September 2023 WATERritual

Bless Feminist Ministers

Tuesday, September 26, 2023, 7:30 pm ET

Watch the recording of this WATERritual here on YouTube.

Preparation
Put a bowl of oil and a cloth near you.

Welcome and Introduction

Time and again, throughout history, communities have called forth individuals to bless them to do works of love, mercy, and justice. Today we gather to bless feminist ministers. They are inspired by Divine Wisdom and image her. They work daily to bring about the kin-dom of God, the Holy One, Divine Wisdom Sophia.

This liturgy celebrates feminist ministries, and blesses feminist ministers for the work they do. Think of the feminist ministry that you do — healing ministry, political ministry, community-building ministry, teaching, education, parenting ministry, gender and racial justice ministry, leadership and organizational ministry, every ministry. 

Have you been blessed for the work you do? We are here to bless feminist ministers, and to reclaim feminist ministries for ourselves, our communities, the church and society.

In the chat, type your name and describe your ministry in a phrase. For example: “I am Diann. I create liturgies and counsel the brokenhearted.”

Song: “I Am Woman” by Helen Reddy

I am woman, hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
And I know too much to go back an’ pretend
‘Cause I’ve heard it all before
And I’ve been down there on the floor
And no one’s ever gonna keep me down again

Chorus: Yes, I am wise
But it’s wisdom born of pain
Yes, I’ve paid the price
But look how much I’ve gained
If I have to, I can do anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman

You can bend but never break me
‘Cause it only serves to make me
More determined to achieve my final goal
And I come back even stronger
Not a novice any longer
‘Cause you’ve deepened the conviction in my soul

Chorus

I am woman, watch me grow
See me standing toe to toe
As I spread my lovin’ arms across the land
But I’m still an embryo
With such a long, long way to go
Until I make my brother understand

Chorus

I am woman, I am invincible, I am strong, I am invincible, I am strong, I am woman

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Ray Burton / Helen Reddy

I Am Woman lyrics © Buggerlugs Music Co., Irving Music, Inc.

Litany of Feminist Ministers

O Divine Wisdom, Sophia Spirit, Womb of Life, we are strong, we are invincible and today we remember feminist ministers, named and unnamed, who throughout time have used their ministry to bring love, mercy, and justice to the world. We call upon these ancestors to help us discover within ourselves your power and ways we can use it for peace and healing.

Miriam, you cared for your brother Moses as his life was in danger and skillfully reunited him with his mother, preventing grief and anguish for one family. You gave hope and lifted the morale of a frightened nation as they sought freedom and a better life.

We honor you for your feminist ministry.

Eve and Lilith, you reached for knowledge and found that it was good.

We honor you for your feminist ministry.

Sarah, Hagar, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah, you answered the call of Divine Wisdom and put faith in a covenant with the Holy One, Sophia Spirit.

We honor you for your feminist ministry.

Mary, you were a mother who listened, pondered, and gave birth to Jesus, Sophia’s prophet and Miriam’s child.

We honor you for your feminist ministry.

Mirabai, Anandamayi, and Queen of Jhansi, you wrote Hindu songs and devotions, provided spiritual leadership throughout India, and fought fearlessly for India’s independence from imperialism.

We honor you for your feminist ministry.

Mahoprajapti Gotami, you nurtured and cared for the child Buddha, lead a delegation of Sakyan women to request the ordination of the first Buddhist women, and fought for equality between lay and clergy men and women in the faith.

We honor you for your feminist ministry. 

Mary Magdalene, you were the first to announce Jesus’ resurrection, the apostle to the apostles, and the foundation of women-church.

We honor you for your feminist ministry.

Phoebe, you presided at a local church; Prisca, you supported yourself as a minister; Junia, you were imprisoned for your beliefs; Thecla and the other women leaders of the early house-church movement, you were called to a discipleship of equals.

We honor you for your feminist ministry.

Fatima, you preserved the words revealed to your father Muhammad and gave the Islamic faith their written holy book, the Quran.

