Showing posts with label Women. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Women. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Church Women

There has been much well-deserved acclaim about the elevation of a woman to the episcopate of the Church of England, and I cannot help but reflect on the books by Anthony Trollope whose interest in the Diocese of Barchester (fictitious but likely based on a real one) centered around the bishop’s wife, the redoubtable Mrs. Proudie. She, assisted by the bishop’s chaplain, often referred to as the ‘bestial Mr. Slope’, managed the See of Barchester, and her milquetoast of a husband seemed incapable or uninterested enough to curb her machinations among the clergy and people of the cathedral close. She provides much of the conflict for Trollope’s tale, and she is a woman who gains the reader’s derision until at last, betrayed by Mr. Slope who finds more fertile fields to plough, her reign of ecclesiastical terror comes to an end. It’s a romp and it’s fun to read. If you don’t want to bother with the novel itself, PBS has made a film called “Barchester Chronicles” that portrays fairly well what Trollope had in mind.
Geraldine McEwan and Alan Rickman
as Mrs Proudie and Mr Slope in the TV
adaptation of Barchester Towers

He published Barchester Towers in 1857 when the very idea of a woman joining the clergy of the Anglican Church was unthinkable. How proud I think he would be that a woman has become a bishop in the C of E, not through political appointment, but through her own merits and the recognition of her attributes by her peers. And how proud I am that we in the American church have led the way for many years now for women to gain their rightful place among the House of Bishops.

We have led several such crusades and presented them as examples of Christian charity to our Anglican cousins. The American church showed the Communion that divorced people could indeed be welcomed into their congregations, that women were called to the priesthood, and that gay and lesbian people also enjoy the love of God promised to all people, and are, as the Eucharistic Prayer says, ‘worthy to stand’ before God in the free knowledge that all are one in Christ.

The issues in Trollope’s novels go deeper than the desire for power exhibited by Mrs. Proudie, and if you want to explore the differences within the church back then between “high church” and “evangelicalism” and note where we are some 150 years later, his books might be just what you’re looking for. What might strike you is how far we’ve come as a church in the furthering of God’s kingdom, and shining brightly in the dawn of its new age is the consecration of the Church of England’s first woman bishop, Bishop Libby Lane.

Robert Heylmun

Congratulations to Bishop Libby Lane!  (source)

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Women Together: "Those Who Sing, Pray Twice: How Music Brings us Closer to God"

A simple supper, themed program and thoughtful discussion.   In the Great Hall Thursday, October 2, 2014 - 6:00 to 7:30 pm 

 Please join us for our first meeting of the season. "Those Who Sing, Pray Twice: How Music Brings us Closer to God" with The Very Rev. Penny Bridges

Our Dean, holder of a music degree from Cambridge University and a former Choral Scholar at Clare College Cambridge, reflects on St. Augustine's words as they apply to her life and to the universal experience of music as a means of worship, recreation, spiritual refreshment, and mental exercise.

 Reservations: You can reserve a seat right now by sending an email  to womentogetherspc@gmail.com.. In your email, please include your name, email, phone number and whether you would like the optional light dinner ($10 at the door), or feel free to bring your own. We still need to know if you're coming, even if you don't plan to eat.

Deadline: For all reservations, with or without dinner, the deadline is: Monday, September 29th.

Invite a Friend! Whether you are a newcomer to St. Paul's or a long-time member, this is your opportunity to share a unique evening with other women.


  Christian Women in a Diverse World
Whether you are a newcomer to St. Paul's or a long-time member, this is your opportunity to discover, reconnect, and  share a unique evening with other women.  
  All ages welcome!

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Women Together Feb 6th




Thursday Feb. 6, 2014, 6 PM to 7:30 PM
 St. Paul's Cathedral, Guild Room

 "HeARTful Prayer" with Rev. Nancy Turner

 "HeARTful Prayer" will focus on simple visual techniques that connect head and heart in prayer. It's a deep yet practical skill-building program to enrich prayer life. No art skills required! Rev. Nancy Turner, United Methodist deacon, coordinates Art & Soul, bringing us into deeper attentiveness with God and each other using creative tools.

