Coming in Pentecost: Thy Kingdom Come Prayer Event

 

All women of the Diocese of the Rio Grande are invited to participate in this year's Thy Kingdom Come* prayer event. Follow this website for the images and prompts from Thy Kingdom Come as well as suggestions applicable to our diocese! I hope you will take on this 11-day discipline as a way of praying for the world.

 You can do this personally or with friends. As Women of the Diocese of the Rio Grande, you are encouraged to read the daily posts as a starting point for prayer and meditation. We’ll be posting the inspirational art by the Rev. Chris Duffett (from Thy Kingdom Come) and prompts to help you each day.

You can take this to a deeper level by praying for five specific people to come to Christ. Make a wristband from ribbon or string with five knots to remind you of your promise.

Using the concept of Prayer Walking as a way to pray during these 11 days. Use the prompts on the daily posts to guide your thoughts. If you walk 10,000 steps daily, you will have walked about five miles each day (a mile for each person you are praying for, perhaps). Over the 11 days, that adds up to 55 miles—or about the distance from Albuquerque to Santa Fe or Las Cruces to Deming or slightly further than Roswell to Artesia. If you aren’t praying for five people, you could pray for specific places in your community like schools or hospitals, or just for the people on the streets you walk along. Of course, walking shorter distances each day is still beneficial! 

You could also include others in your family or church by setting up prayer stations with activities. Maybe you want to organize a vigil to pray for 24 hours.

*The purpose of the ministry of Thy Kingdom Come (TKC) is a global ecumenical prayer movement that invites Christians around the world to pray from Ascension to Pentecost for more people to come to know Jesus. You can learn more at Thy Kingdom Come | Thy Kingdom Come. You can even add your ‘light’ to the world map as you promise to pray. Light Up The World in Prayer | Thy Kingdom Come.

Philadelphia Eleven: Movie and Discussion

Betty Powell, one of the "Original 15" was able to join us on Zoom. You can view the video and hear her story. If you weren't able to come to the viewing at the Cathedral there are other options, including online on March 8. 

 

The Philadelphia Eleven 

Friday, February 23:
Screening and Eucharist, 4PM
Saturday, February 24:
Brunch and Discussion, 9AM 

This is an exciting opportunity to learn about the first eleven women ordained in the Episcopal Church. Learn about the film at philadelphiaelevenfilm.com.

The Cathedral of St. John (Albuquerque) is hosting a screening on Feb. 23, followed by a Eucharist con-celebrated by many women priests in the Diocese of the Rio Grande.

On Saturday, Feb. 24, Women's Ministry will host a brunch and roundtable discussion about the progress and challenges for women in ministry (lay and ordained). We hope to have one of the "Philadelphia Eleven" join us.

Thanks Canon Dana for Julian of Norwich Retreat

 The Rev. Canon Dana Corsello was our retreat presenter on Nov. 17 and 18. She spoke on the Revelations of Divine Love by Julian of Norwich. In all Julian’s ‘shewings’ as she gazed on the crucifix, she was shown God as Love. The retreat was attended by about 60 women from around the Diocese. Some were in person, and some attended via Zoom. We thank Canon Dana for her insights and sharing of time and her own loving heart.

Her Revelations on the Trinity proclaim that “the Trinity is our maker, the trinity is our keeper [protector], the trinity is our everlasting lover, the trinity is our endless joy and our bliss, by our Lord Jesus Christ.” Not only that, we “are conceived and created by the love of God our Father. Then the mercy of Christ our Mother grants us rebirth and the forgiveness of our sins.” Julian says “Our Father wills, our Mother werks (sic), our good lord the Holy Ghost strengthens. And therefore it belongs to us to love our God…” Canon Dana noted that Julian’s vision of Christ as Mother is not a metaphor but her actual experience of Christ.

Retreat participants were encouraged to take time to use lexio divino to consider the Trinity quotes and discern what they might be saying to each heart.

Canon Dana shared passion quotes from Julian and reminded us that Julian had her revelations while observing the crucifix. The impact of seeing in her vision Christ dying, and indeed decaying, fulfilled one of Julian’s deepest desires which was to be present at the Crucifixion and experience what Mary and the other women felt at that time.

Participants had been encouraged to bring a crucifix or an image of one. We spent time meditating on these. For Episcopalians this was an uncomfortable experience for some as we are less likely to encounter the crucified Christ in worship. Most churches have an empty cross or a Christ depicted as risen in glory or as Christus Rex (Christ the King). The exercise was impactful for many at the retreat.

In the afternoon, Canon Dana helped us look at the famous Julian “all will be well” quote. This is a consolation about sin and not just a pretty statement that everything will work out OK. Julian heard Jesus say “Sin is behovely (necessary, advantageous), but all shall be well (happiness, well-being), and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.” In other words, Dana noted, all is ultimately well despite sin and sin’s impact now.

Julian saw no shame or blame in all her visions. Instead she saw “the ghostly thirst of Christ: the love-longing that lasts and ever shall till we see that sight at doomsday…a love-longing to have us all together, whole in him to his endless bliss…for we are not now as fully whole in him as we shall be then.”

Canon Dana concluded the afternoon by summarizing who Love is the total of all Julian’s reflections. Julian states, “Know it well, Love was his meaning. Who showed it to thee? Love. What showed he to thee? Love. Wherefore showed it to thee? For love…Love is our Lord’s meaning.” In another revelation Julian says, “before God made us he loved us, which love was never satiated, nor ever shall be. And in this love he has done all his works, and in this love he has made all things profitable for us. And in this love our life is everlasting…”

The handouts for the retreat are attached. Revelations and Poems and Worship. 

Julian of Norwich: "For we are One in Love" Retreat Nov. 17-18

 

Julian of Norwich:

"For we are all one in love."

with the Rev. Canon Dana Corsello, 

Vicar, Washington National Cathedral

November 17-18, 2023

St. Michael and All Angels, ABQ

(601 Montano NW)

Canon Corsello will lead a spiritual retreat on the Revelations of Dame Julian of Norwich (1342-1429), mystic and theologian. She will explore how Julian’s visions, her writings, and her intuitions are still as relevant and meaningful today as they were groundbreaking and shocking for a laywoman to claim in the Middle Ages.

We begin on Friday evening at 6:30PM with fellowship, dinner, and an overview of the retreat. On Saturday we’ll gather at 8:00AM for coffee and worship. The day will end around 3PM. Watch for more details of the event in upcoming newsletters.

All women are welcome, so invite a friend. Attend in-person or via Zoom.

Download a flyer to share with your church and friends. 

Dana is Vicar of Washington National Cathedral and many of us have come to know her during Zoom services during and since COVID. She will be preaching at the Cathedral in ABQ on Sunday, Nov. 19 at the 9:15 and 11AM services. You can read her bio here.  

Registration is $75 in-person (includes light supper on Friday, Saturday lunch, and supplies). You can join via Zoom for $20. Link will be sent prior to the retreat. Register here or contact Cindy Davis. Some partial scholarships are available.

Working schedule:

Friday: 6:30PM: Fellowship, dinner, and intro (in-person and Zoom)
Saturday: 8:00AM Coffee and opening worship
9:00 AM: Presentations and reflections (in-person and Zoom)
12:00PM: Lunch (included in registration)
1:00 PM: Presentations and reflections (in-person and Zoom)
3:00 PM: Closing prayers