Worship service encourages attendees to live with an ‘attitude of gratitude’
by Gail Strange | Presbyterian News Service
(R to L) Vera White, Jewel McRae, and Rhashell Hunter serve communion at the March 8, 2017 Celebration of the Gifts of Women in the Presbyterian Center chapel. (Photo by Mari Graham)
LOUISVILLE – Communities around the world have joined together today to celebrate International Women’s Day. In keeping with the celebration, individuals at the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Center came together for a special service to “Celebrate the Gifts of Women.”
The Rev. Dr. Rhashell Hunter, director of Racial Ethnic & Women’s Ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, used 2 Timothy as her background scripture and encouraged the audience to live with an “attitude of gratitude,” which was the theme for this year’s celebration.
Hunter said, “The writer of Timothy reminds us to rekindle the gift of God within us, the gift of faithfulness that the writer says, ‘lived first in your grandmother and your mother.’”
“My paternal grandmother, Ivernia C. Hunter, and my mother, Annie Mary Alexander Hunter, instilled deep faith in their children and grandchildren,” she remembered. “I carry their faithfulness, love and grace in my heart every day. I celebrate these dear women with deep affection and gratitude, particularly for their sacrifices for me and for their witness.”
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) instituted Celebrate the Gifts of Women Sunday in 1996 after a resolution by the Advocacy Committee for Women’s Concerns was approved by the 205th General Assembly (1993). Although Celebrate the Gifts of Women Sunday was March 5, 2017, congregations and women’s groups are encouraged to use the resources provided by the Racial Ethnic & Women’s Ministries and Presbyterian Women on any day.
The Celebrate the Gifts of Women materials which include a worship service with a call to worship, prayer of confession, suggested hymns, suggested scripture readings and a litany for women with a grateful heart and other resources are available for download and printed copies. Order the resource through Presbyterian Distribution Service, item 27501-17-001, or download from http://www.pcusa.org/women.
To celebrate International Women’s Day, women around the world will fight for their equal rights as part of the International Women’s Strike. In this country, the 106-year old holiday will also be marked by a protest planned by the Women’s March organizers. The A Day Without a Woman protest will encourage women to abstain from working or shopping at businesses not owned by women or minorities.
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Categories: Women’s Ministries
Tags: Celebrate the Gifts of Women, international women's day, pcusa, presbyterian, racial ethnic and women's ministries, Rhashell Hunter, Women, worship
Ministries: All Women in the Church, Racial Equity & Women’s Intercultural Ministries, Women’s Leadership Development and Young Women’s Ministries, Advocacy Committee for Women and Gender Justice, Presbyterian Women