 A Postcard and a Prayer |
|
| Mennonite Women USA |
October 2008 |
|
|
|
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
"Family violence is the proverbial elephant in the living room around which we stumble, but largely refuse to acknowledge. Too often, the cries of the victims are heard only by God. It's time for us to change that.
"In counseling families I often work with the image of a tree, and this is how I've chosen to organize the book.  [Examining the Leaves, Branches that Connect, Nutrients in the Trunk, and Exposing the Roots.]" -Elizabeth Soto Albrecht in Family Violence (2008), Introduction. |
|
| Coming in timbrel
Don't miss the November-December issue of timbrel: women in conversation together with God which focuses on how we celebrate traditions by working to keep the focus on that which is truly important to us as Mennonite women. For this issue, editor, Patty Burdette, asked Sara Wenger Shenk, Associate Dean and Associate  Professor of Christian Practices at Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Harrisonburg, Virginia to revisit her book Why Not Celebrate! now that her children are no longer small but young adults. Sara is pictured left celebrating Grandma's 85th birthday with family members.
Maria De Leon, chair of MCC Central States Board, writes about the ways South Texas Mexican-Americans celebrate various holidays incorporating the Mexican culture, American culture, and Christianity with the values they hold dear. Joyce Suter, a nurse from Pandora, Ohio, writes about the ways we can de-stress our intense holiday activities.
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.
|
God-focused Holidays
The sister question asked in the September-October issue of timbrel, What tradition helps keep your family focused on God during the holidays?, generated several interesting responses.
Mary Hess of Homestead, Florida writes: "Several years ago my husband gave me a beautiful nativity set for Christmas. I was trying to decide where to display it when our teenage daughter suggested placing it in the center of the dining room table. Then she replied, 'After all, mom, isn't that what Christmas is all about? It's Jesus being the center of things and the reason we celebrate.' So every year the nativity scene is placed in the center of the table as a reminder to all of us to keep Jesus the center of our Christmas celebrations."
|
New Resource on Family Violence
In her book Family Violence (2008), Elizabeth Soto Albrecht  demonstrates how a theology of nonviolence rooted in the Anabaptist tradition can be effective in overcoming family violence in Christian homes. She analyzes the nature of violence and the many cultural, societal, and economic factors that lead to violence, particularly the patriarchal structure that undergirds families, our economic and political structures, and our churches.
You can order by going to: Orbis Books, and click Ordering Information which will give you information how to order online or by mail.
|
Abuse: Response and Prevention
A new booklet on abuse, developed as a guide for church leaders, is available through Mennonite Central Committee. Written in lay language, this 32 page booklet gives clear information on such areas as: defining abuse, biblical and theological reflections on abuse, responding to a disclosure of abuse, safety and support issues, legal issues, and how the church can be proactive in abuse prevention.
The booklet is a companion to MCC's brochure, Home Shouldn't be a Place that Hurts, available free of charge from Mennonite Central Committee offices, developed by MCC Women's Advocacy. For more information on these two resources, go to: MCC.
|
| Women theologians travel fund to Paraguay
Latin American and African women theologians plan to meet together and offer workshops for all in Paraguay at Mennonite World Conference (MWC) assembly in July 2009. Travel funds are needed to bring these women to Paraguay. A PowerPoint presentation about the women theologians is now on the MWC website in both English and Spanish.
Click here for English. Espaņol.
Gifts can be sent to Mennonite World Conference, 2529 Willow Ave., Clovis, CA 93612 (designated for women theologians travel fund). For more information you may contact Edie Tschetter by e-mail.
Pictured here are African and Latin American women theologians gather to pray with one another at the MWC Assembly in Zimbabwe in 2003. Photo by Laurie Oswald Robinson.
|
Virginia MW retreat in Richmond
 With the theme "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus," 125 women gathered at the Holiday Inn in Richmond, Sept. 25-27. Speaker, Martha Karam (pictured left with retreat moderator Angie Williams) said, "In preparing for this retreat I came to the realization that one never goes wrong if we just talk about Jesus."
Martha is a psychologist from Williamsburg, Va. The Holiday Inn fall week-end retreat is a much anticipated, time-honored tradition for Virginia Mennonite women. Photo by Rhoda Keener.
|
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. |
|
Pie Pantry group welcomes all
On a recent trip to Goshen, Indiana, Rhoda Keener happened to meet a group of women at the Pie Pantry on College Avenue. This "Pie Pantry group" meets each Wednesday afternoon at 2 p.m. and they welcome all. "Whoever can make it," they said. "The invitation is open." So if you're in Goshen, Indiana on a Wednesday at 2, feel free to join their table.
Seated left to right are Mary Ellen Myer, Mim Meyer, Genny Leichy, Naomi Lederach, and Pauline Fisher. |
A Prayer for Domestic Peace
By Elizabeth Soto Albrecht, Lancaster, Pa.
Christ-Sofia empower us to speak-up
Breaking the silence that keeps many suffering
Walking with those who are claiming their healing.
We hold in our being many stories of women that have lost their life because of Domestic Violence children that never spoke to us but we felt their truth burning, men's suicide events related with Domestic Violence.
We confess our weakness and fear in dealing with this social and religious violence; yet we crave your Spirit to breath within us the courage to give birth for a new path of nonviolence in confronting this Domestic Evil.
Mother-Father God create new ideas inside that moves us to action
Remove the violence that is still embedded in us
And make us an instrument of your true Peace.
| |
|
A Postcard & a Prayer is compiled by Mennonite Women USA staff Rhoda Keener, Patricia Burdette, 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. | |
|
