Called by God to serve and witness to all in

Rev. Tina Koenig Ray, BCC, Pastor

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From the Council President ....

Date Attendance General Fund Maint. Cans

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ë January Council Minutes

As recently as the 1970's, women's history was virtually an unknown topic

in the K-12 curriculum or in general public consciousness. To address this

situation, the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County (California)

Commission on the Status of Women initiated a "Women's History Week"

celebration for 1978. We chose the week of March 8 to make International

Women's Day the focal point of the observance. The activities that were

held met with enthusiastic response, and within a few years dozens of schools planned special programs for Women's History Week, over one-hundred community women participated in the Community Resource Women Project, an annual "Real Woman" Essay Contest drew hundreds of entries, and we were staging a marvelous annual parade and program in downtown Santa Rosa, California.

In 1979, a member of our groups was invited to participate in Women's

History Institutes at Sarah Lawrence College, attended by the national leaders of organizations for women and girls. When they learned about our county-wide Women's History Week celebration, they decided to initiate similar celebrations within their own organizations and school districts. They also agreed to support our efforts to secure a Congressional Resolution declaring a "National Women's History Week." Together we succeeded! In 1981, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Rep. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) co-sponsored the first Joint Congressional Resolution.

As word spread rapidly across the nation, state departments of education

encouraged celebrations of National Women's History Week as an effective means to achieving equity goals within classrooms. Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Oregon, Alaska, and other states developed and distributed curriculum materials all of their public schools. Organizations sponsored essay contests and other special programs in their local areas. Within a few years, thousands of schools and communities were celebrating National Women's History Week, supported and encouraged by resolutions from governors, city councils, school boards, and the U.S. Congress.

In 1987, the National Women's History Project petitioned Congress to

expand the national celebration to the entire month of March. Since then, the National Women's History Month Resolution has been approved with bipartisan support in both the House and Senate. Each year, programs and activities in schools, workplaces, and communities have become more extensive as information and program ideas have been developed and shared.

The popularity of women's history celebrations has sparked a new interest in uncovering women's forgotten heritage. A President's Commission on the Celebration of Women in History in America recently sponsored hearings in many sections of the country. It took reports about effective activities and institutions that are promoting women's history awareness and heard recommendations for programs still needed. The Women's Progress Commission will soon begin hearings to ascertain appropriate methods for identifying and then preserving sites of importance to American women's history. In many areas, state historical societies, women's organizations, and groups such as the Girl Scout of the USA have worked together to develop joint programs. Under the guidance of the National Women's History Project, educators, workplace program planners, parents and community organizations in thousands of American communities have turned National Women's History Month into a major focal celebration, and a springboard for celebrating women's history all year 'round.

The National Women's History Project is involved in many efforts to promote multicultural women's history. We produce organizing guides, curriculum units, posters and display sets, videos, and a range of delightful celebration supplies. We also coordinate the Women's History Network, conduct teacher training conferences, and supply materials to people wherever they live through a Women's History Catalog.

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Eternal Candle: The Eternal Candle for March is from Rollyn & Charleta Affeldt in memory of their parents.

Each Sunday in March we will have a special container available for donations to Meals on Wheels

Acolyte: open

KidsKorner: open

Flowers: Bob Kristianson in memory of his son

Y.A.G. host: open

Flowers: Carole Doubleday in memory of Melvin

Acolyte: open

Are you a Carrot, Egg or Coffee???

A young woman was telling her mother how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and
placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she
placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me, what do you see?" "Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hardboiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter asked, "What does it mean?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity... boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?" Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is darkest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

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St. Patrick

-from St. Patrick’s breastplate

March Birthdays (not just 70+ anymore!)

3/1 Mary Mann 3/10 Bonnie Ottow

3/5 Lloyd Holmberg 3/20 Doris Marvin

March Baptism Anniversaries

Rev. Ian Stirrat preaching 212 W. Grand Ave

Many thanks to everyone who made our Chili/Soup cookoff event such a success. To the cooks, who tempted us with delicious concoctions and unusual choices-Bravo! Also thanks to the men who set up the space to allow comfortable movement between tables. The bake sale was excellent, and more thanks go to the bakers and those who ran the sale. Some sold tickets, and many came to enjoy the food and fellowship-Thank you all! The winning cook was Mary Wendtland, and winning table decoration was Bob Brauns. Proceeds from the event so far are $870, which will be matched by Thrivent. The cookoff is a fundraiser for our heating bill, and we appreciate all of the help.-the Outreach Committee

Kalling all Krafty People

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The women of 1st Baptist Church will be sponsoring their 18th Annual Sharing of the Breads on Wednesday, March 15 at 9:30 AM. If you are interested in attending this event, please RSVP to Char Affeldt (365-6423) no later than February 27.

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Program includes Irish jokes by a guest, Cloggers with dancing, corn beef and cabbage lunch, Irish traditions, and Bible Study on St. Patrick.

Program includes emphasis on Church traditions and the old ways of doing things, a guest speaker on Christian faith, and a guest choir or musician.

Program includes exploring ancient tradions of Spring (May Day, etc.), clowns, square dancers, suggestions for Summer activities, and greetings from Area Event Coordinators.

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Three boys are in the schoolyard bragging about their fathers. The first boy says, "My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a poem, they give him $50."

The second boy says, "That's nothing. My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a song, they give him $100."

The third boy says, "I got you both beat. My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a sermon, and it takes eight people to collect all the money!"
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You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to discourage him or her.