Pass It On. From the Moderator

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1 PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN OF MODERATOR Dana Bourne MISSION TREASURER Patricia McVetty OPERATING TREASURER Rosalie Loving PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN PURPOSE Forgiven and freed by God in Jesus Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves: -to nurture our faith through prayer and Bible study, -to support the mission of the church worldwide, -to work for justice and peace, and -to build an inclusive, caring community of women that strengthens the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and witnesses to the promise of God's kingdom. Pass It On Maumee Valley Presbytery Presbyterian Women News Dana Bourne Moderator (c) From the Moderator Hello Everyone, Well, I think that March came in like a lion, so maybe the weather will be lamby from here on. There are lots of things happening in Presbyterian Women 2 especially BIG ones for Presbyterian Women (read more below). Need a pick-me-up on a gloomy day? Pick up a Horizons magazine or go to and check out all the exciting things going on and coming up. The first BIG happening is our PW Spring Gathering on Saturday, April 27, at First Presbyterian Church in Bowling Green, OH. Sally Dyer from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Story Productions is coming to present their documentary Trigger The Ripple Effect of Gun Violence. This is one of the classes I attended at the Churchwide Gathering last August, and I will tell you that I came away from this class with a knot in my stomach that gave me a sense that God was urging me to some sort of action. I have only felt this knot one other time and that was a number of years ago when I sat at a MVP PW Spring Gathering and there was no one on the ballot for Moderator. Well, you know what happened next. See page 2 for the invitation/poster and page 3 for the RSVP slip. Due to the subject matter, this event is open to others who may want to come. They need not be there for the entire time. If they wish to come for just the program, the suggested time would be 10:15 a.m. noon. Of course they may join us for the entire time, also. The second Big event is the Synod of the Covenant PW Gathering July 11-13, in Columbus, OH. I am ready to go. It will be another great gathering. I have also attached the registration information with this PIO. These gatherings are also exhilarating, uplifting, and challenge you to think and take action. I hope to see you in Columbus. Our Search Committee is hard at work seeking Presbyterian Women who are willing to serve on our Coordinating Team. If you are interested or know someone who is, please contact Alyce Ann Schmidt ( ) or Gilliam Holzhauser-Graber ( ). Please consider serving a term or two. If we continue to allow (for lack of a better term) those who are currently serving to continue, we will all experience burn-out. You need not be afraid to step up as you will have an amazing support group to help you. Make sure to check out the rest of Pass It On for all of the wonderful news and happenings around you. Blessings in Christ, Dana Bourne MVP PW Moderator

2 Maumee Valley Presbytery Presbyterian Women Spring Gathering Presents SATURDAY, APRIL 27, AM FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, BOWLING GREEN, OHIO COST IS $8.00 FOR BREAKFAST SNACKS, LUNCH, AND MATERIALS RSVP BY APRIL 17, 2019 SEE REGISTRATION FORM FOR DETAILS. This was one of the classes that I attended at the Churchwide Gathering in 2018 and left with a sense of urgency and need for action. Dana Bourne, MVP PW Moderator I sincerely hope you will participate. Don t forget to bring your Least Coin and Healthy Women/Healthy Families (formerly Nickels for Nets) offerings. If you have never been to a gathering of Maumee Valley Presbytery Presbyterian Women we encourage you to join us. You will be glad you did. If you have questions, please call Dana Bourne, MVP PW Moderator, (please leave a message). The Trigger documentary, produced by Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, frames gun violence as a disaster and public health issue. It examines how one shooting impacts individuals, families and communities and gives voice to the questions and insights that arise. Go to for more information and to watch the video. A free will offering will be received for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Story Productions. Invite a friend, or two! Hope to see you there! First Presbyterian Church 126 South Church Street Bowling Green, OH 43402

