The Sower. Newsletter for the Presbyterian Women in the Synod of Lakes & Prairies

Transcription

1 The Sower Newsletter for the Presbyterian Women November 2017 in the Synod of Lakes & Prairies Editor: Linda Barnett Dear Women of the Church, I would like to encourage you to spend some time in thought before you move through the informative pages of The Sower today. Find a comfortable location where you won t be distracted. Maybe you feel comfortable sitting; or walking is more suitable for you. Take the time to meet with God. Get where God is and ask, Where have I been, with who, and what have I participated in that has given my life long-term benefits? Then, wait on the LORD. Let God show you. Some things revealed to me through this question are my baptism, as an infant on Valentine s Day. Long-term benefits? A life of faith, because of the action of others. an education from age five to twenty-one. Long-term benefits? A comfortable life, equipped to make good choices, in most cases. Opportunities beyond belief and the ability to share resources with others. attending Sunday school and Vacation Bible School, and later Synod School. Long-term benefits? Being surrounded by a community of faith, encouraged, loved and accepted. experiencing Churchwide Gathering in Louisville through the invitation and financial gifts of women in my church. Long-term benefits? They are beyond comprehension, but, to name a few, life-changing, challenging my faith life, exciting the Spirit within, encouragement, expanding my mind and allowed me to make a difference in the life of other women. In other words, it grew me! accepting the Lord as my Savior. Long-term benefits? It opened my eyes to see the pain of others and use the life experiences and journey that I had to enhance the lives of others through a job search mission. Leaning on the Lord daily for a new venture evidenced the strength and miracles that only the Lord can provide. I only share these long-term benefits with you as an illustration that with God in our lives, there will be long-term benefits. Simon Looking Elk shared the phrase, long-term benefits with those who attended the Dakota Presbytery meeting and they continue to resonate in my soul. As you plan, meet, gather, do mission and PW, ask yourselves, Will there be long-term benefits from our actions? With that individual you meet, will the words expressed provide him/her with long-term benefits? What an opportunity we have as Presbyterian Women to do so, leaving an everlasting legacy. On the journey of life with you, Sue Kimball Moderator of PW of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies 1

2 Mark your calendars: January 15, Registration opens for Churchwide Gathering - Registration cost is $425. Room rate is (plus tax) $144 per room or $159 per suite. Synod lunch is $32 - $16 to be reimbursed by PWSLAP. April 13-15, PWSCT meets at First Presbyterian Church in St. Cloud, MN August 1, PDA/PW Disaster Preparedness Training Louisville, KY August 2-5, PW Churchwide Gathering at Galt House Hotel in Louisville, KY. July 22-27, Synod School in Storm Lake, IA. Oct 19-21, PWSCT meets at Presbyterian Church of the Master in Omaha, NE April 5-7, PWSCT meets at Ames, IA June 20-23, PW Synod Gathering at Gateway Hotel and Conference Center, Ames, IA Fall USA Mission Experience in the Synod of the Northeast - Cuyuga Syracuse, Geneva and Genesee Valley presbyteries Model Covenant between PWC and Session available In September, the Churchwide Coordinating Team (CCT) approved a model covenant between Presbyterian Women in the Congregation (PWC) and PC(USA) sessions. The PWC/Session covenant is an optional tool to help PWCs and sessions clarify the relationship between them and provide accountability guidelines, particularly around PWC financial and program management. The PWC/Session covenant is available at For questions or concerns, please contact Susan Jackson Dowd, susan.jackson-dowd@pcusa.org Churchwide Gathering Silent Auction You may donate! Donated items should be new (nothing used, please) with a minimum value of $50. Smaller items can be grouped into a basket. To donate an item to the auction, please contact Judy Persons, Rhonda Martin or Carissa Herold. Items should be shipped to the PW offices before the Gathering or hand-delivered to the auction area at the Gathering. The donation form may be downloaded at: build-community/churchwide-gathering/before-thegathering/silent-auction/ 2

