I Am Woman: Becoming More Fully Who God Created Us to Be

Psalm 139:14 “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well.”

Summary This weekend, the women of St. Augustine are invited to explore the many dimensions of who God created us to be through biblical archetypes, prayer, friendship, service, and reflection.

Calling all women!

I am looking forward to spending time with you at our Women’s Retreat this weekend. Our theme this year is “I Am Woman: Discovering Yourself Through Biblical Archetypes.”

One of the things I have come to believe is that God did not create us to be one-dimensional people.

We are strong and tender. Wise and playful. Courageous and compassionate. Sometimes we lead. Sometimes we care for others. Sometimes we need to retreat into quiet and listen for God. Different seasons of our lives may call forth different parts of who we are.

During our retreat, we are going to use biblical archetypes as a way of exploring those different dimensions of ourselves. We will consider the qualities we already recognize in ourselves and the ones God may be inviting us to develop. My hope is that we leave with a larger, more gracious understanding of ourselves and of the women around us.

And we are going to have fun together!

The weekend includes five sessions along with plenty of time to eat, laugh, pray, worship, and simply enjoy one another. Saturday morning includes yoga and centering prayer, and in the afternoon we will turn outward through a Days for Girls service project. We will also have a social hour, music, Compline, Sunday Eucharist, and do Soul Collage together.

You do not have to attend every part of the weekend to participate. Come for what you can. The retreat is intentionally open to women who can join us for all or only part of our time together.

I hope this weekend gives us something we do not always make enough room for: time to pay attention to our own souls. Who am I becoming? What part of myself have I neglected? What gifts has God placed within me that are waiting to grow?

Perhaps God is not asking us to become someone else at all.

Perhaps God is inviting us to become more fully ourselves.

I cannot wait to discover together,

Pastor Anny+

Prayer God who created us in your image, help us see the fullness of who you created us to be. Give us courage to grow, freedom to change, and grace to become more fully ourselves. Amen.