Agape (A gathering of women)

I don’t know about you, but I’ve had a few years when I took some time on NY Eve to dedicate a toast to the end of the year with a desire only to shake the dust off my shoes and move on! A new year is our opportunity to do just that. In addition to cleaning and clearing out 2011 records and getting ready for the tax season, I enjoy setting up and organizing for 2012. A fresh chance to do it all right this time! Maybe some of you don’t think of organizing, cleaning and clearing as fun, but no matter how you feel about it, it is a fresh start for all of us.
I took a look at our survey of topics of interest to you, the Women of Agape. I found that I had not spent enough time on women heroines from the past. Accordingly our background material contains accounts of some really remarkable women-courageous, effective, assertive, generous-you know, just like us! We will learn about Santa Lucia from Sweden. Queen Vashti is the earliest heroine of our study. She stood up to the King and the court in ancient Persia. Harriet Beecher Stowe’s book “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” changed the way our country viewed people different from ourselves. It seems an odd combination, but our next horoine is Dorothy Sayers, an author of mystery novels AND an apologist (one who defends faith). Anne Bradstreet was America’s first poet, a Puritan whose writings debunk the myths of the stogy, prudish Puritan. Fanny Crosby a blind woman, wrote more than 9,000 hymns! The account of Aimee Semple McPherson is fascinating and a wonder since her name is hardly known today. She was quite well known in the first part of the 20th century however. Dowload the pdf and see why! I’m sure we’ve all heard of Joan of Arc, but her story is worth reading…and pondering! Lastly, Phoebe Palmer, the Mother of the Holiness Movement. Like many of us, loss and hardship led to her deepening faith and led her to reach out to others. 25,000 Americans converted due to her efforts (and I’m pretty sure God had something to do with it!)
I have a plaque in my kitchen-which I brought to one Gathering. It says “Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History“. It is true that if we stay carefully and quietly in our “places” and behind the scenes, we will never make history. We must be willing to stand up for justice, peace, conciliation and respect for our vast contributions to our families, friends and our society.
Please plan to join me on January 21st at 10 AM at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Oakland. As always, we will have hot coffee, tea and friendship in abundance. If you wish, bring munchies, but DO JOIN US!
God bless you,
Pam+
Agape 1-21-2012 Background Mat