diocese

If you missed it at Diocesan Convention, you can see the video about the Women's Ministry events here. We've been a busy group of ladies, and hope you will join us in 2020 if you haven't ever been to an event.

Download a flyer about all the upcoming events to share with friends and your parish. 

Women's Council Planning Meeting

The Women's Council of the Women of the Diocese of the Rio Grande met on September 12. (Thanks Linda for your hospitality!) We had a great time of fellowship, spirited discussion, and wide-ranging planning. Our continuing mission is to empower all women of the Diocese in their diverse Christian ministries. Each time we gather as women of the diocese we are enriched.

Since 2012 we've had an annual retreat at the Bosque Center. Registration is now available for the upcoming weekend: Does my Life have a Message with Katrine Stewart, on November 6-7 via the Life Message page or on the calendar page of this blog. We have also sponsored a Lent Retreat and Summer Event for the past 3 years. This will continue in 2016. Watch for locations and registration details for these events in the coming months!
As a Council, we looked at the immense distances in the Diocese of the Rio Grande. Did you know it is nearly 800 miles corner to corner (Farmington to Lajitas, TX)? Because of this, the Council is committed to trying to find ways to help connect women in far-flung parishes with opportunities and activities. One way, is via our Facebook page. There we can exchange ideas and notes about what's happening in all areas of the Diocese. If you are on Facebook-be sure to like the page, so you can be 'in the know'. Over the next few weeks, we'll be experimenting with posting of discussion topics on Facebook to see what the response will be.  The Council had extended conversation about the definition of 'ministry', so that will be our first topic to discuss.
Stop by the Women's Ministry table at Convention this year. Let us know if you'd be interested in having a Women's Hospitality time at upcoming Conventions. Whether this would take the form of an actual event, or just a room to gather and chat is still to be considered.  While at the WDRG table, you can pick up a flyer about our ministry around the diocese and a calendar of upcoming events.
Ideas under consideration for coming years include a Mystery weekend, Spirited Spa, Puzzle Pieces, Christian Grandparents, and lots of other ideas.

If you haven't joined the weekly e-study, now is the time. Current and new subscribers (email wdrgstudy@gmail.com) are encouraged to start small in-person, or online discussions with each other about the lessons. Invite new people to subscribe and then discuss your thoughts with them. If you want to share insights or ask questions to the writer of the meditations-email wdrgstudy@gmail.com.
The work of the Women of the Diocese is for each woman in the Diocese, so let us know what you want in the way of events, speakers, action, etc. Contact Cindy Davis, or one of the other Council members. (Sue Easterday, Linda White, Pat Green, Laurie Burdick, Elaine Wilson, Ann Bagby, Bambi Sturbois).

Share your Ideas for Women's Ministry

Women of the Diocese, we want you! 

Help us mix fun and faith! 

How can we support you? 

What do you want? 

What do you need?

The Women’s Council of the Diocese of the Rio Grande states the mission of the Women’s Ministry is “to empower all women in their diverse Christian ministries.” Distances and demographics are just a couple things we work to transcend. We want to make it possible for more and more women to come together, share in fun events, and build a ministry to inspire each woman’s life and church.

Give us your ideas. Who are you? What do you want? How can we make it happen together?

Your thoughts are important. We are asking for your input on ways to reach more women in all places, in all households, in every kitchen, in every office, in every ministry. We want to make Spirit-filled mini-vacations for you, by you, and through you.

Help by completing the survey here.

You can request a paper copy or email your comments to Cindy Davis.

Your input is vital to

truly creating a ministry for

ALL women of the Diocese of the Rio Grande!

 

 

Forum of Diocesan Ministries Report

Last month, Bishop Vono asked every ministry in the Diocese to present a report on their work at a Forum. I was unable to actually be at the meeting. Below is the report submitted for the meeting. All ministry reports will also be available at convention this year. Read through the report and comment or email me with ideas for implementing this vision for Women's Ministry in the DRG!

MISSION STATEMENT: WOMEN’S MINISTRY

Communicate between all women's ministries across Diocese in order to empower women's ministry and encourage unity through gatherings, retreat, communication, & study opportunities.  Enable women of the DRG to live out the promise of I Cor. 12:4-6 more fully in lives and ministries.

 PRIORITIES:

1.      Communication and listening to one another’s stories to find common ground among and between women in the DRG.

2.      Starting with women already active and in leadership, begin to build a data base of women’s contact info in order to:

3.      Be able to contact as many DRG ladies as possible with info on study, retreat, gathering opportunities in a variety of ideas, options.

4.      Visit with women around the Diocese at their parishes and/or small and large group gatherings, in order to:

5.      Begin to identify the needs and wants of women in the DRG and how that may differ depending on age, interest, and other demographics.

WHAT HAVE YOU ACCOMPLISHED SINCE CONVENTION:  

·         Blog-www.VarietiesOfGifts.blogspot.com started to inform women across the DRG about ministries and to start to share stories of ministries and individuals.

·         Scheduled Nov. 2012 Retreat at Bosque Center: Crazy Quilt Conversations. Initiate conversations, hearing one another’s stories.

·         Planning Lent Retreat (El Paso/Las Cruces area) and Summer 2013 ‘Pampering Retreat’. (Taos), Fall 2013 Retreat at Bosque.

·         Brochure to send to all churches once a contact has been identified.

WHAT DO ANTICIPATE ACCOMPLISHING IN 2013:

Greater dialog between women and parishes, including visits to various parishes/areas around the DRG.

A core leadership team of women from various ministries and areas of the DRG.

At least 2 retreats in various areas of the diocese.