Arkansas Time for JOY

For all of you anxiously awaiting the opportunity to honor a young woman in your parish, the time is now!

Our registration page has a form you can print, fill out, and mail to Jordan, our registrar.  (We know.  It’s a bit old-fashioned, and we hope you don’t mind.  Sometimes it’s nice to see actual handwriting, isn’t it?)

Please don’t forget that we need support, too!  Volunteer as an Angel on our Angel Team, or send gifts for the retreatants!  (For volunteers, please contact Sara; for gifts, please contact Kelly.)

It is our gift to share this ministry with every woman in our diocese.  We know that by taking care of those who care so generously for others, our reach extends further than we could ever imagine.  Most importantly, we hope that those who attend Time for JOY learn how to care for themselves, continuing the nurturing of self even after they’ve left the mountain.

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.

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).