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 ~ Links on this web page ~

[ Home | Christian Feminism | Worship & Labyrinth Schedule | Conversations | Directions | Leadership | Our Community ]

~ Links to additional web pages on the Weave of Faith website ~

[   Worship and Rituals in a Feminist Key | Eucharist / Communion | Recipes - Communion Bread ]

[ Statement of Purpose | Herstory of Weave of Faith | Co-Founders ]

[ Labyrinth Project | Bibliography & Resources | Networking / Links ]

[ The Sacred Feminine: Images & Names | Legacy of Christian Feminism]

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Weave of Faith

Christian Feminist Community

~ A Women-Church for Everyone ~

 

Weave of Faith : Christian Feminist Community is a unique independent worshipping community which has drawn international & national attention for our creative and participatory worship experience and religious focus.

 

Our members have been gathering since 1994 as a welcoming community which honors and brings forth the special spiritual gifts of the feminine while drawing from our judeo-christian traditions.

 

We are committed to :

- the feminist participatory process

- open spiritual exploration

- honoring our judeo-christian religious traditions, as well as challenging them

- including our children in our services

- passing on the rich legacy of christian feminism

- educating and inspiring seekers in christian feminism

- welcoming men who want to explore the Sacred Feminine

- developing a local, national and international network of christian feminists
- supporting our members through all the changing circumstances of life

 

"A Natural (and feminine) spirituality tends to incorporate three very organic, basic, but overlooked things into our sacred experience : the earthly, the now, and the ordinary." - Sue Monk Kidd

 

More about Christian Feminism

It has been said that Weave of Faith

Is not only a vital worshipping community,

We are a Spiritual Journey

We are an Open & Welcoming Community

We practice the biblical ethic of hospitality

All sexual orientations are welcome

We believe we were all created in God's image

"We seek to bring forth the Spirit of God from the Ghost of the Church."

Join Weave of Faith as we Do our own theologizing Create our own worship Explore our own spiritualities Create a new church experience

WORSHIP & LABYRINTH SCHEDULE

Once-a-month

We meet at Lake Merritt Church for our Weave of Faith~Black Madonna Women's Circle the last Monday of the month Come to 1330 Lakeshore entrance at the top of the steps Knock to be let-in Call in advance if you need to use the parking garage so we can buzz you in June-May, 2005 Jan. 31, 2005 Our Lady of Guadalupe Feb. 28, 2005 Labyrinth Walk: Mary in the Labyrinth March 28, 2005 Meditating on "The Secret Life of Bees" April 25, 2005 May 23, 2005 (so as not to conflict with Memorial Day) June 20, 2005

 

and at various times throughout the year

CHRISTIAN FEMINIST WORSHIP SERVICES & LABYRINTH WALKS

 

Social Events at Member Homes

House Churches St. Patrick's Music Night with traditional Irish fare Christmas Carolling Potluck

 

Call our message phone (510) 482-9319 for info

and to get on our email-list

 WOMAN'S CREED 

adapted from Rachel C. Wahlberg

We open ourselves to God -- who created woman and man in God's own image
and gave both sexes the care of the earth.

We open ourselves to Jesus, child of God, chosen of God, born of the
woman Mary who listened to women and liked them who stayed in their homes
who discussed the Kingdom with them who was followed and financed by woman
disciples.

We open ourselves to Jesus -- who discussed theology with a woman at
a well and first confided in her his messiahship who motivated her to go
and tell her great news to the city.

We open ourselves to Jesus -- who received anointing from a woman in
Simon's house who rebuked the men guests who scorned her I believe in Jesus
who said this woman will be remembered for what she did minister of Jesus

We open ourselves to Jesus -- who healed a woman on the sabbath and made
her whole because she was a human being

We open ourselves to Jesus -- who spoke of God as a woman seeking the
lost coin as a woman who swept seeking the lost.

We open ourselves to Jesus -- who thought of pregnancy and birth with
reverance not as punishment -- but as wrenching event, a metaphor for transformation
born again anguish-into-joy.

We open ourselves to Jesus -- who spoke of himself as a mother hen who
would gather her chicks under her wing.

We open ourselves to Jesus -- who appeared first to Mary Magdalene who
sent her with the bursting message : GO AND TELL . . .

We open ourselves to the wholeness of a Diety in whom there is neither
Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for we are all one in salvation.

We open ourselves to the Holy Spirit -- as she moves over the waters
of creationand over the earth.

