View this email in your browser The two congregations worship at Lakewood on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. All are welcome!  Lent This devotion is intended for March 8. International Women’s Day. Maybe you have gotten some emails about special sales on things for women? That is extremely ironic given that International Women’s Day has its roots in the socialist movement. And why is there an International Women’s Day? The same reason there is Black History Month and Native American Heritage Month. You get a day or a month when you have been cheated, mistreated, lied to, or taken advantage of. International Women’s Day is to highlight that women are economically disadvantaged, still second class, and still having their rights to health care attacked and besieged. The temptation is to buy a new dress or a new set of sheets and forget about the rest. When it comes to prayer, sometimes we first don’t want to see the reality of what is surfacing. And then, we don’t really want to see the problems fixed. That’s too much change. Won’t a quick makeover do? In his book, Meditations on the Sand, Alesandro Pronzato points out the difference between God the creator and God the decorator. He says: “However, I have since realised that prayer is never a matter of repairing and retouching. If you decide to subject yourself to the purifying action of prayer, you must be prepared for some merciless, devastating work of demolition. And if you allow God freedom of action in prayer, you can expect to be transformed beyond recognition. God does not use plaster and varnish; he [sic] awaits you with the scalpel and the cautery.” International Women’s Day. It is not about a new nail color. Or being able to run for president. It’s about eliminating patriarchy and creating egalitarian community that includes everyone. It’s not about running for president. It’s about getting elected president. We still live in a country marred by sexism and sexist stereotypes. As one of our church elders declared at an Ash Wednesday service, “I am fired up about the war on women.” So, forgive me if I don’t wish you a Happy International Women’s Day. As Jesus followers, trying to submit ourselves fully to the forces of Divine Love, may we pray for the elimination of International Women’s Day; for the day when it will not be needed because patriarchy will not have just been painted over but dismantled and replaced altogether with Beloved Community. Note: The Lenten meditations for 2024 are written by Kim Wells and inspired by themes in the book Meditations on the Sand by Alesandro Pronzato written in 1981.d class, and still having their rights to health care attacked and besieged. The temptation is to buy a new dress or a new set of sheets and forget about the rest. When it comes to prayer, sometimes we first don’t want to see the reality of what is surfacing. And then, we don’t really want to see the problems fixed. That’s too much change. Won’t a quick makeover do? In his book, Meditations on the Sand, Alesandro Pronzato points out the difference between God the creator and God the decorator. He says: “However, I have since realised that prayer is never a matter of repairing and retouching. If you decide to subject yourself to the purifying action of prayer, you must be prepared for some merciless, devastating work of demolition. And if you allow God freedom of action in prayer, you can expect to be transformed beyond recognition. God does not use plaster and varnish; he [sic] awaits you with the scalpel and the cautery.” International Women’s Day. It is not about a new nail color. Or being able to run for president. It’s about eliminating patriarchy and creating egalitarian community that includes everyone. It’s not about running for president. It’s about getting elected president. We still live in a country marred by sexism and sexist stereotypes. As one of our church elders declared at an Ash Wednesday service, “I am fired up about the war on women.” So, forgive me if I don’t wish you a Happy International Women’s Day. As Jesus followers, trying to submit ourselves fully to the forces of Divine Love, may we pray for the elimination of International Women’s Day; for the day when it will not be needed because patriarchy will not have just been painted over but dismantled and replaced altogether with Beloved Community. Note: The Lenten meditations for 2024 are written by Kim Wells and inspired by themes in the book Meditations on the Sand by Alesandro Pronzato written in 1981. |
Lakewood United Church of Christ 