We honor you for your feminist ministry.

Teresa of Ávila, Catherine of Siena, Thérèse of Lisieux, and Hildegard of Bingen, Doctors of our Church, you challenged the corruption of the institutional church.

We honor you for your feminist ministry.

Saint Mother Théodore Guérin, Saint Mary MacKillop, Saint Joan of Arc, and all excommunicated women; Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, Carmel McEnroy, Myra Poole, Ivone Gebara, and all silenced women; and Theresa Maxis Duchesmin, Louise Lears, Joan Chittister, Mary Daly, Theresa Kane, and other dangerous visionaries like us.

We honor you for your feminist ministry.

Feminist ministers and theologians, you speak out against oppression in all of its forms.

We honor you for your feminist ministry.

Type in the chat the names of other feminist ministers you are thinking of now.

We honor you for your feminist ministry.

A reading from Isaiah 61:1-6

The spirit of [Divine Wisdom Sophia] is upon me,
for [she] has anointed me:
God has sent me to bring good news to those who are poor;
to heal broken hearts;
to proclaim release to those held captive
and liberation to those in prison;
to announce a year of favor from [Divine Wisdom],
and the day of God’s vindication;
to comfort all who mourn;
to provide for those who grieve in Zion-
to give them a wreath of flowers instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of tears,
a cloak of praise instead of despair.
They will be known as trees of integrity,
planted by [Divine Wisdom] to display God’s glory.
They will restore the ancient ruins,
and rebuild sites long devastated;
they will repair the ruined cities,
neglected for generations.
Strangers will tend your flocks;
foreigners will till your fields and dress your vineyards;
but you will be called priests of [Divine Wisdom]
and ministers of our God;
you will enjoy the richness of nations,
and inherit their wealth.
Because your shame was double—
insults and abuses were your lot—
now you will receive a double share in your land,
and everlasting joy will be yours.
For I, [Divine Wisdom], love justice;
I hate robbery and sin.
So I will faithfully compensate you,
And I will make an everlasting covenant with you.
Your descendants will be renowned among the nations;
and your offspring among the people;
all who see you will acknowledge
that you are a people blessed by [Divine Wisdom].

Reflection | Sharing
We have proclaimed the ministries of our feminist ancestors. We have been challenged by the words of Isaiah. Now we ask ourselves, how do I exercise feminist ministry? Let’s share in small groups the feminist ministry that we do.

Affirming Feminist Ministries
Let us call forth the many ministries among us. When you hear your ministry called, wave your hand for an affirmation. You may wave your hand as many times as you wish.
Let us call forth those among us who are in political ministries: peace workers, those who work with immigrants, those who work against trafficking and domestic violence, grassroots organizers, lobbyists, housing advocates, those who hold political office, marchers and protesters, those who vote.

Wisdom’s power and compassion to you in your ministry!

Let us call forth those among us who are in community-building ministries: those who sustain and nurture religious communities, those who raise future generations of feminists, those who work with women and children in shelters, those who work in partnership with women across religious traditions. Let us extend our hands to those waving and say:

Wisdom’s power and compassion to you in your ministry!

Let us call forth those among us who are in ministries of feminist theologies: parents, mentors, writers, religious educators and artists, those in media and communication, teachers, and feminist theologians. Let us extend our hands to those waving and say:

Wisdom’s power and compassion to you in your ministry!

Let us call forth those among us who are in healing ministries: pray-ers, preachers, ecofeminists, liturgy planners, eucharistic celebrants, dancers, musicians, spiritual companions, counselors, those who use massage, reiki, or healing arts. Let us extend our hands to those waving and say:

Wisdom’s power and compassion to you in your ministry!

Let us call forth those among us who work in gender and racial justice ministries: those who work for racial justice, reproductive justice, LGBTQIA+ justice, healing for those with HIV/AIDS, and eradication of heterosexism, ageism, sexism, and all -isms. Let us extend our hands to those waving and say:

Wisdom’s power and compassion to you in your ministry!

