The Gathering — February 22 & 23, 2013

The women of St. Michael’s will want to ink-in Feb. 22 & 23, 2013 for The Gathering 2013. Our keynote speaker for next year’s event is blogger and soon-to-be author Glennon Doyle Melton. Melton blogs at momastery.com/blog and contributes regularly to The Huffington Post. She covers such wide-ranging topics as faith, family, marriage, motherhood and addiction — subjects she knows well.

Glennon Doyle Melton ©Little Moon Photography

Her first book will be published by Simon & Schuster in April 2013.

“My best guess is that I was born a little broken,” writes Melton on momastery.com, “with an extra dose of sensitivity. Growing up, I felt like I was missing the armor I needed to expose myself to life’s risks – rejection, friendship, tender love. I felt awkward and unworthy and exposed. I felt naked. And I didn’t want to walk through life’s battlefield naked. I didn’t think I’d survive. So I made up my own little world called addiction and I hid there. I felt safe. No one could touch me.”
On Mothers Day 2002, unwed and addicted to alcohol, she found herself pregnant.

“I alternated between staring at the test in my shaking hand and staring at my bloodshot eyes in the bathroom mirror. I tried to force these truths to mesh: I am a drunk. I am alone. I am pregnant. And because I had no clue what else to do – I prayed. I prayed the only way I know how to pray – in moans and accusations and apologies and tears and wild promises.”

Glennon will be examining how God has called her throughout her life, and how just a few years ago she created an online community where women go to support each other. Her not-for-profit called Monkee See, Monkee Do, grew out of the community, and today offers financial support for women in crisis throughout the country.

The Gathering was conceived by a diverse group from St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, as a way to bring together women — no matter where we are on our faith journey — to share our experiences as we navigate the path toward spiritual renewal.

In addition to the keynote addresses, attendees will choose two of five breakout sessions. Those speakers will be announced soon.

Here’s a sampling of the weekend:

Friday, February 22

• 6:30 p.m. Registration
• Cocktail Reception & Book Signing
• 7:30 p.m. Keynote Speaker, Glennon Doyle Melton
• 9 p.m. Adjourn

Saturday, February 23

• 8:15 a.m. Registration & Coffee
• 9 a.m. Hymn Sing
• Keynote Address by Glennon Melton
• 11 a.m. Breakouts, Session I
• 12:15 p.m. Lunch
• 1:30 p.m. Breakouts, Session II
• 2:45 p.m. Holy Eucharist and Healing Service

If you missed the Gathering in 2011, you won’t want to miss this one. It will be your chance to gather with women from St. Michael’s and beyond, drawn together for a common purpose.

Registration will be open in the fall. But mark your calendars now for this sure to be amazing event!

Contact us for more information.