The Women’s Retreat was held Feb. 29th to March 2nd and the theme was a spiritual journey to: JOY. The entire weekend had an airline theme with stewardesses advising passengers to check their mental & emotional baggage at the gate and learn how to relax and enjoy this trip that is “life.” It was a spiritual adventure of a very varied kind.
Throughout the weekend we were addressed by some very talented and life-affirming women. Pam Heatley our keynote speaker spoke to us about soaring through our journey with Christ as our grounding, how not to travel with too much baggage and what to do when we hit turbulence. She encouraged us to share our stories with one another. We were also asked to take an inventory of those things in our lives that we could leave behind, what we could not do without and what we might want to save to review for change.
Workshops were held by Gedge Driscoll, Sharon Knol and Polly Vanderkruik. Gedge presented us with different and beautiful ways one could pray. Sharon showed us a video that depicted quite vividly how song and nature can raise one up from the depths of despair to accept a journey fraught “with danger, toil and snares” but also infused with “love, laughter and hope.” Polly spoke to us about how her faith journey has been made richer by her service to God’s people.
We partook of wonderful food, drink and listened to music led by Amy Smith and Claire Murphy. We spent our days and nights getting to know each other better. We walked a candle-lit labyrinth constructed entirely by our own Women of Vision that was layered with artifacts rich with meaning, encircled by ceremonial music meant to calm, and held in an atmosphere that resonated with healing words intoned for our contemplation. We had our feet washed, our spirits cleansed and our faith renewed. We learned how a life of service could mean that bone-tiredness can and does exist with a happiness of the highest order and we were assured that we are never traveling on our journeys alone. It was a first-class flight and we hope that those who did not come this year can make the trip with us another time. We can guarantee that you’ll have a pleasant flight because we were reminded that during even the most frightening storms some of us may be lucky enough to have our friends beside us but we all have a God who is always with us - a loving God who holds ALL of our lives in the palm of His hand.
Special thanks to the design team, Teresa Robertson, Deb Holton-Smith, Genevieve Avino, Judy Lyons, Deb Patterson, Eileen Fisher, Pam Durante-Williams.
