Mennonite Women USA
A POSTCARD & A PRAYER
October 2014 
Noteworthy News

Autumn Greetings:   

 

As we enjoy the amazing colors of autumn, during October we are encouraged to be especially aware of social and health issues relevant to women.

 

October is Domestic Violence Prevention month.  Explore ways to speak out against domestic violence and to acquaint yourself with the reality that domestic violence happens -- regularly, frequently, and in your community.  Here is one of many links you can explore to learn more about domestic violence.

 

October is also SIDS, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.  From here you can learn about how to be responsive to someone whose infant died during pregnancy or early in her/his life. 

 

And October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women.  Read here for more information.

 

As you educate yourself,we also encourage you to enjoy the beauty of the season. 

 

Peace and blessings, 

 

Mennonite Women USA staff 

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An Autumn Prayer

by Jennifer Morales  

 

Creator God,

 

The autumn season and brilliant foliage remind us we live in a constantly changing world. Although change is a part of life, we acknowledge it is not easy.

 

We hold before you changes we are experiencing in our life, family, church, community, and world. As we live into this changing season, help us be present to change and the process of transformation.

 

In the dark of lengthening nights, we embrace and acknowledge those things unseen. We offer you our fear and feelings of sadness, disappointment and anger.

 

In the smoky scent of burning wood, we confess the change we create that harms others and the environment. Forgive our selfish choices, unchecked tongues and poor attitudes. Have mercy when we react in fear, or allow cynicism and idolatry to cause us to resist changes you want to make.

 

In the calls of migrating birds we remember where we have been and look toward where we are going. We hear your reassuring promise to never leave us or forsake us. We are filled with gratitude for life and choice and your presence in community.

 

In the crunchy juicy tang of a fresh apple, we taste and see that you, O Lord, are good. We praise you for what has been and what is to come.

 

In the bright orange pumpkins and colorful mum blossoms, we see hope, anticipation, joy, and freedom. We celebrate change and rejoice in transformation.

 

In the seemingly endless piles of leaves, and as we put our gardens to bed for the winter, we courageously offer ourselves to the work of change and transformation. We offer our resources and time. We get our hands dirty and embrace the unknown.

 

In each deep breath of crisp fall air may we be filled with energy to join the creative work of your Spirit as she hovers over the Earth, creating and recreating, breathing life, making all things new. For you, O God, are the Alpha, the Omega, and Lord of all changes in between. Amen.
 

Jennifer Morales follows Jesus in Souderton, PA, where she is a wife, mother of 3, neighbor, friend and Leadership Minister with Franconia Conference.  

SAVE...THE...DATE: Monday, November 24 
Shop at Ten Thousand Villages + GIVE to MW USA! 
Shopping Event
We are thrilled to announce a holiday shopping event on 11-24-2014 that is full of giving big and then giving BIGGER!

Select Ten Thousand Villages stores across the US (see list below) are hosting Community Shopping Events where a percentage of sales goes directly to the Mennonite Women USA General Fund.

The MW USA General Fund uses donations to:

Participating Ten Thousand Villages Store Locations & Times:
Hagerstown, MD 5:00-8:00pm
Cincinnati, OH 10:00am-6:00pm
Archbold, OH 5:00-8:00pm
Souderton, PA 4:00-8:00pm
Hutchinson, KS 3:00-6:00pm
Ephrata, PA 2:00-6:00pm
Harrisonburg, VA 12:00-4:00pm
Mishawaka, IN 5:00-8:00pm
Goshen, IN 3:00-6:00pm
Minneapolis, MN 5:00-8:00pm




NATIONAL HAPPENINGS
Illinois Conference 
Mennonite Women

 

 Illinois MW enjoyed a morning of "Honoring our Past, Inspiring our Future" on Saturday morning, October 11, at First Mennonite Church of Morton, IL. Almost 70 women met together to fellowship, worship, celebrate endings and new beginnings, to hear stories of women in action at numerous Illinois Conference MW groups, and to hear about the mission, vision and work of MW USA.  

 

Marian Egli (left) was recognized and thanked for 11 years of service as president of Illinois MW, and Joann Horsch (right) was recognized and thanked for three years of service as treasurer. Read more. 

INTERNATIONAL HAPPENINGS
Sister Care :: Trinidad
 

Sister Care co-presenters, Carolyn Heggen (left) and Rhoda Keener, will present these transformative materials to a gathering of women in Trinidad October 31 -- November 2.

 

Pray for their safety as they plan and prepare to do this important work.

 

Pray for their travel safety and uneventfulness.

 

Pray God is priming the women in Trinidad to be open to the life-giving work they'll experience through attendance at this upcoming Sister Care seminar.

 

Find out where Sister Care will be presented next.

 

Sister Care Seminar
Ontario, Canada

On October 3-4, 42 women from Mennonite Churches of Eastern Canada gathered at the Cambridge Hotel and Conference Center for a two-day Sister Care seminar led by Carolyn Heggen and Rhoda Keener.  Pictured left to right are participants Martha Smith Good, Emily Nighswander, and Anna Mary Brubacher.  At the close of the seminar, Emily initiated a new Sister Care follow-up idea by inviting women to become part of a private Facebook group.  Martha wrote an article about the seminar for the Canadian Mennonite.  

 

Rhoda Keener traveled to Ontario by driving from Pennsylvania to the seminar location.  On the way home, after taking Carolyn Heggen to the Kitchener airport for her flight to Oregon, Rhoda stopped for an early morning view of Niagara Falls, in all its splendor.

 

PREP (Preparing, Resourcing, Encouraging, and Praising): a gathering for Mennonite Women Conference leaders

Date: March 6-7, 2015 

Location: Bay Shore Mennonite Church, Sarasota, Florida

Theme: Sharing and Caring for Ourselves and Others

Make your reservation now and plan to attend.

