CONNECTION. News for Women of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area. Fall 2015

Transcription

1 CONNECTION News for Women of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area Fall 2015 Presbyterian Women of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area Invite you to our Fall Gathering to hear about: HAITI : Poorest of the Poor WHEN: Saturday, October 17, 2015 WHERE: North Presbyterian Church 2675 E. Highway 36 North St. Paul, MN Telephone: COST: TIME: $15 per person 9:00 Registration, Display Review, Coffee & Refreshments 9:45 Welcome, Greeting, Announcements and Roll Call. 2: 45 Closing Hymn and Extinguish Christ Candle (Come early so you will have time to look at all of the displays) Keynote Speaker Diane Albright, President of Houses for Haiti Houses for Haiti is a non-profit organization dedicated to building houses for homeless families living on the streets of Cite Soleil, the poorest slum in the Western Hemisphere. Afternoon Sessions: SESSION 1: Reiser Relief, a non-profit organization, will share their vision and work in Haiti SESSION 2: Habitat for Humanity, Women Build will share their work in building homes in the Twin Cities Area. ***PLEASE INVITE a Friend, a Daughter, A Mother, Grandmother, a Granddaughter or someone who is a special woman or girl in your life so we can have those intergenerational discussions and perspectives. Registration form on the last page - MUST BE RECEIVED BY October 9, 2015

2 AFTERNOON SESSION 1 REISER RELIEF MISSION: Through the support of God and friends and family, seeks to accomplish the following: To provide relief, hope and dignity to the poor, elderly and homeless people of Haiti. To provide relief from malnutrition and water-borne illness by providing food and clean water to women, children and elderly living in slums and impoverished situations. To provide hope for the poorest children and orphans by funding education and housing. To strive, by the Grace and Greatness of God, to be the hands and feet of Christ in serving the most vulnerable Haitians. MINISTRIES: Water, Education, Elder Care, Orphan Care, Food AFTERNOON SESSION 2 WOMEN BUILD HABITAT FOR HUMANITY Girls play house, Women BUILD them. From fundraising through construction, this group builds two Habitat homes each year and repairs another through Brush with Kindness. Women Build attracts women from all walks of life who want to make a profound difference for families and the community. RURAL HEALTHCARE INITIATIVE 1000-Day Campaign Kick-off Event Sunday, October 18, 2016 Metropolitan Ballroom in Golden Valley (Hwy 100 and 394) Alice Karpeh was our keynote speaker at PW/PTCA s 2013 Fall Gathering at White Bear Lake Presbyterian Church. You will remember her as a nurse from Tikonko Village, Sierra Leone, who had fled her country after her husband was killed in the violent civil war there. Her goal to return to her country to assist in maternal and child care is becoming a reality. Rural Healthcare Initiative is a Minnesota-based non-profit organization partnering with rural communities in Sierra Leone. Their goal is to administer culturally appropriate health care services with a focus on maternal and child health. You are invited to their campaign kick-off event the same weekend as our 2015 Fall Gathering. The evening will include a speaker as well as pictures and video from Tikonko. There will also be a silent auction and wine raffle. Mark your calendar now and plan to attend!

3 UNITE to End Violence against Women Violence can be defined as a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner. In 2008 the United Nations (UN) declared the 25 th of every month as Orange Day a day to raise awareness and take action against violence around the world toward women and children. We are each encouraged to wear orange on that date to show our concern and support for this important Justice and Peace issue. This may be an issue you can encourage to be practiced in your congregation and community. What else can we do besides wearing an orange ribbon, scarf or blouse? organization suggests that we consider the following: Our national PW 1. Break the code of silence with stories and education at the congregational level 2. Enlist men s and youths help and understanding in ending the culture of violence 3. Encourage adoption of the EPAT code to protect children with the ECPAT code of conduct for the travel and tourism industry ( Engaging youth in this issue is very important. Young men and women are key partners in education and prevention. Prevention and awareness are important keys to success in addressing this issue. What can we do to encourage youth in our faith communities? Learn more at Violence and domestic violence touch many youth, children, women, men. Another form of domestic violence includes human trafficking. The statistics on the sex trafficking of children in MN, in the United States and around the world are staggering. Minnesota the Twin Cities is still considered one of the crossroads for human trafficking. Here are some additional websites to visit to learn more: For the PCUSA s Toolkit for Action for 2015, go to: For Presbyterians Against Domestic Violence Network (PADVN), go to: A goal for our October gathering is that we can share with each other what we are doing in our congregations on these issues of Domestic Violence and Sex Trafficking. Ann Rock & Sonja Irlbeck, Justice and Peace Committee

