Did you spend your summer serving? Do you find refreshment in God s word?

Transcription

1 September 2015 Dear Sisters in Christ and Fellow Katies: Did you spend your summer serving? Do you find refreshment in God s word? Chances are as a pastor s wife that you ve been doing some of both and your autumn is probably even busier. It s time to schedule a break for your spirit! The perfect way to refresh your self is the 2016 Katie Retreat. We re excited to announce the theme for this coming year s retreat for the wives and widows of Indiana District pastors is A MARY HEART IN A MARTHA WORLD. It s scheduled for February 5-7, 2016, featuring keynote speaker Donna Pyle and Bible study leader Lisa Lessing! Join us to discover surprising truths and spiritual insight from that short, vital story in Scripture of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42) as we learn how to apply their strengths and weaknesses in modern-day, relevant ministry. Our program will offer some wonderful, thought-inspiring break-out sessions and also provide time for contemplation, for connecting with fellow pastors wives, and for relaxing. We are returning to the wonderful Inn at DePauw in Greencastle, IN. If you joined us before, you know what a beautiful place it is for a retreat. We hope you will join us in February for a restful and inspiring weekend of coming together as Christian women. Prayerfully consider setting aside some time for yourself and your spiritual growth. It s not selfish for you to take some time for yourself as a woman of God. We hope to see you! Your 2016 Katie Retreat Committee P.S. You d like to save money, wouldn t you? Please take advantage of early registration and register before Dec. 31 st!

2 KEYNOTE SPEAKER Donna Pyle Bio: Since launching Artesian Ministries in 2007, Donna has authored numerous Bible studies and traveled throughout the U.S. and internationally to teach from Scripture. She has published two books through Concordia Publishing House: Quenched: Christ s Living Water for a Thirsty Soul and The God of All Comfort. She has authored/recorded two DVD Bible study series in partnership with LWML: Overflowing Abundance (based on Jesus feeding the 5,000) and Your Strong Suit (based on the armor of God). The LWML has published the Donna Pyle Bible Study Series, which includes eight different downloadable Bible studies for individual or small group study, and A Sparrow s Worth, a devotional journal exploring a woman s value in Christ. Donna enjoys blogging about faith-based issues and interacting on social media. She is a member of Salem Lutheran Church in Tomball, TX where she serves on the worship team. She is a passionate supporter of Love146, which seeks to end child trafficking and exploitation. Donna is a native, life-long Texan and fuels her creativity with Chick-Fil-A, Twizzlers, coffee and chocolate. She enjoys digging for the treasures in Scripture, writing, traveling, spending time with family and friends and torturing her cats with feather toys. A Mary Heart in a Martha World The story of Mary and Martha is well known - especially to pastors wives. Perhaps you get tired of Mary and Martha comparisons. Maybe you believe one is better than the other. But, here s the deal: we need them both. Join us to discover surprising truths and spiritual insight from that short, vital story in Scripture as we learn how to apply their strengths and weaknesses in modern-day, relevant ministry.

3 BIBLE STUDY LEADER Lisa Lessing Bio: Lisa is a native Okie, born and raised in Tulsa, OK. She has been married for 33 years to Reed the Reverend. They have two daughters, a son, and a son-in-love, all living out west. Lisa received her master s in counseling from Covenant Seminary and has worked as a licensed professional counselor in St. Louis. Currently she works as a counselor for Cross Connections in Fort Wayne. Along with writing and leading retreats, Lisa enjoys photography, chocolate, and a hearty conversation over a cup of fresh-roasted coffee! Her heart is to come alongside women to help and encourage them toward a deeper and richer Jesus-filled journey! A Tale of Two Sisters Come with your Bible and enter into the Luke 10 story of Mary & Martha and a "certain visitor" who stops by for a visit! Family dynamics, personality, and emotions come together for an intriguing telling of this remarkable story. The Gospels bring out even more detail important to gaining personal wisdom and understanding of Luke 10. Bring your own Mary-Martha heart into this Bible study and see how Jesus interacts as counselor, loving friend and Savior!

