 A Postcard and a Prayer |
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| Mennonite Women USA |
February 2008 |
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Women in Conversation Laurelville workshops
Finding and Telling our Stories by Joy Sawatsky
Spiritual Friendship: Daring to Focus on the Spiritual Journey with Another by Donna Mast (Scottdale, Pa.) and Brenda Benner
From Suffering to Soaring by Elizabeth Soto Albrecht (pictured) 
"The Bible and our Christian life can be a guide for understanding our spirituality, sexuality and suffering."
Beginners Guide to Country Line Dancing by Jean Kilheffer Hess and Donna Mast (Leola, Pa.)
Yes, I Can Say No by Lee Schmucker
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Women in Conversation Wichita workshops
Discerning God's Direction by Grace Brunner
Soaring in the Face of Abuse by Esther Martinez
Satin, Ribbons, Lace and Pearls by Pat Miller
Dare to Have a Little Fun by  Kendra King (pictured)
"Come join the excitement of group improv games!"
Letting our Spirits Soar in Prayer by Connie Shelly | |
halting in flight on a limb too slight
feels it give way beneath [her]; yet sings, knowing she has wings."
- Victor Hugo (sent by Mary Hess, Homestead, Florida)
"Prepare the child for the road, not the road for the child." - author unknown.
Sent by Carla Stucky, Moundridge, Kan. She writes, "This quote is one of my favorites."
E-mail these refrigerator or desk notes to Rhoda and we'll share as many as we can in Postcard & Prayer. |
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Denominational retreats for  women - Daring to Let Your Spirits Soar
Register by March 1 to receive the early bird discount for Women in Conversation retreats. Registration deadline is March 28.
April 11-13, 2008, at Laurelville Mennonite Church Center, Mt. Pleasant, Pa.
April 18-20, 2008, at the Wichita, Kan., Hilton.
E-mail Laurelville or call 800-839-1021 to request a brochure or to register. Retreats are offered at two locations:
Join speaker Carolyn Holderread Heggen for a retreat designed especially for women to explore "women's unique way of experiencing the Divine." Weekend includes workshops, worship, pampering and fellowship! Women in Conversation retreats are co-sponsored by Mennonite Women USA and Laurelville Mennonite Church Center.
*Limited scholarship money is available through Mennonite Women USA. Women's groups wishing to assist with scholarships to help others attend these retreats, please contact Rhoda Keener.
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timbrel discusses sexuality
Many taboos hinder Christian women from forthrightly discussing our sexuality. I pray the March-April 2008 issue of timbrel will break through some of our awkward silence. The issue reflects on fostering healthy sexuality from many life situations. For example, one story looks at sexuality from the perspective of two single women, Ingrid Schutlz from Vancouver, British Columbia, and Sue Conrad from Lancaster, Pa. In another story novelist Judy Clemens, of Ohio, shares about married sexuality. May these stories and others cause you to rejoice in how God created us as sexual beings and invites us to express our sexuality in wholesome ways.
Judy Clemens, a novelist, and her husband, Steve Smucker, have been married a dozen years. They live in Ohio, where they are raising two children. Photo by Philip Clemens
To subscribe to timbrel, send $14 for one year or $12 per person for a group of 10 or more to Mennonite Women USA, P.O. Box 347, Newton, KS 67114. You can also e-mail or call 800-794-5101, ext. 227. We'll start your subscription and send you a bill.
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Giving to Mennonite Women USA
Your gifts make Mennonite Women USA's ministry possible. Contribute on-line. Please consider this ministry in your giving. Gifts are tax deductible.
Or send by regular mail to: Mennonite Women USA, 722 Main St., P.O. Box 347, Newton, KS 67114. | |
Mennonite Women leaders from 15 conferences to meet in Pennsylvania
With the theme "A Caring Presence," women from around  the United States will gather at Mennonite Central Committee's Welcoming Place in Akron, Pa. on February 22-23. This resource gathering meeting - Preparing, Resourcing, Encouraging and Praising - is held annually and provides networking and input for conference Mennonite Women leaders. Cheryl Hollinger (pictured), Director of Christian Education at Forest Hills Mennonite Church, will share experiences and ideas for setting up inter-generational mentoring relationships for women.
