Joy!

In spite of a deluge of rain on Saturday night, our ladies had a terrific retreat on JOY this past weekend.  There was a Euchre tournament, too many snacks, and strange gnats, but over all it was a lovely time for prayer, praise and renewed purpose!



Several of the ladies found it very difficult to tolerate our side-ways Y!  Even after we explained the emphasis on choosing JOY no matter our circumstances (as represented in our sideways Y)... many were still unable to resist straightening the Y.  Got to be a joke.

Of course, what retreat would be a retreat without an opportunity for a prayer walk on a Labyrinth!  Here is Calvary's own Renewal Labyrinth perfectly set in our worship room for the weekend.

Several ladies enjoyed some quiet, personal time in this lovely space.

With the heat and humidity, this quiet, cool space was lovely for prayer.

Our cross become a focal point during our worship services... here you can barely see the tissue papers that are pinned to it.

Each woman wrote of what busts or blocks her joy and we left that on the cross for Christ to restore, heal. and redeem Friday night.

After a day of teaching, Saturday evening we draped our cross with the beautiful, colorful ribbon circle of "Remember When".

Retreatants scribbled a time in their past when God was there for her on the ribbon... these were then tied together to help one another remember.  After a beautiful group dance of blessing and singing of how God holds us, we together adorned our cross!

Indeed joy burst forth from us in celebration, thanksgiving and praise!

Joy- Women's Retreat

 Less than a week from now my bags will be packed for yet another retreat.  Hard to fathom that I have been leading and facilitating retreat ministry for almost two decades now.  Geez- what does that mean?  Probably not much.  Still something to learn.

Here we go again... taking over two dozen women on retreat in the woods. We're not ready... shopping to do, sessions to write, bread to bake, snacks to make, gift bags to create, and setting to embellish!  While I avoid my retreat preparations nostalgia blooms. 

Because I am feeling nostalgic about retreats with Calvary UMC ladies... here are my set of unique memories.  Remember when:

• the carpet caught on fire at the retreat center because our sparkler activity well, caught on fire.
• ladies (not to be named) stayed up all night to talk, talk and talk!
• Orpah made an appearance!
• we drove hours and hours up north to Lindenwood...and there was nothing nearby to eat!
• we had a volleyball game and cheerleaders?
• multiple microwaves were put to use for the creation of our scarves (and we burned one up).
• the year we had to call 911 because one of our ladies fell down the stairs?
• retreat that we hired a massage therapist for everyone?
• the retreat leader (me) sent terrible directions and got half the women lost in Tipton!?
• one of you walked a labyrinth for the first time and fell in love with God more deeply?
• we laughed and laughed and laughed so hard our cheeks hurt and our abs got a workout?
• the baby pool for Sara's first baby that a certain pastor did not know how to organize because she knows so little about gambling?
• we had to beg the retreat center kitchen to bake our communion bread.
• Clari Bel, Dodie and Laurel would anchor our retreats in wisdom... not to mention other amazing women like Lodoscia.
• our last year at Tipton- St. Joseph's Retreat and Conference Center. so sad.

You may have your favorite memories...share one with a friend.  Or make a new one with us.

Rejected Poems!

Earlier this year I sent several poems into a publication which I humbly thought met their thematic requirements.

Both were rejected!  "Boo", said my husband.

In the interest of sharing and also the risk of rejection or at least dislike, here are my poems; Am I and Prism of Self In Prayer.  Enjoy. Or Not.

Am I

I am a woman.

gifted

balanced

insightful

compassionate

loving

hardworking

funny

inquisitive

playful

passionate

sexual

uncertain

afraid

impatient

lonely.

I am a woman.

            Sister

Granddaughter

Leader

Pastor

Daughter

Cousin

Friend

Mother

Confidant

Teacher

Preacher

Shepherd

Spiritual director

Prophet

Prayer

I am a woman.

and it isn’t easy

being me.  

Prism of Self-In-Prayer

Who am I before God? In prayer?

I am yellow

            light - surrounded by.

I am purple

                        bowed -bent low to.

I am deep blue

                        poor – in spirit with.

I am pink

                        finite – graced upon.

I am magenta 

                        small – magnitude of glory.

I am burgundy

                        Human – loved by Divine.

I am in the sight of God

Who is.

I am me- before God.

Search me and know my heart.