Why a Retreat?
Retreat...waiting...rest...
Just as Tiont Williams described in his sermon a few weeks ago, these are all words our culture, that we, as a church, seldom talk about. And to humbly admit, I struggle with rest, getting away, making time, and giving the space for God to move. After attending my first women's retreat in 2015 upon moving to Richmond, this annual weekend has become my retreat away from the busy-ness of life. I block off this weekend the second I hear the date—otherwise, I know something would come up, and I'd forego this restorative weekend all for the sake of crossing off one more thing on my to-do list.
As Caitlin Wise echoed a few weeks ago, the retreat gives you time to reconnect with your sweet friends you've already made, and also gives you the opportunity to meet all of the other great women at City Church you might not know as well. Each year I learn so much about the strength of the world's distractions and the multitude of voices humming loudly in my ears and drowning out Jesus's life-giving truth. The speakers ask you to wrestle with the world's loudness, your brokenness, and thought patterns you didn't even know where present. They ask you to acknowledge these things, claim them, and in turn, challenge yourself to look to God's Word as a guide. You find yourself connected to figures in the Bible in ways you never thought of on your own. After last year, I never knew I had so much in common with Peter. As each text is broken down, and tough questions are asked of you, the Word comes to life in a new way.
I highly encourage you to attend this year's women's retreat: you will walk away feeling restored and connected to your sisters in Christ like never before.
Our 2018 Women's Retreat will be at Roslyn Retreat Center on Saturday, January 27th through Sunday, January 28th. Hannah Anderson will be our speaker for the retreat weekend. Hannah is a respected thinker and writer in the Christian community. She is the author of Made for More and Humble Roots: How Humility Grounds and Nourishes Your Soul. You can find more of her writing at sometimesalight.com.
Cost is $100 through December 4th. The registration prices goes up to $145 on December 5th. Registration fees cover food and lodging (double rooms with queen-sized beds). Register here.
(DO NOT let cost prohibit you from attending. Please contact Meg Haden (meg@citychurchrva.com) to discuss financial assistance before early registration ends on December 4th. If you are able, please consider contributing to the retreat scholarship fund—contact Meg for details. Your contribution to this fund is important and helps to provide a wonderful weekend to women with financial constraints.)