We open ourselves to the Holy Spirit -- the women spirit of God who like
a hen, created us and gave us birth and covers us with her wings.

Blessings to you all.

Our Worship Experiences have varied over the years,
as we have been responsive to the needs and interests of our members

• Worship Services
  Moving, inspirational, aesthetically rich, even fun. Diverse and rewarding, we draw upon ancient & contemporary sources to seek new insights and create new rituals. Communion / Eucharist is celebrated at each of the Sunday worship services and at the conclusion of each labyrinth walk.
  
• Participatory & Multi-Generational
  Individuals & families are involved in our services. Adult age range : mid-20 's to mid-50 's
  (sometimes 70 's+). Children's ages range from 3 years to 14 years old. We value the involvement of our Elders and our children.
  
• Creative Music
  Led by gifted performers and composers with original compositions written especially for our services
  
• Conversations
  Informal and exciting theological & spiritual conversations
  
• Labyrinth Walks
  Led by Sandy, who is a certified labyrinth facilitator. She received training from Rev. Lauren Artress at Veriditas, Worldwide Labyrinth Project, Grace Cathedral, San Francisco. Our labyrinth walks explore the many ways that the labyrinth can be used as a ritual and spiritual tool. We regularly offer Labyrinth Peace Walks (actually every labyrinth walk is a peace walk).

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Sampler of Worship Services and Rituals

 

• Easter Sunday Celebration
  April 12, 1998
• In the Tradition of Yom haShoah - Remembering the Holocaust
  May 4, 1997
• The Wonderment of Our Bodies
  October 20, 1996
• Coming Out : Celebrating Lesbian / Gay Families : How Do We Sustain Ourselves?
  October 19, 1997

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Conversations

As interests arise, we invite people from various traditions and orientations into informal yet exciting theological and spiritual conversation.

Sampler of Previous Conversations

• Women Spiritual Guides : Sor Juana de la Cruz
  - with Francis Kennett, author and Oxford scholar
  
• Feminist Understandings of the Eucharist
  - with Diana Avila, El Salvadoran seminary student, JSTB
  
• Ways of Working with Mainline Churches to Help Them Be More Welcoming of
  Gays and Lesbians
  - with Kelly Love, intern with Reconciling Congregation Program, UMC
  
• Violence Against Women : Women Joining Forces to Heal Ourselves
  - with Dina Gardner, founder of a local battered women's assistance program
  
• Rituals and Healing
  - with Dr. Dianne Winne, geriatrician and Rev. Sandy Gess, M.Div.
  
• Native American Spirituality and Rituals
  - with Ellen Faryna, M.Div., PhD, member of local sweatlodge and ceremony circle
  
• Meditating on the Black Madonna
  - drawing insights from China Galland's study group
  
  

  Always an Extraordinary Experience

Religious Traditions Represented by Current & Previous Members

Our members have come from many religious traditions and cultural backgrounds

Methodist, Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Baptist, UCC, Jewish, Native American, Quaker

Ordained ministers and deacons, religious women and seminary students

Seekers in Women's Spirituality and Creative Worship

Leadership is Shared Equally Co-conveners of our Weave of Faith-Black Madonna Women's Circle: Elaine Amoruso & Mary Moore

Rev. Sandy Gess

Co-Founder Masters of Divinity (M.Div), Pacific School of Religion Berkeley, CA Certified Labyrinth Facilitator United Methodist Pastor St. Paul's UMC-Vacaville

Interviewed by the BBC Weave of Faith was featured on two programs dealing with the Bible and gender : "All About Eve" and the concluding program "Loose Ends." The genesis of this program grew out of John McCarthy's experience as a hostage in Lebanon (a span of 5 years), and explores the worldwide phenomenon of how the Bible is used as a social and political tool. The 2-cassette program is available in the UK from the BBC Shop Other more well-known people who were interviewed for the series : Desmond Tutu, Pat Robertson, and Matthew Fox Our Composer-in-Residence, Evelyn Avoglia composed original music "Un-Nameable Namer" for the recording.

Rev. Sandy Gess was interviewed by John McCarthy and Abigail Saxon, co-producers of a 2-part, twelve program radio series on the Bible : "John McCarthy's Bible Journey."

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Presenter on the Labyrinth as a Peace-making and Spiritual Tool
Parliament of World Religions
Barcelona, Spain
July, 2004

Delegates walking the temporary labyrinth which constructed in the Sikh tent
and used for early morning religious observances.
There was much interest in the labyrinth from all faiths, ages, and nationalities

Sandy Gess (representing Weave of Faith) with the other Labyrinth Workshop presenters who represented Veriditas and the Labyrinth Guild of New England

Sandy Gess enjoying the langur meal which was offered freely by the Sikh contingency for all the delegates of the Parliament of World Religions. Estimated number of delegates served each day: 3,000 !