You can reserve a seat right now by clicking here.  You will be directed to the Women Together @ St. Paul's webpage where you can RSVP. Let us know if you want the optional $10 light dinner (payable at the door), or, feel free to bring your own. 

We still need to know if you're coming, even if you don't plan to eat. Deadline for all reservations, with or without dinner, is: Monday, February 3.

   
  Christian Women in a Diverse World
Whether you are a newcomer to St. Paul's or a long-time member, this is your opportunity to discover, reconnect, and  share a unique evening with other women.  
  All ages welcome!

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Ministry Spotlight: Women Together

MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT is an addition to our Announcements, Blog, and Facebook page. Please feel free to contact me about a ministry you are involved in. Remember ministries are not only through the Cathedral. You may be sharing your spiritual gifts with ministries outside the Cathedral, (such as Hands Up Food Pantry or Uptown Faith). To Spotlight your ministry please email Vicki Hoppenrath at hoppenrathv@stpaulcathedral.org


 


Ministry Spotlight: WOMEN TOGETHER
Volunteer: Nancy Tarbell


Describe your ministry: The women of St. Paul’s Cathedral gather monthly from October through May for a simple supper, themed program, guest speakers and discussions on what it means to be a Christian woman in a diverse world. Together we seek to deepen our faith as we interact with the rest of the world and explore the challenges women everywhere face in their daily lives. Meetings are open to all women in the community. View our schedule at www.stpaulcathedral.org/women-together. .

What have you learned about yourself through your ministry?   I’m finding that I can deepen my daily spiritual journey by incorporating practices shown to us by our guest speakers. And I’ve discovered a renewed interest in learning about other faith traditions, unveiling our common faith in God. Last but not least, I realize more and more the importance of fellowship.

Have you seen Jesus through your ministry?   When women tell me how much they appreciate this ministry, that it brings them closer to God and each other, I know this is Jesus at work amongst us.

What is the biggest secret about your ministry?  Our guest speakers are theologians, professors, authors and ministers. Their talks often include the practical aspects of deepening our daily spiritual lives. Sometimes they teach us about other faith traditions. They not only give us something to think about each day, they often give us new tools and skills to put into practice.

Why would you recommend your ministry to another person?  Attending Women Together meetings is a great way to become more a part of Cathedral life. Enjoying fellowship with other women enriches our lives. And the dinners are yummy. The ministry is run by volunteers; working alongside other volunteers is very rewarding!

What is the time commitment?    Monthly meetings last an hour and a half. We begin with a light supper at 6 pm, followed by a guest speaker from 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm. One does not ‘join’ Women Together; meeting/dinner reservations are made each month. The time commitment for volunteers varies with each task, from 15 minutes a month to two to three hours a month. Volunteers can choose their level of commitment. Current vacancies include back-ups for hospitality at meetings, publicity, computer RSVP tracking, and others. Minimal training is required, although some tasks depend on computer skills. If you are interested please contact me at – WomenTogetherSPC@gmail.com



Thursday, October 31, 2013

Women Together: How Christians Choose Wisely in Troubled TImes

Reminder: Deadline for reservations or cancellations for our next event is Monday, Nov. 4, 2013.

Thursday, Nov.7, 2013, 6-7:30PM St. Paul's Cathedral, Guild Room

DARK NIGHTS AND WHITE KNUCKLES: HOW CHRISTIANS CHOOSE WISELY DURING TROUBLED TIMES

Presented by: Dr. Elisabeth Koenig

"Our faith is a light...measured with discretion, and it is present to us in our need in the night...And at the end of our woe, suddenly our eyes will be opened, and in the clearness of our sight our light will be full, which light is God..." Julian of Norwich, Showings

Christian Discernment is an ancient spiritual practice that empowers people to make important personal and social decisions wisely and well, not an easy task during times of crisis and rapid change. Everywhere we look - the Congress, Wall Street, the Middle East, the Church, our own lives - chaos afflicts people, stirring up such high anxiety and distress that the whole world can seem untrustworthy. Needless to say, energy-states like these distort perception and make clear decision-making impossible.

