The Role of Women...

Pastor Hal at Trinity Mennonite Church in Glendale played portion of an audio tape from Meagan Goode of Oregon as part of his sermon this morning. He was talking about some of the beginnings of the "Upside Down Kingdom" when the earliest news of the gospel was shared with two insignificant women. Meagan's audio talked about how you would really NOT want to have been a woman at that point in history.

It started me thinking about the incredible women that we have in leadership roles in my home state of Washington that would not even have been allowed to venture out of the confines of their homes in that day and age. Senators Cantwell and Murray and Governor Gregiore are role models that any little girl can model her aspirations on. My friend Mary is the longest serving Health Secretary in the United States. What a waste of talent and brains it would have been if they were dis-regarded.

I think of the "strong Menno women" (as my daughters and I always described them) of my home church and what incredible role models they were. Now those ladies are the elderly or they have passed on. But, what is exciting to see, is how the younger women of the congregation are stepping up into those same roles. Wives and mothers, teachers and store keepers, nurses and caregivers, writers and scientists, administrators and lawyers.

True, for many of us, it is a good time to be alive and to be a female. We must remember though, that there are still parts of the the world where that is not so.

Whenever you doubt what God thinks of you, a mere woman, remember that not only were Mary and Elizabeth the first to know of the good news, it was also women who were the first to know of the resurrection!

Puttin' Up the Tent!

Next Saturday, October 6th, is the Mennonite Country Auction at Menno Mennonite Church, out in the country between Ritzville and Moses Lake, Washington! The auction -- and the food and craft booths -- help raise money for relief for MCC (Mennonite Central Committee). Our sale is one of many held throughout the United States. MCC has a reputation of not only having a very small overhead (because of the volunteers) as well as assurance that relief supplies go where they are intended. Because of that, we get people from all over the state that come for a day of good food and fellowship and to contribute to world relief.

Today after church (and lunch furnished by Diane), it was time to set up the big tent. This is where the quilts to be auctioned will be displayed as well as nicer collectibles that are for sale.

First the three sections of the tent are laid out on the edge of the parking lot --

Here's Pastor Matthew pounding in one of the many stakes that will be used to tie down the tent --

When finished, there is a whole line of stakes all around what will be the perimeter of the tent --

Next the three sections of the tent are laced together. Menno's littlest folks have the nimble fingers needed to connect the sections --

They work hard with their dads and grandads to get the job done --

The fun thing about the auction is the way EVERYONE pitches in to help --

The guy ropes are attached to the rings on each section --

Okay, all laced together and ready to go --

Michael gets to crawl under to set the first of the three center poles --

The fellows raise the pole on the inside while the crew pulls from the outside --

One up!

And soon, all three have been raised --

Next the side poles are inserted, then the guy ropes are pulled tight and snugged down --

We didn't stay to see the side walls put on, but I'll take some pictures of the completed tent when we come down to stay at the ranch later this week.

There have been more and more lovely quilts showing up at the church from places as disparate as New York and Pennsylvania. They have been on display in the back of the sanctuary adding to the excitement about the coming sale. (You can see them at: www.mennonitecountryauction.mennonite.net/)