The Woman Who Didn’t Need Fixing

IT IS said that if you educate a man you raise an individual but if you educate a woman you raise a nation. According to CARE Australia, when a woman overcomes poverty, she brings at least four others with her.

Women are multipliers – to invest in a woman is to invest in family, communities and society. Wherever women’s voices have found empowerment, health outcomes improve, just systems emerge and sustainable practices are more widely embraced. Women are agents of change, yet remain dramatically under-represented in decision-making bodies from parliament to boardrooms to religious institutions.

Yet women are still told to present differently, organise better and ‘be seen’ in all the right places. But imposing patriarchal models of acceptability is not a solution. Its not women who need fixing, but the structures that make women vulnerable to discrimination in the first place.

We see an illustration in the story of the woman at the well (John 4.1-42.) Often painted as shame-filled and unfaithful, it is more likely this five-times married woman was simply vulnerable to the circumstances of her time and widowed, divorced at a man’s whim, or possibly unable to bear children.

What scripture does describe is a capable, savvy woman. When she leaves

Catholic Weekend Masses

Saturday 5pm: Peachester Rd, Beerwah

Sunday 7am: Caloundra St, Landsborough

Sunday 9am: 45 Cedar Street, Maleny Ph: 5430 9390 9am to 1pm Mon-Fri www.caloundracatholicparish.net

Glasshouse Country Uniting Church

29 Twin Peaks Drive, Beerwah

Come and worship with us

Beerwah – Sunday 8.30am

Peachester Community Church –last Sunday of the month 5.30pm

Minister: Rev Dr Elizabeth Nolan Ph. 0448 358 774 Email: churchgcuc@gmail.com

GLASSHOUSE COUNTRY CALVARY CONGREGATION

You are most WELCOME to join us 9.00am each Sunday Reed Street, Glasshouse Mtns (next to RSL) Sunday School, Women’s Fellowship, Bible Study

Contact: 5439 9341 or 5496 9671 www.glasshousemountains.lutheran.org.au

with Rev’d Deborah Bird Anglican Parishes of Maleny and Palmwoods

the well to tell others about Jesus she has no trouble rallying others to the cause. She is an agent of change.

But unlike the miracles and healing stories, Jesus has not intervened. When she leaves the well she still has no husband. Her marriage history remains, as does her sixth relationship - whatever form that is taking.

Jesus shows no concern in her relationship status, nor whether she is Samaritan or Jew. He does not try to change her or conform her. This woman does not need fixing.

What does occur is a theological conversation that explores the connection between physical and spiritual thirst –and the inclination to let difference get in the way of the dignity and affirmation we all need to grow into fullness of life.

This woman leaves without her water jug, but as a vessel overflowing with agency, and becomes the first and immediately effective evangelist of the Christ.

This woman’s voice is a blessing to her whole community. How can we promote the voices of women as a blessing to all the earth?

Fashion parade for DWCS

THE AUTUMN Fashion Parade and Delicious Morning Tea presented by the Maleny Catholic Ladies Group to support Queensland farmers is on again. Fashions and accessories by Flaunt Maleny and Imelda’s on Maple. Proceeds to ‘The Downs and West Community Support’ (DWCS) mission co-ordinated by Sister Christine Henry www. downsandwestcommunitysupport.org.

The event will be held on Friday, May 5 at 9.30am in the Pat Daley Centre, Maleny Catholic Church, 45 Cedar Street. Entry is $25 and includes five free raffle tickets and a chance to win the lucky door prize. Because of space, numbers are limited so please book early by contacting Chris 0490 065 607 or Rose 0400 550 007.