Contact Berni for more information. 



Timbrel Highlights  

 
"When you almost die in childbirth, celebrating birthdays becomes a mixed bag of emotions. As my daughter recently turned four-all golden curls and chocolate-smeared face...I watched her with a mixture of delight and mourning. Delight because she is so completely here, and she is a marvel to watch. Mourning because her birth was nearly the death of both of us, and I am not sure I am up to the terror and joy of trying for another..." 
 

Read D.L. Mayfield's full article in the current Timbrel magazine. 

  

IWF Spotlight 
 
Olga Beatriz Lodono
Colombia.
 
Olga is an active part of her church in Christian Education and as a Sunday school teacher. 
 
"Olga Beatriz works with her husband on the pastoral team." 
 
"She is appreciated for her work as director of the worship team," reports Zara� Gonzal�a.
 
 
 
 
The Kitchen Table
Pam Risser,
from The Burning Bush
, Franklin Conference newsletter 

Hands have played an important role in my life. Without hands, accomplishing most tasks would be difficult. I am a "doer" and enjoy doing many things... I use my hands to hold the hand of a grandchild, to wipe a dirty face, to tussle the hair of a sweet little one or care for our daughter, Amanda.



 

 

by Rachel S. Gerber

"Being the mother of three boys is always interesting. I write this with a huge smile on my face and...heartburn. It is always a balancing act; how to have fun letting boys be boys without it getting too out of hand, because boys simply can not keep their hands off of one another; how to teach compassion; and let's not forget manners. Learning manners is second on my list, "I Will Die A Happy Mother If..." right after loving Jesus...


Elizabeth Goering
by Rhoda Keener

This article profiles two women who have named Mennonite Women USA in their estate planning. Each shared her story with Rhoda Keener and her reason for making this legacy gift.  Here are their stories. 


Elizabeth Goering, North Newton, Kansas, speaks prophetically to issues of our time. When I asked her to share with me about her life, she began with her personal mission statement: "Everything I say is based on my belief in a loving God as exemplified by Jesus who reached across human instigated divides and accepted all humans. He broke rules and turned things upside down." She smiled, "This gives me license to turn things upside down!"

 

I asked Elizabeth what she sees as primary issues for women in the church. Without hesitation, she responded, "I believe the Mennonite Church needs more women in leadership positions. Congregations must be aware of and acknowledge the woman's capabilities when pastoral team responsibilities are discerned." She added, "I also believe the church must accept the LGBTQ community. I dream that women will be the leaders in dealing with this issue."

 

:::::::

 

Flo Harnish

 

I first met Florence (Flo) Rheinheimer Harnish, who lives near Ephrata, Pennsylvania, in 2002, when she served as chairperson of Atlantic Coast Mennonite Women. Over the years she has often communicated to me her deep belief in the equality of all people.

 

In reflecting on naming MW USA as a portion of their estate giving, Flo said: "It's important to be 'real people' with our international sisters. Sister Care is helping that to happen now. I would hope it will continue with other similar ministries in the years to come."

 

When asked for a word of wisdom, she said: "Be a friend to everyone, to the point where you can't see the color of their skin, their nationality, or their gender."

 

::::::

 

Click to read the full interviews and learn more about the MW USA Legacy Circle.

 

Giving Made Easy

We have made giving to MW USA so much easier. Thanks to our new, secure online giving portal supporting our ministries has never been easier.

Give to the Mennonite Women USA:
  • Endowment Fund
  • Miriam Circle
  • Lydia Circle
  • Sister Care International
  • International Women's Fund
  • General Fund
 

2014 Sister Care seminars:

  • Trinidad :: October 31-November 2
2015 Sister Care seminars
  • Curitiba, Brazil :: January 14-16
  • Sarasota - PREP - Sister Care leadership training :: March 6-7
  • Goshen College pilot for college women :: March 20-21
  • Iowa :: April 17-18
  • Chicago area :: May 15-16
  • Mennonite Church USA Kansas City convention workshops :: Early July
    • Sister Care: Level II
    • Sister Care: DVD resource
  • Mennonite World Conference workshops :: Late July
    • Sister Care: Global Contextualization and Testimonials
    • Explore Sister Care International 
  • Goshen College pilot for college women :: October
  • Lancaster, Pennsylvania - Compassionate Care for pastoral care leaders :: October 23
    • sponsored by Atlantic Coast Conference
2016 Sister Care seminars
  • Kenya :: Winter 2016 
From The Mennonite  Janeen
I refused to say 'I'm busy'   
by Janeen Bertsche Johnson  

 

There is a word that only appears six times in the Bible which most of us use six or more times a day: the word "busy."

 

"Too busy" is the most common complaint of our culture. Most of us feel we have too much to do in too little time, and we lament this to each other. ...


 Read more.   
Memorial gifts

  

Mennonite Women USA invites persons to share financially to support this ministry. Individuals are invited to give in honor of, or in remembrance of, significant people in their lives. We recognize that each gift honors or remembers a relationship.

 

Gifts given by:

 

Lois Good in memory of Mary Jane Zimmerman Kopp.


Peggy Martin in honor of Berniece Nafziger.

 
 

The end of daylight savings time is almost here.  As we adjust our clocks and "fall back" in time, let us not fall back physically or emotionally, but continue to look forward to the joys of each day, no matter what the weather is, or the temperatures outside. 

 

May your find energy, encouragement, and enlightenment for each new day.

 

Berni, Claire, Ruth, Rhoda, Lois 

 

Mennonite Women USA
718 N. Main Street // Newton, KS 67114 // 316-281-4396

Copyright � 2013. All Rights Reserved.
Mennonite Women USA is a constituency group of Mennonite Church USA.