Let Love Be
Prayer to the God of Love
by Peggy Martin
Adapted from I Corinthians 13

God of LOVE in this season of love,
 
Help my words, whether eloquent or stuttering, reflect your grace.
Let my sharing and knowledge be tempered with humility, 
   show Your character and not my own.
Help me to be grateful for the abundance I have because of unmerited privilege,
   to be compelled out of compassion to give sacrificially
   of my time, my resources and myself because  of love for You.
Let my Love be
   Patient and kind, never giving up, just as your love has never given up on me.
   Caring more for others than having my own way,
   Not being irritable or sensitive, holding on to offenses...minimizing "hurt";
   Taking pleasure in truth and the carrying out of Your justice
   Trusting you always and not my own understanding, that You will direct my paths.
Lord, in this season of sparkle, hearts, love letters and chocolate,
   make me aware of my own frailty, and revel in your matchless love for me!

 
Peggy Martin, La Junta, CO, is  a mother, grandmother, and ICU nurse. She is actively involved in the oldest Mennonite congregation in Colorado, East Holbrook  Mennonite Church. Peggy serves as Vice Chair of the Mennonite Women Board of Directors. The board will be meeting March 22-24 in Goshen, Indiana.        
Empowering Women

Mennonite Women USA and Dove's Nest are thrilled to announce the upcoming event Empowering Women: Claiming Healthy Personal Boundaries. This event will take place on July 26-27, 2018 at the Community Engagement Center at the University of Nebraska at Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska. This event is designed for girls ages 13-18 and adult women.

Registration for this event is now live!
Marlene Bogard announces retirement

Marlene Bogard, Mennonite Women USA executive director, has announced her retirement, effect July 31.  "I have loved connecting with women across the U.S. and promoting our vision of empowering and resourcing women," Bogard said. "The release of the book Circles of Sisterhood,  providing Sister Care for College Women at all Mennonite Church USA college campuses and celebrating 100 years of Mennonite Women ministries are highlights of my time in leadership."

Mennonite Women USA will be seeking a new executive director.


Sister Care in Cuba

Two years after Sister Care was first presented in Cuba, Carolyn Heggen, psychotherapist, and Rhoda Keener, Sister Care director for MW USA, returned to Havana, this time to bring the level 2 Enrichment training for women who had attended a previous seminar. Since 2015, the 28 women have taught over 600 others.  Keener and Heggen also traveled to Palmira in central Cuba  to teach Sister Care level 1 to an Anabaptist group of 36 Brethren in Christ women who had not participated in 2015. 

Click here to view photos from Sister Care Enrichment in Havana.

Click here to read "Sister care strengthens women leaders in Cuba" by Rhoda Keener


Winter Timbrel is arriving soon!

Our next issue of Timbrel is scheduled to arrive within the next week! Look in your mailbox for "Finding Sanctuary."  This issue is focused on immigration and sanctuary churches. Hear from immigrants, immigration writers, immigration lawyers and advocates in this issue.
Circles of Sisterhood

Our newest Timbrel column features women's congregational-based groups! Are you part of a women's group that meets for Bible study, book club, meals or service projects? We want to hear about your community! 

Please submit your stories and photos to katiem@mwusa.org
IWF recipient to be ordained

Carren Atieno Ouma, former International Women's Fund recipient, will be ordained on Sunday, February 18, 2018. Carren received support from IWF from 2015-2017 and participated in Sister Care in Kenya in 2016. Rhoda Keener, Sister Care director, interviewed Carren in 2016.

Upcoming retreats and seminars

In addition to our Empowering Women event with Dove's Nest, there are several upcoming women's retreats and seminars in Illinois, Nebraska and Pennsylvania!

MW USA seeks new executive director!

MW USA is seeking a new executive director. If you are interested in applying, click the link below to read the job description. Then, send your resume and three references to Kathy Bilderback.

Mennonite Women USA | office@mwusa.org | 316.281.4396  | mwusa.org
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