"We saw it, we heard it, and now we're telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy!"
— 1 John 1:3
Our Mission
We seek to create shared authenticity through conversation and story for women to more deeply connect with God and one another.
Our Gatherings
Our shared authenticity is cultivated through gatherings that are typically midsized (15-50 women), an hour and a half in length, and monthly, with light fare and drinks provided by the host. Additionally, the following components define our times together:
Conversation – The first thirty minutes consists of simple fellowship around food and drinks.
Story – The second thirty minutes consists of a member telling her story in light of God’s redemptive love in Christ.
Prayer – The last thirty minutes consists of a closing prayer, additional fellowship, and each member leaving with another participant’s teacup and enclosed prayer request.
Our Purpose
As women in today’s post-modern society, we are busy, rushing, working, and trying to get it all done and hold it all together. We are tired, isolated, and empty… poured out for our family, friends, churches and careers. Psalm 39:6 reads, “All our busy rushing ends in nothing.” There is an aching in our souls for something more.
We were made for more. We were made for connection and belonging. In her book Daring Greatly, Brene Brown writes:
"We are psychologically, emotionally, cognitively, and spiritually hardwired for connection, love, and belonging. Connection, along with love and belonging, is why we are here, and it gives purpose and meaning to our lives."
We all want to feel seen, heard and valued. We want to experience depth and authenticity. To know and be known. Our truest selves revealed and received with love and acceptance. We want to be part of something bigger than ourselves. To see our role in the Greater Story.
It is for this reason that TEACUPS exists. TEACUPS seeks to create shared authenticity through conversation and story for women to more deeply connect with God and one another. We seek to cultivate a safe environment where women can take off their masks of perfection and reveal their beautifully broken selves and celebrate who they truly are in light of God’s redemptive love.
At each TEACUPS gathering, one woman shares her story with the group. This is courageous vulnerability and it is contagious. Why is sharing our stories so important? As Frederick Buechner writes in Telling Secrets:
"My story is important not because it is mine, God knows, but because if I tell it anything like right, the chances are you will recognize that in many ways it also yours. Maybe nothing is more important than that we keep track, you and I, of these stories of who we are and where we come from… because it is precisely through these stories in all their particularity, that God makes himself known to each of us more powerfully and personally."
It is our hope that through sharing and hearing our individual stories, women will not only come to better understand their own story in light of the gospel, but also have those “me too” moments that connect us more deeply to God and one another.
Our Beliefs
With gentleness and respect we hold to the essential orthodox Christian beliefs as expressed in the Apostles' Creed and Nicene Creed.
Our Affiliation
TEACUPS is a charitable work that was birthed and (unintentionally) multiplied under the leadership of Karly V. Sorensen and oversight of The Mission Collective.