3 Trigger the Ripple Effect of Gun Violence Maumee Valley Presbytery PW Spring Gathering Saturday, April 27, 2019 First Presbyterian Church 126 S Church St, Bowling Green, OH Name Address Phone Church Please make checks payable to BG Presbyterian Women, and mail with form to: Marilyn Long 1005 Gustin Bowling Green OH Registration 9:00am to 9:30am Worship & Program 9:35am to 2 pm I Will Be Staying For Lunch I Will Not Be Staying For Lunch Check For $8.00 Enclosed Registration with check needs to be received no later than Wednesday, April 17, Please make checks payable to BG Presbyterian Women. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Trigger the Ripple Effect of Gun Violence Maumee Valley Presbytery PW Spring Gathering Saturday, April 27, 2019 First Presbyterian Church 126 S Church St, Bowling Green, OH Name Address Phone Church Please make checks payable to BG Presbyterian Women, and mail with form to: Marilyn Long 1005 Gustin Bowling Green OH Registration 9:00am to 9:30am Worship & Program 9:35am to 2 pm I Will Be Staying For Lunch I Will Not Be Staying For Lunch Check For $8.00 Enclosed Registration with check needs to be received no later than Wednesday, April 17, Please make checks payable to BG Presbyterian Women.

4 Thank Offering Recipient I Wanted to share with you the great news that our mission at Firelands PC, Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, has received a $20,000 grant from PW's Thank Offering. I sent the application in September and we heard on Valentine's Day - what a gift for our children in Ottawa County without beds! Blessings, Ginny McCook As a mission to assist the rebuilding of Puerto Rico after the devastation of hurricane Maria, TIS is offering the opportunity to individually, or as a group, support our sisters in PR with financial contributions to be used for community buildings, water supply systems and home reconstruction. Secondly, a hands-on project is being offered for the children of PR - pillowcases specially decorated to be sent to children in need - PW Pillowcases! We are hoping for at least 100 by August This can be a family or individual project or something PWs can do with their churches. These pillowcases will demonstrate our love, concern and prayers for children who have suffered as a result of the hurricane. (See flyer). Please be reminded of our need for ongoing support of our Mission Pledge and how important it is for the work to be done: participation in events that develop and enhance PW leaders, continuing mission partnership with PC(USA), global and USA mission experiences/partners, hands-on projects, supporting solidarity ecumenically, peace and justice efforts and operating expenses. Let's all strive to celebrate the Pledge in our churches. Dedication services could be designed to include the women and men of the church to take a part in assisting the fundraising and help grow PW awareness and the vast reach of our mission work. Stay tuned for further updates on mission. Blessings, Ginny McCook We are searching and YOU just might be the one we are looking for!! All positions on the coordinating team are needing filled this Spring except the Secretary and The Together in Mission Vice- Moderator. The Moderator, Justice & Peace Vice-Moderator, Mission Treasurer, Operating Treasurer, and Spiritual Nurture Vice-Moderator, and Search Committee Members area all on carried over terms, some of them their second carryover. We would hope to have nominees to be elected and installed at our April 27 Spring Gathering. Please prayerfully consider what part you will play in the coming year of MVP PW and contact Alyce Ann Schmidt at or by at schmidt.20@osu.edu. Perhaps you have never attended a Spring or Fall Gathering of Maumee Valley Presbytery Presbyterian Women and have never been introduced to the special magazine available to Presbyterian Women (and others who subscribe). So you may ask Just what s in it for me? There is lots of good reading some that makes for deep thinking; some just for good information; some to want you to take action. It comes with feature articles and departments that appear with each issue. With each subscription you will receive the annual Bible Study and with each issue there will be further helps in presenting the Bible Study in your PW meetings. PW Leaders ADAPT Address challenges their organization faces; Determine core components essential to retain; Abolish what no longer gives life to the organization; Promote new structure, programs and practices; Thrive through innovation and systemic change. To learn more about adaptive leadership, go to