3 The Synod Coordinating Team Fall Meeting in Le Mars, Iowa Women of Le Mars donated their half of the offering collected - $320 - to PDA. Thank you for your generosity! Ice Cream Capital of the World Notice the Churchwide Gathering scarf Quilts from Dakota Presbytery sisters SCT members contemplating Jan Nelson s quilt raised $100 for PDA Crafters in attendance 3

4 in the light! And one more reason to dance in the light 30 years of Presbyterian Women! Now that s something to celebrate! Reflecting On Light This reflection is from Bligh Jones, former moderator of the Synod of Living Waters and current plenary co-chair for the 2018 Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women. As a child I was reassured by the crack of light under my bedroom door. I ve experienced the sigh of relief when the power is restored after a storm, and light once again fills the house. I know the steady light that shines in our hearts as we sit with a loved one overnight in the hospital. As beloved children of God, we have reason to dance The 2018 Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women is an event you won t want to miss. It s an event just for us, about us! We ll celebrate the events we ve held, the projects we ve shared, all the times we ve joined together, the leaders we ve followed, the magazines we ve read, the Bible studies we ve examined and the places we ve gone. Wow! We have a lot to be thankful for and a lot of sisters to enjoy. Let s shine Light on all we ve done and shine LIGHT on our future! Arise, SHINE, y(our) LIGHT has come! ======================================================== In 2018 Churchwide Gathering news... (from Quarterly Newsletter for Presbyterian Women Leaders) Registration booklet Horizons subscribers (that s all who are reading this newsletter, certainly!), the 2018 Churchwide Gathering registration booklet mailed with the November/December 2017 issue of Horizons. To order additional copies (for sharing!), order from the PW Shop ( or call and ask for item CWG You may also order from the PC(USA) s online store at Basic registration information The Gathering will be held at the Galt House in Louisville, Kentucky, August 2 5, Rooms start at $144/night; suites start at $159, both plus taxes. Registration will open January 15, Plan to ship! The UPS Store at the Galt House a woman-owned franchise is looking forward to PW s Gathering! As such, they are offering a bit of a break to PW attendees on packaging and shipping from the Gathering (in case you are wondering how to fit that special something in a carry-on bag)! Stay tuned for more info! Disaster assistance training In conjunction with the Gathering, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance will offer Disaster Preparedness Trainer training. PW Disaster Preparedness Trainers are expected to organize and conduct a minimum of three disaster preparedness trainings a year, sharing the basics of disaster preparedness with congregations and presbyteries. The training will be held on August 1, 2018, and is open to all interested PW. PDA will pay for two nights of lodging: July 31 and August 1. All meals on August 1 will be provided. Download the application and reference form from If you have previously submitted an application for a training that you were unable to attend or for more information, please contact Beth Snyder, , ext. 5806; beth.snyder@pcusa.org. Program book to host ads again The 2018 program book will once again include ads that celebrate faithful women, send prayers and joyfully envision the future. See registration booklet. 4

5 FAITH and DEEDS Taken from Joanne Ellison s Drawing Near to God Submitted by Lana Schultz What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but have no deeds? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food and you say to them, Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill, and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no deeds, is dead. James 2:14-17 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1. Faith is the certainty of God at work even though we don t physically see Him. If we open our spiritual eyes and ears, however, we will see God at work in amazing ways in our daily lives. Faith, however, is not activated until we take action, applying what we hope for and what we are certain of through our actions. We can pray for days or weeks for something and never participate with God to bring results. True faith is exhibited when we step out to do something that we believe God is calling us to do after seeking Him through prayer. Joshua and the Israelites had to step out in faith to cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land. They had to believe that God was with them and they had to be certain of what they did not see. What they saw with their natural eyes was a swollen river that was impassable. But God promised them that He would take them into the Promised Land, and in order to do that they had to cross the river. God told Joshua to be strong and courageous and to keep the faith. And God sent His Presence in the form of the ark ahead of them and the Jordan parted. But, and this is a big but, the Israelites had to cross over; they had to believe that God would part the waters and they had to believe that when they got into the middle of the river, the waters would stay parted. James 2:14-17 reminds us that our faith is not sincere if it is not accompanied by actions. When we see someone in need, we must help in any way that we are able. Ask the Lord to increase your faith in the unseen and your willingness to take action by praying this prayer: Heavenly Father, Forgive me when I have passed up opportunities to put my faith to action. Give me eyes to see those around me who need my help. Increase my faith to walk in the places where You have called me, knowing that You go before me and prepare the way. In Jesus name, Amen. Churchwide Gathering Registration Your Churchwide Gathering registration booklet will be included with the November/December 2017 issue of Horizons magazine! Or it can be downloaded at: ct/cwg-2018-arise-shine-your-light-hascome-registration-booklet/ Churchwide Gathering Gift Cards Gift cards collected at the 2018 Churchwide Gathering will be given to the D.I.A.P.E.R. Project (Charlestown, Indiana), Kentucky Refugee Ministries (Louisville, Kentucky), and Lily's Place (Huntington, West Virginia). 5

