 A Postcard and a Prayer | |
| Mennonite Women USA |
March 2010
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Responses
to request for prayer for women in the Congo 
"Thank
you for this information of women in Congo. I will pray for them for
safety and God's protection and blessings over them." "Thank you for forwarding this postcard and
prayer. I'll join in prayer for these sisters in Christ in the Congo." "Thank you for keeping
us informed."
A number of
women reported wearing black on International Women's Day.
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Update from Congo request for prayer
 Update on
Congo request for prayer
from Suzanne Lind, MCC representative to Congo (pictured left with
Marie-Jose, a sub-mayor of Bakavu): The three women who survived the February attack are recovering
slowly.
International Women's Day was
celebrated as individual women discerned; some wore beautiful bright clothing
and others, black, a sign of mourning for all the women who continue to suffer
because of conflict and exploitation.
The
protestant women in Bukavu, located in eastern Congo
on the border of Rwanda,
have decided to have an event on March 13, when they will wear
black and walk quietly through the streets of Bukavu.They will end at the main cathedral for an
inter-faith worship service (Protestant, Catholic, Muslim, Kimbanguist,
Independent churches).
Mennonite
Women USA invites you again to wear black on Saturday, March 13, and, if you
feel led, to walk through the streets of your towns and cities praying for
peace, in solidarity with your sisters in Congo. Suzanne writes: "The
march organizers are quite overwhelmed that American women are so aware of and
participating with them. Thank you!"
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Monica Parada survives Chile earthquake
 Mónica Parada, a past recipient of Mennonite Women USA's International
Women's Fund, and her husband Carlos Gallardo, who together pastor the Puerta
del Rebaño congregation in Concepción, survived the earthquake in Chile. See article on Mennonite Mission Network's
collaboration with earthquake relief efforts in Chile. Read more.
Monica
studied for a bachelor's degree in theology from 2005-2008.
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Loneliness in Community
 Reaching
out to connect with others is the way we build community and combat loneliness.
Sometimes this requires us to listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and
act on that prompting. Sometimes it means treating another person the way we
wish to be treated. It can often require us to move out of our comfort zone,
take a risk, or accept someone who has different values from our own. It nearly
always means looking for common ground with another human being, which may
sound easy, but often is not. Accepting someone without judgment who has values
different from our own can stretch us, but it always means building a
connection that strengthens community and dispels loneliness.
The March/April issue of timbrel focuses on Loneliness in Community. In this issue, Associated Mennonite Biblical
Seminary student, Brittany McGraw writes about her need to overcome her fears
and reach out to others when she has experienced loneliness in community, while
pastor, Meghan Good, writes about others reaching out to her.
Flo Harnish (pictured left) writes about the things that can
cause loneliness, and the things that can dispel loneliness for her. Kirsten
Klassen writes about the importance of acceptance and non-judgmental attitudes
as part of overcoming loneliness and building community.
If
there is a woman you would like to reach out to, consider buying her a gift
subscription to timbrel. To purchase a gift subscription, go to our website.
In preparation
for the May/June issue of timbrel, which will focus on Honoring our Mothers, consider:
What have you done to honor your mother, or how have your children honored you?
Send responses to Patty by April 1. To subscribe to timbrel, send $15 for one year or $13 per person for a group of 10 or more to Mennonite Women USA, 722 N Main St., 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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Still time to register for Women in Conversation 2010
 Women in Conversation retreats are just a few weeks
away! Join keynote speaker, Megan Ramer, in exploring "Living a Life of Gratitude." Register now.
April
9-11, 2010 at Laurelville Mennonite Church
Center, Mt. Pleasant, Pa.
April
30-May 2, 2010 at Crosswind Conference Center,
Hesston, Kan.
 All women are invited for these biennial retreats
designed especially for women and include workshops, worship, pampering and
fellowship! Worship leaders at Laurelville are Jen Helmuth Shenk and Kristin Graber Kauffman and
at Crosswind, Treva Greaser.
Women in Conversation retreats are co-sponsored by
Mennonite Women USA and Laurelville.
Questions? Call or e-mail Berni at 316-281-4396.
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Audit on women in leadership
In response to Mennonite Women USA's strategic
visioning a year ago, Mennonite Church
USA called for
the creation of the Women in Leadership audit.
 Joanna Shenk (pictured) writes in the March 2010 issue
of The Mennonite: "What the findings
reveal is a complex picture of change...Although the number of women has
increased on boards of directors, there has not been a similar increase in the
organizational leadership positions of directors and presidents...In January the
committee interviewed women who declined leadership positions in order to find
out why they said no..." Read more.
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Teaching children peace - a call for submissions
A
peace anthology tentatively titled The Cheese Gun
and Other Misfires: Mothers on Peace, Justice, Stewardship and More
is being developed by Melanie Mock and Rebekah Schneiter.
Melanie writes: "I'm collecting stories by mothers in the
peace church tradition about how they have parented toward peace church values,
like pacifism, simplicity, egalitarianism, etc. Because I am a Mennonite...and my
connections are mostly among Quakers, I'm hoping you might pass this call for
submissions along to any women you know..."
Deadline: June 1, 2010. For more information contact: Melanie Mock
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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. We
recognize that each gift honors or remembers a relationship.
Gifts
given by:
Mountain View Mennonite Women (Kalispell) in
memory of
Sadie Kauffman.
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Give to Mennonite Women USA
 Your
gifts make Mennonite Women USA's ministry possible. You can contribute to Mennonite Women through online giving. Or send a gift by regular mail to: Mennonite
Women USA, 722 N. Main St.,
Newton, KS 67114. Gifts are tax deductible. You can also make a pledge on our website.
Every gift make a difference. Thank you for your support.
| A Prayer for the Journey
Strength for Leadership
-by Patty Burdette, a prayer from Mennonite Women USA
for Ervin Stutzman sent for the installation service,
March 7.
God of
all kindness and mercy,
Bless
Ervin as he takes this new road in serving your church.
Fill him
with your gentleness and loving ways, and help him to see others as you see
them.
Grant him
the humility to seek your wisdom in all things and the courage to follow where
you lead and direct him.
Help him
to be attentive to your holy spirit now and always as he seeks to lead your
church in a good and healthy way.
Create in
him a fire for inclusiveness for all your children, and give him strength to
articulate this call.
Empower
him to empower others as he serves with kindness and respect for all in your
church.
Bless him
with a full measure of wisdom and peace to sustain him. Amen
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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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