 A Postcard and a Prayer | |
| Mennonite Women USA | May 2010
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 A journaling and prayer exercise to reflect on gratitude at the end of the day - ask yourself these three questions:
What surprised
me
today? What moved me
or
touched me today? What inspired
me today?
-from Rachel Naomi Remen's book of essays, My Grandfather's Blessings shared by Megan Ramer at Women in Conversation: Living a Life of
Gratitude retreats
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Three windows, three women In our
May/June issue of timbrel on Honoring
Our Mothers, three women share about their mothers:
 "I am the
oldest daughter of an oldest daughter. Ever since I was little, I have prided
myself on being a part of a line of independent, intelligent women. I was 10
when my mom experienced a clear call to pastoral ministry..." - Hannah Heinzekehr,
25, Claremont, California
"How many
times have you heard a woman say, 'I'm not going to be like my mother'? ...I have
a unique situation, in that my mother lives next door to me, but in the same
house. I count this as a rich blessing..."
- Carol Conrad, 41, New Carlisle, Ohio
"I've often said that I learned all my best
stuff from my mom. Maybe imitation really is the sincerest form of flattery. If
so, I'm still flattering my mom. Mom worked full-time when most moms stayed
home..." - Bev Regier, 53, Newton,
Kansas
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. 34396. We'll start your
subscription and send you a bill.
In
preparation for the July/August issue of timbrel, which will focus on
Human Trafficking,
consider:
In
what way does
"modern day slavery" intersect with
my life?
Send responses to Patty by June 1.
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Women in Conversation retreat meditations available online
If you missed this year's Women in Conversation retreats, or if
you want to revisit something you heard during these weekends (or maybe you
hoped to share a lesson you learned with a friend), all four of Megan Ramer's
meditations on Living a Life of Gratitude
are available. You'll also find two hymns recorded at
Laurelville and in Hesston and a workshop excerpt on Laughter as a Spiritual
Discipline.
 View pictures from both Women
in Conversation weekends on our website, Facebook or Flickr. Enjoy revisiting some of the special moments of your Women in Conversation experience. 
These wonderful weekends will happen again in spring
2012! Women in Conversation retreats
are co-sponsored by Mennonite Women USA and Laurelville Mennonite Church Center. |
 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:
Anna Ruth Beck in
memory of Ella May Miller. Erma Horning in
memory of Lena Bashore. Lois Loflin in memory of Martha
Peters. Gifts
given by:
Carolyn Holderread
Heggen in honor of Rachel
Schiffler Holderread. Esther Bixler
Heatwole in honor of Sylvia Jantz. Rhoda Keener in honor or Cecelia Metzler.
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Give to Mennonite Women USA
 Your
gifts make Mennonite Women USA's ministry possible.
Contribute on-line Make a pledge on our website.
Or mail it to the office at Mennonite
Women USA,
722 N. Main St., Newton, KS 67114-1819.
Please
consider this ministry in your giving. Gifts are tax deductible.
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The Kitchen TableMay 2010 by Lorraine
Eby Franklin Conference Sister Care Coordinator
"I stopped
at the display of Mother's Day cards and almost reached out to choose one when
I realized I have no need to
buy a Mother's Day card this year. My mother, Elizabeth Martin at the age of 96,
passed from this life on January 29.
"As
we emptied the drawers and closet in her room at Menno Haven, we carefully
looked through the few earthly possessions she kept and chuckled at some of the
"treasures" we found..." Read more.
Used by permission of the Burning Bush, Franklin Conference newsletter.
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Sister Care introduces new manual
"Our
stories are an integral part of our caring for others. When we, like the woman
at the well, meet Jesus, our stories - including our losses - can be
transformed," shared facilitators Ruth Lapp Guengerich and Rhoda Keener at the May 14-15 Sister Care held
in Kidron, Ohio. The event introduced a newly rewritten manual by Carolyn Holderread Heggen, Rhoda and Ruth.
 The Sister
Care manual provides resources for groups and individuals to further
explore caring for self and others within the congregation. Fall Sister Care seminars are planned for Idaho, Oregon,
Washington/Montana, and Iowa.
For more information contact the office or go to the website.
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"Cookies for Nicholas"
 By Kate
Sherer Stoltzfus
printed in The Mennonite, May 2010
"To learn
the story of my brother, I had to retrace many steps. For me, it's like the
past was erased, a page torn from the book of my life before I got a chance to
read it. I was a drooling 6-month-old when my twin brother Nicholas passed away
from SIDS ..." Read more.
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A Prayer for the Journey
By Edna Krueger Dyck, Newton, Kansas
Praise
to you, God
for bright blue sky and wispy white clouds
for blooming bushes and fragrant flowers
for gentle rains and tumultuous torrents
for soft breezes and howling wind
for nesting birds and fuzzy caterpillars
Praise God for life
Praise to you, God
for
the empty tomb
for
the "He is not here" message
for
the "Peace be with you" promise
for
the Spirit's guiding presence
Praise God for abundant life
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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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