Christian Discernment was developed centuries ago by such luminaries as the New Testament authors, St. Paul, Julian of Norwich, Ignatius of Loyola, and Teresa of Avila, who were enmeshed in conflicts not unlike our own. Come learn about Discernment and the great personalities who taught their followers how to make wise choices. You will be introduced to a Christian Discernment Process that you can use yourself, as you and your companions explore your own pressing decisions on a path that leads to spiritual wholeness and love.

Elisabeth Koenig, Ph.D., is Professor of Ascetical Theology, Emerita, at the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church, in New York City. She has taught courses in Christian Theology, ethics, Spirituality and Practice, Christian Discernment, Anglican Women Theologians, and Mysticism and Social Transformation.

Reservations: You can reserve a seat online right now by clicking here. Cancellations: If you RSVP'd for dinner and need to cancel your reservation, email us at WomenTogetherSPC@gmail.com or call Judy MacDonald, 619.298.7261 ext.324. Deadline for all reservations, with or without dinner, is: Monday, Nov. 4, 2013

       Christian Women in a Diverse World 
 Whether you are a newcomer to St. Paul's or a long-time member, this is your opportunity to discover, reconnect, and  share a unique evening with other women.      All ages welcome!  

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Women Together, October meeting: The House of the Soul

Thursday, Oct 3, 2013, 6-7:30PM 
St. Paul's Cathedral, Guild Room 
"The House of the Soul" 
The Very Rev. Rebecca McClain   

St. Teresa once wrote:
However great the breath, the depth, the height of our thought of the soul, we shall not exceed the reality; for its capacity is far greater than we are able to conceive, and the Sun which dwells in this house penetrates to every corner of it.  

Evelyn Underhill took these words to heart when she wrote her book, The House of the Soul.  Using her thoughts as our inspiration, we will consider our own lives from the perspective of the soul as an 'interior castle' and the 'temple of the Holy Spirit.'  What does it mean for us, as women, to become solid like a house? How can we be strengthened and settled in this time and place of rapid and perpetual change, learning to live in the shelter of each other?  In our time together we will enter into a conversation and play house, creating an intentional structure and a spiritual practice that contemplates the care of the caregivers and brings rest to the soul. Come and join me for an evening where our work becomes playful and our play productive.

The Very Rev. Rebecca McClain is the Interim Dean of St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral. Rebecca has served as priest at the congregational, diocesan and national levels and recently retired after completing her responsibilities as Canon Missioner at Saint Mark's Cathedral on Capitol Hill in Seattle, Washington. 

You can reserve a seat right now by clicking here.  You will be directed to the Women Together @ St. Paul's webpage where you can RSVP. Let us know if you want the optional $10 light dinner (payable at the door), or, feel free to bring your own.  We still need to know if you're coming, even if you don't plan to eat. Deadline for all reservations, with or without dinner, is: Monday, September 30.

       Christian Women in a Diverse World 
 Whether you are a newcomer to St. Paul's or a long-time member, this is your opportunity to discover, reconnect, and  share a unique evening with other women.      All ages welcome!  

Thursday, March 15, 2012

"Women Together" reaches another Milestone

Excitement was in the air at the recent gathering of St. Paul’s women and their guests. We met in the Great Hall on March 1st and enjoyed a delicious catered Italian dinner. The room was all ‘a buzz’ waiting for our speaker! But more on this later.


Our (almost) monthly meetings this year have sparked quite an interest in learning more about the spirituality we have in common, and about diversity of other faith traditions. We are finding ourselves caught up in a surprising learning momentum; the quality of our speakers and the content of their programs have been beyond expectations! So far this year we’ve heard a wide range of programs on the spiritual continuum, from “Celebrating the Holy in the Ordinary” to “Buddhist Meditation”. Our speakers range from authors, clinicians, and professors, and even a Buddhist nun.



