God did wonders!

More than 2,500 Presbyterian women (and a few men) attended Presbyterian Women’s Churchwide Gathering in Louisville, July 11–15. Exploring the theme “God will do wonders among you,” participants attended workshops, witnessed the commissioning of PC(USA) mission co-workers, celebrated worship, received inspiration from plenary speakers and enjoyed fellowship with sisters in faith from around the world. Voting delegates to the business meeting accomplished significant work, incorporating Presbyterian Women and electing a leadership team, which for the first time has a Hispanic Latin American woman serving as moderator.

Catch the highlights of the Gathering in stories and photos, from the plenary sessions to the business meeting to the Great Room exhibit hall.

Read the sermons and keynote speeches delivered during the Gathering.

Joshua: A Book to Be Celebrated?

By Amy Hartsough
Special to Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE — The closing plenary of the 2009 Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women was a “Celebration of Wonders.”

Emily Martin presented the interpretation of God’s word, titled “Celebration?”

Martin grew up in Denson, AL, and graduated from the Alabama School of Math and Science in Mobile. In 2003, she graduated from Williams College in Williamstown, MA, and went on to pursue a Master’s of Divinity from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA. Keep reading.

‘Out of Chaos, Hope’

by Yvonne Hileman
Special to Presbyterian News Service

“God did not intend us to face life’s hardships alone,” Jean Marie Peacock said at the Churchwide Gathering plenary session on the evening of July 13. “That is why God gives us the gift of community.”

The theme for the plenary was “Wonder of Hope.”

Peacock is associate presbyter for congregation development and disaster recovery for the Presbytery of South Louisiana. Her work is focused on hurricane recovery efforts in the greater New Orleans region. Keep reading.

PW Gathering hosts commissioning service for mission personnel

Mission co-workers and Young Adult Volunteers were commissioned July 13 at the Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women. Photo by Danny Bolin.

LOUISVILLE — Twenty mission co-workers soon to serve in places from Nicaragua to Taiwan were introduced to the Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women July 13 during a service of commissioning.

The 20 co-workers, who stood on stage with 10 children who will accompany their parents overseas, participated in the commissioning while in Louisville for orientation. Most will depart the United States for their assignments in August. Also introduced were two Young Adult Volunteers who will attend orientation next month. The Young Adult Volunteers are among 59 YAVs who will soon begin a year of ministry at sites across the United States and around the world. Keep reading.

Marta Rodríguez elected Moderator of Presbyterian Women

By Yvonne Hileman

The newly elected moderatorial team of Presbyterian Women (left to right) Alice Wyatt, Marta Rodríguez and Chris Wolf will provide leadership for the organization during the 2009-2012 triennium. Photo by Danny Bolin.

Marta Rodríguez, Synod of Puerto Rico, was elected moderator of Presbyterian Women’s Churchwide Coordinating Team, in a waving sea of blue consent slips. The roomful of 400-plus voting representatives to PW’s Business Meeting, CCT and others erupted in tears, cheers and a standing ovation, as Catrelia Hunter passed the gavel to Marta, the first Hispanic Latin American to be elected to the post.

In fact, the entire slate presented by the Search Committee of the CCT passed. Carolyn Jordan, moderator of the Search Committee, choked up as she introduced her committee, calling it a privilege to work with such a fine group of women. She capped that by declaring, “I am thrilled to present the most diverse slate ever,” then introduced the nominees. Keep reading

‘Now is the time’

Presbyterian Women urged to act on immigration issues

by Carol Gruber
Special to Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE — Julia Thorne, manager for immigration issues in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and an immigration attorney, spoke during the July 13 morning plenary session at the Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women. Keep reading.

‘No option but to prevail’

Palestinian Christian calls for Presbyterian Women to ‘share stories of hope’

by Yvonne Hileman
Special to Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE — Rana Khoury, attending the Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women as a Global Partner, is an impassioned ambassador for her Palestinian community.

But Khoury lives in what she describes as “an open-air prison.” Keep reading.

Calling for a ministry of meddlin'

Plenary speaker examines call of community at Presbyterian Women Churchwide Gathering

by Beth Newberry
Special to Presbyterian News Service

“The good news of the gospel is that it calls us to a ministry of meddlin,’” said Margaret Aymer as she began her sermon during Presbyterian Women’s Churchwide Gathering July 12.

During the plenary session themed “Wonder of Community,” Aymer reinterpreted the Southern expression, “Preacher, you’ve left off preachin’ and taken to meddlin’” in the context of Mark 2:1–12.  Keep reading.

Choosing Life

by Carol Gruber
Special to Presbyterian News Service

In keeping with Sunday evening’s theme — “Wonder of Creation” — at the Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women, Barbara Rossing spoke of the enchantment of waking to the song of a bird, gazing at a waterfall or watching a child discover a new creature. Keep reading.

Sisters Who Pray and Support One Another

By Amy Hartsough

Attendees of the 2009 Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women will have the opportunity to learn from and connect with women from around the world. One woman is already familiar to many members of PW — Mary Mikhael, a biblical scholar from Syria, who is the author of the 2009–2010 Horizons Bible study, Joshua: A Journey of Faith. Read more about Mary’s experiences with the Gathering and writing the Joshua Bible study.

Presbyterian Women Approves Incorporation

By Yvonne Hileman

On Sunday afternoon, voting representatives to Presbyterian Women’s Business Meeting ratified the amended and restated certificate of incorporation that establishes Presbyterian Women as a publicly supported integrated auxiliary of the PC(USA). Voting representatives also approved the bylaws of Presbyterian Women in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Inc. Learn more about incorporation.

The Wonders of a Sanctified Community

Inspiration at Gathering’s Opening Plenary

By Carol Gruber

Magdalena I. García shares the wonders God will do through a sanctified community. Photo by Danny Bolin

At the opening plenary session of Presbyterian Women’s Churchwide Gathering, Magdalena I. García introduced participants to the Gathering theme, “God will do wonders among you.” Drawing more than 2,000 women (and a few men) into this theme, she began with a gardening metaphor—“sweet tomatoes, juicy peppers and fragrant herbs.”

She explained that the Israelites were much like the gardeners at Ravenswood Presbyterian Church, where she pastors. Ravenswood’s gardeners found many challenges before they could enjoy the harvest. “I suppose these enthusiastic gardeners are not different from the hopeful Israelites who signed up to cross the Jordan River in order to get to the Promised Land, but who, in their excitement to get to the other shore, may have missed Joshua’s preliminary instruction: “Sanctify yourselves ... ” Read more from Magdalena’s sermon.

Global Gala: Connecting Across Cultures

By Yvonne Hileman

Veronica Njoki Muchiri stepped to the middle of the stage during the African women's performance at the Global Gala. Photo by Jordyn Oetken.