October 21-22, 2022
Friday, Oct. 21: 6 pm to Saturday, October 22: 4 pm
Retreat Center
7415 E Elbow Bend Road Carefree AZ 85377 http://spiritinthedesert.org
Join us for a week-end event focused on our theme. We’ll expand the “empowerment theme” introduced at the WELCA Cactus Conference in March, with activities centered on Dwelling in the Word and then learning about stories and programs that change women’s lives. Changes that occurred Biblically, internationally, and here in our own Grand Canyon Synod. Women’s lives impacted by organizations such as Peter’s Hope, LSS-SW’s I-Help, Days for Girls, the Navajo Lutheran Mission and our own Latina sisters. We hope to inspire YOU to empower other women! You’ll experience prayer, music, meditation, laughter, fun and food!
Featured Speakers include Rev. Dr. Meghan Johnston Aelabouni (who will Zoom with us from Jerusalem); Pr. Kim Sterner from Lord of Life in Sun City; Chaplain Cyndy Warnier, Carolyn Tonneson representing Peter’s Hope/Bamburi Women’s Empowerment Center located in Mombassa, Kenya, Africa; and Shari Jones from Lord of Life WELCA, sharing the Days for Girls Project. Small group presenters will inspire you from I-Help, Navajo Lutheran Mission and our Latina sisters.
Registration is open through 11:59 pm on Sept. 30 for all women. We are limiting registrations to 90 so don’t delay! Download a paper registration form and mail with your payment to our Retreat Registrar. Register as a “commuter” or for options to stay overnight at Spirit in the Desert on Friday (and Saturday if needed) evening. Your registration fee includes all meals and retreat materials.
Register online and choose to pay by credit card:
https://grandcanyonsynodwomen.regfox.com/2022-grand-canyon-womens-retreat
We’re pleased to offer ten (10) scholarship opportunities. Five are for “commuters” and five are for those who want to stay overnight at Spirit in the Desert on Friday evening. The scholarship form is “fillable” meaning you can click on the link, fill out the form, save it, and email it to the scholarship committee. OR, you can download the form, fill it out, and email or mail it. Application date ends on Sept. 23.
2022 Retreat Fillable Scholarship Application
Our event includes an opportunity to celebrate and remember Heidi Gerrish, a Friday evening Taize meditation, an “afterglow” social event on Friday evening, closing Communion worship on Saturday, and Spanish translation if needed. Our worship offering will be collected on Saturday. Checks can be made out to Women of the ELCA-GCS. 50% of our offering will be directed to churchwide WELCA designated for 2122 Katie’s Fund Appeal, 25% to Peter’s Hope, and 25% to the Grand Canyon Synod’s Growing Generosity Appeal.
We can support LSS-SW’s I-Help program through in-kind gifts supporting women experiencing homelessness. You might challenge the women in your church to collect as many of the following items as you can prior to the Retreat:
- Gift cards to Walmart, Frys, VISA, Uber
- Non-perishable, individually packaged snacks
- Bottled water
- Diapers – adult or baby
- New women’s socks
- New underwear, all sizes
- Hygiene items in travel and full sizes (deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, toothpaste, toothbrush)
- New bath towels (white preferred for bleaching purposes)
- New sheets – twin, full, queen
- Backpacks
- Cleaning supplies: bathroom and kitchen deodorizing spray, windex, dish soap, laundry detergent, washcloths, paper towels, toilet paper, trash bags
Spirit in the Desert offers a beautiful venue in which to be renewed. There’s a meditation labyrinth, a reflective walking path, fountains, and a striking desert landscape. They also have a heated pool and spa.
Here’s a downloadable “flyer” for you to post in your church and invite your women to join us!
