Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal Church Fort Washington, MD Rev. Dr. Grainger Browning, Jr. - Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Jo Ann Browning - Co-Pastor
Greetings, my Sister in Christ! 30 Years! What can one say about 30 years of doing God s work in empowering, equipping and enriching the women of God? We are humbled and grateful to the Lord for all He has done over these last 30 years of Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal Church s Women s Spiritual Retreats. From the first retreat in 1984 to the 2014 God is a Wonder to my Heart, Mind and Soul Women s Spiritual Retreat & Restoration Conference, the Lord has moved miraculously and mightily each and every year. This year s Women s Spiritual Retreat & Restoration Conference will be held Thursday, May 29 - Saturday, May 31 on the entire campus of Ebenezer A.M.E. Church in Fort Washington, MD and it has been divinely-designed so that you will be spiritually restored, renewed and revived. In addition, a new schedule provides the opportunity for you to enjoy the attractions of the National Harbor property, including restaurants, sightseeing and shopping at the newly-opened Tanger Outlets. Registration is only $93! It is our heartfelt prayer and deepest desire that you will not let this 30 th milestone pass you by. We want ALL women to attend, and we especially invite young adult women to join us for this life-changing experience. My sisters, we pray that you will tell another sister and meet us here May 29-May 31 along with thousands of other sisters from around our community, nation and the world. Don t miss this God-ordained weekend to experience His wonder and to have your heart, mind and soul blessed! In Christ s Service, Rev. Dr. Jo Ann Browning Co-Pastor, Ebenezer A.M.E. Church Visionary & Convener Pastors Grainger and Jo Ann Browning
Thursday, May 29, 2014 12:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. Registration 3:00 p.m. Hotel Check-In Begins 3:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. God Is A Wonder Empowerment Sessions 5:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Dinner (on your own) 6:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. Transportation to Church 8:00 p.m. 11:00 p.m. Opening God Is A Wonder Worship Service 11:00 p.m. 12:00 a.m. Late Registration 11:00 p.m. Transportation to National Harbor Schedule 2 Friday, May 30, 2014 6:30 a.m. 8:30 a.m. Breakfast (on your own) 7:30 a.m. 9:30 a.m. Transportation to Church 8:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Registration 8:20 a.m. 9:20 a.m. God Is A Wonder Empowerment Sessions 9:30 a.m. 9:45 a.m. Devotions
9:45 a.m. 10:30 a.m. The Wonder of God Morning Word 10:45 a.m. 12:00 p.m. Workshop I 12:15 p.m. 1:30 p.m. Workshop II 1:30 p.m. 3:00 p.m. Lunch (on your own), Relaxation and Restoration 1:30 p.m. Transportation to National Harbor 1:45 p.m. 2:45 p.m. God Is A Wonder Empowerment Session FYAWO (For Young Adult Women Only) 3:00 p.m. Transportation to National Harbor 4:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Dinner (on your own) and Restoration 6:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. Transportation to Church 8:00 p.m. 11:00 p.m. God Is A Wonder Worship Service 11:00 p.m. Transportation to National Harbor Saturday, May 31, 2014 6:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. Breakfast (on your own)/check-out 7:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. Transportation to Church 8:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. Morning Touch Anointing & Devotions 9:15 a.m. 10:30 a.m. Workshop III 10:45 a.m. 12:00 p.m. Workshop IV 12:15 p.m. 1:30 p.m. Closing God Is A Wonder Worship Service 1:30 p.m. Lunch (on your own), Fellowship, Reflection and Restoration 1:30 p.m. Transportation to National Harbor
Wonder Workshops Friday, 10:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. A1 He Turned It! : There are times when circumstances appear to be going in the wrong direction and waiting for a turnaround can be difficult. Find out how to hold on, stay strong and not give up. A2 A3 I Can Only Imagine : Sometimes in life you can get lost and become detached in serving God and accessing the power of His presence. Learn how to take the personal and intentional initiative to pursue God s presence and experience a new level of His glory. Forever Fabulous: Acknowledging and experiencing the fullness of life in your senior years. Embrace your wisdom, strength and beauty within. Wonder Workshops 4 A4 A5 Long Walk to Freedom A Mandela Experience : As Christian women, we are to love and forgive! Learn to forgive and reconcile with people, issues and situations that have hurt and negatively impacted you. The Courage to Answer the Call: Obtain the discipline to hear from God, submit to His call and move forward in ministry. (Women in Ministry) Friday, 12:15 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. B1 Getting to the Root of It: There is a root to your problem that may hinder your spiritual growth and fortitude. Sometimes you have to peel away the layers, look beneath the surface and seek God to help you understand the real cause of your pain and problems.
