 The Face Is Familiar
Remembering Unnamed Women in Scripture
Horizons 2003-2004 Bible Study Workshop for Leaders
by Julia A. Boyce
Purpose
To introduce the 2003--2004 Horizons Bible study, The
Face is Familiar: Remembering Unnamed Women in Scripture,
to leaders in Presbyterian Women's circles and other study groups.
Length
This workshop is intended to take no more than 90 minutes.
If you have less time,
eliminate one or more activities from the "Digging into
the Study" section.
Participants will
· Gain an understanding of the overall theme
of the study
· Examine each lesson and its scriptural texts
· Discuss the concept of "unnamed women"
and how being unnamed impacts the story for the reader
· Develop ideas for presenting this study to
their circles or study groups
Personal Preparation
· Spend time in prayer, contemplating what God
can accomplish through this study of unnamed women in scripture.
Ask God to direct your preparation and to use your words and
actions to help further the knowledge, understanding, and spiritual
growth among participants. Pray for all who will engage in this
study.
· Studying scripture presents a challenge to
hear God's inspired message within the words written by human
hands. The task is to reflect on the social, historical, and
cultural circumstances of the original hearers of the scriptural
texts. It will be necessary to deal with the reality of the patriarchal
authorship and dominance of male authority over biblical women.
· It is important to remember this study does
not have one author, but three. Each author offers her own unique
perspective and view point. Listen for the different voices of
Louise, Mary, and Sue Westfall within each lesson. The unified
nature of this study comes not from one thought process, but
from their one common faith.
· Take some time to read the overview for each
lesson to get a sense of the broad scope of the unnamed women
in this study. Make notes about the stories with which you are
less familiar and those with which you have a good grasp of the
particulars. Jot down the Key Idea listed under the title
of each lesson; think about modern women's lives that carry the
same theme. The Key Idea will be a clue about the significance
of the story for women today.
· Read the Interpretive Tool Box for
each lesson. Look for ideas or methods of biblical interpretation
that may be new to you and practice using those tools. Have with
you a Bible commentary, a Bible concordance, and a Bible dictionary
as reference tools. Also, read the sidebar comments, prayers,
and other helpful study tools included with each lesson.
Supplies Needed
Have the following supplies available for workshop participants.
· Bible concordance
·Bible dictionary
· Various translations of the Bible
· Flip chart and markers
· 4" x 6" note cards
· 50 sheets of white or cream colored construction
paper or drawing paper
· Markers, colored pencils, and/or crayons
· Notepads and pens for all participants (optional)
Prepare note cards with the scriptural texts for each lesson
on a separate card. On another set of cards individually list
the unnamed woman/women as they are listed here:
Pharaoh's Daughter, Jephthah's Daughter, The Wise Woman of
Abel, A Widow's Might, Woman with a Flow of Blood, Syro-Phoenician
Woman, A Sinning Woman, Corinthian Women, and Mary Magdalene.
Room Setup
If this event is with a large group of women (18 or more),
set the room up with three tables and have six women at each
table. At each table place three of the scripture cards, the
three matching unnamed women cards, supplies of drawing paper,
drawing materials and several Bible translations.
If this event is with a smaller group, place all materials
on one table---all of the scripture cards and unnamed women cards,
the drawing paper and drawing materials, and several Bible translations.
On a separate display table have as many of the books as possible
from the list of Books for Additional Reading and Study (p. 3)
and the Notes (p. 76) section of the Bible study.
Workshop Presentation
Opening (15 minutes)
Welcome everyone and when all have arrived, open the workshop
with a prayer for illumination. Follow this with a brief explanation
of the intent of the workshop and the agenda for your time together.
Highlight for the participants the resources available to enhance
their study and preparation as they lead this Bible study. Let
participants know what is available in their church library and
their presbytery resource center and how to access these materials.
Digging into the Study
Activity A (30 minutes)
Ask participants to look up the scriptural references listed
on the cards at their table. They are to read the texts together,
discuss them and match the unnamed woman card with the correct
text. Encourage use of the Bible reference materials as they
read and discuss the texts.
After reading the texts and briefly discussing the unnamed
women, invite participants to use the drawing materials at their
table to create an image that represents each of the unnamed
women. This can be a symbol, a collection of key words, or anything
that will serve as a visual image or reminder of these unnamed
women.
Invite participants to summarize for the entire group the
scriptural texts read at each table and the identity of the unnamed
woman or women in the texts. Encourage them to show the visual
pieces they created, explaining the significance of each creation
and its connection to the women.
Activity B (15 minutes)
At the top of one page of the flip chart write: Not knowing
the women's names is helpful because . . . At the top of
a second page write: Knowing the women's names would help
because . . .
On the third sheet of paper write: Unnamed women of today
(i.e. women of Afghanistan, women caregivers, women who are
incarcerated, etc.)
Invite participants to brainstorm with you and provide responses
to the first two statements listed above. End this activity with
the third flip chart page and talk about unnamed women in our
world today. The purpose of this activity is to begin thinking
about the advantages and disadvantages of being named or unnamed.
Try to engage participants in a discussion about the effect of
being unnamed or invisible to society. How are we called by God
to identify those who are invisible and to minister to them?
Activity C (25 minutes)
Working in small groups or individually, divide the lessons
among group members. Invite participants to reread the scripture
texts (utilizing the various translations) and to read the overview
for their assigned session to get a grasp of the broad scope
of the unnamed women in this study. Ask
participants to jot down the Key Idea listed under the title
of each lesson. The Key Idea will be a clue about the significance
of the story for the women of today, so invite them to record
their thoughts about what this significance might be.
When all have finished, invite the groups or individuals to
share with the entire group their findings regarding the Key
Idea and how they see the women in their study groups or circles
possibly relating to the unnamed woman or women in these lessons.
Closing
Invite each participant to contribute a sentence to create
a sentence prayer for closing the workshop. Record the sentences
on flip chart paper so that all may pray in unison. As the leader,
have a closing sentence prepared to close the prayer. Choose
a hymn to sing together. Consider
a hymn from the Presbyterian Hymnal (Louisville, Ky.:
Westminster John Knox Press, 1990), such as #419 How Clear
Is Our Vocation, Lord or #438 Blest Be the Tie That Binds.
Close your time together by singing the chosen hymn and praying
the group sentence prayer.
Julia A. Boyce is the director of educational support for
Grace Presbytery and a certified Christian educator. She lives
in Dallas, Texas.
The Face Is Familiar Contents
| Lesson One | Introduction
| Monologues
Related Resources Now
Available
-- Large-print version with Suggestions for Leaders,
item #HZN-03-150, $10
-- Audiocassette, item #HZN-03-180, $10 and Compact Disc,
item #HZN-03-181, $15 slightly abridged study book and scriptures
read aloud; no leader helps
--Worship bulletins (blank inside) with Horizons Bible
study cover design, item #HZN-03-170, $10.00
for 100
-- Spanish translation, item #HZN-03-110, $6
-- Korean translation, item #HZN-03-120, $6
-- Monologues, based on the women profiled in this study,
HZN-03-102, $3.50 for a set of 9
--Horizons magazine with Bible study helps in
each issue
Add cost of shipping to all items.
Order all items from
Presbyterian Distribution Service
Section 459
Louisville, KY 40298
800/524-2612
fax 502/569-8030
www.pcusa.org/pds
*All items subject to shipping fees
(10% of order total; $4.19 minimum, $50 maximum)
Or Order Now online
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