Arkansas Time for JOY

A Prayer for the Team
Almighty God, we pray that you will bless Time for JOY and the team dedicated to this ministry. So fill our (their) hearts with your love that we (they) might be a beacon to young women searching for a spiritual path. Provide us (them) with the skills and knowledge needed to guide and gently nurture the hearts and souls of the young women participating, so they may experience a Time for JOY. All this we ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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.

A Prayer for after the Retreat
O Lord, who brought the Time for JOY retreatants to a place of joy and love, guide and protect them as they return to the daily routine of their lives. Be with them as they continue their spiritual journey of life in Christ. Amen.

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Our Wish List

Hospitality for the weekend is intentional and generous and includes immediate comfort needs, just for fun items, items that transform the ordinary into the holy, items to stimulate creativity, items that celebrate the feminine, and items that serve long-term faith journey needs. Some suggested items are listed below, but you are invited to use your imagination and creativity to come up with your own hand-made or store-bought gift items.

• Gum, Mints, Candy, Chocolate
• Small bottles of Lotion, Shampoo, Conditioner
• Emery Boards and nail polish, Perfume
• Bath Salts and Pretty Soaps, Candles, and Votives
• Potpourri, Pretty Notepads, and Pretty Pens
• Jewelry and Beadwork, Journals
• Prayer Books, Inspirational Books
• Wall Crosses, Free-standing crosses
• Rosaries and Prayer Beads, Windsocks

Don’t have time to shop or create? We are glad to accept financial contributions for gift items. You may choose to send 24 items, one for each retreatant, or to send just what you can. If you can only send one of something, that is fine. We will mix and match to equally distribute among the candidates. It is not mandatory, but you are invited to include a gift tag on your gift which identifies the name and location of the group giving the gift. To avoid excessive duplication, please let us know what items you plan to contribute by contacting a member of the steering committee.

Angel Team

The power behind the hospitality of the retreat comes from the energetic Angel Team, our volunteers who work to make the retreat go smoothly and beautifully.  Many times, past retreatants see this as an opportunity to give back to the ministry that rewarded them.  Also, this provides older women in the diocese a chance to see the new faces in the Church and to offer their support.  Volunteers can come for the whole weekend or just for a day.  Work begins on Thursday, and all is finished by Sunday afternoon.  Please contact the Steering Committee if you are interested in volunteering in this rewarding ministry.