As women around the world on Sunday, March 8, celebrated International Women’s Day, Jamaican-born United Methodist Church Pastor the Rev. Heidi Thomas says that “women have been lighting their path for centuries over centuries.”
In delivering the sermon during the 67th United Women in Faith Worship Service, on Sunday, at Fenimore Street United Methodist Church (FSUMC) in Brooklyn, Rev. Thomas, senior pastor at Crawford Memorial UMC and St. Stephen’s UMC — both in the Bronx — said it was “important for God to create women.
“In the beginning, after God created the heavens and the earth, He created man in His own image,” said Rev. Thomas, a former FSUMC member, preaching on “Women of God: Lighting Their Path.”
“From the dust of the ground, God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul, which was Adam,” she added, with scripture-focus on Matthew 5:14-16. “However, God saw that it was not good for man to be alone, so he created a help mate for Adam and called her woman, who was Eve.”
Pastor Thomas noted that Proverbs 31:10 says: “‘Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.’
“A virtuous woman is a Women of God lighting their path,” said Pastor Thomas, who was ordained an Elder in Full Connection of the New York Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church in 2024. “Women frequently manage numerous responsibilities. Women are strong. We take on other burdens. We endure significant hardships on behalf of many individuals. Women are dedicated, diligent, and compassionate individuals. They contribute consistently and actively in various fields, and are always prepared to assist others, when needed.”
Rev. Thomas — who became the first female pastor of St. Stephen’s UMC in the church’s historical milestone of 200 years, and previously served as pastor of Bethel UMC for seven years and Bushwick Parish UMC for three years, both in Brooklyn — said that, on International Women’s Day, “we honor women of the past, present, and future, recognizing that women always deserve to be celebrated.
“Our path has been lit by those who went on before us,” said Rev. Thomas, who earned a Master of Divinity degree in 2017 from New York Theological Seminary, remembering “those who led the way for us, illuminating our paths,” such as Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Rosa Parks, Shirley Chisholm, Maya Angelou, Michelle Obama and Kamala Harris, as well as “endless women who has lighted their path.
“Furthermore, the women who helped initiate the women’s movement, like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, paved the way for the rights and equality that women enjoy today,” she added. “When we look at the scripture verses taken in the gospel of Matthew 5: 14-16, it presents a continuation of Jesus’ teachings from the Sermon on the Mount.”
Prior to this text, she said Jesus spoke about being salt of the earth.
“And, if the salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? Rev. Thomas asked. “Jesus then went on to say in verse 14 that, ‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden.’”
She said Women of God lighting their part, alluding to the Worship Service’s theme, “Light for Our Path”, are “the light of the world,” such as the United Women of Faith.
“They have lighted their path supporting women, children, and youth in our communities and all over the world,” said Pastor Thomas, stating that the United Women in Faith has done “a lot of mission work that is recognized worldwide,” and that “they have connected and nurtured women through Christian spiritual formation.”
She mentioned some United Women in Faith at FSUMC, whom she said lit her path, while she served as United Women in Faith’s secretary, nominations chair, vice president and president. These women included the late Mildred Hurlock, Glenner Strachn and Doreen Thomas.
“I remembered when I went through my difficult and challenging times, it was the women who helped me through my difficult period,” Pastor Thomas said. “My mother (Pauline Thomas) was a member, and she lit my path.
“Jesus said, ‘You are the light of the world,’” she added. “The main source of our light is Jesus Christ. John 1: 9 tells us that Jesus Christ is the true light. He is the true light, which enlightens everyone. Connecting to Christ’s Light gives us the power and energy needed for ministry.”
Pastor Thomas said the woman at the well serves as an example of a person whom Christ empowered and energized to conduct the work in the ministry.
In the gospel of John 4, she said a Samaritan Woman drew water at Jacob’s well, and that Jesus was at the well tired from his journey.
Pastor Thomas said Women of God lighting their path must also be in tune with God — both day and night.
“When we are in the word of God, it keeps us from doing evil,” she said. “When we are in the word of God, it shows us right from wrong. When we are in the word of God, it helps us to follow God’s commandments. Jesus is the light to our path guiding, directing. and showing us the way.
“Jesus lets us know in verse 16 of Matthew 5, ‘Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works, and give glory to your Father in heaven,’” she added. “Fenimore Street United Women in Faith, continue to let your light shine. Continue to share your stories. Continue to remain active. Continue to encourage one another.
“This light that you carry should never go dim,” Pastor Thomas urged. “This light has been burning for 67 years. Keep on doing the good fight, knowing that your labor is not in vain.
“And the most important thing for women of God lighting their path is that they are not doing it for themselves,” she added. “The work in the vineyard is for God to get the glory. Getting acknowledged is nice! Recognition is always good, but the goal is for God to get the glory out of this.
“On this International Women’s Day, may God be glorified in all that we say, in all that we do, and let our lights shine,” Pastor Thomas continued.
Marlene Ferguson, chair of the United Women in Faith at FSUMC, described as “glorious” her unit’s 67th Anniversary weekend celebration.
“My heart was filled, and my spirit was on fire,” the Trinidadian-born retired registered nurse told Caribbean Life afterwards. “God truly showed up, spoke to us, and shone His light throughout the sanctuary.
“On Saturday and Sunday, we didn’t just hear that God’s word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, we felt it,” she added. “We saw it in the scripture, we heard it in music, we experienced it through fellowship, and we received it through the powerful uplifting message ‘Women of God Lighting their Path” from Rev. Heidi Thomas.
“What a perfect day to celebrate our anniversary with International Women’s Day, whose theme ‘Give to Gain’ is a reflection of the United Women in Faith mission, because, when women give, when we give our time, our gifts, our leadership, our prayers something powerful happens,” Ferguson continued. “Communities rise. Families rise. Churches rise. We rise.”
“And on Saturday (Prayer Breakfast) and Sunday, I saw a rise, I saw strength, I saw unity, I saw joy, I saw women of God lighting the path with boldness and purpose,” she said.
Ferguson said her unit reflected on International Women’s Day by embracing different cultures through language (scriptures and songs were spoken and sang, respectively, in Spanish and French-Creole).
“We distributed memorabilia of buttons representing different islands and countries and buttons for International Women’s Day,” she said. “Our sanctuary was decorated with portraits of women who were trailblazers on whose shoulders we all now stand so proudly.”
Ferguson said the closing song, during the Worship Service on Sunday, “Carry your Candles,” was “a reflection of our theme.
“We distributed candles to all in attendance and, at the singing of the song, the candles were lit and held high to shine our light,” she said.
“The congregation was reminded that, as they leave, to leave with an internal fire, a gift from us,” Ferguson added. “Don’t let it dim, don’t hide it. Let your light shine in your home, in your work place, in your neighborhood, everywhere God places you.
“Walk boldly, walk joyfully, walk knowing that God has called you to be a light in this world,” she continued.
