The news around us is overflowing with questions about women’s rights when it comes to healthcare, the constitution, and our laws. Many of the descriptions of the arguments being made about these issues characterize a certain set of views on women as being associated with Christian faith. 

But do we know what our own Presbyterian community has to say about women’s health and rights when it comes to our national policies? 

This upcoming Sunday, Scripture offers us a story about the healing of an important faith leader named Tabitha—a woman from Joppa. Perhaps Tabitha’s story will give us a chance to reflect deeply on how God is calling us to care for the women around us. 

I hope you will join us. 

Faithfully, 

Hardy

If you're worshipping with us online, please join us immediately afterward for the virtual Coffee Hour.

“First, we are to commend our spirits to God. Next, we work to transform the powers and principalities which destroy the personality so that justice, equality and human rights will be safeguarded for all… the religion of Jesus is a ‘technique of survival for the oppressed.’ Each person’s life must be defined, nurtured and transformed, wherein the self is actualized, affirming the inward authority which arouses greater meaning and potential with each mystical experience.”

Katie Geneva Cannon, Black Womanist Ethics

Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.” So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. Meanwhile he stayed in Joppa for some time with a certain Simon, a tanner.