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Stirring the
Spirit within
I firmly
believe women
of all ages
and all
generations
have an
inherent and
unique need
to come
together with
other women.
In the sacred
space that
women share,
they offer
what Martin
Luther
described as
the "mutual
conversation
and
consolation
of the
brethren."
That doesn’t
exactly trip
off the 21st
century
tongue. But
the idea is
as true today
as it was
nearly 500
years ago
during the
Reformation.
Think of it
as the mutual
conversation
and
consolation
of the
saints.
We crave
time in
community,
where we
share joys
and sorrows,
excitements
and
discouragements.
Time where we
learn from
each other.
As Luther
explained, it
is in these
conversations
and in the
consolation
that we
receive help
and counsel
against sin.
(Read "sin"
here as being
separated
from God, not
as a
particular
act or
thought.)
Over the
history of
the women’s
organization,
much of these
conversations
and
consolations
have occurred
in face-to-face
encounters,
such as
monthly Bible
studies,
circle
meetings, and
the like. In
our 21st
century life
we are able
to have
virtual
encounters
through the
Internet. Now
our e-zine,
Café,
enables
virtual
encounters,
so women can
share in
mutual
conversation
and
consolation
together.
We
celebrate
that Café
is now a
monthly
publication,
made
available to
all young
women by
Women of the
ELCA. Take a
look around
and you’ll
find some
nice changes,
making this
award-winning
publication
an even
better
resource for
our journeys
of faith. If
you haven’t
learned about
Café,
now is the
time. If you
already know
about Café,
now is the
time to
invite five
young women
to subscribe
to this free
e-zine.
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