Attending conferences: Atlantic Coast, Central District, Central Plains, Franklin, Illinois, Indiana-Michigan, Lancaster, New York, North Central, Ohio, Pacific Southwest, South Central, Southeast, Virginia and Western District.
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| Spring regional women's events
Atlantic Coast and Lancaster (April 19) at MCC Materials Resource Center, Akron, Pa., a fellowship and service day with the theme "Chatter, Chow and Cheerful Service."
Central Plains (March 1-2) at Leadership Center in Aurora, Neb., the Nebraska women's retreat with Rhoda Claassen Frasier on "Women in the Bible."
Franklin (March 29) at Marion Mennonite Church in Chambersburg, Pa. the spring prayer breakfast with Tara Cahill on a mission related topic.
Gulf States (Feb. 16) at Pine Lake Camp, Meridian, Miss., a retreat with Rebecca Wenger on "The Joy of the Lord Is My Strength."
Illinois (March 28-29) at Camp Menno Haven, Tiskilwa, Ill., annual spring retreat with Mary Schertz on "Quest Stories from Luke."
Indiana-Michigan (May 3) at North Goshen Mennonite Church, Goshen, Ind., the spring gathering of the Elkhart area churches with speaker Cheryl Martin sharing experiences on the mission field.
Mountain States (May 3) at Emmanuel Mennonite Church in LaJunta, Colo., a one-day retreat with speaker Betsy Headrick McCrae.
Ohio (March 8) at Bluffton University, Ohio, a women's breakfast at the annual conference with speaker Funmi Olarewaju; (April 13) at Leetonia Mennonite Church in Leetonia, Ohio, a day of inspiration with speaker Vickie Yoder on "The Best Kept Secret."
Pacific Southwest (March 14-16) at Prescott Pines, Prescott, Ariz., the annual women's retreat with Neta Kimel on "Nurturing Body, Quieting Soul."
South Central and Western District (March 13) at Eden Mennonite Church, Moundridge, Kan., the spring Sunset Supper with speaker Lorraine Anthony on stories from her life.
Southeast (April 25-27) at Lakewood Retreat, Brooksville, Fla., a women's retreat with speaker Venny Melton on "Cultivating a Deeper Life in Christ."
Virginia (May 1) at Springdale Mennonite Church, Waynesboro, Va., the annual missions day with speaker Tammy Nice on "Women: Becoming a Place of Ministry" and Marcia Weaver on "Saving Faith;" (July 26) at Parkview Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg, Va., the women's prayer breakfast on "God's Call in Our Lives."
For more information on any of these events, e-mail the office and we'll connect you with local retreat planners. |
Prayer for a heart of love
By Erma Horning, Lebanon, Pa.
Heavenly Father, we honor and worship you
as our almighty God and our savior Jesus Christ.
This month many of our thoughts turn to Love.
We remember loving spouses, sweethearts, family and friends.
We are so grateful for them, Lord,
but you are the only true source and example of Love.
Help us to experience your Love in our relationship to you.
May we have an overflowing heart of Love and
compassion for those who may be deeply hurting -
a loved one has been taken away, or
the wounds of a recent divorce which cut deep.
Some feel no one really cares.
Others face the frightening diagnosis of cancer.
Widows are lonely, longing for a friendly phone call or visit.
Some struggle to persevere in a difficult marriage.
Others face difficult end-of-life issues with aging parents.
Another is a full-time caregiver with little relief -
There are so many more people in need of your Love.
Lord God, thank you that your Love is sufficient for all our needs.
Show us how to broaden our circle of Love to include those
others pass by or overlook.
Open our eyes to see those whom you want us to touch
with your abundant Love.
In Jesus' name we pray, amen. | |
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A Postcard & a Prayer is compiled by Mennonite Women USA staff Rhoda Keener, Laurie Oswald Robinson, Berni Kaufman, and Lois Loflin. |
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Know of others who would like to receive "A Postcard & a Prayer" e-mails from Mennonite Women USA? Have them send name, address, and e-mail Berni. | |
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