Telling the Daughters of the King Story for the next 120 Years

The Order of the Daughters of the King is a vibrant, international, ecumenical Sisterhood of women and girls who seek to live out their Baptismal vows in relationship with Christ and each other, through the shared disciplines of Prayer and Service and Evangelism to women and girls. There have been chapters of Daughters of the King in the Diocese of the Rio Grande for 120 years. The first chapter formed at the Cathedral only 11 years after the founding of the Order. Nearly 40 Daughters gathered at Good Shepherd Church in Silver City to celebrate that history and look forward to the future during their Assembly on August 5-6.

The weekend started with a Justice and Mission Tea, fashioned after the workshop at Triennial in 2015 given by the Rev. Becca Stevens. We brewed tea for one another and shared our stories. Throughout the rest of the weekend Daughters looked at their history in the Diocese as a way to use our stories to evangelize for the future. The Rev. Jan Hosea, Diocesan Chaplain, led the group in a discussion of evangelism. Each attendee developed an ‘elevator speech’ to explain what their cross and lives as Daughters mean to their faith walk. 

New Diocesan Treasurer, Barbara Weaver, was elected and joins the DOK Board: Cynthia Davis, President; Cynthia Anne Ruth and Christine Courtney, Vice Presidents; Linda Brown, Secretary; Marta Gallegos, Service Chair; and Ann Merrick, Prayer Chair; who work together for the growth of the Daughters in the Diocese. Next year’s Assembly will be in Carlsbad next July. There will be a Christmas Party and Cookie Exchange at the Bosque Center on December 17.

Watch for a link to the PowerPoint presentation of Assembly, coming soon. 

Assembly 2016: Celebrating 120 Years

Dear Sisters in Christ,
It's time to register for our Diocesan Assembly at Good Shepherd, Silver City as we celebrate our Story as Daughters in the Diocese since 1896-and how our story, individually and corporately, can be an invitation to other women!

Diocesan Assembly 2016
Celebrating DOK
in the DRG 
August 5-6
Good Shepherd Church
Silver City, NM
Thanks Shepherd's Daughters for hosting!

Assembly registration remains at $40 this year ($5 for JDOK). Forms and info about Silver City: lodging and things to do, are in the packet that you can download or you can register online. You can also request them from Cindy. Chapter presidents will also have a copy of the entire packet to distribute.

Research your chapter history for our diocesan DOK timeline! We're celebrating 120 years in the Diocese! How long has your chapter been part of the Sisterhood?
Invite a non-DOK friend to the Assembly Tea on Friday, Aug. 5 to learn more about Daughters! 

Come to Assembly and be part of the Celebration! Remember, we are part of a special Sisterhood and community of faith that is not just in our parish, or even restricted to our diocese. Indeed, we are part of a world-wide Order that changes lives! Invite a friend to join our Sisterhood!

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Diocesan Board Retreat and Planning Meeting

The Daughters of the King Diocesan Board met for a time of planning and worship at the Bosque Center the weekend of August 7-8. Our theme was the story of Gideon who, like Daughters, was called by God to accomplish great things through the Spirit of the Lord. Saturday morning was spent in reflection on what the story of Gideon (Judges 6-7) can tell us about stepping out in faith as Daughters. We shared why we are Daughters and what prayer and service ministries we are involved in. (This involved a torch and trumpets!)

After lunch, we got down to some real strategic planning for the coming year and beyond. Our planning was sustained by nibbling on some sheep cookies. Exciting ideas, inspired by the Holy Spirit, were captured. Then we prioritized what to focus on for the coming year. You'll be hearing a lot more about things like "Daughter's Days", Publicity aids, Jr. Daughters in the Diocese and, of course, Assembly 2016! 

It turns out that there has been a Daughters presence in the Diocese since at least 1896. The first recorded record is from St. John's Cathedral when women's ministry minutes note that the St. John's DOK, established 'by 1896', maintained the altar linens and furnishings, 'until a separate altar guild formed'. In 1898, the chapter donated money for the first Missal Stand. Years later they donated a fleur 'd' leis style processional cross. Because 2016 will be the 120th year of Daughters in the Diocese, we are planning to make the upcoming Assembly one of celebration of the history of all chapters in the Diocese. Chapters are encouraged to find out as much about their history as possible!

The Diocesan Board was installed at the Cathedral on August 9. (Some were absent in person due to travel, and one auto accident, but all were present in spirit.) We look forward to serving with one another and all the Daughters in the Diocese. It is our prayer that each chapter and Daughter will find new inspiration in being a Daughter of the King in the Diocese of the Rio Grande! Click on the chapter page to find a list of the officers and links to their emails.