2nd Annual Church Retreat

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This past weekend we enjoyed our second annual church retreat.  This is not a women's retreat, or a family fun fair.  It's like Young Life camp, but spanning the generations - yes, we had 2-year-olds and 82-year-olds doing ropes course obstacles together on a team!  I cannot imagine a more joyful picture of the body of Christ.  

When you can't see the words, you need a lift....

Remote and beautiful Lowes, VA.

Just a little spontaneous, co-ed football time, ages 9 - 60.

Before lunch, Andrew was sitting in the front of the conference center with our Associate Pastor and his family while Michael & I were in the back with the others.  Unbeknownst to us, Mike (our AP) asked Andrew to offer up our lunch blessing.  Without hesitation, he took the mic and prayed the most beautiful, comprehensive prayer over our church family, our time together, and our food, that it be used for its intended purpose to make our minds and bodies stronger.  He has prayed before our Wednesday night Simple Suppers before, but this was the first time that he was spontaneously asked in an unknown environment, and given a mic.  The compliments we received afterwards would make any parent proud.  It's such a joy to see how they learn and grow from different influences and then put it altogether themselves, without prompting.  This child has shown signs of interest (and talent) for ministry for years through stories I won't tell know.  Should he become a Pastor someday, the lifelong journey to get there will be such a joy to share. 

Margaret, Presley W., Matthew and Mary Emma - their discovery in the woods.

Our "Family Group" for the weekend, ages 2-80, did the obstacle course together.  So fun to see everyone working together.  My kids just thought these group activities were the best thing ever!

 Is this not THE picture of the Baptismal Vows we all take?

 Who says only the youngens can get over the wall??

Swing Time!!!

 Up we go....

...higher still...

 ...and, we're off!!!

We enjoyed four worship sessions from Friday night through Sunday morning complete with music and wonderfully centering talks by our "own" Saranell Hartman.  Saranell and her husband, Tim---both ordained---worshiped with us at Meadows for years before moving to Atlanta, where Tim is now a professor at Columbia Theological Seminary.  Just a few years older than we are, we miss their family, but were blessed to reconnect at the retreat.  

Rublev's 1425 "Icon of the Holy Trinity" was the focus of the weekend.  "Are you listening to Jesus call you to the table?  Are you going to the table?  Over and over and over again?"  

 Our "Family Group Table Times" were times of  reflection, sharing, prayer and communion...but undocumented.  What WAS documented, however, was the Saturday Night fever disco dance party, complete with Tom and Mary's PERFECT outfits and moves. 

Raise your hand if you've ever seen your Pastor and wife like THIS???

Family Groups performed a 30-second disco routine....glad my kids were game b/c someone had to video:-)

"The Ladies" of Meadows:-)

When you have an 80-yr-old member who teaches disco line dancing at 1:00pm so we can all be better prepared for the post-worship dance party, you have a pretty perfect congregation:-)

And then....it was finished.  10:00pm after running circles for 2 hours, and he was finally done.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!