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Grace and Peace to You My Dear Sisters in Christ,

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Have you noticed how people are a lot like tea? Teas with a really great flavor can stand alone. They don’t need anything else to accompany them. Just pour and sip. Their flavor can carry the prayer and devotion time all by themselves just fine. But as good as a good and flavorful tea is, it can be even better when they have a delicious companion to savor as we sip.

I was brewing a pot of my favorite immunity and vitamin boosting tea and as the sweet orange and lemon fragrance filled my kitchen, I began looking through my cabinet to see what ingredients I had on hand. I had plenty of basics for muffin-making, including fresh blueberries. No doubt about it, blueberry muffins would go well. No fancy crumb topping. I didn’t want to do anything that would overpower the naturally sweet and soothing flavor of the tea.

All of this made me think of reading from the Book of Genesis forward and how God was and is constantly forming community, encouraging us to work and serve together.  

As good and confident as we can feel about going-it-alone, truth is, all of us were created for community. Some of us are naturally efficient and self-sufficient, some of us have been wounded in relationships in the past and now we may be hesitant to be in community again; some of us are not as mobile or healthy today as in the past, all these factors that can entice us to live apart from community.

A degree of aloneness is healthy; we should all love our own company and enjoy times of solitude. But God also created us for community. We read how Jesus found a healthy balance enjoying both community and aloneness. We can learn to do that also.  

I invite you to be part of the community of women at St. John. We are intentionally shaping and cultivating a community of women that is safe, loving, affirming, encouraging, non-judgmental, healing, accepting, and enjoyable. As we worship and study the Word of God together, we are being inspired by the Holy Spirit to serve God and community in new ways for a new season.       

There is a place for every woman. Even if you are primarily homebound or cannot do every activity; there are many ways you can still be part of community, contribute and support ministry to and with women. Our questionnaire will be out this spring. I hope you take time to fill it out and return it. I’m learning that each one of you is truly wondrous and uniquely made. Your stories and journeys are inspiring and touch my heart deeply; they are an important part of the rich tapestry God is working through.    

As I close, I ask you to think about the women you have not seen or heard from for some time and reach out to them. Invite them to join us. Make sure they feel connected, welcomed and needed and, if you are one of those women who have felt isolated, forgotten, too old, etc then know we extend our open heart and arms to you!

The cold weather is finally breaking, and the frigid temps are slowly but surely turning into pleasant breezes, there is much to accomplish during the warmer weather months when we can all be a little more mobile and we want you to be part of who we are.

I look forward to all the work the Lord will present to us as a community of women and all the joy we will have doing that work together. I invite you to reach out to me and know I will be reaching out to you.

May the Lord bless and keep you and your family.

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With Love and Devotion,

Cheryl-Ann, Director of Women’s Ministries