wfn.org | Brethren clergywomen =E2=80=98nourish the soul=E2=80=99 at retreat

[COBNews@aol.com]

Date: Jan. 5, 2006
Contact: Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
V: 847/742-5100  F: 847/742-6103
E-MAIL: _CoBNews@AOL.Com_ (mailto:CoBNews@AOL.Com)

BRETHREN CLERGYWOMEN âNOURISH THE SOULâ AT RETREAT

Jan. 5, 2006 (Elgin, IL) --  More than 60 Church of the Brethren  clergywomen
gathered in south-central Wisconsin Nov. 14-17 for a retreat on the  theme,
"Nourishing the Soul." The event was sponsored by the Ministry Office of  the
Church of the Brethren General Board and attracted licensed and ordained
ministers from across the US.

The group included women of all ages, students at Bethany Theological
Seminary in Richmond, Ind., active pastors, denominational and district staff,
retirees--and a baby. Liz Bidgood-Enders, a member of the planning committee,
brought her infant daughter along. The planning committee also included Kelly
Burk, Mary Jo Flory-Steury, Kristin Haberzetle, Nancy Knepper, Linda
Lewis, Cara
 McCallister, and Myrna Long Wheeler.

Leadership was provided by Jan Richardson, with a focus on scriptural
depictions of spiritual nourishment. Richardson is a United Methodist artist,  poet,
and ordained minister and visiting artist at First United Methodist Church
of Winter Park, Fla. Her several books include "Sacred Journeys" and
"Night 
Visions."

"For most of us, if not all of us, it's no easy task just to get here,"
Richardson told the group. For busy clergywomen--many of whom are mothers,
 wives,
daughters, or work second jobs in addition to serving the church--she
focused on images of hunger and sustenance. "Sometimes it's a challenge to let
ourselves seek comfort," she said, to nods of agreement from many. "Open your
mouth wide and I will fill it," Richardson quoted from Psalm 81:10, emphasizing
that the retreat was an opportunity to be fed spiritually as well as
emotionally  and physically with good food, fellowship, and time for rest and
relaxation.

"Sustenance comes in a variety of ways," including in the form of "Christ
the Word," Richardson said. "Each of us is given a word (that) may shift and
change over time as we come to a deeper understanding of our calling." Using
words and images from her work, illuminations from medieval manuscripts, and
writings of women mystics, she examined ways that women search for sustenance
from God. In times of creative meditation using decorative papers--Richardson
is  known for paper collages--she invited the women to be open to the Holy
Spirit	and to where the textures, colors, and designs of the papers led them.
"God may  have a challenge in store for you these days...to go in some direction
that you  hadn't counted on going," she said.

The retreat also included workshops and informal times of sharing. A
chocolate fountain--filled with 16 pounds of melted chocolate to be dipped up by  an
array of fruit, nuts, and cakes--brought "oohs" and "aahs" from those who
gathered for the first evening's "snack and chat."

At a camp fire, held indoors because of the first snowfall of the season,
several women shared their stories of calling to ministry. In another time of
sharing, participants talked about what the retreat meant to them. "For me it
has been eye-opening and empowering," said a young seminary student. Another
student said she was stimulated by "the heartfelt passion for ministry and for
 God." "We didn't know how hungry we were because we haven't been putting out
the  feast," said one pastor. She looked forward to returning to her
congregation,  saying,	"now I want to go put out the feast."

Love feast the final morning began with a time of confession before
breakfast. A brunch filled in as the fellowship meal. "When we walked from our
worship space over to breakfast, we did that in silence," said Mary Jo
Flory-Steury, executive director of the Ministry Office. "However, we did not  eat in
silence! We enjoyed good fellowship," she added.

For communion, the women were invited to dip bread into honey. Scriptures
referring to honey as a symbol of the nourishment God offers were read
throughout the retreat: "...The ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous
altogether....sweeter also than honey..." (Psalm 19:9b-10).

The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to
continuing the work of Jesus peacefully and simply, and to living out its faith  in
community. The denomination is based in the Anabaptist and Pietist faith
traditions and is one of the three Historic Peace Churches. It celebrates its  300th
anniversary in 2008. It counts about 130,000 members across the United
States and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Brazil,
the 
Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Nigeria.

# # #

For more information contact:

Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
Director of News Services
Church of the  Brethren General Board
1451 Dundee Ave.
Elgin, IL 60120
847-742-5100  ext. 260
_cbrumbaugh-cayford_gb@brethren.org_
(mailto:cbrumbaugh-cayford_gb@brethren.org)

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 director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board.
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