B2 B3 B4 B5 The Haves and the Have Nots : The grass is not always greener on the other side. If you are always longing for someone else s stuff, you will miss what is for you. Find out how to obtain peace and fulfillment in the life God has given you. Life After: When you experience loss (loved one, job, marriage, home, etc.) it can be difficult to heal. Discover how to allow the Lord to comfort you in your grief and get your joy back at the same time. Preachers of the Gospel It s not Reality TV: There have been various images and portrayals of preachers in the media! Explore what it means to be a preacher of the gospel at a time when TV and technology have impacted the image of women in ministry. (PANEL) Sister Ties : Establishing and maintaining authentic sisterhood bonds that support, encourage and uplift you and other women. Saturday, 9:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. C1 How to Survive a Hurt Attack : We all have challenges and situations that rock our very core. Get the tools needed to resurrect your dreams and resuscitate your life. C2 C3 Blurred Lines : As Christian women, we may find ourselves in compromising positions and allow others to determine and dictate our personal boundaries. Good times do play out. Make a decision to embrace holy boldness and be empowered to set clear lines for living a Godly life. Standing Knee Deep in a River and Still Dying of Thirst: Often times we become so consumed by life s demands that we are unable to see the help right before our eyes. Learn how to tap into God s living waters to access the strength and resources needed to overcome your drought moments.
C4 C5 12 Years a Slave : Whether some realize it or not, racism and sexism are still alive and well in today s multicultural society. Learn to recognize it, navigate it and overcome it without losing your faith and yourself in the process. My Selfie : Some people have turned to social media for external affirmation, but you don t need likes, friends or followers to validate you. Learn to see yourself as God sees you beautifully and wonderfully made in His image. Saturday, 10:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. D1 God, Fix My Life : You may think you ve tried everything, but your life still needs fixin. Learn to hear from God and receive revelation needed to deal with any chaos, confusion or turmoil. Wonder Workshops 6 D2 D3 D4 D5 The Gift... It Looks Good on You: God has graced each of us with numerous gifts. Understand the importance of discovering and giving your talents back to Him, so you can wear them well. The Real Husbands Part II: If men are from Mars and women are from Venus, how do we join and stay together as husband and wife til death do us part? Obtain the necessary tools to maintain a healthy Christian marriage. Dancing with the Scars From Failures to Faith : Life s issues and struggles can leave ugly scars. We all come to a point where we have to deal with the hand we ve been dealt. Discover how unrelenting faith can carry you through the disappointments and difficulties of life. Save My Son or My Daughter! Part II: Raising a child in the midst of 21 st century realities (rebellion, drugs, homosexuality, promiscuity, etc.) is challenging. During the process, seeking Godly wisdom, peace and assurance that God is in control.
Empowerment Sessions (no registration required) Thursday, 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. After 30 years of Women s Spiritual Retreats...The Lord has Been Faithful: Find out how the Lord has continued to give vision for 30 years. Do you feel in your Spirit that God has something for you to do at your local church and you are ready to serve? Find out how the process works in the ministry of spiritual retreats or whatever vision God has given you! FYAWO (For Young Adult Women Only) Girl, Get Yo Life! : As a young adult woman, you are gifted, beautiful and fly, but the truth is you are not financially-stable and your financial future is somewhat dim. Get the skills and tips you need NOW to solidify your financial security for a successful future. A Woman s Roadmap to Health and Wholeness: Achieving and maintaining good health is a journey; not a destination. What do you need to know about prevention and screenings, family health history, Obamacare and more? Get educated, empowered and even entertained as you learn to navigate the road to better health.
Friday, 8:20 a.m. - 9:20 a.m. Back to Basics Praise, Prayer and the Power of the Holy Ghost: Uncovering and experiencing a new spiritual level in your life. A Woman s Roadmap to Health and Wholeness: Achieving and maintaining good health is a journey; not a destination. What do you need to know about prevention and screenings, family health history, Obamacare and more? Get educated, empowered and even entertained as you learn to navigate the road to better health. Friday, 1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. Empowerment Sessions 8 FYAWO (For Young Adult Women Only) Don t Come for Me Unless I Send for You! : Today s process of finding a meaningful and committed relationship is not always easy. The social media tools of Facebook and relationship sites have replaced the old school way of dating making it difficult to remain a loving, caring Christian young adult woman and not become a frustrated, lonely and angry black woman. Learn to live a faith-filled and happy life even if it s not exactly what you ve prayed for or desire.
