Marple Christian CWF / interregional, national and international CWF

next page / Regional CWF

The 2007 Retreat will be Sept. 28, 29, and 30. The theme will be BRINGING OUR STORIES TO THE TABLE.

2007 RETREAT:

BRINGING OUR STORIES TO THE TABLE

We invite you to attend the Pennsylvania Disciples' Women's Retreat in 2007. It will be held from Friday evening at 7(arrive after dinner), Sept. 28 through Sunday noon, Sept. 30, 2007. The 2007 Retreat theme will be “Bringing Our Stories to the Table” led by the Reverend Liz DeWeese. We will be exploring the concepts of 'talking the walk' and 'walking the talk'. It will be a spiritually uplifting time of hearing other women tell their faith journeys, and ways the Lord has worked in our lives, and, if we are willing, in sharing in small groups about our own experiences of how Christ has utilized our lives and helped us grow stronger in faith.

The location of the 2007 Retreat will be Laurelview Camp. Some local Bed and Breakfast Inns and motels are being recruited for more comfortable quarters for those who are not up to the full 'camp' experience, but will require an additonal cost. Laurelview camp has three heated buildings for sleeping which have indoor toilets, and showers with hot running water, besides the large meeting/dining room. For each woman there will be a single bedframe with a mattress provided. For those who plan to stay at the camp, please bring with you the following: a pillow with pillowcase, either a sleeping bag or sheets and blankets (I always bring both, using the sleeping bag as under cushion or top comforter), a cushy pad to put between the mattress and your bedding if you appreciate softness, pajamas or other sleepwear, slippers, two towels, a washcloth, a flashlight, and whatever toiletries you would take with you on any trip, like shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrush, comb, lotion, and most importantly, bring your prescription medicines. Remember that on top of a beautiful mountain in the Laurel Mountains at the end of September can require layers of warm clothing and a warm jacket. Check weather reports to know if you should bring boots. It is quite acceptable to bring snacks with you as well. We expect to have a bonfire this year.

Here are some activities to be expected at a retreat:

...a good speaker and some sharing (voluntary- no pressure)

Our guest program speaker in 2005 was Jackie Bunch (far left) from Indianapolis. The 2005 theme was The Fabric of Our Lives. She was good at getting people to willingly stand up and share themselves (but no one was made to feel they had to). Above, Helen Long, from western PA, is the first to tell why she identifies herself with the fabric "cotton". Below, Emily Treat, from Marple Christian Church in Broomall, shares why she is "cotton". "Stronger when wet" was one of the characteristics of cotton. Reverend Bunch gave us each a sheet that described all the different fabrics and we could choose which description seemed to fit our personalities best.

...a retreat has singing

...and fellowship

...plenty of snacking (and eating good food at meals, too)

please continue to next page