4 Hygiene Kits Desperately Needed Worldwide Church World Service Kits are small packages of supplies assembled by volunteers and shipped to people in need around the world. Producing these kits would be a very worthwhile project for individuals or groups. The contents of each Kit have been selected with care based on years of experience to make them as useful as possible, wherever and whenever they are sent. Hygiene Kits should include: One hand towel measuring approximately 16" x 28" (no fingertip or bath towels) One washcloth One wide-tooth comb (please look at the beauty supply stores and find a comb suitable for heavier, coarser hair) One nail clipper One bar of soap (bath size in wrapper, not the ones you get at a hotel. Those can be donated to a local homeless shelter, along with the travel size shampoo.) One toothbrush (in original packaging) Six standard size Band-Aids Place all items in a one-gallon plastic bag with a zipper closure; remove excess air from bag, and seal. Because these kits may sit in a hot warehouse until they are needed, please do not add toothpaste to the Hygiene Kit. Cartons of toothpaste that have an extended expiration date will be added to Hygiene Kit shipments just prior to shipment. Please add $3 for each kit for postage for shipping to Maryland for Church World Service Baby Care Kits should include (sizes up to 12 months): Our baby kits are now donated to Rural Health Care Initiative, one of our mission projects, and because of that the items needed are changed somewhat from what we used to send to Church World Service Six cloth diapers (flat, not pre-folded diapers, are preferred) Three T-shirts or undershirts (no onesies because t-shirts can grow with the baby) Two washcloths One gown or sleeper Two diaper pins (I send 4 because what s a mother to do if she breaks one) (One lightweight sweater or long sleeved shirt Two lightweight receiving blankets Items must be new (or look new) and no larger than 12 months in size. Wrap items inside one of the receiving blankets and secure with 2 diaper pins. If you have trouble completing the baby kits for lack of something, bring what you have (mark it as incomplete) and we ll finish the kits. Please include a check for $5 made out to PW/PTCA with each kit to pay for the shipping from here to Tikonko, Sierra Leone, Africa

5 NEW or VERY GOOD CONDITION SHEETS NEEDED At our Gathering, we will once again be collecting sheets for PC (USA) supported hospitals. Sheets need to be: Flat (solid or patterned) Twin-sized (you can cut and hem larger-sized sheets into twin-sizes New or very good condition (it is not worth the postage to send sheets that quickly wear out!). Check out the Goodwill Stores, garage sales and estate sales for bargains. We encourage that all sheets, including new ones, be washed prior to mailing. Absolutely no pet hair! LITTLE DRESSES FOR HAITI Our Little Dresses go to Haiti by way of a group called Reiser Relief. A representative from that group will be speaking at our gathering in October. There s a website. which has some cute pictures of sweet little orphans for whom people have made darling little dresses. The original concept of the program was that people would make these little dresses out of pillowcases, although any simple little dress will be just fine. There is even a Simplicity pattern for the pillowcase style. We received some absolutely beautiful dresses from the Rochester group at the spring gathering. I m hoping we will have some to give to the group again this fall. Remember when your children were babies and you made little kimonos for them. We ve been asked to make some of those to give to the orphanages that Reiser Relief visits. I think there is still a pattern in the Simplicity pattern book. We can also send shorts or t-shirts for boys so that they don t get left out. Watch for clearance sales and garage sales. For the spring gathering, I requested soccer balls for the kids and I would like to ask you to contribute those again. You can buy those at Wal-mart for $10. School Bags and Kits for Church World Service Once again we will be collecting school bags and kits. You may go to the website cwsglobal.org for instructions on how to make the bags for the kits. We can send either just the bags or fill them with the required school supplies. If you are sending the supplies, please send: 3 70-sheet or sheet spiral bound notebooks 1 12 inch ruler 1 box 24 crayons 6 pencils 1 eraser and 1 pencil sharpener 1 pair blunt nosed scissors for children, ages 5+ Please include $3 for postage for each complete kit. If you re sending only bags, include $3 for each 5 bags. We collect the hygiene kits, sheets and the school kits only in the fall so that we will have one large shipment because we ship everything by truck, thereby saving about half on the postage costs.

