Speakers
Speakers at the J.O.Y weekend provide an opening on Friday evening, a lecture on Saturday and offer the homily before Eucharist at the Chapel service on Sunday. Most importantly, though, they exude wisdom and beauty, providing us with insight so that we might also find God’s wonder within ourselves and all around us.
Rev. Suzanne Stoner, photo courtesy Andrew Kilgore
2012 — Rev. Suzanne Stoner
Suzanne’s no stranger to Time for JOY and has been an advocate for the ministry from the beginning. She’s served before as celebrant, also sharing her healing touch and spiritual direction. This year we’re delighted to welcome her back as keynote speaker, where she will share her wisdom and practice at striving to keep Jesus, others, and self in balance.
Suzanne serves as priest at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Fayetteville.
2011 — Rev. Susan Payne
Rev. Susan Payne will serve as presenter and chaplain for the 2011 retreat. Susan recently retired from full-time ministry and now serves as Missionary Priest for St. James, Magnolia, and Priest Associate for Trinity Cathedral.
In her full life, Susan’s passions include backpacking with her husband and grandson, cooking, gardening, exploring the Christian faith with children, and hanging out with all kinds of sisters: women of all ages, friends, book lovers, neighbors, dreamers, and kin.
Regarding inspiration for this year’s theme, Susan shares, “I was wondering about a theme for Time for Joy when the old Bo Diddley song, ”Who do you love?” popped into my mind. I trust those messages even when they make no apparent sense!” she said. “So, our theme this year is Who do you love?”
- Beth Maze
2010 — Beth Maze
Beth Maze grew up in Mississippi in a large family that laughs a lot. She’s a happily married mother of two daughters. She is presently the Chaplain and Religion teacher – as well as the music teacher – for The Cathedral School in Little Rock. She loves to knit, read, play the piano, rearrange the furniture with her husband, play with her grandson, and look at the ocean. Her topics for Time for JOY will have as their center “Consciousness and Mindfulness.” She’ll talk with us about listening to the Wisdom within, and creating rituals in the everyday stuff of our lives.
Sara Milford, photo courtesy of Andrew Kilgore
2009 — Sara Milford
“Birthing the Woman Within” describes what Sara shared over the weekend. A J.O.Y. retreatant from the first year in 2005, Sara has continued her spiritual journey, incorporating her role as a mother of four and a birth advocate, educator and doula. She maintains a blog, EverydaySimple. Retreatants experienced love and comfort, discussed tools for making their work manageable and heard a message to encourage and support them for their return home.
2008 — Jennifer Dillahay, M.D.
Bringing her life experience in stories and her sincerity in smiles, Jennifer encouraged retreatants to put themselves first, giving practical information from Cheryl Richardson’s book Take Time for Your Life. Jennifer also enlisted the help of ladies from her own women’s group at church to help lead small coaching sessions so retreatants had the opportunity to focus on areas of interest.
Rev. Susan Sims Smith
2007 — Rev. Susan Sims-Smith
Rev. Sims-Smith plays a leading role in bringing awareness of the sacred feminine and other aspects of natural spirituality to our Arkansas Diocese through the SeedWork Ministry. We were grateful to welcome her to our midst, receiving and sharing her message.
2006 — Rev. Alma Beck
Rev. Alma Beck shared her message on the importance of taking care of yourself. She emphasized that you can’t have joy without taking care of You in your own unique way. She delighted all with her warmth and humor, sharing especially with those who attended her “Praying in Stitches” session, combining handwork and prayer. Having inspired many at Women’s Institute, delighting all with her warmth and humor, it was wonderful to have her share a weekend at Time for J.O.Y.
Nelda McDermott, Sara Milford, Rev. Peggy Hayes
2005 — Rev. Peggy Hays
Rev. Hayes spoke on walking our paths in Beauty. Indeed, she challenges us all to find the grace of Spirit in every moment. Her own connection to Spirit is shared with all in her presence. She was Vicar of St. Peter’s in Conway, AR from 1990-1998.