I have wanted to celebrate the Gifts of Women Sunday for many years. The national church suggests this topic every year around this time. But seeing how it is in the middle of Lent, I often cannot divert from the sermon series or theme to jump into this topic. This year as you know we are focusing on racism by reading Waking Up White and Finding Myself in the Story of Race, by Debby Irvin. So when the opportunity to celebrate women came around again I jumped on it. I find it interesting that it is the same weekend as our women’s retreat!!!
To set the scene, I want you to think about a significant woman in your life. Your mother, wife, sister, daughter, boss, friend, coworker.
Now consider one of her defining and positive qualities.
What made this person, this endeared woman, special to you? Her character, her love, her intelligence, her wit? For me it was my mother. Her name was Marcia, like her mother before her, and she was a wonderful mother, friend and artist. She shared her talents, her art, her paintings and drawings, and designs with so many people. On her 50th birthday she had a party at the house with her artwork displayed all over the walls. Instead of my mom receiving birthday presents she invited everyone to choose a piece of art as a gift from her. She gave of herself in her art. She gifted each person with a labor of love, and an expression for her passion. Some of her friends or their children still contact me wanting to give the art to me as they downsize or pass. Her art is truly a tangible gift that offers beauty and joy.
Now gifts of women are not always so concrete. They can be intangible like kindness or strength. I think it is easier to see the gifts in other people. But I would ask the women here to consider what you believe to be your gifts? In what ways do you shine in the world? In Matthew Jesus tells us to let your light shine (5:16), and when we pause, claim and celebrate our gifts we are more likely to follow Christ’s teachings. Honoring the gifts of women, both in ourselves and in the women around us helps God’s light to shine in the world. One such gift is often the gift of faith.
Today we read the account of the sincere faith of two women, Lois and Eunice. They are the grandmother and mother of young Timothy. Now Timothy was a companion in ministry to Paul. Paul was Timothy’s mentor. It is believed Timothy came to faith at the knee of his mother and grandmother. I had always assumed that Timothy’s mother and grandmother were Christians because we have heard this story many times. The part I discovered this time is that in Acts we learn that Timothy’s mother was a “Jewish woman who was a believer” (16:1). So if Eunice, his mother, was raised a Jew I would assume that her mother Lois was also raised a Jew. And yet Paul lifts up the faith of all three of these people. It is faithfulness they share, even in the midst of discovering who Christ is.
Why does Paul do this? Because Timothy is facing suffering and he is need of faith, strength and all the courage he can muster. His mentor is in prison, suffering for the gospel. Timothy may be suffering for the gospel as well and he needs encouragement to remain faithful. Being reminded of the women who taught him faith, the women who recognized who Jesus was, who stepped out in faith and became Christian believers, when born a Jew, that is a gift from God given through Eunice and Lois. Then Timothy is asked to “rekindle the gift of God that is within you” (6). Paul speaks of God giving the spirit of power, love and self-disciple to Timothy when Paul laid hands on him commissioning him to Christ’s service. Whether you have been commissioned or not you have unique gifts of your own and the request holds for us today. REKINDLE THE GIFT OF GOD THAT IS WITHIN YOU!
Woman, man or child rekindle your gifts. Have you had a passion for something only to hit a roadblock and quit? Or a new priority takes precedence over an older one, like when mothers put their careers on hold to raise their children. Do you love to sing, but someone squelched that dream? Rekindle your gift. Is your gift that of organizing and leading? Rekindle your gift.
Are you passionate about travel? Rekindle your gift.
Seven St. Andrew women joined women from Westminster church for a Women’s Retreat at Mt Hermon this week end. We sang acapella with some women who are from Africa, we enjoyed wonderful meals and fellowship, and the beautiful setting of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The theme was finding your call. Our leader Karin asked us what is your passion? What excites you in your life? Then she helped us to see that it might be God’s way of calling us into a ministry. Our homework for the afternoon was to think of the times we get emotional- movies, books, commercials, when we are surprised by the tears. Then she asked us to see if we could identify a theme, a thread that we found in these moments of emotions. One teacher teared up watching the Target commercials when youth are getting their college acceptance letter. Another whose husband and father were in the Navy tears up when she hears Eternal Father Strong to Save. So I ask you to consider this question. What are the times that you experience emotions that might put you to your calling? Maybe the answer will point you in a direction of rekindling your gift. Identifying what God is calling you to do. If you sense a call, or you simply honor your God given gifts, we are celebrating and honoring the people God created us to be and living more fully into that place.
Now this could be all about your gifts, and yet there is a tension within this passage. God’s gift of faith to Timothy, Eunice and Lois bears witness to the suffering of Paul and Timothy. We are to hold the gospel of suffering along side the gospel of glory. Paul suffers for Christ while in prison. Timothy is in tears yet wants to be faithful. We all have suffered loss in our life and seek faith to help us deal with the pain. As I consider this situation with in the season of Lent it reminds me of the two ways we see the cross. The crucifix shows the suffering of Christ hanging on the cross for our sins- it represents the gospel of suffering. Christ knows our pain, Jesus cried real tears, Christ died for you and for me to be freed from the power of sin. That is the gospel of suffering. But the empty cross, where Jesus is risen and has conquered death that is the gospel of glory. That is when “our Savior Christ Jesus abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (10).
The gospel of suffering and the gospel of glory can also be found in the story of women. Women often suffer silently; historically being considered possessions, not having the vote, all the way up to today and the “Me Too” movement. Yet through it all, women continue to share their gifts to show the gospel of glory and what it means to be a woman. Thankfully women live the gospel of glory – celebrating life and love even when they bear the gospel of suffering. That I think is one of the greatest gifts of women. Their perseverance in love even when they face a real pain. Woman or man you have the spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline within you because of the gospel of glory. The Holy Spirit living within us empowers us to share our gifts. Let your light shine and let us share our God given gifts with abandon!!! Amen.
