QuarterlyNews for PresbyterianWomen Leaders Download this resource at www.presbyterianwomen.org. In the Search box, type Quarterly Newsletter. August–October 2019 Presbyterian Women Churchwide Summer busy with synod gatherings, USA Mission Experience, pillowcases and more It has been a busy summer for PW in the PC(USA)! • Most PW Synod groups have held gatherings. Visit PW’s Facebook page to see photos from some of them. The “Cultivating PW” toolkit was a big hit at these gatherings. Download instructions for making your own at www.pres byterianwomen.org/downloads/cultivating-pw-toolkit/. Or order a kit with stakes and signs (www.presbyterianwomen.org/shop; item PWR19102; $10). • Women from 13 synods visited the Finger Lakes Region of New York during the 2019 USA Mission Expericence (see photo below). Learn more in the November/December issue of Horizons magazine. • PW held its first annual “PW Gives” Day. Learn more on page 6. • Pillowcases have arrived by the dozens for the Together in Service pillowcase project. More than 2,000 pillowcases have been received at PW’s national offices (see photo, right). Women demonstrated their love, concern and prayers for children affected by Hurricane Maria by creating personalized pillowcases to be distributed through churches and schools in the three presbyteries on the island of Puerto Rico. Pillowcases are being sent to Puerto Rico this month. If you still have some, contact [email protected] for additional information. USA Mission Experience participants—Front rows, from left: Carissa Herold, staff; Erma Jones, Synod of South Atlantic; Lois Carter, local planner; Corinne Quinn, Synod of the Pacific; Jo Ann Burrell, vice moderator for mission; Lisa Gray, Synod of the Northeast; Avys Massey, Synod of Mid-Atlantic; Rita Hooper, local planner; Yvonne Hileman, staff. Middle rows: Julie Launey, Synod of the Sun; JyungIn Lee, moderator, PW in the PC(USA); Joanne Schuetz, Synod of Living Waters; Virginia Champlin, local planning coordinator; Linda Werts, local planner; Margaret Mitsuyasu, synod staff, Synod of the Northeast. Back rows, from left: Carol Main, Synod of the Southwest; Beth Kochheiser, Synod of the Covenant; Laurie Peil, Synod of Alaska-Northwest; Martha Manning, Synod of the Trinity; Jan Albert, Synod of Living Waters; Rhoda Frasier, Synod of Mid-America; Gail Heimbuck, Synod of the Rocky Mountains; Chris Evans, Synod of the Sun; Cheryl Mayo, Synod of Mid-America; Jeri Joy, Synod of the Rocky Mountains; and Gayle Timilione, Synod of Southern California/Hawaii. Don’t miss what’s inside! • Thank Offering flier • Moderator’s message • Justice calendar • Mission message • and lots more! Justice and Peace We Will Speak Out! offers resources for congregations seeking to address violence against women By Marilynn Collins, PW moderator partner with IMA World Health and five-step resource designed to be used Synod of the Rocky Mountains Faith Trust Insitute to raise awareness of to educate church leaders (including the symptoms of abuse, and more im- PW members!) about the best ways to “It’s an epidemic! We are helpless to portantly, teach us to respond to the confront the isolation, shame and si- stop it!” These words are used for many crisis, to listen to a survivor and support lence that surround survivors. Down- crises these days, but we are not her in her hour of need. load the Sacred Spaces resource kit for helpless! Domestic abuse, also known Survivors may also be men, but our free from wewillspeakout.us. And use it! as sexual and gender-based violence, focus is on the women who sit around The site also offers a prayer resource, is one epidemic to which Presbyterian and among us in the pews and chairs sermon guide, statistics, and other re- Women has chosen to respond. One in of our churches, at worship and in cir- sources for education. A resource three women in the U.S. experience cles and gatherings. These are places specifically for clergy, Broken Silence sexual assault or stalking during their they feel safe enough to relax a few 2.0: Pastors’ Attitudes and Actions lifetime; one in four has been moments, among women they trust. Around Domestic and Sexual Violence physically assaulted/battered/beaten. Who are they? Anyone. Smartly in the #metoo Era, has recently been We can help. dressed or shabbily dressed, smiling or updated. Commend it to your pastor. Domestic abuse often includes isola- sad, slumped and in pain, those who As we reach out to those in crisis, the tion, whether from a sense of worth- never look you in the face, and those first steps are welcoming, listening and lessness assumed by the abused or as who used to be regular visitors but now believing. The woman has chosen you a weapon of the abuser. When we are rarely seen. Some masks are hard for a reason! You are trusted. Respond choose to act, we break a cycle and to decipher, don’t ignore them, At