Small Faith Community Snapshot

Name: Lydia's House (after the woman mentioned in Acts 16, a dealer in purple-dyed cloth, who was baptized along with her whole household and insisted Paul and his companions stay at her home in Philippi).

Location: Fresno, Calif., in the St. Paul Newman Center at the California State University at Fresno.

When Started: In 1992 when a Fresno woman attended a WomenChurch meeting and told her friends of the need for feminist, Christian spirituality. A dozen then began to meet regularly and the group has grown since.

Membership: About 200 (women only), ranging in age from early 20s to mid-80s, married and single, religious and lay, mostly Catholics but many Protestants - but no young children.

Format: Approximately 70 meet every third Saturday throughout the year for a formal gathering, which lasts from 9 a.m. to noon. A planning committee and several other small bodies provide order and continuity. After a prayer, those present share fruit and bread provided by the members for about 30 minutes; all then sit at round tables accommodating five or six each for a brief business meeting. Two presenters from the group then spend one hour talking on a specific topic they have researched and carefully prepared. The topics range from women in the Bible, to art and spirituality, to self-esteem, to depression, to women mystics, to growing old gracefully. Presenters synthesize Scripture, theology and especially personal experience. The presentations are always self-contained, never continued from month to month. Presenters then provide two or three questions for discussion at the small tables, after which there is a period of large-group sharing. A closing ritual, with music and perhaps dance, concludes the gathering and all are out at 12 sharp.

Resources: Besides Scripture, the presenters rely on contemporary women writers and musicians like Miriam Therese Winter, Kathleen Fischer, Maria Harris, Ann Johnson, Carolyn Osiek, and Kathy Sherman.

Outreach: No specific action. The group gathers exclusively to share, inspire and strengthen, so that the members may go out and engage in their own good works.

Quote: "We are very organized - almost rigid in our format. Yet at the same time we are very organic, circular and collaborative. And it works. We believe it's the Holy Spirit at work here. That's why we've lasted and we're still growing."

Source: Patricia Dailey, 559-449-1281; ptdailey@pacbell.net