LET'S GO!
Last weekend a late winter wind and snow storm swept across the northeast states. Columbus, OH looked like Buffalo, NY (USA’s snow capital) on Saturday with twenty-two inches of white stuff on the ground. Findlay only received half that much, but the powers that be still declared a level three weather emergency. That means everything gets shut down and only essential travel is permitted. I’m told by the natives that this recent white-out didn’t come close to the blizzard during Ritz lectures back in the ‘70s. Nevertheless, this March surprise will long be remembered as the storm that blanketed the city for the Churches of God Women’s Ministry (CGWM) spring retreat at Winebrenner Seminary.
The snow began falling late Friday a.m. when many of the ladies were on their way to our fair city. By afternoon it came with intensity into the evening and night hours. I heard tell from some of the women that the trip took twice as long as usual. The planning committee decided to hold the retreat as planned despite the storm for as many as could come. As it turned out, over 330 women braved the weather and made it to the event, including ladies from Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and elsewhere. The blizzard created some unique problems, like when the caterer cancelled the Saturday night banquet. Thanks to Lee Ann Ireland of College First Church, an alternate caterer was found and a hearty chicken dinner was served to all in the atrium and lobby area of the seminary building.
The Auditorium
The retreat is an annual event sponsored by the national CGWM and provides a get-away weekend for women to be spiritually fed and challenged. Sharon Ulrich and Alison Buck served as co-chairs to plan and emcee the event. The speakers and special music for the 2008 event were Carol Kent, Bonnie Keen and Francis Drost.
Café de la Croix
College First Church provided refreshments at Café de la Croix, and Neva Barrick set up her Corner Store in two of the downstairs classrooms.
The Corner Store
As one of the few men (there may have been four of us—maybe) involved, I brought welcome greetings Friday evening. I suggested they all come back in July for IMPACT, when the weather is guaranteed to be better. On Sunday morning Linda and I had the privilege of leading the group in the Lord’s Supper. I believe the women in attendance greatly appreciated the ministry in word and song that they received. I was certainly blessed the two times I heard Carol Kent speak and a number of ladies came forward for the invitation to prayer and commitment on Sunday morning.
The Women at Worship on Sunday Morning
Over the years I’ve heard about this retreat from Linda, but to see and experience it in person made it very real. The Lord is definitely using this event and I can recommend it to all the women of the church and their female friends. I must confess that I did feel a bit like a stow-away since this was and is a women’s retreat. I just didn’t quite fit in like one of “the girls” as they called themselves. During the Friday night session as I looked around and observed what the Lord was doing in the midst of these women, I wondered when and where the Church of God men and their male friends might gather together for word and worship. Think what impact a men’s retreat like this could have for our churches and for the Kingdom. I know I would benefit from such an assembly of the brothers as I believe many other men would too. It could be nice to be one of “the guys” and hang out together with Jesus for a time.
It’s like resurrection morning. The ladies have shown the way. What do you say men? Let’s go!
Ed
