Arkansas Time for JOY

Our 6th annual Time for JOY retreat will be April 23rd-25th, 2010, at the beautiful Camp Mitchell.  There’s something for everyone in the diocese to do to support this important ministry for women ages 19-40something.

• Sponsors:  Seek out a young woman in your midst who needs a break, a time to renew her spirit.  Two per congregation is ideal, but more are welcome, as space allows.  The retreat is limited to 24 participants, so register early!

• Young Women:  Speak up!  This is what you need, and your Church knows you deserve it.

• Congregations:  Support the young women who are coming.  Help them plan for childcare, meals, and travel, if needed.  Encourage them to share their experience upon return and watch what a difference your support makes in their spiritual journey.

• Volunteers:  Whether you’re a past retreatant or a more experienced woman in life, we welcome you to participate in this rewarding ministry.  Serve on our committee or help us for the weekend on our Angel Team by contacting Sara [sara (at) everydaysimple (dot) org].  You can also help by donating gifts, goods and funds.  Thank you for your support!

• All: Pray for our retreatants and volunteers.  We already have a prayer prepared.

Chapel of Transfiguration, Camp Mitchell

Every year since 2005, the team never fails to be amazed at the presence of Spirit and the generosity of our diocese.  Our 2009 retreat was no exception.

The young women were blanketed in hospitality and nurtured in Spirit.  The speaker Sara Milford encouraged every woman to listen to who they really are and sent them away with blessings from each other.  The Sunday morning Eucharist always sounds like a choir of angels.

For those of you who didn’t get to experience Time for JOY, either as a retreatant or a team member, we encourage you to get involved now.  Although registration doesn’t open until January, planning begins the summer before.  Church women can be looking for the next women who need an oasis on their spiritual journey.  If you would like to serve on the team, please contact sara at everydaysimple dot org.

Again, many thanks to everyone who made this year happen, and even more importantly, thanks be to God!

As we get closer to this year’s retreat, we are reminded how amazingly everything comes together, how quickly and effortlessly Spirit moves amongst us.

As part of the team, we worry if all will be well, if women will respond to the call to come, if we will have enough.  After a few breaths and many prayers, Spirit speaks to us, too, calming all anxieties, reassuring us, calling us to Trust.  This is a ministry for us, and it is one we are wise to bring into our daily lives.

Whether you are a retreatant, a sponsor, a donor or a team member, know that we are grateful for each other.  We gives thanks for you and all you have done or are about to do and for all you have to teach us.  May we all remember to let Spirit speak in our lives.

If you are interested in sending a woman to Time for JOY or coming yourself, please visit the Registration page, print the form and mail, along with registration fee, to Jordan.

We limit the number of women coming from each church to two, but if more would like to come, we have a waiting list.  The goal is to have as many churches represented as possible.

If you have questions, feel free to contact Shellie (shellieb2 at cox dot net) or Jordan (jordan8778 at hotmail dot com).

A Prayer for Young Women
Gracious God, prepare the hearts of the young women of our diocese so they may yearn for a retreat which gives them time to relax and be nurtured along a spiritual path, drawing them closer to You and Your love. Gently speak their name so they might hear your call. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Pause.  Breathe deeply.  Deeper.  Exhale.  Fully.

We all need time to pause, time to reflect on who we are, not only in relation to our family and work but also in relation to Spirit, to God, to Christ.  It’s time we honored our true Selves, the woman God means for us to be.

Whether you are an Arkansas Episcopal church looking to learn more, a young woman looking for an escape, an older woman wondering what to do or anything between or beyond, we hope to bring you closer to what you seek.  Explore what our site has to offer.  Ask if you need further information.

Arkansas Episcopal Church Women welcomes you to experience Time for J.O.Y. (Jesus, Others and Yourself).