6 Days for Girls Kits These kits are for girls and women to use during their menstrual period. There is a website called that explains the whole project. The instructions are quite extensive so I would ask that any interested group please check the website. I will try to have some samples at our meeting to see if there is any interest in doing this project. Any questions send an to belinda.breit@comcast.net or call Spring Gathering 2015 Mission Giving Summary 9 school bags 30 baby caps 60 baby kits 135 dresses for Haiti the heart! Thank you for giving from A Message from your Moderator The Churchwide Gathering is now a part of church history. The attendance figures, over 1500 registrations, were much higher than the organizers were expecting, thanks to all the great Midwestern ladies who attended. We all know that Minneapolis is a great place to visit in the summer. Hotel employees told me that our convention was the biggest one they had ever hosted. For all the ladies (and a gentleman) who volunteered at the gathering, please know that I received so many compliments on all the great volunteers. So if that is you, pat yourself on the back.

7 National Gathering of Presbyterian Women One Body, One Spirit 1735 women (plus some men!) attended the Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women in Minneapolis June It was an opportunity to experience the wider church family worshipping and studying together. Mission partners from Kenya, Nigeria, India, South Korea, Taiwan, Guyana, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Surinam, Guatemala, the Czech Republic, Brazil, and Canada were also present as well as ecumenical representatives from the Reformed Church of America and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA). Each day there were plenaries on the theme One Body, One Spirit based on I Corinthians 12: The last worship service on Sunday included communion. There were also film screenings, book discussion groups, and 39 educational opportunities, including introductions to the next two HORIZON Bible studies, Come to the Water (2015/2016) and Who is Jesus? (2016/2017) led by the authors. 230 women from the Synod of Lakes and Prairies attended a Friday luncheon at Westminster Presbyterian Church. The speaker was Leila Mansarally, a Global Exchange guest from Guyana, who spoke about women and mission work in Guyana. Attendees brought $10 Target gift cards which provided a $30, 890 gift to the American Indian Family Center in St. Paul. Among the services which this organization coordinates is the Our Children Are Sacred program which provides direct services to Native American women during prenatal and postnatal periods in their children s lives. It also coordinates mothers support groups and offers classes on parenting, nutrition, and good health. The Gathering Offering of $32,000 was received by two organizations: Instituto Prevocacional e Industrial de Puerto Rico which is the only women s domestic violence shelter in western Puerto Rico and ECPA (End Child Prostitution and Trafficking), part of an international network combating trafficking and the commercial sexual exploitation of children. The latter was begun with seed money from PW. Some women took a mission tour to Kwanzaa Community Church in North Minneapolis. It is the first African-American-led Presbyterian congregation in Minnesota and is dedicated to serving the urban North Minneapolis community. 85% of the families served by this church live at or below the poverty level. Their ministries include a six week summer Freedom School, the 21 st Century Middle School Academy for teenage youth which provides after-school and summer school programs, and the Northside Women s Space which is a safe place where girls and women who have been exploited by sex trafficking can find rest and connection to services and support. They also provide parenting programs. One Synod Coordinating Team member wrote after the Gathering, It was uplifting to see women from around the world, hear their stories, and share in the faith that we as a world denomination are working to make a difference in people s lives. The Gathering gives us the chance to strengthen each other and reminds us that the work we do and the donations we make bring hope to people in need around the globe. Sylvia Swede, Presbytery Representative to Synod

