Sister Care seminar expands circle of sisters
by Myrna Joy Wenger
Sisters caring for one another. Sisters in mission. Sensing God's love. Being the face of Jesus to others in need. Sister Care weekends are designed to help women explore together the question: "How can congregations provide better care for women's needs?" All these were topics gleaned from the workshop held on November 5 & 6, 2010 at East Union Mennonite Church, Kalona, Iowa. During Friday evening's program, Rhoda Shenk Keener and Ruth Lapp Guengerich, led ladies to search for their own "Identity as God's Beloved.” Saturday continued with themes of "Caring for Self and Others," and "Compassionate Listening."
Each table of women had time to get acquainted over coffee and sharing times. Warm soup and slices of layer cake filled our stomachs with nourishment, and music led our hearts into worship. Listening to stories from Cindy Nisly and Carolyn Yoder brought us closer as Christian sisters as we empathized with them and their struggles through personal grief and loss. Comic relief also entered the picture as Rhoda and Lou Ann Miller depicting how NOT to listen well.
The final session entitled "Transforming Loss and Grief" was followed by a time to minister to each other over basins of water. A worn and battered tin water bucket represented Jesus' tears shed for us. As we wiped those tears onto our own faces His presence filled the room. When sisters anointed each other from the second bowl, a sparking crystal one, tears flowed freely and we responded in various ways to God's whisper in our spirits, "You are God's Beloved!"
Women nurturing other women is the challenge Sister Care Seminars seek to accomplish. The weekend was an excellent time of sharing joys and sorrows, expanding our circle of sisters, and defining goals for our own churches and communities.
Please open yourselves to a Sister Care Seminar near you, as more workshops will be offered throughout Central Plains conference. It is truly a time of blessing and renewal among sisters in the spirit. Check the website for dates and locations: www.MennoniteWomenUSA.org.
More about Sister Care
Each table of women had time to get acquainted over coffee and sharing times. Warm soup and slices of layer cake filled our stomachs with nourishment, and music led our hearts into worship. Listening to stories from Cindy Nisly and Carolyn Yoder brought us closer as Christian sisters as we empathized with them and their struggles through personal grief and loss. Comic relief also entered the picture as Rhoda and Lou Ann Miller depicting how NOT to listen well.
The final session entitled "Transforming Loss and Grief" was followed by a time to minister to each other over basins of water. A worn and battered tin water bucket represented Jesus' tears shed for us. As we wiped those tears onto our own faces His presence filled the room. When sisters anointed each other from the second bowl, a sparking crystal one, tears flowed freely and we responded in various ways to God's whisper in our spirits, "You are God's Beloved!"
Women nurturing other women is the challenge Sister Care Seminars seek to accomplish. The weekend was an excellent time of sharing joys and sorrows, expanding our circle of sisters, and defining goals for our own churches and communities.
Please open yourselves to a Sister Care Seminar near you, as more workshops will be offered throughout Central Plains conference. It is truly a time of blessing and renewal among sisters in the spirit. Check the website for dates and locations: www.MennoniteWomenUSA.org.
More about Sister Care