Columbus Assembly 2009
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Seated at the table are Elizabeth Soto Albrecht, Nancy Roynon (guest from audience), Megan Ramer, and Regina Shands Stoltzfus |
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Women's Dinner
Kitchen Table Theology, an informal way that women talk about their theology around the kitchen table, brought 280 women to the Mennonite Women USA dinner in Columbus. Regina Shands Stoltzfus began the conversation, saying: “I am 100% sure that all of you practice Kitchen Table Theology.” With Regina were Elizabeth Soto Albrecht and Megan Ramer, and one empty chair, an invitation to the audience to join the conversation. |
Megan said: ““Body and spirit are united around the kitchen table where the heart, the smell, the tastes are. You can’t move company into the living room.” Elizabeth: “There is healing when we come to the table and the symbol of the round table. In Bogota the poor always invite us to their table. Those who have more have to have everything right. Jesus is at the table with us. And after the meal there is the sending”
Jean Emery came to the table and said: “I was a recipient of Kitchen Table Theology while having cancer treatment and away from home. A woman came to me in the waiting room with two muffins on a plate and invited me to talk. She listened for two hours helping more than she knew.”
Vikki Pruett Sorrells joined the conversation, “Jesus takes us just as we are. The plates don’t match. The knives and forks are all different. You’re going to find the soul of the house in the kitchen.”
Regina concluded: “We have to eat to live. It is in ordinariness there is also holiness. Because it is ordinary, I hope we don’t discount it.” |
| Worship at the women's dinner was provided by Anointed Voices of Joy, an acapella women's ensemble from Lee Heights Community Church, Cleveland, who minister through song. |
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Kitchen Table Angel centerpieces were donated by Ohio Mennonite Women.
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Kitchen Table Theology
at Mennonite Women USA booth
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Read the article on Kitchen Table Theology
from MPress (July 2, 2009). |
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Visitors at the booth with Barb Voth
MW USA board member from Nebraska (right) |
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Rachel Sartori, Arizona, with a young timbrel fan.
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Kayla Tracy and Charlynne Rhinehart, both from Sarasota, with the last of the chocolate.
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Joann Miller, Montana, brought prayer shawls to be shared at Sister-Care seminars. |
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Mentor-mentee at the delegate session, Linda Goering (right) and Katie Gillmore, both from Kansas |
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