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Hurry Up and Wait
Hurry... take a vacation before summer ends!
Wait... bask in a summer slowdown.
Hurry... water trees before leaves brown and float
to earth.
Wait...The crunching has already begun.
Hurry...it's back to school. Shop till you drop.
Wait...purchase some supplies to share.
Hurry...eat lots of fresh produce.
Wait...freeze, dry, can for winter use.
Hurry...rush to church, go to meetings.
Wait...wait, wait.....
God is waiting for you to be, just be.
Taking time to breathe...
Mennonite Women USA staff
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Safe 
by Jeanette Harder
God, I pray for a safe world. One where I can live without fear of harm. At the same time... Push me beyond safety to experiences
that confound me. For it is in tears that I grow. And it is in taking a risk that I become more
self-aware, more reliant on You. Push me beyond safety to stand up for a child or friend at risk of harm. For it is in standing up that I find my own footing. And it is in taking a risk that I experience
the strength of God flowing through me. Safety comes in many forms. May I be kept safe from harm while not safe from that which
helps me to grow or protect others.
Jeanette Harder, PhD, serves as chair of Dove's Nest, whose mission is to empower and equip faith communities to keep children and youth safe in their homes, churches, and communities. Jeanette is a professor at the Grace Abbott School of Social Work at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She and her family are members of First Mennonite Church in Lincoln, Nebraska.
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Talk-About: Safety 
* Pray the above prayer, alone or with a friend.
* What is a safe space for you?
* What risks are you willing to take to help keep a child
safe?
* In what ways do you grow as you stand up for others?
* How are you reliant on God for strength?
Watch for an upcoming conversation on Facebook and join in!
Part of our mission at Mennonite Women USA is to empower women and women's groups - so Talk-About it and go for it!
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Could Spark be the answer to all your questions?
Can you help me find a Bible study for our Women's group?
- I want to do some personal reflection on spirituality and creativity...what can I use?
- Is there a short study that our small group could use that could be spread out over a whole year?
- Our friendship group is seeking something to start meaningful conversation that is Anabaptist.
- Know anything not too expensive, but high-quality?
- We need a resource that would work with young adult women or older ladies.
Spark: igniting your God-Given Creativity by April Yamsaki is sponsored by Mennonite Women USA and Mennonite Women Canada. Order Spark here.
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NATIONAL HAPPENINGS
Sister Care goes to new levels
A Sister Care: Level 2 "Going Deeper" retreat will be offered for the first time this fall. The retreat will be held October 2-4 at Camp Hebron located 20 miles north of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Register by August 31 for early registration discount.
Carolyn Heggen and Rhoda Keener will introduce new material building on the core concepts from the original Sister Care seminar. The retreat will provide time for individual reflection, conversation, and guided activities in a beautiful setting.
Contact Helen Miller, Lancaster, to register.
PDF download of the brochure and registration.
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INTERNATIONAL HAPPENINGS
Sister Care Workshop
at Mennonite World Conference
Olga Piedrasanta (Guatemala, pictured above), Ofelia Garcia (Mexico), Carolyn Heggen, and Rhoda Keener led an MWC workshop titled: Sister Care: Global Contextualization and Testimonials. A highlight of the workshop was sharing copies of Ofelia's adaptation of the Sister Care material for children: "Caring for Each other with Love" translated into English by Milka Rindzinski (Uruguay).
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H A I R
Long.
Short.
Curly.
Straight.
Weave.
Shorn.
Permed.
Wig.
Bobbed.
None.
Covered.
Wedge.
Natural.
Dyed.
The Fall 2015 issue of Timbrel is all about hair.
Have a cut regret story? Ever dip-dyed your hair or had ombre done? Looking to change your style?
Send your hair stories (and pics!) to the editor, Claire DeBerg:
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IWF Spotlight
"I have a vision to develop an Indian Sunday School Curriculum as this area is neglected in India and very few agencies work towards spiritual growth of children. Thus with my understanding of both theological perspective and work experience with Children, I would like to develop a curriculum, that is well balanced and Holistic in its approach, as well as creative and attractive, and incorporates all aspects of teaching and learning process so that learning is effective."
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Kitchen Table
Guest writer:
Mariah Martin
On a cross-cultural experience this semester, I rode a camel through the Negev desert. I hiked the Jesus Trail. I saw Petra, the Roman Coliseum, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. I got a piercing in Istanbul, and ate a gyro in Athens.