6 At the PWSCT meeting we had a video and presentation on White Supremacy. The following was offered as a devotion later. Ginna has given permission for it to be printed. The topic: We have sinned by participating in acts of violence, was assigned for that day. We have sinned by participating in acts of violence Psalm 139 Submitted by Ginna Bairby from Path of Peace Reflections 2017 O Lord, you have searched me and known me Reflection: Many times, the Prayer of Confession is my favorite part of worship. Perhaps that sounds crazy. But as Presbyterians, confession should come naturally to us. We re known for our doctrines of original sin and total depravity. Original sin speaks to the truth of our participation in structural violence. In our globalized, interconnected world, our smallest actions connect us to people all around the world the food we eat, the transportation we use, the land on which we live. And in a world plagued by racism, militarism, and materialism, these connections make us complicit in structural violence, whether we want to be or not. Every last one of us: even a newborn baby will be wrapped in a blanket made in a sweatshop. It s ok to name it. It s ok to admit it. In fact, confession and repentance are the only place we can start. God already knows us, inside and out, and has already reached out to us with grace and forgiveness. When we confess our complicity in what we have done and what we have left undone, we open ourselves and our lives to the possibility of change. Action: Take a few moments today and name out loud to God and yourself some of the ways your life is complicit in structural violence. If you feel comfortable, talk about it with a friend. Feel the grace of God wash over you as you confess your sin and turn in repentance toward new possibilities. Prayer: God of grace, forgive us for the ways that our lives and lifestyles perpetuate and participate in systemic and structural violence. Help us turn to you and participate in your healing and reconciliation. Amen. This was a reflection written for the Season of Peace. More information can be found at (From Fall 2017 issue Bridger Missouri River Valley) Isn t this a good idea for other presbyteries or congregations? Maggie Horak of Homestead will get kits to Arkansas if you get them to her. See information elsewhere in this issue. Because of the recent storms, PDA is in desperate need of Hygiene Kits and School Kits. Whatever was stockpiled in the warehouse in Arkansas is now depleted and we must start filling it up again. Please consider this an urgent request for your mission work within your congregations. We will be putting together these Kits during the Mission Blast and would love to have you join us! There will be NO meeting just hands on mission work. Bring a pot luck dish to share (salad luncheon style) and get ready to roll your sleeves up. 6