I said earlier we’re learning more about the spirituality we have in common. We’re exploring the elements of our shared faith experience while opening ourselves up more to the diversity that exists all around us. It’s pretty awesome. This happens in the context of women eating supper and visiting together, listening to an enlightening speaker, and discussing the program afterwards. And, we’re in and out in about 1½ hours.


Here are some of the written evaluation comments from recent meetings:

• “Enjoyed the mix - socializing, food, and content of meeting.”

• “Wonderful! Very professional and thought provoking.”

• “Another great presentation. I so appreciate the opportunity to come together with other women.”

• “So glad to find out about this group of faithful women.”


• “Wonderful, as usual. I look forward to this every month.”

• “This meeting is always a calming, centering experience. I look forward to it.”



None of this would happen without the dedication and commitment of many volunteers. They handle everything from publicity to sign-ups to ordering and serving meals and greeting guests with warm hospitality. They work with the speakers ahead of time, and analyze the evaluations afterwards. Our volunteers are making a significant contribution to ensure the continuation of this ministry. 




Earlier I mentioned why the room was all ‘a buzz’ before our last speaker.  We had a great opportunity to hear our Cathedral’s own, Dr. Elisabeth Koenig, speak to us about a 14th century mystic known as Julian of Norwich. The milestone I referred to in this blog post title is that 65 women attended this meeting, and couldn’t wait to hear about this lesser-known mystic. The room was absolutely quiet during the program; so much of the information was brand new to us. We were delighted!



That’s how it’s been with all of our meetings! I want to be sure you know about this wonderful ministry. We hear these great speakers, enjoy a lovely dinner, and spend time with amazing women. All women are welcome, whether St. Paul’s members or not. Check out our webpage at http://www.stpaulcathedral.org/women-together . Even if you don’t want to make a meeting reservation, you can use the ‘comments’ box to ask questions or give us ideas.


See you on campus, and maybe at our next meeting! We won’t meet in April because of Holy Week; our next meeting is May 3rd when we’ll hear an interesting perspective on C. S. Lewis. Watch for details in our publicity.



Warmly, Nancy Tarbell 

 

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

WT @ SPC: Our Spiritual Journey

On June 4th, there were 46 Women enjoying the evening Together at St. Paul’s Cathedral. And by amazing coincidence it was a meeting of WT@SPC. What a perfect name for this newly formed ministry at St. Paul’s! On this particular evening the women enjoyed another wonderful meal and a presentation by Reverend Canon Suzy Holding who spoke on the topic “Our Spiritual Journey; Finding our Gifts Along the Way. Canon Holding began by explaining to us, “How a Marketing Exec ends up with a collar around her neck,” which was a brief autobiography that gave us a very personal connection to her. Many women in the room related so well to her story about trying to find a Christmas Eve Service that fit into her baby’s nap schedule, which just happened to be an Episcopal Church. At the service she heard the words, “God’s love is like that of a parent for their child.” Enjoying the service she later contacted the Priest wanting to meet with him to discuss her need to find “structure for my soul.” Much to her surprise, the priest asked, “What are you doing for lunch?” Thus began the path towards a career change and a COLLAR!

She then talked about the power of getting a sense of our own spiritual biography. She explained the need we all have for community. Thus the terms The Book of Common Prayer and Communion. As she said, “God created humankind to be in relationship with one another, as well as with Him.

After a brief scriptural review of the spiritual gifts in Romans 12, I Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4, we were each given a Spiritual Gifts Assessment Form. The form stated, “Like other presents, it is impossible to fully appreciate and make use of our spiritual gifts until they have been opened.” This self-assessment was a tool to help us open our spiritual gifts. It was amazing how quiet a room of 46 women became as they were answering the 60 questions and then determining the gifts as a result of the answers. As the questions began, it was clear that we could have easily gone on for another hour, but alas, we ran out of time.













