Short + Sweet
Women have always been, are, and forever will be pastors, preachers, and faith leaders.
Dearly Beloveds,
Today, I keep it short, sweet, and to the point.
Women have always been, are, and forever will be pastors, preachers, and faith leaders. Others’ mistaken, misogynist understandings of scripture will never make the fact that without women we wouldn’t have Jesus, Christianity, the Church, or any of it not true.
Huldah, a prophetess named in 2 Kings 22:14-20 and 2 Chronicles 34:22-28 is sought out by a host of men asking her to seek the Lord’s opinion.
Deborah, a prophetess and warrior found in the Book of Judges, renders judgments while sitting under a date palm tree. Sheis a fierce woman whose voice is vital in the story of the Hebrew people.
Then, there are Elizabeth and Mary, whose songs are sermons (Luke 1:41-45, 46-55), without which we’d be hard pressed to have any sermons from John the Baptist or Jesus. John and Jesus learn their prophetic preaching from their mothers.
Blessed Are the Women and my upcoming book that centers and celebrates women from the Hebrew Bible offer us stories, liturgies, and tools for the woman-led faith we long for and know to be true, highlighting the voices and visions of the women who’ve been leading us forever.
Women are everywhere throughout our faith formation, sacred texts, and lives. Preaching. Leading. Singing. Pastoring. Teaching. Showing us the way to liberation and to love.
Thanks be to God. Thanks be to the women.
Love,
Claire
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Happy PRIDE month from all the women who’ve been leading in love forever. Mother Mary at the helm, she reminds us that all children are beloved, all people are worthy, and all identities are valid and matter. Blessed Are the Women is a celebration of women and our love for ourselves, one another, and everyone. Happy PRIDE!
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Blessed Are the Women is what they call an evergreen book. She’s a faithful companion in all seasons—for personal and communal spiritual practice, sermon and worship prep, contemporary connection, feminist midrash, reclaiming women’s stories, and more. As we head into “ordinary time” in the Christian calendar year, as spring comes to and end and summer begins, let Blessed Are the Women accompany you and yours in the day to day grace and grind of it all. She and the women are here.
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