 A Postcard and a Prayer |
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| Mennonite Women USA |
June 2008 |
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"People come into our lives - some for a short time and others stay a bit longer. Whatever that time is, our lives are touched and we are never quite the same; they help us become who we are today. This has been true of Evie Hertzler. Her gifts to Mennonite Women USA have been valuable. Most of all I value her friendship, and the lessons she taught us of 'grace.'" -Rebecca Sommers, Mennonite Women USA board president "When an athlete succeeds in their sport, they feel great joy and those who are watching feel great joy. Evie, in grace and style, fought the good fight and kept the faith. It is as though we are witnessing Evie receiving the crown of righteousness." 
-Pastor Mark Keller, Harrisonburg Mennonite Church, Virginia, at Evie Hertzler's memorial service June 8, 2008. |
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Remembering Evie Hertzler
 Evie Hertzler, Mennonite Women USA board member, died on June 3 after a yearlong struggle with ALS (Lou Gerig's) disease. She served on the MW USA board as East Coast representative from 2004-2008. Evie participated in the March 28-29, 2008 board meeting in Goshen, Indiana, continuing to provide counsel for MW USA in thinking through new ministry options. Prior to moving to Harrisonburg, Virginia, ten years ago, Evie and Don lived in West Liberty, Ohio where Evie served as chair of Ohio Mennonite Women.
Evie wrote her journey about facing a diagnosis of ALS. This will be shared in timbrel's September-October issue. We remember Evie for her courage and tenacity, her gifts in organization and vision-setting, her commitment to the church, and her love of family.
Thank you, Evie, for sharing yourself and your gifts with us. We'll miss you. - Mennonite Women USA |
 2008 Bible study guide available in July
Note to Mennonite Women leaders of supporting groups and churches: We anticipate mailing your complimentary copy of Your Treasure, Your Heart: Women and the Stewardship of Money to you by the end of June/early July. This is several weeks later than anticipated. Do know we have not forgotten, and we'll mail the study guides as soon as they're available. Those wishing to order the guide should contact Faith & Life publishing at 800-245-7894.
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| Coming in timbrel - Caring for God's creation
In the July-August timbrel you can learn what many Mennonite women across the continent are doing to care for God's creation. Whether it is hanging wash out to dry, changing their eating habits, recycling, finding new ways to generate energy or build their homes, Mennonite women are rethinking their lifestyle choices as they seek to lower their carbon footprint and determine what caring for God's creation means in their lives today. This issue not only includes interesting stories of women's life choices, but also contains a number of resources to help you continue the conversation with women together with God.
 Nekeisha Alexix-Baker holds fresh strawberries picked from the strawberry patch in the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary community garden, Elkhart, Ind. Produce from this garden is used in the seminary kitchen and donated to Church Community Services, a non-profit organization providing food to those in the area who need it.
Photo by Bethany Keener
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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How we care for creation
Many of you responded to our Sister question in last month's timbrel.
Share a small, practical action that you/your family do to care for God's creation. Be specific!
We received many more responses than will fit in our July-August issue. So we'll share some here and more next month in Postcard & Prayer.
It was amazing to see how creative Mennonite women are when it comes to saving resources!
- Several women shared how they have begun to say, "No, thank you," to having small purchases placed in plastic shopping bags, or have begun to take reusable bags with them to shop. -Norma Stauffer, Leola, Pa., Marlene Suter, Tinely Park, Ill., and Linda Tyson, Brownstown, Pa.
A number of women shared how their decisions to purchase water- and energy- efficient appliances or geo-thermal home heating and cooling systems helped them care for God's creation. Other women shared how careful use of bio-degradable laundry and cleaning products or careful use of appliances--such as never using the oven, dishwasher, or washing machine unless it is full--can save resources.-Sarah Lashly, Chicago, Ill., Gloria L. Lehman, Singers Glen, Va., and Erma Wenger, Lancaster, Pa.
As Evie Hershey, Atglen, Pa. recommended, "Recycle, reuse, renew!!!" many women are recycling in their local communities to cut down on trash and to conserve resources. Some women recycle all their plastics, others wash out and reuse plastic zip lock bags, while still others shop mainly at thrift stores and garage sales as a way to recycle classic clothing styles or household items. Others simply reuse what they have, such as a reusing a travel coffee mug to avoid using a disposable one, or reusing computer paper that has been printed on one side. -Sarah Lashly, Chicago, Ill., Gloria L. Lehman, Singers Glen, Va., Carla Stucky, Moundridge, Kan., Erma Wenger, Lancaster, Pa., Annette Bontrager Good, Goshen, Ind., and Mary Harder, Minneapolis, Minn.
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Lancaster to allow women's ordination
Mennonite Weekly Review, June 2, 2008 - For the first time, Lancaster Mennonite Conference congregations may request ordination for women pastors. On May 16 the Board of Bishops implemented a new credentialing policy they first proposed in 2006 - that the conference license and ordain pastors regardless of gender. On January 2007 that recommendation narrowly missed the two-thirds approval required. The bishops' decision brings Mennonite Church USA's largest conference closer to the denominations' ministerial guidelines which call for gender equality in ministry. However, Lancaster's new policy will continue to allow only men to be bishops or leaders with similar conference oversight.
Janeen Bertsche Johnson, campus pastor at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Ind., noted: "I am very grateful that the bishops have continued to work for a way through this difficult issue. I hope people will continue to pray for Lancaster Conference and its leadership." Read the complete article by Celeste Kennel-Shank.
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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. |
| Prayer for the Journey
By Patricia Burdette, Butler, Ohio
- excerpted from Your Treasure, Your Heart: Women and the Stewardship of Money (MW USA and Canadian Women in Mission Bible study guide published by Faith & Life, available July 1, 2008).
God to whom we entrust ourselves, we bring our prayers to you as acts of love for you and for our neighbors
In your mercy, Lord, hear our prayer.
You are a light for our life.
We pray for ourselves and those dear to us.
We entrust ourselves to you.
Lord, hear our prayer.
You surprise us with your generosity.
We pray for our community and for our neighbors.
We entrust ourselves to you.
Lord, hear our prayer.
You are the joy of your people.
We pray for the church in all places,
that we may know the freedom of life in the spirit.
We entrust ourselves to you Lord, hear our prayer.
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A Postcard & a Prayer is compiled by Mennonite Women USA staff Rhoda Keener, Patricia Burdette, 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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