4 BREAKOUT SESSIONS Emily Frasier SESSION: YELLOW Having a Martha House the Mary Way Description: Having a clean house is often an important part of many women s lives. However, it can also be a source of great consternation and failure. Through Sarah Mae s book 31 Days to Clean: A Martha House the Mary Way, we ll explore ways to have a clean home and a happy heart. We ll also share some great cleaning tools and tips. Bio: Emily Frasier is a theatre major from Columbus, Ohio. She met her husband, Rev. John Fraiser, in college in Clearwater, Florida, and when they were married, moved to Louisville, Kentucky. They have one 2nd grade daughter, Jillian, who is enjoying her first year at a local Latin school. She and her husband grew up in the Baptist tradition before they became Lutheran through reading the works of Martin Luther. The Fraisers have been at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in LaGrange, Kentucky, since Emily has been involved with children s ministries for over 20 years. Her love of Lutheranism and Reformation history has been the catalyst for the creation of the elementary pre-confirmation program The Sola Society. Working through a detailed study of the life and times of Martin Luther, students learn about core Lutheran beliefs and memorize the Small Catechism. Emily is a wife and mother who finds herself invigorated and exhausted by the busyness of life. This is her fourth Katie Retreat and she enjoys very much the opportunity to get away with other pastors wives to feel refreshed and re-inspired to ministry at home, at work and at church. Offered at 1:00 and 2:00 p.m. Patty Eckels SESSION: RED Mary or Martha? Can I Be Both? Description: Lion, beaver, otter, or retriever? No matter your personality type, God calls you to lead a life of worship and service. How can we do this? Where is the balance? We can learn how from the story of Mary and Martha. This sectional will review personality types based in the Wild Kingdom and explore how we can Have A Mary Heart in a Martha World based on Joanna Weaver's book by the same title. Bio: Patty Eckels is the wife of Pastor Chad Eckels, St. Paul, Evansville, IN. They have three sons, a college freshman at CUW, a junior at Harrison High School, and an 8th grader at ELS. Patty currently teaches fourth grade at Evansville Lutheran School. She graduated from Concordia,Seward NE which is where she met her husband. She has served her congregation as preschool Sunday School teacher, VBS leader, and works with the youth group. Together, she and her husband lead 2 to 3 marriage retreats a year. Offered at 1:00 and 2:00 p.m.

5 Vicky Geisler SESSION: BLUE The Faces of Hospitality Description: Open your heart to others so they may feel the Lord's love that you hold inside. Have you ever felt in your efforts to be hospitable, you're bombarded by feelings of stress, inadequacy, or pride? When our hospitality starts to look that way, it may be time to refocus on true hospitality, the kind where we simply share what we have by serving in love, letting God multiply it, and magnify it for His glory. We will look at a variety of resources and Scripture to find out more about the spiritual practice of hospitality, modeled by the One who first welcomed us to His table. Bio: Vicky Geisler is the wife of Pastor Jeff Geisler, who serves at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, IN. They have three grown children and four grandchildren. She works at Concordia Lutheran High School in Ft. Wayne as a guidance assistant. She enjoys her time with family, friends, the youth at church, and her many LWML sisters. Offered at 1:00 and 2:00 p.m. CRAFT - Patrice Wagner SESSION: PURPLE Silk Scarf. Description: Want to make some art work to hang around your neck? Join us as we decorate a silk scarf with permanent markers. All you need to bring is your imagination. Cost: $5 (payable at the retreat). Patrice Wagner will show you how. Offered at 3:00 p.m. only. EXERCISE Fitness instructor Jeanne Servais will again be here to lead us in a class that will help you stretch and relax. There is no extra charge! Offered at 3:00 p.m. only.

6 SATURDAY EVENING S ENTERTAINMENT: Duo, trio, and quartet leader Danny Weiss plays woodwinds, composes, and occasionally sings. Currently living in West Lafayette, Indiana, Weiss spent many years in New York and Chicago. He has performed with the avant-garde nonet, DaDaDah, the brass jazz ensemble, NoNoNonet, New York dance choreographers, Latin jazz bands, and Broadway show bands. Weiss has also performed with such jazz celebrities as Rashied Ali, Tom Varner, Joe Williams, Chris Washburne, Michael Sarin, Lynn Arriel, Clyde Stubblefield, and Don Braden at venues including the Jazz Showcase, the Green Mill, Birdland, CBGBs, the West End Gate, PS 122, Jay's, the Knitting Factory, and the Bitter End. Weiss is married to Felicia Roberts, a professor at Purdue University. Danny Weiss is also an educator. He is on the faculty of Purdue University as a lecturer in the Department of Visual and Performing Arts and as the Instructor of Saxophone in the Department of Bands. His private studio, the Danny Weiss Studio, welcomes flute, clarinet, and saxophone students of all ages. He holds a Master of Music degree from Indiana University-Bloomington. ALSO AT THIS YEAR S RETREAT: Express Yourself with Music: Like to sing? Once again this year we want to include special music by a choir and instrumentalists. See the brochure for the schedule and to indicate which part you sing or let us know what instrument you play. Get Pampered: As if being at a lovely retreat center isn t fun all by itself, we have some opportunities to get pampered again this year. How about a chair massage to help you relax? Sally is back and this year, offering massages Saturday afternoon. Sign up when you check in. What s Cooking? You are encouraged to send in a favorite freezer or crockpot recipe with your registration, which we ll include in a cookbook for you when you come to the retreat. Sunday Morning Worship: As always, our Sunday morning worship service is sponsored by an area LCMS congregation and we look forward to President Dan May preaching. Are you on Facebook? Like the Katie Retreat page and keep up with the news!