Sing a New Song Women's Retreat
Register by Tuesday, 28 Feb
Hello friends,
How are you this month? I hope you are well. I’ve been traveling for the past few weeks seeing family in the States - a wonderful whirlwind of a visit. Now we’re back to porridge, as they say here!
I wanted to extend an invitation for you to join me for an online retreat hosted by the Japan Women’s Conference. The conference will take place on the 11th, 18th and 25th of March, and the deadline for registration is a week from today, on the 28th of February.
**All are welcome, whether you have a connection with Japan or not.**
Each Saturday we will meet for two hours for the keynote session and group time. In addition, there are a wide array of enticing workshops during the weekdays in between each keynote sessions and closing worship. Although most participants will be in the Japan/Pacific Rim time zone, which is morning in Ireland. There is a small group for US participants meeting at a time that suits those time zones.
I’m really excited to be involved as this year’s speaker, and on a theme that means a lot to me. Here’s the description of the conference:
“Sing a new song!” the Psalms invite us. These are words we have heard many times, but they take on a new meaning as we emerge from these pandemic years. At this particular point in time, with each of us beginning a new chapter, we ask ourselves afresh – what is the new song we can sing in the coming season?
In this year’s conference, we will explore the theme “Sing a New Song” both literally and metaphorically. We’ll remember songs that have inspired and lifted our spirits, and we’ll listen for the song we might feel called to bring forth. What were the songs that lifted our spirits when we needed encouragement and inspiration? What were the songs our hearts yearned to sing when we couldn’t sing together? Were there other forms of creativity that touched our hearts and gave rise to a “new song” within us? And as we listen for what inspires and refreshes us, we will explore what leads us toward healing and hope as we move into the future. What new songs do our spirits long to sing now? What do we feel called to create, to bring into being in the season ahead? What is the song God wishes to sing in and through us? As individuals, as women of God, as sisters in Christ, as communities of faith, from the diversity of our backgrounds, contexts, and life stages, how can each of us “sing a new song,” and what is the “new song” we can sing together?
If exploring the “new song” that might be rising up within you in this new chapter appeals to you, you would be most welcome!
Click here for more information about registration.
In case any of you are wondering why an American living in Ireland is speaking at a conference in Japan, it’s because I grew up there! Read my bio below.
This year’s speaker is Rev. Kiran Young Wimberly. Kiran is an American Presbyterian minister and spiritual director living in Northern Ireland, based at the Corrymeela Community for Peace and Reconciliation. A child of Tokyo Union Church, she grew up with a cross-cultural background and has a heart for building bridges and finding common ground across community divides. One way Kiran has explored this bridge-building is through music, and she has collaborated with the McGrath family from County Tyrone, N. Ireland to record four albums of Psalms set to Celtic melodies, the most recent of which emerged during the Covid period. They sing their songs in sacred and secular venues, across the historic divides between Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland. Bringing together the ancient words of the Psalms and beautiful Celtic melodies, their music ministry is a way of “singing a new song” in their context and in the communities they visit while on tour. Kiran also leads ecumenical retreats at Corrymeela and online, writes regular reflections at Bless My Feet, and hosts “Psalms for the Spirit,” a podcast about spirituality and resilience that she began during Covid to explore how the Psalms lift our spirits in difficult times.
I will write again soon. In the meantime, drink in the beauty of those cherry blossoms, which always begin to show their glory at this time of year in Japan. I think I can smell them from here.
Kiran