Rev. Dr. Jo Ann Browning Host Pastor and Visionary Ebenezer A.M.E. Church Fort Washington, Maryland Facilitators Rev. Dr. Ann Lightner-Fuller Pastor Mount Calvary A.M.E. Church Towson, Maryland Elder Louise Cage Concerned Prayer Ministry Rev. Dr. Barbara Austin Lucas Founder and Pastor Agape Tabernacle International Fellowship Brooklyn, New York Rev. Dr. Rita Colbert Presiding Elder A.M.E. Zion Church Mitchellville, Maryland Bishop Vashti McKenzie Presiding Prelate 7 th Episcopal District African Methodist Episcopal Church Facilitators 9 Rev. Dr. Claudette A. Copeland Co-Founder and Pastor New Creation Christian Fellowship San Antonio, Texas Rev. Susie Owens Co-Pastor Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church Washington, D.C.
Rev. Dr. Elaine McCollins Flake Co-Pastor The Greater Allen Cathedral of New York Jamaica, New York Rev. Dr. Jasmin Sculark Pastor Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church York, Pennsylvania Rev. Twanna Henderson Executive Pastor New Beginnings Church Matthews, North Carolina Rev. Dr. Carolyn Showell Associate Pastor First Apostolic Faith Church Baltimore, Maryland Bishop Millicent Hunter Founder and Pastor The Baptist Worship Center Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Rev. Dr. Gina Stewart Pastor Christ Missionary Baptist Church Memphis, Tennessee Facilitators 10 Rev. Jessica Ingram Episcopal Supervisor 10 th Episcopal District African Methodist Episcopal Church Rev. Dr. Renita Weems Co-Pastor Ray of Hope Community Church Nashville, Tennessee
Rev. Dr. Marie Braxton Assistant Pastor Metropolitan A.M.E. Church Washington, DC 1 st Facilitators 30 Years Ago Rev. Dr. Debyii Thomas Founder & Senior Pastor God s Winning Women Worldwide Ministries, Inc. Landover, Maryland Sis. Kathy Freeland CEO of A-Tek, Inc. Dr. Sharon Allison Ottey Exec. Dir. of The COSHAR Foundation Sis. Kathy Taylor Guest Psalmist
General Information We are excited about the 2014 God is a Wonder to my Heart, Mind & Soul Women s Spiritual Retreat & Restoration Conference. God moved mightily last year and we know He will do the same again. Take a look at some of the exciting offerings and event details below. Fees The registration fee for the God is a Wonder to my Heart, Mind & Soul Women s Spiritual Retreat & Restoration Conference is $93 per person for all attendees. We hope the cost of $93 will allow any sister who desires to attend the opportunity to do so. General Information 12 All Spiritual Retreat & Restoration Conference fees are non-refundable and include entrance to all day and evening sessions, retreat bag, workshop materials and more! Sisters who register before Monday, April 14, 2014 will receive a complimentary 30 th anniversary souvenir! The last day for Retreat payments by check is Monday, May 12, 2014, and by other forms of payment, Sunday, May 25, 2014. Any payments made after Sunday, May 25, 2014 will be processed on site. No checks will be accepted during on-site registration. This cost does not include hotel accommodations. A list of partner hotels located at the National Harbor property is provided on page 15.
Registration and Payment Options For your convenience, there are several registration payment options available. n Online registration and payments can be made by Visa and MasterCard credit cards only. To pay using American Express and Discover, please download the registration form and mail or fax your registration and credit card information to the address below. When paying by credit card, please include credit card number, card holder s name and expiration date. Payment must accompany your retreat registration form. n When paying by mail, please send your payment in the form of a check, credit card, or money order (no cash) and include at least two current contact numbers. Make all transactions payable to Ebenezer A.M.E. Church, and please enclose your registration form. Please make a copy for your records. Mail your completed form with payment to the Post Office address or fax your completed form to 301-265-0437. For further information, please call 301-265-8293. Ebenezer A.M.E. Church c/o W2W Registration Committee P.O. Box 441635 Fort Washington, MD 20744 Fax: 301-265-0437
Hotel Accommodations We are blessed to host all retreat activities workshops, worship services on the campus of Ebenezer A.M.E. Church in Fort Washington, MD again this year! Lodging arrangements must be arranged separately and can be secured at one of the partner hotels at the beautiful National Harbor. The National Harbor, located minutes from the church, also contains several attractions of various tastes and styles. When calling to make your reservation, you must mention Ebenezer A.M.E. Church to receive the discounted rate. Be sure to make your reservations as early as possible. Hotel Accomodations 14 All reservations must be guaranteed with a one night, non-refundable deposit at the time you reserve your room. Based on current banking procedures, use of a debit card for hotel check-in transactions and rental cars is discouraged. This could result in additional funds being withheld for an extended period of time. Additionally, please DO NOT send your hotel registration to Ebenezer A.M.E. Church.