7 Ask Ms. PW Dear Ms. PW, I ve been hearing women in my local PW group talk about Together In Action Days. I ve never heard of this. What is it? Wondering Dear Wondering, I m glad you asked. Together In Action Days were first talked about during a CCT meeting several years ago. The Justice and Peace and Mission Committees met together to see what they could jointly do about some of the issues that are common to both groups. The first Together In Action Day was born of that brainstorming session. Together In Action Days are days that are set aside for action/prayer/advocating around a single issue by all PW groups in the country. The two issues that have been used so far are human trafficking and children s education. January 11 is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, and January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Presbyterian Women groups are encouraged to plan and hold events during Together in Action Days Against Human Trafficking the days leading up to and including Human Trafficking Awareness Day in order to educate about this form of violence and what can be done to end it. Consider the following resources for your work to address human trafficking: Suggestions you can use all year long. Toolkit for Action from the PC(USA) s Human Trafficking Roundtable Seven Days of Prayer and Action to End Human Trafficking ECPAT USA Coalition of Immokalee Workers Slaveryfootprint.org Lifeboat Project Presbyterian Women holds Together in Action Days around the issue of children s literacy in May, during Children s Book Week. Presbyterian Women in the Congregation, Presbytery and Synod groups support local or regional education and literacy programs. In addition to these, PW groups may choose to support the PC(USA) s work for Educate a Child, or sign up for the initiative. Consider these ideas for your PW group s work for education: Community book sale sell used books at low cost for families with limited budgets. Community Story Hour host it at your church and read aloud to children of the community. Book drive donate books to hospitals, schools, community centers and more. Or download the Educate a Child toolkit, which has congregational assessment tips, strategies for school board advocacy and much more. Whether your work to promote literacy happens in May, October or year round, your work for education will help change the world. I hope these ideas are helpful. Ms. PW PW Churchwide Giving, as of third quarter 2017 Mission Pledge $ 650,082 Birthday Offering 420,294 Thank Offering 225,003 Honorary Life 94,703 Together in Service 6,381 7

8 Native American Concerns Corner Wotanin Waśte (Good News) The early missionaries began their work spreading the Good News among the Dakotas in the 1800s in western Minnesota. The Presbytery of Dakota was established in One of the first mission churches to be built was at Lac Qui Parle, Minnesota. The Dakota women s effort in this endeavor was to make and sell moccasins to raise funds for the building. They worked diligently along with the men, though they were few in numbers. It is not known at this time when they first organized as a women s organization, but in an old Minute book that dates from 1938 to 1956, minutes were written strictly in the Dakota language. It is recorded in the minutes that the Wotanin Waśte Fund was established on August 25, This fund was first created to support the wives of the missionaries or pastors serving the Dakota churches at that time. The women s groups of the churches raised funds to support this Wotanin Waśte Fund faithfully each year. In later years, the fund was used to help support the ministers, too, whenever there was a need to be met. The ministers of Dakota Presbytery could always use a little extra help for their families and, whenever they can, the PW of Dakota (or Dakota Presbyterial) is able to help in some small way with a few extra dollars. In a statement made in August 1973, the late Rev. Paul Firecloud stated that the Women of Dakota was one of the biggest supporters of the Wotanin Waśte Many women of that generation were strong in their faith and convictions and did so much to enhance the Lord s work in our churches. In the 1980s the PW of Dakota established a newsletter that they called, Wotanin Waśte (the Good News). It certainly was Good News, because Dakota Presbytery is non-geographical and the churches are scattered across South Dakota, eastern Montana, with one church in western Minnesota and one in North Dakota. The Wotanin Waśte had a mailing list of almost 300 which kept people in touch with each other. (Submitted by Hopa Crawford) ========================= Christmas season is upon us. I thought it would be interesting to read a letter from missionaries to our Native brothers and sisters. As you can see, it is not a recent letter. I m sorry I don t have Mary Beth s attachment. MERRY CHRISTMAS In l958 when Barbara and I went to the Sisseton Reservation to serve the Dakota Indian churches, we were introduced to a different kind of Christmas celebration among the Christian people. Most were very poor. Many lived in tiny one or two room houses without water or electricity. One couple lived in an old car body though the frigid winter. There were no Christmas trees in the homes and no presents shared there. It all happened at church. The biggest tree that would fit in the small church was there. Families packed the building. They brought all the presents for the children and piled them under the tree. The congregation bought presents for those who might get none and distributed fruit and candy bags to all who came. Even Waziya, the man from the north, visited. The evening began with a full worship service, hymns and carols in the Dakota language, choir numbers, and sermon, all before the festivities. I thought there should be something special for the children, so I made up a story called The Tale of a Christmas Tree to tie the real meaning of Christmas to the Christmas tree. The story is still being told there, usually from memory. Our daughter, Mary Beth, has written a copy of the story as it is now told. A copy is attached as our Christmas card to you. May you enjoy the full blessings of God in this season of special celebration for the birth of Christ our Savior. Love, Barbara and Hunter 8