the to that trust by paying full attention, of- provide hope. As women together in same time, don’t rush to give them a fering assurance, and encouraging her faith, we can strengthen our circles, big hug. They may be fragile. to seek help. Do not send her home or congregations and friendships, and Learn to listen, present an attitude of tell her to “work it out.” Use the recom- become a more loving community. trust and compassion, refuse to offer mended resources. Be ready when you Quality resources abound. For an opinions; be a friend and willing sup- hear your sisters crying for help! excellent all-around introduction, port, accompanying her to the hospi- Go to https://imaworldhealth.org Texas Impact, a not-for profit social jus- tal, if needed. Most of us have no idea and https://wewillspeakout.us/ tice advocacy group, has compiled a what our friends go through on a daily resources for the above-mentioned detailed, user-friendly toolkit, Respond- basis. Survivors come to us believing resources/tools. Also see One in Three: ing to Family Violence, which offers that the friendly shoulder of a sister in Preventing Sexual Violence in Our definitions, information and resources faith is a starting place. Communities from We Will Speak Out. for recognizing abusive situations, ad- Presbyterian Women and pastors Other resources vocacy opportunities, and tools for often hear the first cries for help. And • Thursdaysinblack.com, an effort of supporters and those at risk. See few of us know what to do when we the World Council of Churches http://texasimpact.org/2019/04/ hear it. Pastors receive little or no for- • Turn Mourning into Dancing: A Policy responding-to-family-volence-a- mal training; PW friends even less. Statement on Healing Domestic toolkit-for-congregations. Materials compiled by IMA World Violence (PC(USA), 2001)—www.pc First responders and local and state Health offer us a beginning. They are usa.org/site_media/ media/uploads specialists are also excellent resources. also excellent resources for circle and /oga/publications/ dancing.pdf. For practical awareness raising and gathering programs. Sacred Spaces: skill development turn to a program A Resource for Faith Communities to entitled We Will Speak Out, published Prevent and Respond to Sexual and Thank you to all PW who by IMA World Health. PW continues to Gender-based Violence is an online have given to Together in Service Puerto Rico! Top Synods in Each Major Giving Category Following Hurricane Maria, Presbyterian January–May 2019 Women in the Synod of Puerto Rico quickly mobilized to serve their communities and churches. Though the island’s infrastructure was badly dam- aged, PW in Puerto Rico continue to work toward long-term recovery. Through Together in Service Puerto Rico, women from every synod can offer support to women in the Synod of Puerto Rico. Donations are being used for recovery efforts in three key —$11,281 —$8,369 areas: water supply, community ntic—$6,537 building, and home reconstruction. For more information, contact PW’s cific—$2,389 uthwest—$2,777 mission associate, Cheri Harper, South Atlantic South Synod of Sun of Synod Trinity—$20,377 So Trinity—$28,941 Covenant—$24,513 Atlantic—$22,358 South Mid-Atlantic—$21,329 Mid-Atla Pa Waters—$1,160 Living Lakes & Prairies—$30,480 & Lakes at [email protected]. Give at www.presbyterianwomen.org/give. Annual Fund Birthday Offering Thank Offering Together in Service Page 2 • Presbyterian Women Quarterly Newsletter • August–October 2019 Justice and Peace Calendar* Moderator’s Message . October—Domestic Violence Awareness Month By JyungIn (Jenny) Lee 6 World Communion Sunday 6 Domestic Violence Awareness Sunday; Fasting from coffee? 11 International Day of the Girl Child Summer is here, blooming, steaming and 14 Indigenous Peoples’ Day sometimes blazing. But the summer has its 16 World Food Day own flowers and fruits. My husband buys wa- 20 Children’s Sabbath: Educate a Child, Transform the World termelons; I try not to run out of nectarines. 24 United Nations Day And the summer flowers are truly spectacular! 25 Orange Day The summer also seems to bring irregular rhythms to life for November—Native American Heritage Month a lot of people. It may be a slow time for some and a hectic 10 Caregiver Sunday 13 World Kindness Day time for others. When life is hectic, I create to-do lists to 17 Hunger and Homelessness Sunday tackle it. It brings me great joy to cross things off my to-do list. 20 Universal Children's Day I am sure some of you are nodding in agreement. 25 Orange Day The problem is, I don’t have just one to-do list, I have 25 Int’l Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women many! I have things listed on small memo pads, scribbled on 25–D.10 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence scratch papers, and written on assorted colors of Post-It 28 Thanksgiving notes.