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I know a group of women who gather every Monday to quilt, spending most of the day together. They cut fabric. They sew. They laugh. They cry. God’s work happens with their hands. They keep showing up, together, week after week, to put their hands to work and their hearts together. Theirs is not the only congregation with such a group of quilters or the only congregation with women who celebrate life together. Women across this country and world know the power of being with other women.

Women get it. That’s why I continually find myself with the women. I need their faith. I need their presence. I need their tears and their laughter. Most importantly, I need them to show me Christ. I need to look them in the eyes and see the body of Christ – the blessed, holy, broken, beautiful body where all are valued and needed. All have something to share. We gather as women who believe in the power of resurrection – the power to transform lives from small bits of bread, wine, coffee, tea, needle and fabric. I keep finding myself with the women. And in them, I find myself in Christ.

This message is excerpted from “I keep finding myself with the women.” by Kimberly Knowle-Zeller in the April 2019 Gather magazine.