Ellen Stevens

Oh, Christy! These words have been an unexpected gift of goodness.

In a beautiful telling of what it looks like to walk through a lifetime of womanhood, Her Rites offers language to explore the seasons that form us.

As I journeyed through the pages, I found openness and honor of the chapters of my life I dismissed, grieved, celebrated, and relished. I unearthed tenderness in the places I have been missed, honor for the beautiful unseen I long for, and invitation to a time of sacred becoming.

This is a guide that must be read slowly, with transparency and intention. I imagine one pass through Her Rites will not be enough -- I will be coming back to visit these words again, and again.

This is an unusual season for me, and as my heart and words permit, I will slowly begin sharing what has been released, what has come forward, and what is awakening.

Thank you, Christy, for your courage to show up and your willingness to let us all be seen. And, thank you for role in my journey.

May God bless you with a restless discomfort about easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may seek truth boldly and love deep within your heart.⁠⠀

May God bless you with holy anger at injustice,⁠ oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may tirelessly work for justice, freedom, and peace among all people.⁠⠀

May God bless you with the gift of tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, or the loss of all that they cherish, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and transform their pain into joy.⁠

May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe⁠ that you really can make a difference in this world, so⁠ that you are able, with God’s grace, to do what others⁠ claim cannot be done.⁠⠀

- A Franciscan Blessing

If you are in the Nampa, Idaho area...

Don't miss "Healthy Relationships" this Saturday!

This one day, interactive class meets December 4th from 9a-12p to explore the fundamentals of engaging, repairing, and sustaining connections with others.

Helpful for a wide range of relationships (parent-child, couples, friendships, and many others), we will go over:

**Attachment: Understanding how we develop our sense of interpersonal relationships and create patterns for relating with others - from birth through all of life.

**Keys for healing wounded relationships and ways to intentionally maintain healthy connection, including attunement, boundaries, and communication.

**Helpful tips to get through lovely and challenging family dynamics during the holidays.

This will be a great time of learning, growing, and healing.
Sign up via the link below to join us!
https://thecelebrationchurch.churchcenter.com/groups/groups-fall-2021/intensive-healthy-relationships