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Weave of Faith is Participatory, Diverse and Rewarding

Small Group Experiences

Supportive Community

We sustain each other throughout the week and throughout the changing circumstances of life

Maintaining ties locally, nationally and internationally

Pam Johnson Musician ASL Interpreter ASL Teacher Bay Area Performer Singer Drummer

Evelyn Avoglia Musician Our former Composer-in-Residence Now living in Connecticut, we are working with Ev on publishing the music she composed for our liturgies

Frances Kennett [photo TBS] Writer Oxford, England

Malka Drucker [photo TBS] Writer Rabbi Santa Fe, New Mexico

Rosemary Neave [photo TBS] Activist Auckland, New Zealand

China Galland [photo TBS] Writer SF Bay Area, California USA

Eleven Years of Weave of Faith

~ A Sampler of Images of Our Community ~

Easter in a Feminist Key	Welcoming a son to our community
Our kids and mom find a new vantage point under the altar table	Celebrating Purim - Our kids and Lake Merritt UMC kids

Weave of Faith's Message Phone : (510) 482-9319

- We gather in Member Homes for social gatherings

- Monthly Meditation Group is held in the Edwards Room of Lake Merritt Church

- Labyrinth Walks are held at the beautiful domed Sanctuary of

Lake Merritt United Methodist Church - Oakland

on the southeast shore of Lake Merritt between 12 th & 18 th Streets

1330 Lake Shore / front entrance

1255 1st Ave./ parking lot entrance

Directions

 

 

The church where we have our services is very supportive

Some of their members regularly attend our services

Some of our members are members of Lake Merritt UMC

Weave of Faith / CFWC at Lake Merritt UMC

The church is on the southeast shore of Lake Merritt.

The front entrance is on LakeShore between 12 th & 14 th Streets.

The back entrance and parking lot is off of 1st Ave., near 14 th St. / International Blvd.

1255 - 1st Ave.

Look for the sign that reads : Lake Merritt Church

Directions from Hwy. 580 (going towards Hayward) :

Take Grand Ave. exit.

Go straight across intersection.

Turn right on LakeShore.

Follow around the south shore of

Lake Merritt to 1330 LakeShore.

The front entrance is on your left.

There is street parking on Lake Shore. Knock to be let in

 

Better yet, turn around and park in the parking lot and enter through the back entrance on 1st Ave.

Turn around, go back up Lake Shore,
then turn right at 15 th Ave. and right again onto 1st Ave
then turn right into parking lot which is after the stoplight
at the intersection of 1st Ave. with 14 th Ave / International Blvd.

 

Public Transportation

The Lake Merritt BART station is an easy 1/2 mile walk to/from the church. From BART, walk in a northerly direction on Oak Street. You will pass the Oakland Museum and the County Courthouse on your right. Cross 14th St. then turn right, following around the perimeter of the lake to Lakeshore Ave. At the marked crosswalk, you will be directly across from the church.

AC Transit buses run from BART to a stop in back of the church at the intersection of First Ave. and E. 14th St. / International Blvd near the entrance at 1255 First Ave. The bus routes are "40L" and "15." For current bus and BART info, call TravInfo 511.

MAPS SHOWING CHURCH LOCATION

(connecting to Yahoo's Map It Resource)

Front entrance : 1330 Lakeshore, Oakland

Parking lot entrance : 1st Ave & International, Oakland

a network of Christian Feminist Worshipping Communities?

Join us !

~ Links on this web page ~

[ Home | Christian Feminism | Worship & Labyrinth Schedule | Directions | Leadership | Our Community ]

~ Links to additional web pages on the Weave of Faith website ~

[   Worship and Rituals in a Feminist Key | Eucharist / Communion | Recipes - Communion Bread ]

[ Statement of Purpose | Herstory of Weave of Faith | Co-Founders ]

[ Labyrinth Project | Bibliography & Resources | Networking / Links ]

[ The Sacred Feminine: Images & Names | Legacy of Christian Feminism]

Copyright Statement : All original materials on this WebSite are copyrighted by Sandy Gess for Weave of Faith, with the exception of materials adapted from resources as credited, or that are credited to other individuals. Please contact us for permission to use our materials.