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***************************************** Feminism
- A movement and theory for the economic, social, political, and religious equality, rights, and dignity of all
wo/men. It is focused on the struggle of wo/men against domination, exploitation, oppression, and dehumanization. "Midwife Divine Now Calls Us"hymn by Jann Aldredge-Clantonwith
words and images HERE
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herchurch
and Pastor Stacy were featured on "Voices
of the Sacred Feminine" Radio Program
LIVE EVERY WEDNESDAY or LISTEN from the ARCHIVES ANYTIME!
http://www.karentate.com/Tate/radio_show.html We
are a diverse community, standing firmly within the Christian tradition in order to re-image the divine by claiming
her feminine persona in thealogy, liturgy, church structure, art, language, practices, leadership,
and acts of justice. Challenging the church’s restricted language of the past, we pay special attention
to images and metaphors that attempt to embrace divine fullness and that offer a witness of holy nurture and inclusive justice,
both to the church and to the world.
A new form of church is happening at Ebenezer/herchurch
Lutheran , 678 Portola Drive in San Francisco. Gather at 10:30 AM Sundays for a lively, engaging,
thoroughly inclusive and feminist service of worship. Led by Pastor Stacy Boorn,
the liturgy features images and metaphors that will enlarge understanding of and connection with the sacred. Music.
movement,art, and readings further reflect this commitment to reclaiming the feminine persona of the divine. Come
as you are – you’ll find hope, healing, and community. All are welcome at this table! Worship
Sunday mornings at 10:30
Our Christian/Lutheran feminist prayers and liturgy
reach back into the storehouse of tradition to bring forth names as Mother, Shaddai, Sophia, Womb, Midwife, Shekinah, Kudalini,
She Who Is. They do so out of renewed insights into the nature of the Gospel empowered by the risen Christ-Sophia.
Let your relationship with the Divine be opened and expanded.
Our Mother
who is within us we celebrate your many names. Your wisdom come. Your will be done, unfolding from the depths within us. Each day you give us all that we need. You remind us of our limits and we let go.
You support us in our power
and we act with courage.
For you are the dwelling place within
us the
empowerment around us and the celebration among us now and for ever. Amen Text by Miriam Therese Winter Medical
Mission Sister, Professor of Liturgy, Worship
and Spirituality. Author of WomanWord
and other books and resources for Ritual.
Christianity, for the most part, continues to slight or silence the voices and
power of women, the divine feminine and efforts to empower women and support the equality of all peoples.
Join with
this emerging feminist faith community to be a prophetic voice for change in the church and patriarchal systems.
We encourage you to send a contribution as you are able. You are invited to become a part of our
global or local membership. (Both are vital gifts!) JOIN US
IN PRAYER and MEDITATION
God/dess of struggle and blessing, we thank you that you are so willing
to meet us in love here and now, as you meet our mothers and fathers, partners and lovers, siblings and children, friends
and strangers on their faith journeys, as you entered our human life in Jesus Christ-Sophia. Help us open our hearts
to you in our time of remembrance and celebration that we may grow in light and love toward you and all people through the
gentle wind of your Spirit.
(From the Sunday Morning Liturgy of Welcome: Sunday 10:30 AM at
Ebenezer Lutheran Church, 678 Portola Drive, SF 94127 - near Woodside).
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“Many feminist theologians and
thealogians insist that the masculine images of God will not be transformed unless we can (also) imagine God as “she.” Jewish feminist theologian Judith Plaskow argues that we must learn to speak the name
of the Goddess: “The deep resistance called forth by her naming indicates
that the needs she answered are still with us. It is precisely because she is
not distant that the goddess needs to be recognized as a part of God.” Unless
and until the God we have known can (also) be called “Goddess,” the specter of the male God will still be with
us...
...Images of the Goddess help to break
the hold of “male control” that has shaped our images not only of God, but of all significant power in the universe. This insight of the Goddess, both verbal and visual, before it settles fully into
the body and mind.”
from:
Rebirth of the Goddess, by Carol Christ
Hark!
Wisdom's urgent cry Rings out for all to hear; Though scoffed and scorned She still draws nigh
With
message strong and clear. Awake and heed Her voice, Destructive ways cease; Unite with Wisdom, make a choice
To go
on paths of peace. Hymn by Jann Aldredge-Clanton
words (c)
1997 Inclusive Hymns for Liberating Christians
A Julian of
Norwich for our day:
Edwina
Gately
I do not need to seek God.
God is already here
waiting to be found,
soaked in my reality.
My journey
is to be one
of recognizing God, always.
already present,
and surfacing that presence
in my daily life.
--From A Mystical Heart
recommended:
Rediscovering and Claiming the Feminine Soul
by Edwina Gateley
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| Click Image for Video |
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| ChristSophiaMass 2009 |
CLICK ON IMAGE for
short video CHRIST-SOPHIA-MASS
Celebrate with herchurch 10:30 AM Sunday Liturgy of the Divine Feminine Sunday
May 19
Special Music by Gary Floyd
Male "Croning" Ceremony
Blessing of the Bread
Hymns
and Chants for Empowerment
Children's Participation in Word/Wisdom
Worship and Spiritual Nurture Schedule click on the following programs
"There will never be full equality or justice for women and girls globally as long as the religions of
the world continue to personify the Holy Other (God) exclusively or unevenly as male either metaphorically or literally
and thus sustain the various forms of domination that are pursuant of that image." - Pastor Stacy Boorn, Ebenezer/herchurch
Order Goddess Rosary
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Different recommended books and resources are listed
on each page of the website - enjoy browsing!
There are many resources listed
in these pages. Consider first that there are biblical images of God as female. Since this was so counter to the consciousness of the patriarchal system under which
the scriptures were written, they constitute a very strong argument for the inspired nature of the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures.
We began with scripture
which identifies God/dess in many feminine terms: As a woman giving birth, a Nursing Mother, one with maternal activities
and even breasts, a midwife, the shekinah, the female homemaker, bakerwoman, Ezer, Sophia (the feminine personification of
wisdom).
Re-imaging God is very Lutheran
– Luther re-imaged God from the traditional angry God (Jesus) with a sword in one hand and a lily in the other
while seated above people being sent to hell. Via scripture and reason and trust,
Luther re-imaged a loving God of grace and forgiveness.
We suggest you read "Becoming
a Feminist Thologian of the Cross" by Deanna A. Thompson in Cross Examinations. Readings on the Meaning of the Cross
Today (Augsburg Fortress).
“The metaphor “Father,” used for God, occurs in every book of the New Testament except its shortest
work, 3 John. It is used for God over one hundred times in the Gospel of John
alone. It is, of course, a male metaphor, and leads those who read it to repeatedly
think of God as a male being... By repetition. However, all metaphors tend to lose their metaphorical meaning, and begin to
be understood as propositions, as literal statements. This has happened in the
church with the New Testament metaphor, “Father.” By speaking to
God, and referring to God again and again, as “Father,” one may begin to think of God, literally, as a “Father,”
hence also as a male being...”
General Introduction to The
New Testament and Psalms – An Inclusive Version, The Editors, including
Lutheran Theologian Dr. Victor Roland Gold. Oxford University
Press, © 1995
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