International Women’s Day Synchroblog/Synchrosermon
Each year on March 8 the world takes time to observe International Women’s Day. It is a day dedicated to the celebration of women’s social, economic and political achievements worldwide. In the United States, this official day of observance is rooted in women’s efforts to campaign for rights to work, vote and hold public office, culminating on March 8, 1908, when 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter work hours, better pay, voting rights, and an end to sweatshop conditions and child labor. In the early 1910s, the concept gained recognition in the international community and grew momentum as women across Europe continued to fight for the right to work and protest against ensuing world conflict.
This year March 8 falls on a Sunday. I know Sundays aren’t typically big blogging days since they are days when we take time to focus on our faith. But for that reason, I think we should make an effort this year to bring our faith to the celebration of IWD. So I’d like to suggest a joint synchroblog/synchrosermon observance of the day for Christians. Too often in the church not only are the voices of women not heard, but the stories of biblical women remain untold. But the Bible is full of inspiring examples of women faithfully following God and making a tremendous difference for the Kingdom. So this year on International Women’s Day I invite men and women alike to take the time to explore the lives of these great women through a -
Synchroblog – on March 8 post something on your blog about biblical women. This could be your experience (or lack thereof) with learning about these women, a reflection on the life of a particular woman, an exploration of the ways women led in scripture, or a midrashic retelling of the life of one of these women. Have fun with it, push yourself to discover new things, and let’s tell these stories together.
Synchrosermon – these stories of women are rarely told from the pulpit, so I encourage those of you preaching or teaching on March 8 to include the stories of biblical women in whatever you do. The church often wont hear about these women or learn from their example, unless pastors and teachers make a deliberate effort to dwell on the mothers of our faith as much as they usually dwell on the fathers.
It’s not difficult. This isn’t like other negative or angry IWD blog endeavours I’ve seen (and participated in) in the past. It is simply a way to positively encourage women and let women’s voices be heard.
So if you are interested in participating, leave a comment here so I can post the list of participants. Feel free to promote this among your networks as well. And thanks for helping women continue to have a voice.
Update – Click here for the list of participating blogs.
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julieclawson(at)gmail(dot)com 
Julie – I love this. Thanks.
My first idea is to preach on the unnamed concubine who gets chopped into pieces. Not your usual sermon text.
Not sure what I’ll say this year, but I expect I’ll be able to find something appropriate to say. Count me in.
count me in…
I’d love to do this, and I’ve got just the idea. It’s been in my head for awhile and it’d be perfect.
Julie, I’d love to be a part of this – what a wonderful idea!
Thanks.
Julie, this is a great idea. I’d love to participate. Thanks!
Thanks all – and everyone on facebook – for participating in this. It’s been fun to start thinking about these stories, and I can’t wait to see where everyone takes them.
no pulpit available but I’ll be blogging.
An excellent idea. I don’t know if I’ll be speaking at church that day, but I’ll most definitely blog.
Great idea – I will participate in the synchroblog
Julie,
A wonderful idea, I would love to be a part of this
I, too, thought of the concubine. I’ll try it – it’s a beautiful idea.
I’m in. No physical pulpit, but I’ll plan something for my blog, and maybe God will inspire me in meeting for worship.
I’m game–now I just need to decide if I should write it, or my wife should–or maybe both???
I’m open either way…
oh! and Phyllis Tribble’s “Texts of Terror” is a great guide to some less-than-well-known characters if you haven’t read it–
http://www.amazon.com/Texts-Terror-Overtures-Biblical-Theology/dp/0800615379
Please include me too. Sounds great.
This is a wonderful idea!!! I’d love to participate.
I’d love to participate too! Thanks!
Been thinking about it for awhile and now you have inspired me to share it in worship.
I have been horrible about attending to my writing blog (if you can even call it that.) I also have been wrestling a lot with my disconnect from the Bible lately. I have an idea of what I WOULD HAVE written about Biblical women even five years ago, but now I’m so disillusioned with the way women have been ignored or portrayed in Christendom I don’t know what I think anymore. Maybe that’s what I’ll write about. Thanks, Julie, for connecting others to this. I love your writing and enjoy following your blog.
Hi there… I blogged about my biblical namesake, HERE!
I hope it worked. I love the idea even though I’ve heard many stories of biblical women. Now that you mentioned it, that most people ignore the women in the bible, it made me think and I realized, I was told about so many great women in the bible. Like Ester or Rut, who followed her mother in law in a foreign country. (To name 2 of the most famous) The women in the bible are not in the foreground, but they’re important in the background.