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Blessing Boxes

During a question and answer session a woman said, "So what you're saying, Mary, is that the Blessing Boxes are really a replacement for what we used to cover with our 'dues'?"

"Yes!"

The language of "dues" may not make sense to some of you. Those of us who have a little gray in our hair remember that former women's organizations collected dues to cover the expenses of the ministry. In fact, with the encouragement of Sarah Doremus in 1834, "women's work for women" began with Cent or Mite Societies, so called because the cost of membership was one cent per week.

In today's culture, words like "membership" and "dues" create the impression of exclusivity--a club--someone is either "in" or "out." If you're out, then the ministry of that "club" doesn't involve you.

But working in the kingdom of God involves all of his people, and we can't afford to put boundaries or a price on this work. We are all called; all gifted; all required to offer ourselves in his service. That hasn't changed in the 174 years since Sarah gathered women together to create "women's work for women."

Those little green Blessing Boxes with a daffodil blooming on each side are how we, the women of the Reformed Church in America, will continue to create, serve, and develop ministries for women. Today the needs of women are even greater; we live in a world hungry for spiritual answers, where women and children continue to be marginalized through poverty and political oppression.

When you place a coin in a Blessing Box you have just stepped into the circle of women from around the world who continue to bless others because they have been blessed!

May 4, 2008, is the day set aside for the Blessing Box offering to support regional coordinators for RCA women's ministries. Please remember the women in your congregation and beyond by using this opportunity to support their ministries with this offering. Boxes can be ordered from the Women's Ministries office. Also, be sure to check out Gathering Our Blessings, a worship resource to celebrate the collection of the boxes: PDF, RTF, DOC.