Christian Women at Worship - The Story Behind the Art
by Iona R. Hoeppner

In researching art about "handmaidens," I came across a disturbing painting by Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones entitled The Mirror of Venus (1873) and decided to claim it for Christ. In the original, Venus is standing as her "handmaidens" gaze into a pool reflecting their own images which they appear to worship. Using a low resolution printout of the painting as a model, I repainted it, repositioning the women and giving them all faces of Godly women in my life (my pastor's wife, Bible study leader, etc.) and showing them in an attitude of awe and worship of the Lord, rather than themselves or some pagan goddess. It was the perfect depiction of what Handmaidens 4 Christ is all about - Sharing the Love of Christ with Each Other and the World!

Christian Women at Worship - The Spiritual Meaning of the Art

These are women who love Jesus and love one another. In the material sense, some are rich, others very poor, yet all are wealthy beyond measure, having found that treasure of treasures, salvation through Christ Jesus.

Each woman worships in her own unique way and is acceptable to the Lord and to all in the group just as we are an interdenominational fellowship of believing women. There is no backdrop or setting since we worship in cyberspace and because the focus here is on the oft unseen spiritual realm rather than the temporal.

The women are both generalized and specific, but all are devoted to the Master. For example the woman standing at the far right is my pastor's wife and the woman in front of her (kneeling) leads our women's Bible study group... one represents all pastor's wives and the other all who lead women in worship.

The woman standing on the left (in green) is one of my nieces and represents all believing women in my family... and yours. The lady on the far left is one of my daughters and represents all of them, and the kneeling woman next to her is my dear mother... and your mother.

Kneeling in the blue dress you will see my spiritual mentor, the author of Apron Strings Devotionals, and just to her left is Shannon Parish, the founder of Sarah's Tent pastors wives ministry. These two dear sisters helped me through a difficult and confusing time of testing some years ago. They also represent all who give counsel and comfort in times of need and all who serve Christ with a web site.

My friends Toyin, The King's Daughter, and Judy, Bunnyjade, and I are all three the woman in the greenish dress looking downward and with both palms on the ground. Toyin is black, Judy is Asian and I am white, but our racial differences only make us closer in Christ as we each admire the racial beauty of the other... all a handiwork of the Master's art.

Next to the left in the red dress is my dear and faithful friend Dee who taught me how to suffer in joy, ever praising God no matter what the circumstance, whether sick or well, rich or poor, adored or unloved... This lady represents all women who have suffered yet know and share the love of God.

To the left is a kneeling lady looking up. She is a combination of three ladies - one an evangelist, one a a woman of means and one a teacher - who have helped me in years past each in her own special way. She stands for all those who give so generously of time, love and money to those in ministry.

Note that in their worship of the Lord, these women also demonstrate love for one another. They are willing to reach out and touch each other for the Lord ministers much to us by the hands of other believers.

Christian Women at Worship - Limited Edition Prints - Free!

Limited Edition Prints of this painting were  available for $20 through Art 4 Christ, however Handmaidens members are entitled to a free copy! Members will receive an e-mail link to a high res. file of the art which they can produce on their own printers. Today's printers can produce excellent reproductions.