What an amazing way to end our first season of WT@SPC. There were eight evenings with more than 370 ladies attending in all, thus averaging over 45 women per evening. After each evening the ladies were given an evaluation form. It is clear this is a welcome addition to St. Paul’s by what the women wrote; “THANK YOU for this awesome fellowship,” "As it is my first time, I am looking forward to getting to know the wonderful women I see around this room,” "Nancy (Tarbell), thanks for revising and reinstating the women’s group at St. Paul’s. It is simply wonderful!”


Indeed, we all owe Nancy Tarbell a huge thanks for getting the Women Together at St. Paul’s Cathedral started. She has created an amazing committee of women who have taken this group as their ministry and the amazing results are proof of their commitment and dedication. WT@SPC will begin again in October. Many exciting speakers are already lined up. So mark your calendar for the first Thursday in October!


Pat Kreder for WT@SPC

Monday, February 21, 2011

Women Together: February

On Thursday, Feb. 3, Women Together at St. Paul’s Cathedral (WT@SPC) had another wonderfully successful evening. This was the fourth event for the newly “reformed” group and it continues to grow in numbers. Through Nancy Tarbell’s leadership, the group has developed many ways to publicize their events and have made signup easy, thus continuing to increase the number attending, with February’s evening hosting over fifty women!

Dr. Pat Lindquist, a member of the Cathedral, spoke to us on the topic “Love One Another: Really?” Being a clinical psychologist, she began by stating, “I am not allowed to ‘shrink’ anyone else, before I ‘shrink’ myself.” She then shared with us her own difficulty when the ‘hand of peace’ was introduced during the service. She, too, had a challenge meeting strangers. Stranger Anxiety, as Pat referred to it, is common to everyone.

Did you know that we make a decision if we want to get to know a stranger in less than a second! We instantly think, “I wonder what you’re like? Would you make a good friend?” If people are similar to us, either socially, economically, by their speech or their clothing we feel a sense of warmth. We can feel this same sense towards people who are different from us in ways such as the disabled, elderly, even the down & out that are trying to improve their lives. But we find it much more difficult to meet people who we feel are richer, more educated or more powerful than us. And sadly, this same difficulty extends to the homeless, substance abusers and the mentally disheveled.

Pat then led us through an interesting activity. She asked each of us to look around the room, find a stranger, and then actually stare at them for awhile. About a third of the women found this somewhat uncomfortable. We then broke into small groups with a stranger and talked about how it feels to BE a stranger. Wow, did the volume pick up in the room!! It was amazing how women, yes even strangers, found the ability and comfort to talk with one another. Could it be that we all felt more comfortable with each other knowing we are part of the St. Paul’s family??





Women Together evenings were beautifully summed up by Carol Walsh. She stated,”I was overcome by the happy atmosphere during the entire evening. This group is unique in that it is a relatively large group of women making something happen on a regular basis for their Christian sisters, purely for their edification and enjoyment. Loving friendships are formed by brainstorming together, solving problems together, making arrangements together and bonding over a salad bowl. This is such a GOOD THING!!”

Next month, Thursday, March 3, WT@SPC will be hosting Professor Mary Doak who will be speaking on “A Living Faith: Theological Challenges for Our Times.” She will be discussing the new questions and problems in the 21st Century that are challenging Christianity. This is sure to be an evening not to be missed. Because of the growth of the group, we will be moving to the Great Hall. Be sure to watch for more information and sign ups.

Pat Kreder

Monday, December 27, 2010

Women together: Self Care and Fellowship

In December, Women Together chose the theme of “Self Care and the Warmth of Friendship.” This turned out to be one of our most enjoyable and interactive evenings. Although several ladies were delayed by bad traffic, that was soon forgotten once they had a chance to chat with each other. Unfortunately, those of us who arrived late missed Dr. Pat Lindquist’s guided imagery. Pat invited us to recall a memory of a joyful Christmas past, and guided us toward bringing this happy memory forward to frame our present Christmas season. Ooohh, how pleasant and relaxing!