8 Where and how are you spiritually nurtured and sustained? Madeleine Benishek a member at Westminster in Minneapolis, studying at Princeton Theological Seminary answered this question as part of her Barbara Tilton Scholarship application process: I find spiritual nourishment and encouragement in a variety of ways. First, I have been blessed with wonderful mentors. Both in my church pastors and my former chaplain from college. They offer me advice, challenge me to grow and help me in my discernment. Second, being at seminary has enriched my spiritual life by giving me classmates, friends and confidantes who support me and whom I support. In particular I have been paired with a spiritual friend with whom I meet to talk, pray and just relax. This friendship has been very fruitful and sustaining. Additionally, I see my study here as a spiritual practice and try to be fully present to the ideas and subjects I m studying. I pray daily, do devotionals and keep a journal, all of which are critical to keeping me focused and open to the movement and leading of the Spirit. Finally and most importantly, worship in the chapel and on Sunday nights has been a very important source of renewal and strength. Looking back on this answer, I am wondering how each of us would answer this question. Maybe it is something for each of us to think about as we seek to live faithfully? Madeleine worked one summer at Grace-Trinity in Uptown, Minneapolis, with Rev. Daniel Vigilante. His comment on their worship time this summer is really his current thinking about how people are spiritually nourished and sustained: This summer we ve been experimenting with a simplified order for worship. We re singing more songs-both familiar hymns and new, sing-able refrains. We re leaving more space for silence and reflection. We re setting an atmosphere that invites people to clear away the distractions of life and focus on who God calls them to be and what God calls them to do. We want our worship to help members and guests alike draw deeper into the presence of God. Madeleine has had good mentors and is very thankful for our prayers and the Barbara Tilton Scholarship support. This past year we were also able to offer a scholarship to a past scholar, the current Moderator of our Presbytery and Chaplain at Abbott Hospital, The Rev. Denise Dunbar- Perkins. Denise had a free day at the National Gathering in June and felt nurtured by this continued support in her ministry. Marilyn Youel, for the Barbara Tilton Scholarship Committee Rev. Julia Carlson, Rev. Anita Cummings, Rev. Liz Heller, Suann Nichols

9 PW/PTCA FINANCIAL NEWS OF NOTE As a result of the Blue Bowl Offering at the Spring Gathering, $925 was given to the Barbara Tilton Scholarship Fund The Quilt Raffle to benefit the Rural Health Care Initiative raised $365 Two scholarships were given to assist members in attending the National Gathering Our Presbytery PW s sale of Minnesota T-shirts for the National Gathering netted $400 $200 was given to the Rural Health Initiative (more information at $200 was given to the Remember Niger Coalition (more information at FOR SALE At the Fall Gathering, there will be a limited number of Minnesota T-shirts and Synod tote bags for sale. Our supply of T-shirts is limited to 1 small, 1 large, and 4 XL. Cost is $15. Tote bags are available for $3. Look for the display table. From your CONNECTIONS editor: This mailing of the CONNECTION has been mailed through the U.S. Postal Service to all churches in the Presbytery (or to the contact person of Presbyterian Women whose name we have on record), members of the Coordinating Team and all women in the Presbytery who have attended a Gathering in the last 3 years and do not have an address. copies have been sent to all local PW officers and attendees for whom we have an address on file. If you would prefer to no longer receive communications from the PW of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities or if you know of another woman who would benefit from receiving this mailing, please contact me. Jane Hallman CONNECTION Editor hallman.jane@charter.net

10 SYNOD GATHERING of PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN 2016 LORD MAKE ME AN INSTRUMENT OF YOUR PEACE On the following two pages you will find the invitation to next year s Synod Gathering along with information about the program. Please read carefully and consider attending. Our members who have attended in the past have found it very educational and inspirational. There will be partial scholarships available from PW of the Twin Cities Area. Your local church might also consider making a contribution for individual s registrations.