9 Mission - Justice and Peace Corner The following is a flier created by Marilyn Stone to promote PDA and PW s coordination in doing disaster preparedness training. I m attaching a document that can be printed two-sided and distributed if you wish. Please note the training that will be offered Aug 1, just prior to the Churchwide Gathering in Louisville. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) THANK YOU! PW and PDA have had an ongoing partnership in many ways. At the most recent CCT meeting, Laurie Krause, director of PDA, thanked PW for its ongoing support. Please pass along this word of gratitude to PW in your presbytery! GIVE ACT PRAY Donations are accepted via: One Great Hour of Sharing (PDA receives one-third of offering) Designated donations to specific disaster area (use account #) Gifts to PDA General Relief account for use where most needed Address checks to: Presbyterian Church (USA) By mail: Presbyterian Church (USA) P.O. Box Pittsburgh, PA By telephone: Call (800) to give by credit card Text to give: Text PDA to to give $10 to PDA General Relief Account GIVE ACT PRAY Pray without ceasing 2nd Thessalonians 5:17 encourages us to pray continually. Following a disaster, our best response is first to seek God's presence on behalf of those in need. Worship resources offer PW ways to pray, sing, and together invite the love of God to lead our response as we seek to reflect the hope that is found in Christ. Visit: GIVE ACT PRAY Stay Informed Follow on Facebook or Twitter Sign up to receive PDA RIN (Rapid Information Network) s at Receive Mission Mosaic by mail. 9

10 Volunteer Encourage your church to become volunteer hosting site Assemble a volunteer work team Become a PW/PDA Disaster Preparedness Trainer (See info below) National Response Team/National Response Team Assemble Gift of the Heart Kits Clean-up buckets Hygiene kits School kits Follow kit instructions at: Disaster Preparedness Training Of all the disasters that PDA has responded to in one way or another, no one anticipated being impacted. This is why Disaster Preparedness is so important. Consider taking PW/PDA Disaster Preparedness Training Consider inviting Linda Barnett, Maggie Horak, or Marilyn Stone to conduct a Disaster Preparedness Training event at your PWP Gathering, your church or for your presbytery. In conjunction with the Churchwide Gathering, PDA will offer Disaster Preparedness (DP) training for PW to become DP Trainers. PW Disaster Preparedness Trainers are expected to organize and conduct a minimum of three disaster preparedness trainings a year, sharing the basics of disaster preparedness with congregations in their presbyteries. The training will be held on Wednesday, August 1, 2018, and is open to all interested PW. PDA will pay for two nights of lodging: July 31 and August 1. All meals on August 1 will be provided. There will be no minimum nor maximum number for this training. For more information, please contact Beth M. Snyder. beth.snyder@pcusa.org PDA needs Clean up Buckets Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church in Lincoln, NE, (Homestead Presbytery) will be collecting PDA Gifts of the Heart kits and delivering them to Ferncliff Camp in Little Rock, AR. Clean up Buckets are the most critically needed. Hygiene and School kits are welcome. Funds (payable to GSPC/PDA transport) will help defray transportation costs. If your PW or church would like to participate, you can contact Maggie Horak C - mmhlin@msn.com or check the church website: goodshepherdpres.org Before the next PWSCT meeting (April 2018), let Maggie know how many of each kit you will be bringing/sending and she can take them to GSPC for the next trip to AR (planning to make 2-4 trips per year). Out of chaos, hope It s time for the Thank Offering The Thank Offering funds 20 to 30 projects a year; the grants are between $5,000 and $50,000 and support smaller new or expanded projects or small capital improvement projects. To qualify, a program must have a clearly defined purpose that meets basic human needs. The purpose must be in accordance with mission goals and policies of the Presbyterian Church (USA); provide a form of aid that has been requested or identified to meet the needs of the people served; and be a creative project less than three years old or an existing project moving in a new direction. One of recipients last year was In His Steps Pathways of Peace from the Presbytery of South Dakota. They received $50,000 to further their work in Palestine fighting breast cancer. See their thank you letter. 10

