Women of Faith
Kimberly Hiles / Advent, 2023, Issue 9
“And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden” - Luke 1:46-48
The Women’s Ministry of St. Benedict’s Anglican Church exists to lead women into a flourishing relationship with Christ and to provide a space for the women of our parish to exercise their innate gifts. We honor the gifts given to women by the Holy Spirit for building up the Church and laying the foundations for the future. The flourishing of our parish depends on gifted lay women participating in fruitful ministries in service to the Church, in their own families, and within the larger family of God. These ministries, carried out in partnership with those of men, both lay and ordained, reflect the order of God’s creation and serve to build up the Church both in the present and for the generations to come.
On any given day, you will find the women of St. Benedict’s exercising various gifts. You will notice those with welcoming spirits practicing the gift of hospitality. This important ministry calls for presence, attention, and warmth. Others might be exercising gifts of mercy through our CARES Ministry as they walk alongside those going through seasons of grief, loss, or illness. Providing a listening ear, a homecooked meal, or help with errands or appointments extends the love and healing of Christ to a hurting world. Those with the gift of teaching can be found training the next generation in the faith and shaping the moral imaginations of our children.
You will undoubtedly find pockets of faithful women quietly devoting themselves to prayer, gathering for bible study for growth in wisdom and knowledge while being transformed by Scripture. Behind the scenes are those serving on the Altar Guild, preparing the altar for worship, and ensuring those who gather can enter and worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. Each of these ministries is a labor of love, bringing purpose and joy to the work God has called each of us.
Just as the women of the gospels have particular gifts of faith, hospitality, teaching, embodying mercy, prayer, and evangelism, so the women of St. Benedict’s bear witness to the truth of who Jesus is, extend hope and healing to those suffering, point people to the mercy of the Lord, share their personal story of God’s grace, and magnify the beauty and goodness of Christ.
