Holy Ghost Grab-Bag
And the giveaways go to...
In October, the Fidelia's turned two! To celebrate, we had three giveaways. The giveaway winners were picked randomly, by assigning each comment or person a number, using random.org.
Below the fold, you'll see the giveaway recipients. A huge thanks goes out to Russ White at Chalice Press and Anna Gordy Montgomery at Gloria Vestments.
Handmade Stole GIVEAWAY!!!
A few days ago, Sarah posted our first Fidelia's Sisters 2nd anniversary giveaway; have you commented yet for a chance to win a $50 Chalice Press gift certificate? If not, hop to it, and come back here right away to learn about our second big giveaway!
Are you back yet? Good. Keep reading.
Anna Gordy Montgomery, the talented (and theologically-educated) stole maker behind Gloria Vestments, has offered to give a handmade stole in the color of the winner's choice - red, green, or purple. All you have to do is post a comment here sharing one of the things you love about ministry. Please note that the giveaway is only open to members of the Young Clergywomen Project; if you're not a member yet, now is the time to apply! Comments will be closed on October 31st, when a winner will be selected randomly.
The Young Clergy Women Project Board Updates: Because You're Not The Only One
The
Young Clergy Women Project has achieved a lot in the past twelve
months...
...Membership continues to grow, drawing from more denominations and more places.
...Fidelia's Sisters continues to publish thought-provoking pieces and is now seeking a new column editor!
...We have a new logo, pictured here, created by Suzanne Stovall Vinson, and a new slogan ("Because You're Not The Only One").
...We're now officially a 501c3 nonprofit. Any and all donations are tax-deductible.
...We have a relationship with Chalice Press to vet prospective books by young clergy women for publication.
Below the fold is more exciting information from your board!
The Birth of the Young Clergy Women Project
Here’s the story
Of a lovely lady
Who was working at Yale Divinity School.
She had hair of gold,
But that’s not the point of this song,
Her story won’t go untold.
Here’s the story
Of a bunch of clergy (women)
Who were out in the world,
making it on their own.
They were young and hip,
They were Bible-equipped,
So why did they feel so alone?
Happy Birthday, Fidelia's Sisters!
by Ann Bonner-Stewart
As of October 1, Fidelia's Sisters is one year old! That's more than one hundred pieces published by, for, and about young clergy women. For our one year anniversary, we've chosen several ways to celebrate:
Unexpected Gifts
From its conception, I have loved the idea of a “Holy Ghost Grab Bag”. There is something incredibly appealing to me about the idea that we have a place to highlight God’s unexpected presence in our lives. However, as I pondered the concept I always imagined that the story of the unexpected presence would be something shared by another individual. As the editor of the column it would be my job to read and be surprised. Thankfully, God is far wiser than I am.
This past June I had the pleasure of attending the Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly meeting. It was a fantastic experience. From the moment I arrived in San Jose I felt a sense of deep connection to the people around me. These unknown individuals and I not only share a common faith, we share something more a connection based on the way in which we experience and express that faith. It was wonderful.
Can't We Talk It Over (Just NOT in Bed)?
A few weeks ago, an email went out at Yale Divinity School, inviting students to a meeting about “Ministry in a Sexualized Workplace.” We were to talk about sexual harassment, safety, and other related issues. A student specifically asked one of the assistant deans to hold it, and he responded. So we gathered in an empty classroom with our lunches and our backpacks, greeted the two local clergy women that he invited in as resources, and waited. He opened with a question.
You know that awkward moment when nobody speaks up?
That didn’t happen.
Just about everybody had something to say.
Jumping Ship
There are certain life markers and statistics that make me feel old: my ninth wedding anniversary is coming up, as is my tenth college reunion; I have high school friends with four kids. But the most remarkable one of these facts is this: I’m only 30, but I’ve already been a pastor in two denominations.
Body Beautiful
I struggle with the notion of embodied faith, not because I don’t like the idea, but because I don’t like my body. My body is a place of deep imperfection and frustration. It’s never thin enough, perky enough, cute enough, strong enough, or beautiful enough.
As the chaplain to a small women’s college my misperceptions of my own body rise to the surface on a regular basis. My day-to-day actions set an example for the women around me. The amount of rest I get, my fitness level, my stress level, and my eating habits are of as much interest to the students as my theological knowledge or spiritual well being. We often imagine that the minds of small children are like little sponges, absorbing everything around them, and assume that by college age this formation is done. But college students are much the same, soaking up the adult world around them, trying on identities to determine which ones might fit. I know that just as they try on the personas of the other students, they will also try on my identity to see if it mirrors what they would like to be themselves. I would hate to find out that my body issues reinforced or supported the same self-loathing behavior in anyone else.
The Pastor's Bookcase
When visiting a friend's office, I enjoy snooping through perusing the shelves. Sometimes I find something that is exactly what I need for a particular situation. Sometimes I'm reminded of old favorites that I had nearly forgotten.
This week we asked several young clergy women serving ministries outside of the parish to recommend resources that have been useful to them in the last year or so. Go ahead, snoop around, you know you want to! (Feel free to add your own recommendations to the comments.)