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12 Minute for Mission: World Community Day Connections created by technology can promote peace, unity November 3, 2017 of PC(USA) Mission Yearbook After World War II, denominational leaders felt called to promote unity. In 1943, they established World Community Day, a day set aside for ecumenical study and prayer. Many denominations were doing their own justice and peace work, but leadership determined that one day of joint study would strengthen unity among them. The 2017 World Community Day theme is Kindling New Fires for Peace, with an invitation to prayerfully approach the day openly, willing to leave what is comfortable to become more inclusive communities. The focus for the day is technology and how it supports community. The concept of community has changed in ways denominational leaders could not have imagined in Technology has moved what was then an abstraction for most, to a reality today for many. Neighbors live next door and on the other side of the world. Social media connects us to a virtual community that is immediately present, no matter geographic location. At this writing, as I sit in my office in Louisville, Kentucky, I will meet, via technology, with colleagues who are together in Slovenia. One is from Canada, the other from the Philippines. My absence from a board meeting will not keep me from participating face-to-face. The reality of the global village draws faith-based communities together. Technology provides the means for national and international ecumenical and interfaith boundaries to be easily traversed. The love of God s people and creation is the passport, the visa, required. Community is limited only by human unwillingness to cross the boundary, to leave what is comfortable and to become more inclusive. In the 1934 book Toward the Future, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin says, The day will come when, after harnessing space, the winds, the tides, and gravitation, we shall harness for God the energies of love. And on that day, for the second time in the history of the world, we shall have discovered fire. Much of what de Chardin predicted, and more, has been harnessed. In a progressively more destabilized world, this news is both good and bad. In these times, as in all times, people of faith must turn to one another. World Community Day calls us to harness the energies of love. Susan Jackson Dowd, Executive Director, Presbyterian Women Justice and Peace Calendar Justice and Peace Calendar (see presbyterianwomen.org/justice) December 10 International Human Rights Day 18 International Migrants Day 25 Christmas; Orange Day ( January National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month 7 13 PW Together in Action Days to End Human Trafficking 11 International Human Trafficking Awareness Day 14 Race Relations Sunday 15 Martin Luther King Jr. Day 16 National Religious Freedom Day Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 21 Criminal Justice Sunday 25 Orange Day; 27 International Holocaust Remembrance Day February Black History Month; also, National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month 1 National Freedom Day 4 Souper Bowl of Caring 12 International Day against the Use of Child Soldiers 14 One Billion Rising for Justice 25 Orange Day; March Women s History Month 2 World Day of Prayer 4 Celebrate the Gifts of Women Sunday 8 International Women s Day UN Commission on the Status of Women PW Together in Action for Women s Empowerment 22 World Water Day 25 Orange Day; 29 A.7 Ten Days of Prayer and Thanksgiving for the Roma For a complete calendar, including links to resources, see 12

13 How do we teach and work with the Social Creed? The 28-minute DVD Toward a New Social Awakening is a professionally done picture-story of the churches concerns for workers and civil rights, equal rights for women, peace advocacy and concern for climate change, going from 1908 to 2008 and then looking ahead. The churches have, in fact, had considerable influence for good. The DVD is available for download here: It is available for purchase here: The booklet Connecting to the Creed contains biblical and historical background for each of the affirmations and enduring policy directions instantly applicable to many of the policies being debated today. See A book, Prayers for the New Social Awakening (2008), contains 99 prayers by respected Christian prophets and activists, leaders and writers, addressing a wide range of challenges in a wide range of styles. Prayers for lawyers or farmworkers, for example, or on immigration or addictions, are all included, and Roman Catholic as well as Protestant and Orthodox contributors are among the voices represented in this collection. A Muslim and a Jewish prayer also reflect our monotheistic family of faiths. The book can be ordered here: The Social Creed itself can be made available as a bulletin insert or incorporated in a brightly colored poster. The Social Creed s layout designer, Presbyterian elder and businesswoman Patricia Chapman, has also developed creative children s curriculum that incorporates the Social Creed at many points. Contact the nonprofit ScarboroughPress.org (based at Scarborough (N.Y.) Presbyterian Church) for placemats and other resources full of biblical and current cultural references. Editor s note: I don t remember where I found this but I find the video compelling. It is worth looking at and thinking about. It may make a good Bible Study. Presbyterian Women on line PW website YouTube presbyterianwomen Facebook presbyterianwomenpcusa/ (Don t have an account? Just provide a name and address, then like PW s page.) Twitter Flickr presbyterianwomen Pinterest Blogs (click on Profile to see all PW blogs) Church Store CCT site Interesting Articles from Keeping in Touch - our Synod Newletter Information on Native American Day and a litany for celebrating it: american/pdf/celebratingnativeamericanday.pdf PC(USA) celebrates Native American Day: is an article on giving money rather than stuff to disasters can be done through PDA: Out of Chaos, Hope Think of PC(USA) and missions on Giving Tuesday: talks of a book on social justice No Innocent Bystanders! 13

