From left: Carol Kiker, Retreat Co-Chair, Sande Rivas, Women’s Ministry Chair and Diana Walker, Retreat Speaker
Terry Barringer
The women of Community Church of SaddleBrooke celebrated the first day of spring with a very successful retreat. The beautiful hills of The Highlands at Dove Mountain provided the venue for 120 ladies who gathered to spend a day of reflection, refreshment and fellowship.
“Journey of Love” was the theme of the retreat. Diana Walker, long-time volunteer and staff member of Family Radio, was invited to share the story of the journey that she described as “a road from a religion to a relationship.” Diana gave us a glimpse into a life that started with unbelief and ended with a deep love of Jesus Christ. She told about the death of her loving husband of over 40 years, her period of contented living as a single lady and the miraculous introduction into her life of a new gentleman who is now her husband of two years. Quite a journey it was!
A favorite time at any retreat is when we get to worship the Lord in music. The women were led by the enthusiastic team of Leah Kari and Brooke McIntyre who kept the group on key and at pace. Accompanying this retreat choir was our own Joanne Thomas, an accomplished concert pianist whose love of music is apparent with the first notes from her keyboard. Soloist Maureen Volle offered a special gift. Her beautiful rendition of Standing On Holy Ground and The Real Me brought chills to the hushed women. The hills of Dove Mountain were certainly alive with the sound of music this spring day.
The topic for table discussion was Hospitality. All the ladies had an opportunity to talk about what hospitality meant to them, how they had observed or experienced it, how they offered it and the times it was offered to them. To kick off this session, four ladies related their experiences to the group. Carol Aeschliman, Patti Gordon, Carol Kiker and Susie Williams shared their personal experiences with hospitality ranging from the play-yard, to the home, to the church, to the powder room.
Sande Rivas and Carol Kiker, chairwomen of the event, expressed thanks and appreciation to the committee members who worked so diligently on the retreat. “It takes many servants using their gifts and talents,” said Carol Kiker as she thanked Linda Barr, Terry Barringer, Joanne Fairweather, Margaret Falkowski, Bev Frazee, Susie Gannett, Leah Kari, Nancy Klawitter, Brooke McIntyre, Cathy Scott, Vicki Tessitore, Joanne Thomas, Norma Weaver, Terri Wilson and the table discussion leaders for their contribution to the retreat.
“Great day—can’t wait for the next retreat,” was heard uttered by some ladies as they left spiritually blessed and fully refreshed.
CCSB is a non-denominational group of believers meeting at the DesertView Theatre in SaddleBrooke every Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m. All are welcome.