Judges, Prophets, Martyrs, Warriors, Poets, Lovers and Saints
CCW Weekly Brief for Sunday, March 13th, 2022
An icon of Pepertua and Felicity, 3rd century martyrs, by Robert Lentz.
Dear Friends,
In honor of International Women’s Day that was celebrated this past week, here is a litany that I love from Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals.
A Litany to Honor Women
We walk in the company of the women who have gone before, mothers of the faith both named and unnamed, testifying with ferocity and faith to the spirit of wisdom and healing.
They are the judges, the prophets, the martyrs, the warriors, poets, lovers and saints who are near to us in the shadow of awareness, in the crevices of memory, in the landscape of our dreams.We walk in the company of Deborah,
who judged the Israelites with authority and strength.We walk in the company of Esther,
who used here position as queen to ensure the welfare of her people.We walk in the company of your whose names have been lost and silenced,
who kept and cradled the wisdom of the ages.We walk in the company of the woman with the flow of blood,
who audaciously sought her healing and release.We walk in the company of Mary Magdalene,
who wept at the empty tomb until the risen Christ appeared.We walk in the company of Phoebe,
who led an early church in the empire of Rome.We walk in the company of Perpetua and Felicity,
whose love and witness in the third century led to their martyrdom.We walk in the company of Julian of Norwich,
who wed imagination and theology, proclaiming “all shall be well”.We walk in the company of Sojourner Truth,
who stood against oppression, righteously declaring in 1852, “ain’t i a woman!”We walk in the company of the Argentine Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo,
who turned their grief to strength, standing together to remember “the disappeared” children of war with a holy indignation.We walk in the company of Alice Walker,
who named the lavender hue of womanly strength.We walk in the company of you mothers of the faith,
who teach us to resist evil with boldness, to lead with wisdom, and to heal.Amen.
I would add to that litany my own mothers of the faith—the many women who have nurtured me and taught me about Divine love and compassion. My mom Barbara. The women from Hillwood Baptist Church who taught me so much as I first encountered faith. Connie and Maureen, neighbors who welcomed me into their family when I first moved to Chicago. My mentor Rev. Dr. Marti Scott. My spiritual director Diane Hogue. Hildegaard of Bingen, a 10th century mystic who envisioned God as the verdant greening of life. And, of course, contemporary feminist and womanist theologians such as Elizabeth Johnson, Rosemary Radford Reuther, Carol Christ, Judith Plaskow, Starhawk, Karen Baker-Fletcher, and Pamela Lightsey.
I know that each of you can name mothers of your faith as well.
This weekend, I encourage you to pause for a moment and reflect on the women who have shaped, natured, and contributed to your relationship with the Divine and your relationship to communities of faith. You can even light a candle and read the litany again, letting its poetry honor all those who have taught us to resist evil with boldness, wisdom, and compassion.
Peace,
Rob
Join Us For Worship
Join us in person or online this Sunday morning as Pastor Rob reflects on the ways terms such as sin can be reclaimed as life-giving and healing. Music will be led by CCW Music Director Winifred Brown as well as Sam Krausz and Adelaide Leonard. This week’s worship leader is Peg Kritzler. After worship, everyone is welcome to join us in the CCW Lounge for coffee hour. This week’s coffee hour is hosted by Betty Jacobs.
Remember! Daylight savings time begins this Sunday. Please set your clock forward before you go to bed on Saturday night.
For those joining us in person on Sunday morning, we continue to request that everyone keeps their mask on during worship to ensure that everyone who attends feels safe. If you are attending online, please feel free to turn your camera on during the service and to unmute as we share joys and concerns or share our reflections.
To participate in the worship online via Zoom, please click on the button below.
Living and Serving Together
Congregational Meeting This Sunday
Please join us for our monthly congregational meeting after worship this Sunday to hear updates on the pastoral transition process as well as updates from Pastor Rob and our ministry teams. To participate via Zoom, please use the worship link above.