Annual Day of Mennonite Women of Virginia Conference
At PMC
Theme: Songs
by the River
Each
year women from across Virginia gather for a day of fellowship, worship, and
mission giving.
This
year the women at Powhatan were privileged to be chosen to host this annual
event.
Come
and be blessed as you renew friendships and experience the love of God with
other Christian women.
|
Schedule 8:30
Fellowship/Coffee/Juice/Food 9:30
Opening
Roll Call
Welcome: Rosalie Moyer
“Recognizing & Using Our Gifts for His Glory” by Esther
Augsberger
(Esther will be sharing her life story in this session)
Mission Projects 12:00
Lunch—Provided by women of PMC 1:00
“Giving our Gifts: Singing Our Songs for His Glory” by Esther
Augsberger
(Esther will tell a story about “Songs by The River,”
a metaphor for our lives) 3:00
Closing · Baby
sitting will be provided for children ages 3 and under · For
more information contact Rosalie Moyer, Dorothy Powell or Doris Ranck |
About
Our Guest Speaker
Esther Augsburger was born in India to missionary parents. As a child,
Esther began her art career by carving green mangos and papayas into
people, animals and other shapes.
She made dolls out of sticks, rags and stones. In the evenings, she drew
pictures by lamplight, listening to the howls of jackals. Esther attended a
British boarding school in the Himalayan Mountains and later attended high
school in the U.S., taking every available art class.
Myron Augsburger was a seminary student when Esther married him. Finally at the
age of 36 and three children later, she was able to continue her formal
education in art. She has studied in Switzerland, Italy and numerous other
colleges and universities, now holding two degrees, in sculpture and secondary
education art. She has been awarded many honors throughout the years and her
work has been commissioned by many great names, including President Jimmy
Carter. Recently, there was a building at Eastern Mennonite University named in
her honor, the Esther K. Augsburger Art Center.
Primarily, Esther is a sculptor, but she is also skilled in painting and
ceramics. Some of her sculptures are cast in bronze and are displayed around the
world.
To quote Myron, Esther’s husband, “She
is known in religious circles in U.S. and abroad for bringing her faith, social
concerns and art together. She believes that her sculptures are extensions of
who she is and expressions of her multi-cultural background and experience. She
has been a strong influence in opening doors and minds of religious groups to
the importance of art in faith and culture and to being more supportive of
visual artists.”
What a privilege to have Esther as our guest speaker at Annual Missions Day, May
6! Come and be blessed as Esther shares her experiences with us.