Herstory - District and Regional
As she promised at GA2023, Heather Gehron-Rice has sent us a whole packet of Joseph Priestley District newsletters. What I didn't realize when we first spoke about this was that the newsletters are a complete collection of Reaching Sideways:
UU foremother Rosemary Matson wrote in her Memoirs of UUW&R, "Sara Best, a lay woman in the Joseph Priestley District Women and Religion Committee, with the help of her friends, created a journal REACHING SIDEWAYS - A Continental Exchange of Views and Ideas chronicling the successes and failures of those trying to implement the Women and Religion Resolution. It was a voice when there were very few other voices in the denomination speaking for women and it proved to be the writing of our Women and Religion story as it was being lived. Sara Best produced her first issue in October 1981 and sent out her last issue on June 15, 1991. REACHING SIDEWAYS is sorely missed."
Well, it's BACK! We've scanned and restored a few issues so far. More to come when I have time. The originals will end up in Meadville-Lombard Theological School's HEResies Special Collection in Chicago! -- Gretchen
The Full Cupboard of Life remains my favorite of Alexander McCall Smith's books. It is philosophical, a "glass half full" story that I expect to read as often as I read The Secret Garden. (see below)-- I love books that make me cry with happiness and with the realization of just how full of peace and plenty my life really is.
The Secret of Roan Inish by Rosalie Fry is a modern day fairy tale, a great read-to-your-child story (target audience 9 and up). Fiona yearns for the peace of the island life that she and the island’s inhabitants were forced to leave, and for her baby brother, whose cradle floated away as they were leaving. As I said, a fairy tale. With a happy ending. Both book and the movie that was made of it are charming. No violence.
Night Gardening by E. L. Swann centers on the romance between an aging woman recovering from a stroke and the landscape architect who is working next door. Lots of great gardening factoids. If this had been "One Woman's Garden Journal" I would have liked it better.
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett: an unhappy little girl, her invalid cousin, and the healing power of friendship and love. How can anyone NOT love this book? It has mystery, sadness, a nasty little girl, a couple of sympathetic secondary characters and one whiney spoiled (abandoned at home) child who gently teach Mary Lennox how to be a human being.
Submitted by Anne Slater, First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia
If you know of a retreat center that would serve our purposes at a modest to moderate cost, please inform Randa Todd, wrrt1946@yahoo.com with as much information as you have.
In mid-October, 30 women met at Murray Grove, the UU retreat site in Lanoka Harbor, New Jersey, to spend a weekend contemplating and seeking “the Goddess in Nature, finding the Divine within.”
The Facilitators Circle and our presenter, Sarah Campbell, gathered Thursday afternoon through Friday noon to set up the premises, to gather our thoughts, and prepare for the other participants.
As Friday afternoon wore on, women from all over the District trickled and then streamed in, bringing with them all sorts of experiences and baggage that helped shape their experiences.
Kathy Lawson (Montgomeryville, PA) says “It was wild and wacky, awesome and sombering. I met women whom I truly respected...a diversity of different types of personalities with a common thread...tolerance.”
Susan Eckert (Annapolis, MD) writes “This was my first JPD W & R retreat and I thought it was wonderful. The weekend provided a nice mix of creative, spiritual and social experiences. I hope to be at next year’s retreat!”
For Sherri Philpott (Harpers Ferry, WV), “the retreat is a time and space apart from my everyday life. A place of respite and renewal. A place to shed some immediate concerns, get centered, and perhaps re-assess where I am. This year's retreat reminded me how much I enjoy earth-based ritual. I was familiar with the teachings of Starhawk but had never participated in a ritual with people who were students of the Reclaiming tradition. I particularly liked the concept of "suspending disbelief" in order to be more fully present during a ritual. I can be as skeptical as any UU but I didn't necessarily have to "believe in" everything presented to me in order to enjoy the process.”
