As Presbyterian women from around the country recently gathered at the Church of the Covenant in New York, the Rev. Dr. Mary Newbern-Williams reminded them of their individual power and that God can use them to do wonderful things.
Image
The Rev. Dr. Mary Newbern-Williams speaks at Church of the Covenant in New York City. (Photo by Kristen Gaydos)
“God works miracles through us — miracles of love, of commitment, of faithfulness, of caring and of being God's people in this world,” said Newbern-Williams, transitional presbyter for the Presbytery of New York City. “We are ministers called by God to love others, to care for others, and to know that from now until eternity, God will guide us (and) will be with us.”
Newbern-Williams was addressing a Presbyterian-led joint delegation of women being oriented ahead of the 69th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, which took place in March at the U.N. headquarters.
Nearly 70 women, recruited by the Presbyterian Ministry at the U.N. (PMUN) and Presbyterian Women (PW), gathered at the church to prepare for CSW69 and learn more about the work of the church and its ministries.
Image
Sue Rheem and Clare Balsan of the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations have a confab during orientation. (Photo by Kristen Gaydos)
“I am just so thrilled that you are here,” said Sue Rheem, who manages PMUN and was joined by fellow staffer Clare Balsan and Young Adult Volunteer Bella Ramos. “We have been working really hard as an office to greet you and host you.”
CSW69 is the U.N.’s largest annual gathering on gender equality and women’s empowerment and includes many related side and parallel events. During orientation, Presbyterians received an overview, heard testimonials and participated in small-group discussions.
Image
Delegate Adriana Soto Acevedo enjoying Presbyterian orientation for CSW69 while standing in front of a mural at Church of the Covenant. (Photo by Kristen Gaydos)
“I’m open to hearing and learning from everyone here in this room,” said Adriana Soto Acevedo, a delegate affiliated with La Iglesia Presbiteriana en Arecibo in Puerto Rico, the Presbytery of Philadelphia and Princeton Theological Seminary. The 25-year-old is passionate about advocacy as a way to bring hope to hurting people in a world full of “hopelessness, lies and contradictions.”
The inspirational message by Newbern-Williams came during the worship portion of Presbyterian orientation.
One of her main texts was about Peter, a disciple of Jesus, raising Tabitha from the dead in Acts 9:36–42.
“God had enabled him to do what Jesus taught him because he was a faithful disciple, a human being, imperfect as all of us are, but called by God to do great things,” said Newbern-Williams, who also spoke of Mary Magdalene and how she encountered the risen Christ, who told her to deliver the news to the disciples.
Today, “there are miracles upon miracles in the lives of us women and the ministry that God has called us to do,” Newbern-Williams said. “I want you to think of every time you encouraged a child to just go on and move forward, go to school and study.”
Also, “how many times have we spoken with someone who was a friend or a church member or a colleague or someone who was just going through whatever situation in life was facing them?” she continued. “You have encouraged them. You have prayed with them. You have let them know that God was with them and would see them through whatever it was.”
Newbern-Williams went on to discuss the special challenges experienced by women, who are not always valued.
“Women experience some specific forms of, I would say, rejection (from people) sometimes not really wanting to acknowledge that we are every bit as qualified and capable as anyone, and sometimes, just sometimes, we might doubt ourselves,” she said. “But in Jesus Christ, there is no room for doubt, because we are called to work, to care, to be faithful and to know that the gifts God gives to us are meant to be used for God's glory.”
Pushing further with her words of encouragement, Newbern-Williams said, “My friends, today and every time we gather as the women of God, we are talented, intelligent, gifted, caring, and God calls us with all the different gifts we have to use them, not only for the glory of God but to make life well for others.”
John Merten, Data Entry Representative, Relationship & Development Operations, Administrative Services Group (A Corp) Terri Milburn, Accounts Payable Manager, Administrative Services Group (A Corp)
Let us pray:
Gracious God, we hear the call to be involved in the lives of others. We are thankful for the example that comes to us in your Word that when we forget about ourselves and focus on the needs of others, you bless our actions, and the result is far greater than we ever thought possible. Continue to challenge us by your Spirit and to bless our response. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