14 Moderator: Sue Kimball ( ) -Des Moines Pershing St Indianola, IA C kimballsusan53@yahoo.com Vice Moderator: Maggie Horak ( ) 5601 Barrington Park Drive Lincoln, NE C mmhlin@msn.com Secretary: Kathleen Keefer ( ) - MO River Valley - PO Box N 19 th Clarinda, Iowa KLKeefer@mail.com Treasurer: Jan Nelson ( ) -Winnebago- 985 N. Broadway #32 DePere WI jnelson35@new.rr.com Search Committee: Annabelle Wells ( ) (Chr) - Central Nebraska Cottonmill Ave. Kearney, NE Annabelle.wells@gmail.com Nancy Siewert ( ) -Winnebago Biemeret St. Green Bay, WI H C dennis1829@att.net Beth Jensen ( ) East Iowa th St. Van Horne, IA H dbjensen@southslope.net Officers & Appointed Positions November, 2017 Historian: Helen McMasters ( ) -Milwaukee Westshire Circle Delavan, WI mcmasters.helen@gmail.com Churchwide CT Rep Marilyn Stone - Milwaukee 3915 Lake St Burlington, WI (H) (C) mmstone52@att.net Appointive Positions: Justice and Peace Coordinator: Trudi Nelson -South Dakota Evergreen Acres Dr Wentworth, SD nelsont@svtv.com Sower Editor: Linda Barnett South Dakota- PO Box 193 Hendricks, MN thesower.slap@yahoo.com (newsletter) barnelim@hotmail.com (personal) Communications Coordinator: Susan Medsker-Nedderman - -Central Nebraska- 314 N. Cedar Ave. Hastings NE s.medsker.nedderman@gmail Leadership Enhancement Coordinator: Linda Hora N Central Iowa Southview Ct Boone, IA C lindatoindia@gmail.com 14 Mission & Advocacy Coordinator: Belinda Breit -Twin Cities- 345 Niagara Lane N Plymouth MN H C belinda.breit@comcast.net Native American Concerns Ernestine Red Boy -Dakota - PO Box 1491 Poplar, MT ernireland@yahoo.com LaVonne Looking Elk -Dakota W. Chicago Rapid City. SD H sllooking@rap.midco.net Sonia Weston -Dakota- PO Box 254 Pine Ridge, SD H soniaw@gwtc.net Donna Preston Northern Plains- PO Box 276 Grandin, ND H C preston@gra.midco.net Marilyn Stone 3915 Lake St Burlington, WI (H) (C) mmstone52@att.net 2019 Synod Gathering Co-coordinators: Susan Medsker-Nedderman (Chair) Joan Berglund Terri Sherman Linda Hora