This retreat was Patricia White (Philadelphia)’s first experience of any kind of retreat, and she was also very new to her UU church. Much of her experience is typical for first-time retreaters: “I was new to the experience, and, in a way, am still assimilating it. Probably if you attend with a close friend or two, you can get more into the chemistry and dynamics of being in a group like that, and feeling a kinship.... rather than feeling, as I sometimes did, a bit awkward, and like a stranger.
Margaret Bakker (Shavertown, PA) another first-time JPD W&R retreater, wrote
“My experience has certainly been affected by my ongoing recovery from my sister's recent death ... so please take my critique, to the extent it is critique, in perspective. I needed downtime, quiet time, and I have been just plain sad. So I didn't really mix very well or feel myself. I therefore had a hard time making new friends or even interacting very well with others. For me, the non-verbal interaction was the best - beating on drums, walking, being outdoors, yoga, drawing. And I'm a quiet person generally so those are always my favorite activities. Sharing our drawings and shrine boxes in silence made me smile. It gave an insight into a deeper part of people and I found that very interesting.
Alix Berenzy (Germantown), designer of the retreat flyer, writes “The ceremonies that Sarah Campbell and Beth Weaver-Kreider designed were very moving and well-done… by doing them women are really getting in touch with their power again –after all these centuries—and with the Earth. I especially loved the little turtle who appeared at the beginning of the retreat under a pine tree where we did ceremony. She stayed the weekend there and then disappeared back into the woods. I felt the turtle, representing the Earth, gave her blessing to what we were doing.”
Randa Todd (Harrisburg, PA), convenor of the JPD W & R, writes “Two thousand eight has been a hard financial year for me, and many others. ….., I thought there was no way I could attend the Women and Religion fall Retreat. I have been attending regularly for 8 or 9 years. I know that I always feel much more a part of the bigger congregation of UU women when I make time for the retreat. I feel refreshed and invigorated after sharing 3 days with wonderful UU women. …
The flyer was beautiful and enticing. How could I not attend? The topic was interesting. How could I attend? I was mulling this over and over and over. Behind my back my friends conspired to surprise me by making sure I could attend the Retreat. What a wonderful gift. The Retreat turned out to be much more wonderful than I could have imagined.
Presenters Sarah Campbell and Beth Kreider-Weaver were down to earth, and knowledgeable. They were very good at presenting information that I had been exposed to before, but in a way that spoke to me as never before. I felt a real connection to the Earth-centered Religion, that Sarah and Beth live and shared with us.
I came away with a new-found respect for Earth-based Religion. I reconnected with friends from other UU congregations, made new friends, came away refreshed, renewed relaxed, re-energized and ready to meet the challenges in my home and church life.
I hope to see you next year when the retreat will be exploring music…
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Murray Grove has a stone-outlined labyrinth under a grove of trees, but the summer season’s use, time, and the weather had covered it with leaves and moved stones into walk ways. A number of retreat participants took time to restore the labyrinth to really usable condition. The weather was quite chilly for our labyrinth walk, but, smudged at the entrance by leaders Sarah and Beth, we walked and sang and meditated with each step.
A joyful feature of the weekend was the campfire on Saturday evening, with songs and laughter filling the chilly autumn night. We had drums, rhythm instruments, a guitar (thank you! Patricia White and Anne Mason), and many beautiful voices.
Totally apart from the spiritual nature of the retreat was something that has become a traditional part of every retreat, no matter what the weekend’s focus. Nuala Carpenter (St Davids, PA) writes: “A visitor to our retreat would have noticed that from time to time participants scuttled over to some tables at the back of the dining room. What were they doing ? Probably engaging in a bidding war for an item in our silent auction.
We had a wonderful array of items, some hand made by participants (pottery, hand forged jewelry, a CD of songs, to name a few), others were lightly use items seeking a new home such as a pair of nearly new sneakers (size 8), books, scarves, a small pin cushion (which sparked a ferocious biding war,) and more jewelry. The proceeds from the auction, over $300, was donated to Unitarian Universalist Women & Religion which is dedicated to freeing ourselves, others, and the Earth from traditional, historical, and contemporary oppressive and patriarchal systems. To learn more about this group go to their web site: www.UUWR.org “.