But the incredible sights are not what I wrestle to hold as I surf my newsfeed or hear prayer requests in church.
I wrestle with empathy. Empathy is good, right?
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Claire DeBerg, Communications Manager
"Convention 2015 was truly amazing for Mennonite Women USA. If you were there, thank you for visiting with us at our booth, in our seminars and at our gatherings. If you weren't there, thank you for your support and prayers over us during this important event.
Here's a fun recap of how we were involved:
BOOTH
We had a polkadot theme this year as a kick-off to our mega polkadot theme for our 100-year anniversary being celebrated at the 2017 convention in Orlando. With visitors and friends wearing polkadots we had a lot of fun! (PS: I only wore polkadots so I was always easy to "spot.")..." Read more.
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This is Volume 2 of the Illinois Mennonite Women Quarterly Newsletter 'Sowing Sisterhood.' It was created and designed by Kim Litwiller and Shannon Unzicker.
Kim is the Associate Conference Minister for Illinois Mennonite Conference and the Co-Coordinator for Illinois Mennonite Women. Shannon is the Great Lakes representative to the board of Mennonite Women USA.
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History Project Update
by Anita Hooley Yoder
In the next few issues of Postcard and a Prayer, I will include a quote from one of the women I have interviewed in preparation for the writing of the Centennial book.
"One of the most exciting things was when we at WMSC (Women's Missionary and Service Commission), decided to have an emphasis on a type of spiritual growth through silent retreat, writing in our journals, that type of thing. . . . To this day I still do some teaching that feeds back into that. I tell people that this has been the single source of the most spiritual growth in my life."
-Angie Williams, Harrisonburg, VA.
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 The Sister Care seminar is now available for purchase on DVD with 12 sessions for small groups, retreats, or Sunday school classes. An easy to use 40-page facilitator's guide written by Rhoda Keener and Carolyn Heggen accompanies the DVD.
Each DVD session taught by Carolyn or Rhoda averages 12-15 minutes in length with total viewing time of 166 minutes. The facilitator's guide offers suggested scripture, songs, and additional questions and activities for participants.
Each participant will need a Sister Care: Equipping Women for Caring Ministry manual.
Shop all our Sister Care resources available on our NEW online shop!
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2015 Sister Care seminars
- Sister Care: Level 2 "Going Deeper" :: Camp Hebron, Halifax, Pennsylvania :: October 2-4
- Goshen College pilot for college women :: October 9-10
- Atlantic Coast Conference, Pennsylvania :: Compassionate Care for pastoral care leaders and teams :: October 23
- Cuba :: November
2016 Sister Care seminars
- Newton/Hesston, Kansas :: January 29-30
- Kenya :: April
- Winnipeg, Manitoba :: May 13-14
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From The Mennonite 
by Meghan Ramer
A few years ago, I answered a knock early on a Saturday morning to find a family of three at my apartment door. The husband was dressed in a severe-looking, high-collared suit. His wife stood to his left and a half-step behind, with eyes cast toward the ground. A little girl hid behind her mother's floor-length skirt, her hair pulled back in a tight bun exactly like her mother's. The man introduced himself as a local pastor.
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Gifts to honor and remember
Mennonite Women USA invites persons to share financially to support this ministry. Individuals are invited to give in honor of, or in memory of, significant people in their lives. We recognize that each gift honors or remembers a relationship.
Gifts given by:
Sue Byler in memory of Mildred Miller.
Gifts given by:
Barbra Gant in honor of Phyllis Baumgartner.
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Give to Mennonite Women USA
Giving to MW USA online is so easy! Give today...transform tomorrow...
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A Blessing for You
May you be blessed with open space and an open mind.
May you take care of yourself with cold drinks, fresh fruit and
supportive friends.
May you take time to seek Jesus in the scriptures and
in your community of faith.
May God, who is in all your "Hurrys and Waits"* be always in your mind and
in your heart.
- Marlene Bogard
*see opening comments of Postcard and a Prayer!
718 N. Main Street // Newton, KS 67114 // 316-281-4396
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Copyright � 2015. All Rights Reserved.
Mennonite Women USA is a constituency group of Mennonite Church USA.
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