Stirring Waters: Feminist Liturgies for Justice

by Diann L. Neu

Overview

2021 Catholic Media Association Award second place award in liturgy

2021 Catholic Media Association Award honorable mention award in gender issues - inclusion in the church

For years, religious leaders and communities around the world have turned to the Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics, and Ritual (WATER) for feminist liturgies for justice. Now—in celebration of the organization’s thirty-fifth anniversary—Stirring Waters gathers fifty-two of these beautiful liturgies, ready-made to help your community venerate powerful women of faith, develop a richer and deeper spirituality, and take real action for justice.

Use the liturgies in this book as a resource to nourish the souls and focus the passions of the people you serve. Help them reflect on great women like the prophetess Miriam and Julian of Norwich; provoke and disturb them on occasions like Earth Day and World Water Day; energize them on International Women’s Day and Black History Month; and rejuvenate drooping spirits with liturgies of healing and gratitude. Never again will you scramble or struggle to provide community prayer that is worthwhile, nourishing, and even electrifying.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780814664964
Publisher:	Liturgical Press
Publication date:	04/25/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	364
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Diann L. Neu is cofounder and codirector of WATER, the Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual, in Silver Spring, MD. A feminist liturgist and licensed psychotherapist, Diannlectures, teaches, and conducts workshops throughout the United States, Latin America, and Europe, and has published numerous articles on feminist approaches to liturgy, spirituality, and therapy as well as books of rituals.

Diann holds a Doctor of Ministry in International Feminist Theology from the San Francisco Theological Seminary; Master of Divinity and Master of Sacred Theology from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley; and Master of Clinical Social Work from The Catholic University of America. She is the author of many works, including Peace Liturgies; Women-Church Sourcebook; Women of Fire: A Pentecost Event; Gathered at Sophia’s Table: A Feminist Peace Seder; and more.

Table of Contents

Introduction Mary E. Hunt xi

Overview Diann L. Neu xv

Liturgy of Invitation: Come to the Water xix

Section 1 Drink from the Well

1 January: Step into the Pool with Sojourner Truth 3

2 February: Embraced by Brigit with a Breath of Spring 9

3 March: Rejoice at Miriam's Well for Passover 15

4 April: Set the World on Fire like Catherine of Siena 24

5 May: Trust All Shall Be Well with Julian of Norwich 33

6 June: Come, Sophia Spirit, at Pentecost 42

7 July: Witness with Mary Magdalene 53

8 August: Honor a Wise Woman 60

9 September: Return Thanks with Hildegard of Bingen 64

10 October: Walk in Providence with Mother Théodore Guérin 71

11 November: Solidarity with Comadres and Martyrs of El Salvador 80

12 December: Reimagine Mary as a Woman Today 89

Section 2 Step into the Pool

13 January: Recognize Women in Politics 99

14 February: Called to Heal 104

15 March: Come to Waters of Peace for World Water Day 109

16 April: Return to Life for Earth Day 118

17 May: Reach for the Stars with Sally Ride on National Space Day 125

18 June: Praise the Sun for Summer Solstice 131

19 July: Stand with Malala Yousafzai 138

20 August: Keep on Moving in Solidarity 143

21 September: Bless Feminist Ministers 148

22 October: The Faces of Breast Cancer 156

23 November: Give Thanks for Women of Wisdom 162

24 December: Bringing the Light of Wisdom for Winter Solstice 168

Section 3 Let Justice Flow like Water

25 January: Praying to End Human Trafficking 175

26 February: Witnessing Womanist Wisdom during Black History Month 184

27 March: Celebrate International Women's Day 193

28 April: Imagine a Church for Our Daughters and Take Them to Work 199

29 May: Remembering and Letting Go on Mother's Day 207

30 June: Grateful, Proud, and Connected for Pride and Equality Day 213

31 July: The Saving Grace of Fun 220

32 August: Cherishing Friends on Friendship Day 224

33 September: Lift Up Peacemakers for International Day of Peace 229

34 October: Breaking Silence to End Domestic Violence 237

35 November: Becoming Saints of Love and Justice on All Saints' Day 242

36 December: Telling Love's Story on World AIDS Day 247

Section 4 Be Well!

37 January: A Cup of Blessings for the New Year 257

38 February. Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring! 259

39 March: Thank ReSisters Worldwide 261

40 April: Earth Day Prayer 264

41 May: You Are the Salt of the Earth 266

42 June: Drawing from Wisdom's Well 269

43 July: Hand in Hand-Imagine! 272

44 August: Bless Me with Creative Hope 275

45 September: Pray for Peace on Earth 277

46 October: Grant Me Healing 279

47 November: Thanksgiving Meal of Gratitude 281

48 December: You Are Home 284

Section 5 Ever-Flowing Streams

49 Listen to the Cries for Justice 289

50 Pray with Us 292

51 #MeToo: Reclaiming Our Voices in an Age of Violence 300

52 Water Meditation for Wellness 307

How to Create a Feminist Liturgy for Justice 309

How to Start a Feminist Liturgy Group, Inclusive Eucharistic Community, or House Church 316

Index of Blessings and Prayers 318

Index of Readings and Authors 322

Index of Songs and Songwriters 334

Acknowledgments 338

Editorial Reviews

Stirring Waters is exactly what the church needs right now: an inclusive, creative, thoughtful resource that draws deeply from the wells of women, past and present. Neu does a masterful job of bringing the feminist spirit to life through prayers, poems, and hymns. I can't wait to host these liturgies in my community.
Jessie Bazan, M.Div., editor and co-author of Dear Joan Chittister: Conversations with Women in the Church


This book is a gift and an inspiration for women's groups and faith communities seeking to drink from the spiritual well of women's wisdom across time, cultures, and space through liturgical action. Beautifully written by a foremost liturgist, it reclaims the power of rituals as a source of hope, bonding, and imagination for actions to change the world. I recommend it highly.
Kwok Pui-lan, William F. Cole Professor of Christian Theology and Spirituality, emerita, Episcopal Divinity School


In our time, traditional liturgies from Christian Churches lack new resources. Diann Neu offers us an alternative. Stirring Waters rouses static traditions, enlivening them with new energy. With deep sensibility to the cries for justice, particularly for women's lives, Diann designed creative liturgies which celebrate our women ancestors and invite their stories to speak to our daily joys and pains. Her work inspires us to foster new relations among women around the world, as well as between women and the planet.
Dr. Ivone Gebara, ecofeminist philosopher and theologian, Brazil

From the Publisher