11 THE POWER OF PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN Program Highlights will include: Morning and Evening Worship Bible study Selection of workshops Meet the Speaker sessions A hands-on mission project. Great Room which includes a Bookstore Ten Thousand Villages Who should Attend: Women of all ages who would like to join in Christian Fellowship and are looking for a spiritually enriching experience. KEY NOTE SPEAKER: Susan Jackson Dowd Executive Director of Presbyterian Women Susan works with the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation with Presbyterian Women/Horizons. She has a bachelor s in journalism/radio television, a master s in Christian education and a doctorate in leadership education. WORSHIP LEADER: Rev. Dr. Carolyn Visser Ordained to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament (Teaching Elder) June 28, 1992, in Houston, Texas. She has served in three congregations and she is presently Honorably Retired and living in Monroe, S.D. She is a certified spiritual director and labyrinth facilitator. BIBLE STUDY LEADER: Rev. Stephanie Anthony Stephanie Anthony has been the pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Hudson, Wis., since Prior to this call she served as the associate pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Lincoln, Neb. Among her favorite aspects of ministry is digging into scripture with diverse gatherings of the people of God. MUSIC DIRECTOR: Kristi Holler Kristi Holler was born and raised in the Sioux Falls, S.D. area. Kristi s life work includes church ministry and music ministry, and she is a passionate animal lover. Kristi earned a Master of Divinity at Sioux Falls Seminary in 2006, and a Master of Theology at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ga. in Accommodations at the Ramkota All events for the Gathering will be held at the Ramkota. All participants will reserve their own rooms. Just give them the dates and tell them you are with Presbyterian Women. We have 50 standard rooms with 2 beds blocked off for our use. Room Rate: $85 / night plus taxes for 1-4 in a room. Registration: Watch for information on the synod website (see invitation) and in future mailings. For further information contact: Joan Berglund at (402) Terri Sherman at (402) Kay Olson at (605)

12 If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough. Meister Eckhart DIRECTIONS TO North Presbyterian Church, 2675 E. Hwy 36, No. St. Paul The church is situated just off of Highway 36 and Highway 120/Century Avenue in No. St. Paul. The main roads/highways you can take to get to Highway 36 are: --South Metro Interstate 35W to Highway 36. Highway 52, Highway 55 or Highway 61 north to Interstate 494/ North metro Interstate 35W south to Highway 61. Highway 61 south to Highway 36. Interstate 694 east to Highway 120/Century Avenue south. --East Metro Interstate 94 to Interstate 694 north to Highway 36 west. Highway 36 from Stillwater. --West metro Interstate 394 to Interstate 35W to Highway 36. Interstate 694 east to Century Avenue south. Once you are on Highway 120/Century Avenue, go to 17 th Avenue (a). There will be a Caribou. Coffee shop and Sharel s Cafe on the east side of the intersection. Go west on 17 th Avenue for 2 blocks to Charles St. Turn left onto Charles St., continue 3 blocks to North Presbyterian Church. It is on the left. Church Phone:

13 REGISTRATION FORM for Fall Gathering North St. Paul, MN Registration must be received by October 9, 2015 IMPORTANT: Moderator or Treasurer should collect all registration forms and fees and send one check and all forms to Zoe Abrahamson. Cost is $15 per person. Make checks payable to PW-PTCA NAME PHONE: ( ) ADDRESS Street City State Zip Address Home Congregation First time attending? YES NO Dietary Restrictions? Please list: Which Afternoon Session do you plan to attend: SESSION 1: Reiser Relief. SESSION 2: Habitat for Humanity, Women Build. Bringing Children? (Childcare will be available upon request. Please bring bag lunch for children) Name Age Childcare needed? Name Age Childcare needed? MAIL FORM(S) AND ONE CHECK TO: Zoe Abrahamson, PW/PTCA Treasurer 1051 Foxcroft Circle SW Rochester, MN *************************************************************************************************** REGISTRATION FORM for Fall Gathering North St. Paul, MN Registration must be received by October 9, 2015 IMPORTANT: Moderator or Treasurer should collect all registration forms and fees and send one check and all forms to Zoe Abrahamson. Cost is $15 per person. Make checks payable to PW-PTCA NAME PHONE: ( ) ADDRESS Street City State Zip Address Home Congregation First time attending? YES NO Dietary Restrictions? Please list: Which Afternoon Session do you plan to attend: SESSION 1: Reiser Relief. SESSION 2: Habitat for Humanity, Women Build. Bringing Children? (Childcare will be available upon request. Please bring bag lunch for children) Name Age Childcare needed? Name Age Childcare needed? MAIL FORM(S) AND ONE CHECK TO: Zoe Abrahamson, PW/PTCATreasurer 1051 Foxcroft Circle Rochester, MN 55902