Anne Slater 12/13/08
At the JPD Spring Conference (April 16-17) JPDWR's Laura Myers-Paligo will present a workshop titled The Role of Women's Spirituality in Creating a Sustainable Future. (Saturday April 17 from 11 am to 12:15 pm.)
Laura, a member of the UU Fellowship of Harford County, MD, has a Master of Science degree in Environmental Studies. She is an engaging speaker whose message will engage people of all ages.
In order to build a sustainable future, we will need to redefine "a good life" to include honoring the earth and its inhavbitanets... Women's rights are human rights, which in turn reflect our caluing of the planet .
See http://jpduua.org/ for more on the whole conference)
Have you read a book or seen a movie which touched you, entertained you, nourished your spirit? Tell us about it.
Have you or your congregation's Women's Circle scheduled an event that is open to women in your area? Tell us about it.
Under Sister to Sister, you will find Books and Movies and Places to Go, Dates to Keep.
B & M should include the title and author of the book or primary actors in the movies. Give us a couple of lines , your name, congregation, and geographic location if that is not clear from the name of your congregation.
PTG, DTK should include Date, Event name, location (including church web site if possible), a contact person with email address. Please substitute [at] for @ in the address to avoid potential problems
Please send your submissions to slater.anne[at]gmail.com
The Blue Cotton Gown: A Midwife's Memoir (Beacon Press, Boston Oct. 2008) is now available on www.amazon.com and in most major bookstores. The Blue Cotton Gown is not about birth but about caring for women throughout the life-span.It addresses such universal, contemporary issues as drug abuse, teen pregnancy, menopause, mother-guilt, infertility, domestic violence, transgender change, midlife sexuality, keeping a marriage together and the crisis in the US health care system. Sound like a lot? All in a day's work for any health care provider who takes the time to listen. The book is receiving excellent reviews, is a compelling read and makes a great discussion tool.
Nobody writes with more candor and compassion about women's woes and women's triumphs than nurse-midwife Patricia Harman. Her behind-the-exam-room-door memoir is a bittersweet valentine to every woman-young and old-who has ever donned that thin blue cotton gown, to every dedicated healthcare provider, and to every husband-wife medical team. I couldn't put The Blue Cotton Gown down." -Sara Pritchard, author of Crackpots and Lately
"With compassion, forthright honesty, and talented writing, the author draws the reader into her patient's lives, the memories of whom last long after the book is finished.” Helen Varney Burst, original author of Varney’s Midwifery
"Patsy, more than any other writer in this time, has the skill to take us into a world where tragedy and joy mix every time the exam door closes behind another woman.” Penny Armstong, co-author of A Midwife’s Story
WHO DOES SHE THINK SHE IS?
submitted by Anne Mason
The Association for the Study of Women & Mythology is thrilled to announce our first multi-day biennial conference, to be held April 23-25 at the Kirkridge retreat center, Bangor, PA, in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, several hours from New York City and Philadelphia.
Our film festival will host the world premiere of "Pink Smoke Over the Vatican," about the ordination of Catholic women priests, and will feature ethnologist Sabine Jell-Bahlson's films on Mammywata.
Poetry readings, art displays, ritual, performances (including music by Ruth Barrett and a reading by Elizabeth Cunningham) and interactive programs will be featured.
Topics include lady of the beasts, publishing goddess scholarship, archaeomythology, spiritual geometry and the goddess, the divine feminine as vortex, finding your sacred language, the wheel of the year as spiritual psychology, frog mysteries, and much more.
Don't miss this unique gathering. Space is limited and registration closes April 15--or sooner if we sell out.
To register, and for more information, go to the conference page on the ASWM website: http://womenandmythology.wordpress.com/2010-conference/