Hotel options are listed below. Details regarding parking cost and amenities, including exercise facilities, restaurants and other information are available by calling the individual hotels directly. The deadline to book rooms is Monday, April 28, 2014. Availability is provided on a first-come, first-served basis, so we encourage you to book your room as soon as possible. National Harbor Waterfront Street National Harbor, MD www.nationalharbor.com Gaylord Hotel (301) 965-2000 $199 plus tax (price is inclusive of resort fee) The Westin Hotel (301) 567-3999 $179 plus tax Residence Inn by Marriott (301) 749-4755 $184 plus tax Aloft Hotel (301) 749-9000 $149 plus tax Hampton Inn (301) 567-3531 $149 plus tax
Transportation Charter buses, vans and vehicles will be available to transport attendees from the National Harbor property to Ebenezer A.M.E. Church for a cost of only $30 for the entire weekend. Pre-registration for transportation services is required. On-site registration for transportation will not be available. Travel Arrangements Three major airports serve this region Reagan National Airport, Dulles International Airport, Baltimore- Washington International Airport. Of the three, Reagan National Airport is the closest to the designated hotels. Dulles International Airport and Baltimore-Washington International are approximately one hour away. Amtrak Train Service is also available to New Carrollton, MD and Washington, DC, which are within 30 minutes of the retreat hotels by taxi. General Information 16 Meals This year, lunch will be on your own. There will be a few vendors available to purchase food on-site and a list of local restaurants will be provided.
Attire Comfort is the word for the spiritual retreat and restoration conference attire. Casual, relaxed clothing including jeans, slacks or capri pants are appropriate for this spirit- and fun-filled weekend. Please wear orange, fuschia, red and white as much as possible. Added Blessings! The retreat is designed to enhance you spiritually, mentally and physically. We have a new revised schedule to include all of your workshops along with additional restoration and relaxation time! This new schedule provides the opportunity for you to enjoy the attractions of the National Harbor property, including restaurants, sightseeing and shopping at the newly-opened Tanger Outlets. In addition, sisters will be able to: Meditate in the Sanctuary Pray in the Prayer Room Shop at the vendors Visit the Ebenezer Market Walk the campus This event is for WOMEN ONLY. Children and men are not allowed. Attendees must wear your registration badge at all times. The badge will give you access to all retreat activities. A fee will be charged to replace any lost badges, and transportation bands.
To register, you may either PRINT out and complete a hardcopy of this form or register online at www.godisawonder.com Please circle any that apply: REVEREND EVANGELIST MINISTER SISTER PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY First Name: Last Name: M.I.: Street Address: City: State: Country: Zip: Home #: ( ) - Work # ( ) - Email: Are you (please circle all that apply): Single Married Separated Divorced Widowed Step-Parent Age Range: 18-34 35-49 50-65 65 and over Church Affiliation: Ebenezer AME Church, Fort Washington, MD Other: Please complete below. Church Name: City: State: Country: Hotel where you are registered (no accomodations available onsite): Wheelchair access required: YES NO
GENERAL WORKSHOP SERIES Please select (4) workshops. Indicate ONLY the Letter and Number in the Choice Boxes. TIME & DAY 1 10:45 AM FRI A 2 12:15 PM FRI B 3 9:15 AM SAT C 4 10:45 AM SAT D FIRST CHOICE SECOND CHOICE Workshops fill up fast so we encourage you to register early to secure your worshop selection. RETREAT FEE PRICE SUBTOTAL Retreat Fee $93 TRANSPORTATION PRICE SUBTOTAL Shuttle Fee $30 GRAND TOTAL ITEM SUBTOTAL Retreat Fee Promotional Items Transportation Fees GRAND TOTAL $ PROMOTIONAL ITEMS Please indicate the number of items ordered in each box. ALL ITEMS MUST BE PAID IN FULL WHEN ORDERED ITEM PRICE Color QUANTITY SUBTOTAL T-Shirt $15 red $15 orange $15 white Long Sleeve Shirt $35 red Fitted Warm-up $75 black Relaxed Warm-up $75 black Cap Mug $15 red $15 orange $15 white $10 red $10 orange S M L 1X 2X 3X 4X Fees are non-refundable. No CHECKS accepted after May 12, 2014. Copy and return original of this form to: Ebenezer A.M.E. Church, P.O. Box 441635 Fort Washington, MD 20744 Total Amount Enclosed: $ Cash Check Money Order Master Card Visa Name of Cardholder Card Number Exp. Date
Promotional Items *Pre-orders must be placed by May 4 th Caps Mugs T-Shirts Promotional Items 20 Fitted Warm-Up Relaxed Warm-Up Long Sleeve Shirt
of Women s Spiritual Retreats
Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal Church 7707 Allentown Road Fort Washington, MD 20744 First-Class Mail U.S. Postage PAID Permit #5476 Ft. Washington, MD 20744