Lisa Churchill then led us in a jewelry-making craft activity. She provided shimmery yarn in a variety of colors, and taught us how to make ladder ribbon necklaces. While weaving these beautiful strands of yarn, we enjoyed the warmth of fellowship while we got to know each other better. As with all creative activities some found it much easier than others. And we had some real “Over Achievers” as you can see by their beautiful results.

It was clear that this evening was a real hit with everyone by how late they stayed after the meeting was concluded. Some wanted to finish their necklaces while others were simply enjoying good conversation. Lisa provided “take home packets” for those who wanted to continue their projects at home. (If you are interested in the pattern, click here for a PDF file.)


There will be no meeting in January, but on Thursday, February 3rd from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM, Pat Lindquist will speak on The Psychology of the Stranger. Pat is a member of the Cathedral and a clinical psychologist in private practice, trained in London at the Freud Center and at the Washington School of Psychiatry. She will discuss the various human strategies we use to avoid stranger anxiety. Since our task at the Cathedral is to welcome the stranger, Pat will help us recognize and master our own stranger anxiety and turn it into a constructive welcome to those we don’t yet know. Look for Women Together @ St. Paul’s publicity and RSVP information in mid-January.

Women Together @ St. Paul’s wish the Cathedral family a very blessed Christmas and look forward to a wonderful New Year!

Pat Kreder

(Click on any image for a closer view!)

Friday, November 19, 2010

WT @ SPC: Self care & Fellowship, Dec 2


Last month, 48 women enjoyed an evening filled with good food, great conversation and a fascinating speaker. Many people I know are still talking about it! Our speaker, Gertrud Mueller Nelson, spun a beautiful fairy tale, drawing us all into that fantasy world with her. What did it all mean? That’s open to individual interpretation, but in general, as with Jesus’ parables retold in the Gospels, the tale Gertrud wove referred to aspects that every human being possesses, helping us to recognize these things in ourselves.

At our next event on December 2 at 6 p.m., Lisa Churchill will help us address the importance of Self Care and the Warmth of Fellowship in preparation for the extremely busy holiday season. Many women do so much for their families and friends in the weeks leading up to Christmas that they are too exhausted to enjoy the holiday when it arrives! This year, we want you to reserve some time just for YOU!

Join us as we make ladder ribbon necklaces out of shimmery yarns in a variety of cool colors. No experience is required and all materials will be provided. Really! Absolutely NO experience is required—this will be easy! Full instruction will be provided. It goes quickly, especially seasoned with friendly conversation.


Lisa, a Grants Administrator at The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, joined the Cathedral in 2009. She learned to crochet from her Mom (Kitty) in Texas, long ago. She’s been working with fiber ever since, hoping to knit community in with the stitches.

Give yourself a break…and something pretty to take away with you. Come on along and do something nice for yourself for a change! This is a great opportunity to bring a friend and introduce them to ladies of St. Paul’s.
Dec. 2 from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m, Guild Room, St. Paul’s Cathedral

You can reserve a seat by sending an email to Nancy Tarbell at ntarbell1@cox.net. Just let us know whether or not you would like dinner for $10 (payable at the door by cash, or check made to "St. Paul's"). We’d still like to know if you’re coming, even if you don’t plan to eat. Or you can call Judy MacDonald in the office, 298-7261 ext. 324. Hope to see you there!!!

Deadline for all reservations, Monday, November 29.


*Note: If you know how to crochet, you may bring a hook (size G through M-ish) but it is NOT necessary (in fact for beginners, it is faster to do without a hook).