5 Add Peace to Your Own Life 20 Simple Ways Take an early morning walk Search out a long-lost friend Polish your shoes Tell someone you love him or her Appreciate trees Look at the stars Spend an afternoon with a child Turn off the TV and talk Listen to Yo-Yo Ma s recording of The Swan by Saint-Saens Send a card to someone for no reason Volunteer some time to a good cause Read a poem out loud Eat lunch in a park Pay someone a compliment Forget an old grudge Practice courage in one small way Enjoy silence Try a new herb tea Count your blessings you ll always find some Watch the sunset Source: The Hope Heart Institute submitted by Donna Hone March 2014 RIGHT NOW And suddenly it s March! It seems we just finished packing away the Christmas decorations and our wintery January and February have slipped past almost unnoticed. We ve moved from the joyous carols welcoming the Christ Child to the imposition of ashes as we enter the somber season of Lent and the contemplation of an impending cross. Now, as Spring approaches, we direct our thoughts to the incredible love of our God who sent his only begotten Son to us in full knowledge of the price to be paid to secure our salvation. The path to Easter was a long and arduous one for our Lord. Therefore, Sisters, let us reflect at this time upon our many blessings and let us seek to be blessings to one another. May we build upon the precious gifts of hope and peace that are ours through Jesus Christ. In His love, Cora Kerr Spiritual Development Justice and Peace Calendar (see presbyterianwomen.org/justice) March - Women s History Month 1 World Day of Prayer 3 Celebrate the Gifts of Women 8 International Women s Day 8 22 PW Together in Action for Women s Empowerment UN Commission on the Status of Women 22 World Water Day National Farmworker Awareness Week 25 Orange Day 29 A.7 Ten Days of Prayer and Thanksgiving for the Roma April - Sexual Assault Awareness Month 5 Compassion, Peace and Justice Training Day; pcusa.org 5 8 Ecumenical Advocacy Days; 7 World Health Day Self-development of People Sunday 8 International Roma Day 12 International Holocaust Remembrance Day 21 Easter 22 Earth Day 24 Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day 25 Orange Day 29 M.5 Children s Book Week; May 1 May Day 5 11 PW Together in Action Days for Children s Literacy 6 10 Teacher Appreciation Week 11 World Fair Trade Day 11 Stamp Out Hunger drive 12 Mother s Day 22 International Day for Biological Diversity 25 Orange Day 26 Disability Inclusion Sunday Troubling the Waters for the Healing of the World Compassion, Peace and Justice Training Day,

6 The PW/Horizons Bible Study Love Carved in Stone A Fresh Look at the Ten Commandments By Eugenia Anne Gamble with Suggestions for Leaders by Joyce MacKichan Walker What would it mean to consider the Ten Commandments not as a harsh list of what not to do but, instead, as a love letter from a loving God? A fresh embrace of the Ten Commandments (or Words), author Eugenia Gamble suggests, may ultimately contribute to the restoration of ourselves and our communities and the furthering of the gospel in the world. Moral behavior matters, not simply because immoral actions can anger or disappoint God, but because principled behavior is how love becomes real, both toward God and in community. Love Carved in Stone is a Bible study that helps us reframe the way we look at and live in the world. Why the Ten Words? The author notes that nowhere in the Hebrew text does the word for commandment appear. She says, In the Bible, these utterances are called just what they are: words I ve chosen to use the term Ten Words because it is the biblical form and opens us up to looking at the Ten Commandments in fresh ways. Each lesson begins with an exploration of one of the Ten Words in its biblical context. From there we consider a moment from Jesus life that shows us how he lived out that Word. We then consider the Word for our own lives and contexts. We conclude with an invitation to pray with the Word in our circles or study groups and in our personal devotions. DEVELOP LEADERS Your Current Maumee Valley Presbytery PW Coordinating Team Moderator Dana Bourne Mission Treasurer Patricia McVetty Operating Treasurer Rosalie Loving Secretary- Karen Gerber Spiritual Development Cora Kerr Vice-Moderator for Together in Mission Ginny McCook Vice-Moderator for Justice & Peace Donna Hone Search Committee Alyce Ann Schmidt and Gillian Holtzhauser-Graber As you can see the positions of Vice-Moderator and Historian are not present. Please consider stepping up. Presbyterian Women provides an atmosphere that promotes personal growth and develops women s gifts of responsible and visionary leadership. Empowered to serve PW, many women also go on to lead in their churches, communities and the denomination. For some of us, the title leader seems like a perfect fit; for others, it seems like an overly bold proclamation of skills. Yet, in reality, each of us is a leader in some way perhaps by delegating chores to family members, organizing the church rummage sale, monitoring a PW group s finances or meeting attendance, or coordinating a mission project.

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