A Postcard and a Prayer from Mennonite Women USA

A Postcard and a Prayer

Mennonite Women USA

April 2008

In This Issue

Daring to Let Our Spirits Soar

Saying good-bye

Honoring and Remembering

Giving to Mennonite Women USA

Winterbourne - Prayer for the Journey

A prayer for a friend

" Leadership is inherently about effecting change in order to obtain some desired future condition that would not otherwise happen."

- from Leadership Prayers by Richard Kriegbaum, shared by Barb Voth, Newton, Kan., in a devotional at the Mennonite Women USA board meeting March 28-29 in Goshen, Indiana

"For women, our very sense of identity is rooted in our connections. Circles of care can be an incredible gift of grace where wounds are healed and lives are transformed."
- Carolyn Holderread Heggen at the Laurelville Women in Conversation retreat on Daring to Let Our Spirits Soar held at Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania

Daring to Let Our Spirits Soar - first of two Women in Conversation retreats held April 11-13

With the image of flying, and as a robin built a nest outside the window, Carolyn Holderread Heggen (pictured far left with Mary Lou Houser and Twila Miller) led women to explore together what it means to let our spirits soar. What has blocked our spirits? How do we heal broken wings?

The week-end celebrated God's amazing grace and the gift of companions on our journey. Conversation circles following each session anchor these bi-ennial women's retreats as times to build our faith in community. Pictured right are Wendy Hochstetler and Isaac at the Laurelville Crazy Hats dinner.

The April 11-13 retreat was held at Laurelville Mennonite Retreat Center, Mount Pleasant, Pa.; on April 18-20 a twin retreat will be held in Wichita, Kansas. Each retreat has its own worship leaders and seminars with the same keynote speaker. Both are co-sponsored by Laurelville and Mennonite Women USA.

Saying good-bye

LOR This spring MW USA will say good-bye to Laurie Oswald Robinson, who shared last September that she will leave as editor on April 30. She desires to become a more full-time mommy to her foster daughter, Symphony, and to pursue freelancing opportunities. She will also work quarter-time as intergenerational coordinator for Hesston Child Care and Schowalter Villa in Hesston, Kan.

"I thank all of you who supported me over the years during my tenure of reporting God's movement in our church," Laurie says. "This transition is not a good-bye but a broadening of the spiritual life you have encouraged in me. May God be with you on your continuing journeys in joining Christ in extending God's reign at home and around the world."

The May/June issue of timbrel, AAWT "Embracing the gift of parenting," will be Laurie's last issue. Featured in this issue are lots of gems, including two human interest stories, written by a first-time mom and a mother who divorced and has learned how to parent from that perspective. You will also find a "Top 10" book list by Marlene Harder Bogard, Minister of Christian Nurture and Resource Library Director for Western District Conference of Mennonite Church USA.

Don't forget to send us your responses to our Sister-Question for June-July on "Caring for God's Creation."

What, or who, has helped you care for God's creation?

How has your relationship with God guided and informed your efforts?

You may send your answers to Patricia.

Patricia Burdette, Butler, Ohio, will begin as editor May 15, 2008 after completing her teaching position at Bluffton University. Patricia served on the MW USA board of directors for four years as the editorial advisory council representative.

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.

Honoring and Remembering

Each fall and spring Mennonite Women USA invites persons to share financially to support this ministry. Individuals are invited to give in honor of, or in remembrance of, a significant woman in their lives - to be shared in our Postcard and Prayer. We recognize that each gift honors or remembers a relationship.

Gifts given by:

Cheryl Miller Ramer in memory of Emma Ramer

Mary Swartley in memory of Linda Hertzler Lapp

Tamara Gill in memory of Joan Lehman

Kathryn Weaver Eby in memory of Marian R Weaver

Louise Gingerich in memory of Laura Burkholder

Louise Gingerich in memory of Dorothy Gingerich

Gifts given by:

Ruth Rittenhouse in honor of Lindale Mennonite Women

Treva Kurtz in honor of Erma Schnabel

Joanne B Speigle in honor of Grace Brenneman

Jean Oswald in honor of Doretta

Thank you for sharing the names of these special women with all of us.

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.

Winterbourne - Hope of New Beginnings

A prayer for the journey

by Donna Brunk Suter, Harrisonburg, Virginia

Several weeks ago the snow-covered ground stretched formidably beyond my window. The oak trees were barren and looked unpromising.

Then a small trickle of a stream, a winterbourne, broke through the ice and snow of winter and before long I saw a brave green shoot spring up beside that stream.

The swells on the barren trees began to promise new life forthcoming. My heart became full of a new song. It is April, a time of new beginnings. My weeping pussy willow bush is blooming and a few soft, fuzzy twigs grace our coffee table.

Lord, You walk with me through the cold and barrenness of winter.

You fill me with hope and delight as Your earth begins to come alive. I see early crocuses and daffodils, the golden hues of forsythia branches, a robin visits our birdbath this morning. A new song of praise fills my heart with gladness.

Thank You. Thank You for Your indwelling presence that gives me eyes to see Your amazing new spring creations. Thank You for being a God of all seasons. I love You Lord. I want to love You more. Amen.

A prayer for a friend

(In response to requests we received for English translation of the March prayer.)

by Violeta Ajquejay, Newton, Kansas

Lord, thank you for the friends that you have placed

along our paths.

Thank you for that beautiful gift of friendship.

Thank you for those friends that we can count on when

we feel a little discouraged,

for those friends that are ready to listen,

for those friends that are with us in the good and bad times,

for those friends that are with us in happy and sad times,

for those friends that are like family when we are in strange lands,

far away from our own families.

Lord! I thank you especially for my childhood friend Elizabeth.

We had lost touch, and in this small world you allowed us

to meet again and renew our friendship

Lord, I thank you because you have been with her in the most

difficult times in her life,

because you have helped her to remain firm in Your paths.

For the trust and faith that You have planted in her,

Lord, thank you because you have allowed her to have now the love

of her two children who were taken away from her when they were small.

Lord, continue to bless her

that she would continue to be an example for us during the

difficult times in our lives when our faith in You starts to fail.

Lord, thank you for the blessings that you give us

through the gifts of friendships.

Bless each one of my friends.

Fill their hears with peace, joy and happiness.

Fill their lives with health and well-being.

Be the center of their lives. Amen.

A Postcard & a Prayer is compiled by Mennonite Women USA staff Rhoda Keener, Laurie Oswald Robinson, Berni Kaufman, and Lois Loflin.

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.