Pat Kreder, for WT@SPC

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Women @ St Paul's: WT@SPC

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4
6 – 7:30 p.m, Guild Room, St. Paul’s Cathedral


For a simple supper, themed program and thoughtful discussion led by

Gertrud Mueller Nelson
A Fairy-tale and the Roadmap to Happiness
“Folk stories and fairy tales were never really meant for children. The fairy tale is the grand, projected image of our unconscious…It explains to us our past and predicts the glory and foibles of the future. At our November gathering, as the night falls, we will slowly enter the inner world of one fairy tale and learn to hear its symbolic language and hold its paradoxes and hear the Good News.”
"She’s Mary and Martha rolled into one helluva ball of spiritual and practical wisdom."
- Student, Episcopal School of Theology, Cambridge MA

That’s right on the mark. Gertrud’s an artist and a speaker. In both realms, she looks inward on the world of the spirit where mystery and value lie and then offers an outward expression -- a simple, essential kernel. So simple is that expression that it might take you aback. It’s "reduction to a fine sauce." It’s visual Haiku.

In art, she will embellish this thing with a decorative style, a folk-art quality that lends personality and nuance. In speaking she embellishes what is essential by story and experience, by teaching and example. She will give each essential value its unique visual or verbal expression, taking us on a journey into archetype, ritual, liturgy and folk custom.
- Rev. Ralph Carskadden, Episcopal priest, Liturgist and artist Seattle, WA


RSVP: ntarbell1@cox.net Or Call Judy MacDonald at (619) 298-7261

Deadline for all reservations, Monday, November 1

$10 for dinner (optional)
- Pam Crooks



0 comments

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Women meet Simpler Living: let's continue the conversation!

Pam Crooks of WT@SPC (Women Together @ St Paul's) writes,
We had such a wonderful gathering at our first meeting! The food was delicious. Carolyn Lief and Grace van Thillo’s program “In Search of Simpler Living,” quite thought-provoking. Judging by the buzz in the room over dinner, I’d say there were a lot of interesting conversations taking place.

Grace von Thillo encourages further discussion :
Carolyn Lief and I joined the Women Together evening and presented, “In Search of Simpler Living”, our personal spiritual paths in Christ toward more sustainable and compassionate choices, and an overview of the Simpler Living ministry. Many of the women expressed an interest in Richard Foster’s Outward Expressions of Simplicity found in his essay entitled, The Discipline of Simplicity; if you have the Simpler Living, Compassionate Life book, you’ll find these on pp. 187-189.

We invite you to respond to and BLOG about any of the following:

From Foster:
  • How can the Christian discipline of simplicity become an inward reality that results in an outward lifestyle? or,
  • Simplicity is the only thing that sufficiently reorients our lives so that possessions can be genuinely enjoyed without destroying us.
  • And, across all ages, what can we do here at St. Paul’s to grow our inward realities toward outward lifestyles of simplicity?


Feel free to keep the conversation going in the comments to this post. The next Women Together meeting is 4 November.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Introducing Women @ St Paul's

Women are an important and powerful element in the Episcopal Church. This is particularly true at St. Paul’s Cathedral, as there have been many active women’s groups in the past. Conversation began this past summer with Canon Chris Harris, the Rev. Canon Allisyn Thomas and Nancy Tarbell about reinvigorating the women's group at St. Paul's. All of us were getting inquiries from women about starting up another group, after an absence of several years. This was a groundswell that was happening spontaneously and conversations with other women at St. Paul's were met with enthusiasm and excitement at the possibility of the women gathering on campus.

Under Nancy’s leadership a small group was formed to begin making the plans for the new women’s group. After much discussion, Pam Crooks, Publicity Chairman, came up with the name Women Together at St. Paul’s Cathedral, with the clever acronym WT@SPC! The meetings will begin with an optional light dinner, $10.00, followed by themed programs which will be exploring how to deepen our faith as we interact with the rest of the world, and the challenges women everywhere face in their daily lives. Many exciting programs are already scheduled with several others in the works.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS. The first gathering will be Thursday, October 7, from 6:00 – 7:30pm in the Cathedral guild room. Carolyn Lief and Grace Van Thilo will be speaking on the topic “In Search of Simpler Living.” Be sure to RSVP by Oct. 4 if you want to order dinner. This will be a very special evening you won’t want to miss!

For more information or to sign up there will be a table in the patio after each service or you can contact Pam Crooks at pcrooks@cox.net or Judy MacDonald, (619) 298-7261 x 324

Pat Kreder