For Thanksgiving 2008, the Women of the Well created an ecumenical Thanksgiving Service for the Rush-Henrietta Interfaith League. It’s a powerful telling of gratitude in the midst of struggles, from the perspective of women past and present. Beginning with women on the edge of the Promised Land- Rahab and the five daughters of Zelophehad (Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah)- we then heard from a woman giving thanks to God, at a time when Israel was ruled by Judges. This woman was Hannah, a woman of prayer and mother of Samuel. She then passed on the red cord of faith to Mary, the mother of Jesus, who made Hannah’s song her own, passing it on to Jesus. Finally, one of our group spoke of her mother’s hands and all the good that came from them, so that we might also know the power of “Loving Hands,” a contemporary song by Cary Ratcliff. We offer this to other faith communities, as a celebration of Thanksgiving.
