Photo by Graham Cullen Members of a women's Bible study group have been reading "Desperate Housewives of the Bible." First row, from left, are Thelma Powell, Liza Stoner, Shirley Eyler, Laura Grimes-Hartley and second row, from right, Katheryn Z. Nicodemus, Margaret S. Powers, Diane McCune and Bonnie Volovar.

Quilt-making for world relief, raising scholarships for women seeking ministerial education and organizing donations to offset the cost for veterans' families staying near Walter Reed Army Medical Center will continue, of course. That kind of service work is central to their mission. But President Bonnie Volovar introduced a new theme for the women to tackle at Bible study meetings over the next two years -- "Desperate Housewives of the Bible."

Based on the book by prolific Christian author Robert Strand, Volovar and others will take turns reading "Desperate Housewives of the Bible," discussing the stories of some 40 biblical women and the meaning today.

"It's so entirely relevant," said Volovar, 62. "And sometimes a little hilarious." Always with lessons to be garnered, too.

Last month, the meeting focused on the story of the first and quintessential desperate housewife of the Bible: Eve.

"Poor Eve," said Volovar, with a good-natured laugh. "She gets blamed for the apple incident. Gets blamed for that for the rest of her life and Adam was able to say, 'I told you so!'"

At an earlier meeting, the topic of conversation was "Abigail," a remarkable Old Testament woman of faith and sensibility who unfortunately was married to the surly, obnoxious drunkard Nabal. According to the story told in I Samuel 25:2-42, Abigail's resourcefulness saved her husband's life -- and possibly her entire households -- after he rejected David and his calvary, and instead got drunk at a feast celebrating his own wealth.

Abigail, soon widowed nonetheless, later married King David.

Married 42 years, a mother of four and grandmother, Volovar described the marriage of Abigail and Nabal as a terrible mismatch.

Margaret Powers, who writes the women's group newsletters, noted that Abigail showed quick thinking and perception. She averted tragedy by serving David and his men a huge banquet while ignoring her husband's foolishness for the time being.

The lesson of Abigail, Volovar summarized, is that she maintained a right attitude through her life and tough circumstances, remaining loyal to God and his principles, which guided her decision-making.

"Of course, there is always a Christian bent, the lesson to be learned is to trust God, keep on, keeping on, whatever the situation might be," Volovar said. "It might be difficult, and you might have to work hard to make things come out the way they should, but nothing worthwhile is easy."

Powers, who is in her 80s, agreed that there are lessons -- and encouragement -- to be gleaned from studying the women of the Bible. It's not that things haven't changed, she said, they have, but as the saying goes, the more things change the more they stay the same.

"Women (today) still have to be very sincere and genuine and devoted to God in whatever their position is in life," Powers said.

Volovar, a cancer survivor, said she relates to the women of the Bible. She said she learned to trust God more deeply than ever through the process of dealing with her disease, and that her faith sustained her.

Like Strand, the author, she noted that St. Paul's pastor Mark Foucart is also adept at bringing historical background and context into his sermons.

"That's what makes all the crazy things that happen in the Bible make sense," Volovar said.

She said that so far the new Bible study theme hasn't attracted any of the newer or younger women of the congregation. However, they're still getting the word out and there's still many months to go before the program concludes next year.

Volovar said she understands women are busy with children, typically working outside the home and commuting as well with most families having to rely on two incomes.

"I am hopeful," Volovar said.

For information, e-mail Bonnie Volovar at pbvolovar@verizon.net