Sisters in Scripture: Exploring the Relationships of Biblical Women - Softcover

Kichline, Kathleen MacInnis

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0809145804 ISBN 13: 9780809145805

Publisher: Paulist Press, 2009

Synopsis

Sisters in Scripture looks at seven different pairings of women from the Old and New Testaments to explore their relationships to God and to one another. In considering their stories, participants are invited to explore their own relationship to God and to various others in their own lives. Each unit looks at a specific woman, provides background material, prayer, and reflection questions to help the reader understand and enter into the story and to explore her own life story. Participants are introduced to the concept of Midrash to encourage a creative response to the text. After reading, responding, and preparing at home, women come together for small group faith sharing, response and prayer. Lastly, “A Closer Look at the Text” introduces participants to the tools of biblical scholarship and builds on that foundation as the study progresses. Resources are given at the end of the study for a Day of Reflection for the group to further enhance and deepen their shared experience. †

About this title

About the Author

Kathleen MacInnis Kichline has a Masters of Divinity from Seattle University where she currently teaches a course on Preparing and Leading Spiritual Retreats for the School of Theology and Ministry.  She has served in parishes in the Seattle area throughout her career.  Married with two children and four grandchildren, she herself is one of seven sisters.  She draws from all these experiences in creating this study and also in her work as a speaker and retreat presenter.

From the Back Cover

Author Kathleen MacInnis Kichine created this study in response to parish demand while serving as pastoral associate in a large, vibrant suburban parish. Most Catholic Bible studies did not focus on the specific needs of women and those that did often promoted unacceptably outdated views of women as secondary to men--and thus this book was written.
Using prominent biblical figures as a means of teaching women how to read scripture intelligently, SISTERS IN SCRIPTURE reflects a contemporary view of women as autonomous and as men's equals. Through reflecting on the stories of thirteen biblical women, participants are invited to explore their own relationship to God and to various others in their own lives. Women of all ages will benefit from the wisdom, knowledge, and experience of community offered by this unique, innovative Bible study program.

From the Inside Flap

Originally designed and used in a parish, SISTERS IN SCRIPTURE has also been successfully used in a home setting. It has been a tool for women who have already been coming together for a long time and it has been the occasion for women from various places to come together for the first time. Some groups have been small enough to all discuss together; other gatherings have split into small groups for discussion.
Each chapter begins with Background information and a Prayer to guide the reader in the reading of scripture. Participants then respond to their reading through the Reflection Questions. Sharing on the questions occurs in the small group and is the heart of this study. The role of the facilitator is important in assuring the comfort of the participants by following the guidelines for sharing. Special pages are added for the facilitator in taking on this role. After small group sharing, A Closer Look at the Text, provides more in-depth information on the biblical text. It is suggested that the group read through this together, a paragraph at a time. Additional learning resources are available through the author's website.
Although the request for this study came from Catholic women, it has consistently been attended by women from other Christian denominations as well. With mutual respect and interest, the ecumenical dimension enriches the discussion and can lead to the building of bridges among women from different traditions.

Edition details

• Publisher: Paulist Press
• Publication date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0809145804
• ISBN 13: 9780809145805
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 128