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​“On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, here we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, ‘come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us. (Act 16:13-15)

 

 

 

 

It’s one of my favorite stories that Saint Paul shares in the Book of Acts.

During his second missionary journey Paul and his companions (Silas, Timothy and Luke) felt an urging by the Holy Spirit to locate a group of worshipers. It was not out of the ordinary to find believers worshiping by the river on the Sabbath, so they went outside the city gate of Philippi and when they arrived at the river they came upon a group of women gathered in prayer and worshiping the Lord Christ.

As the text says, one of the women, Lydia of Thyatira—a God-fearing business woman who sold purple cloth—was deeply moved by Paul’s message and the Lord Jesus opened her heart to be baptized, along with her entire household.

Just a note: since Lydia was a wealthy woman, it’s very likely she would have had servants which meant they would have been part of the “household” named by Paul and gathered by baptized through Lydia’s conversion and influence.  

Lydia is recorded as the first Christian convert in Europe. Additionally, it’s believed her home became the first church in Philippi. Lydia is often identified as one of the first women mentioned by name, as a leader in the early Christian church. 

This is a great time to talk about what’s happened right here at St. John. We enjoyed our first Women’s Worship, Saturday, April 18, 2026. What a wonderful, spirit-filled time we had as we gathered! It was evident the Holy Spirit was with us as we sang, prayed and studied the Word of God together. We enjoyed a sister-to-sister connection activity and spent time focusing on Sarah in the Old Testament during our lesson time.

Wonderful things happen when women gather for the purpose of worshiping our Lord. As we worship our faith in Jesus and in the promises of God is deepened. We are healed and strengthened. We enjoy and build lasting relationships. We are empowered and flourish emotionally and spiritually. We discover our purpose; the gifts and talents God knit into us in the womb to be used for His glory. We are set free to be the women God designed us to be. The ore we worship and grow the more we impact others near of us and those we meet in our journey.

As we continue to worship together on the first and third Saturday of each month we can expect great things to happen, not only in our midst during worship, but spreading out into our home and community. It is impossible to worship the Lord and not experience His glory in every area of our life and being!

Sisters, as you continue to meet with the Lord in your daily devotion and prayer time, I  want to encourage you to mark your calendar and make it a point to join us as we grow in the Word of God, learn more about those who lived long before us and how their journeys of faith still impact and influence us today.

Whether you need to experience God’s healing, strength, comfort, forgiveness, peace, reassurance, or joy, come, just as you are and bring a friend!

Lord Jesus,

 

 

 

 

As we enjoy the overflow of what happened when You came from the tomb with all power in Your hand we are excited for what is ahead of us as women! Today we remember not only Lydia and the group of women Paul met by the river outside Philippi, but we remember every woman You set free to worship You and did not take their worship from them. Thank You for the great things You have already planned to happen through our gathering: the women who will be set free, those who will learn more of You through our time of study and deepen their faith; those who will come to faith as they are in our midst, the emotional, spiritual, heart and body healing that will take place; so much we cannot even begin to imagine. Thank You for meeting us in worship Jesus. Amen  

 

 

 

 

Yours in Christ Jesus,

Cheryl-Ann, Dir. Women’s Ministries  

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