Let us call forth those among us who are in leadership and organizational ministries: community leaders, fundraisers, pastors, bishops, rabbis, imams, directors of justice organizations, elected officers, team leaders. Let us extend our hands to those waving and say:

Wisdom’s power and compassion to you in your ministry!

Let us call forth the many feminist ministries of the discipleship of equals. Let us extend our hands to bless one another.

Wisdom’s power and compassion to you in your ministry!

Blessing Oil
Hold your bowl of oil. Oil is the sacramental symbol that strengthens us for feminist ministry. Oil represents the Holy Spirit, Divine Wisdom Sophia, who calls us to act justly, love tenderly, and walk humbly. Let us bless this oil by chanting together. OM is the Primordial Sound of the Universe. It is the sound that reverberates in the entire cosmos and in every cell of our body. Let us hum OM together in our own spaces.

Anointing with Oil
The anointing of those who are called has a long and deep symbolism, going well back into Hebrew Scriptures. Those who are anointed are cleansed, healed, strengthened, and sealed as healers. Let us anoint one another with this holy oil. Put some oil on your hands, bless yourself with it, and receive a blessing from your community.

Song: “Blessing Song” by M.T. Winter
May the blessing of God go before you,
May her grace and peace abound.
May her blessing live within you
May her love wrap you round.
May her blessing remain with you always.
May you walk on holy ground.

Take Action

Let us put our prayers into action. Here are some possible ways:

• Write a note or send an email to a feminist minister and thank her for her work.
• Get involved in a feminist ministry, perhaps one named here, and share your gifts.
• Acknowledge that you are a feminist minister.

Commissioning Feminist Ministers 
Feminist ministers, take your gifts to the city streets and country roads of every neighborhood!

Let us go forth in all directions of the universe to bless and to embrace,
to forgive and to heal,
to welcome and to sanctify.

Let us go forth to the unhoused and to the hospitable,
to the hungry and to the full,
to the thirsty and to the justice-seekers.

Let us go forth to the elderly and to those who seek wisdom,
to the exiled and to those who understand freedom,
to the hopeless and to those who see visions.

Let us go forth to church leaders who are unable to perceive the needs of their people,
to government officials who ignore the cries of the poor,
to world leaders who reject the movements for peace.

Let us go forth to people of every race and place,
to the young and to the old of every neighborhood,
to the next generations and to their children of every nation.

Let us go forth in the name of Divine Wisdom, Sophia Spirit,
the God of love and liberation,
the Goddess of power and justice.

Let us go forth to proclaim feminist ministries!
Let us go forth to heal the world!

Song: “Standing on the Shoulders” by Joyce Johnson Rouse, sung by Earth Mama
I am standing on the shoulders, of the ones who came before me
I am stronger for their courage, I am wiser for their words
I am lifted by their longing, for a fair and brighter future
I am grateful for their vision, for their toiling on this Earth

We are standing on the shoulders, of the ones who came before us
They are saints and they are humans, they are angels, they are friends
We can see beyond the struggles, and the troubles and the challenge
When we know that by our efforts, things will be better in the end

They lift me higher than I could ever fly
Carrying my burdens away
I imagine our world if they hadn’t tried
We wouldn’t be here celebrating today

I am standing on the shoulders of the ones who came before me
I am honored by their passion, for our liberty
I will stand a little taller, I will work a little longer
And my shoulders will be there to hold the ones who follow me

They lift me higher than I could ever fly
Carrying my burdens away
I imagine our world if they hadn’t tried
We wouldn’t be so very blessed today

I am standing on the shoulders of the ones who came before me
I am honored by their passion for our liberty
I will stand a little taller, I will work a little longer
And my shoulders will be there to hold, the ones who follow me

©1995 Rouse House Music, ASCAP. All rights reserved. www.earthmama.org

© 2023 Diann L. Neu, dneu@hers.com, adapted from Stirring WATERS, Feminist Liturgies for Justice. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2020.