Horizons: March/April 2022

Of all the things Presbyterian women do well—and there are many—celebrating tops the list. It’s not just that Presbyterian women regularly plan large, meaningful events like the PW Churchwide Gathering (see page 35 for a “Save the Date” for the 2024 Churchwide Gathering in St Louis!). It’s not just that Presbyterian women make grand visions into reality. And it’s not just that Presbyterian Women includes individuals with varied gifts to put to work for God’s people.

Presbyterian Women celebrates so well because participants work side-by-side to live out the PW Purpose, bringing together a mix of keen attention, an eagerness to help, a determination to work for what seems impossible, an abiding faith in God and joy in the PW community. The stories and images in this issue celebrate all that Presbyterian Women makes possible in the world. You’ll see artists, writers, poets and musicians (p. 15) who use their gifts to express our still unfolding faith story. The list of Honorary Life Membership recipients from 2021 (p. 24) proves that PW is rich with visionaries and doers, alike! And there may be no better representation of all PW has made possible than Rhonda Mahwood Lee’s article (p. 8) looking back at 100 years of the Birthday Offering. Yes, 100 years of generous giving, creative approaches to fundraising and mission, and a determination to help God’s people live more fully.

In the Book of Common Worship, the service for celebrating a congregational anniversary* includes a prayer that feels appropriate to Presbyterian Women’s Birthday Offering legacy and service in the world:

“Receive our Gratitude, Holy God, for the years through which you have led us,
and open us to the future you promise. . . .
Give us trust in your abiding Holy Spirit,
that we may find joy and peace in our common life,
strength and courage to live in the world for your reign,
and hope in the gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord.”

* Book of Common Worship (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2018), 546.