15 PW SLAP PWSCT Moderators/Representatives Central Nebraska - Annabelle Wells 6825 Cottonmill Ave. Kearney, NE H annabelle.wells@gmail.com Term: Dakota Dale Youngman PO Box 818 Pine Ridge, SD Term: Des Moines - Pam Deichmann 405 S 16th Ave Winterset, IA H pam.deichmann@gmail.com Term: JUN East Iowa Beth Jensen th St. Van Horne, IA H dbjensen@southslope.net Term: DEC Homestead Terri Sherman 5710 Deer Ridge Rd, Eagle, NE terisherman@windstream. net Term: OCT John Knox Suzanne Berg 1116 S. Mills Street Decorah, IA H laureen@neitel.net (church ) Term: APR Milwaukee Judy Bell 5217 Roberts Drive Greendale, WI H C jmoinebell@aol.com Term: Minnesota Valleys Betty Thorson 106 Ash Street New Ulm, MN H thorson36betty@gmail.com Term: JUN MO River Valley Kathleen Keefer PO Box N. 19th Clarinda, IA C klkeefer@mail.com Term: N Central Iowa Melissa Muzzy 2710 Clayton Dr. Ames, IA C mkm.muzzy@gmail.com Term: APR Linda Hora Rep 1210 Southview Ct Boone, IA Northern Plains Lana Schultz PO Box 891 Casselton, ND H C lanaj0@casselton.net Term: APR Northern Waters Janice Letsos 1414 Cypress Ave. Superior, WI H C jletsos@uwsuper.edu Term: APR Prospect Hill - Moderator Audrey Scholten 25 6th St. NE LeMars, IA H akscholten@yahoo.com Term: ? Audrey Fenton Co-Rep 1111 Meadowview Ct #4 Sioux City, IA wayneaudrey@aol.com 15

16 South Dakota Trudi Nelson 6498 Evergreen Acres Dr Wentworth, SD H C nelsont@svtv.com Term: Care to Share Corner If you are going to the Churchwide Gathering please consider attending the Synod Lunch sign up when registering. The cost is $32 but the PWSCT voted to reimburse each attendee half of the cost. $16 for each attendee will be sent to their presbytery PW treasurer to be disbursed. This will probably occur after the gathering. Twin Cities Belinda Breit 345 Niagara Lane N. Plymouth, MN H C belinda.breit@comcast.net JUN Winnebago Nancy Siewert 1511 Biermeret Street Green Bay WI dennis1829@att.net Term 2018 APR This section will be provided by any Presbyterian Woman who would like to offer ideas that would be beneficial to others and should be shared, rather than kept to herself. Send these to your Sower editor, Linda Barnett thesower.slap@yahoo.com Shopping Amazon? Don t forget to support Presbyterian Women each time you shop Amazon Amazon donates 0.5 % of your purchase to PW! Use the link: to make your order. Are you a woman in the PC(USA)? You are eligible to receive a $500 grant from PW. Want to strengthen your leadership skills by going to a leadership event? Apply today: Editor s Note: Changes in Moderator positions that should receive The Sower should be sent to the PWS Secretary: Kathleen Keefer KLKeefer@mail.com. Please include as copy furnished to: Patricia Longfellow at Patricia.Longfellow@pcusa.org Anyone who wants to either stop or start a subscription to The Sower may just send a request to the new Editor, Linda, at thesower.slap@yahoo.com Learn about Presbyterian Women Presbyterian Women (PW) is the national women s organization of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). With more than 300,000 members and 30 years as an organization, PW is organized at all levels of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Learn more about PW and consider joining your local group. It s a good read at our website. Here is a link to the Who-Ya-Gonna-Call? The Who s Who at PW National The Synod of Lakes and Prairies website, find a link to The Sower there too. Like Presbyterian Women of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies on Facebook!!! The Sower publishing dates are January, April, July & October. If you have an article or would like to have an article or information on any particular subject, please send the Editor your article or question by/before the first of each of the above cited months. thesower.slap@yahoo.com If you have an address change, please send the notice of change to the Editor at the above address. If you know someone wants to subscribe, please send the name and address to the above address. If you no longer wish to receive The Sower, just send that request, yes, to the above cited address. 16

17 U.S. Postage Presbyterian Women in Synod of Lakes & Prairies Linda Barnett PO Box 193 Hendricks MN This newsletter is being sent by to all who have provided an address. Please forward to the members of your PW or make copies of this The Sower and give those in your PW group a copy. Urge them to share it with others. Don t keep this info a secret!! If you are no longer the moderator or don t wish to receive this newsletter, please let Linda Barnett know who the new moderator is or your request to be taken off the mailing list at thesower.slap@yahoo.com or call This page is formatted to allow for printing and mailing. It complies with the new US Postal Service requirements. Save ink & paper no need to print this page if you don t intend to mail. 17