2006 Women in Conversation retreats: Treasuring Time

Imagine that you forgot your watch and there are no clocks. Your activities follow the sun’s rising and setting. What is time? How do we use it, spend it, waste it, measure it, reclaim it, redeem it? How does time differ in cultures around the world and between generations?

These were the questions that framed this spring's “Women in Conversation” retreats co-sponsored by Mennonite Women USA and Laurelville Mennonite Church Center. Mother-daughter team June Alliman Yoder and Mandy Yoder Schrock provided insights and laughter as they led reflections on "Treasuring Time." And what a time it was.

Sabbath can lead us from a busyness that keeps us mindlessly alive to quietness that leads to abundant life, noted June, professor of communication and preaching at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Ind. "The longer I live the more I realize I need time to disconnect from work so I can reconnect with God," she said. "I need to refrain from work some time each day, one day each week and an extended weekend each year. By doing this, we can grow in a way we can't grow when we are trying to get a bunch of things done."

"We are taught from a very young age in our American culture that in order to feel worthwhile and successful, we have to cram more and more into each day," said Mandy, associate pastor of First Mennonite Church in Indianapolis, Ind. "We are taught that we are more prestigious when we are busy. But the paradox of productivity is that the more we attain the less we are really able to live and the less we can embrace the mysterious. We are reduced by the amount of things we do and the speed at which we do them."

Click on each picture below to see a larger version. Mennonite Church USA news service also circulated an article about the retreats.  Photos by Sarah Sullenberger, Laurie Oswald Robinson, and Rhoda Keener.

	This year's retreats were again held in two locations: Laurelville Mennonite Church Center in Mount Pleasant, Pa., and the Wichita Airport Hilton in Kansas. Each drew a crowd of about 130 women, double the 2004 attendance. In the opening worship service, participants brought their clocks -- physically or spiritually -- to the front.
	A closing worship service followed four keynote sessions titled "This is the Time of Our Lives," "As the World Times," "Wasting Time," and "Redeeming Time."  As a reminder that God is the one who can redeem our time, Laurelville program director Cheryl Paulovich and MW USA executive director Rhoda Keener distributed coupons reading: "I trust in you, O Lord; you are my God. My times are in your hands. -- Psalm 31:14-15.  Coupon to be redeemed by the Manufacturer."
	During the first retreat at Laurelville March 24-26, Louise Ranck led music and worship as well as a drumming workshop, "Holding the Center, Shifting Time." The group enjoyed get-acquainted activities by Rebecca Sommers. Her workshop described ways to "Clear the Clutter."
	The Kansas retreat March 31-April 2 gathered women from nine states. Lee Schmucker led get-acquainted activities along with a workshop titled, "Yes, I Can Say NO" (although we're glad she said YES to helping with this retreat).  Worship and music leader was Kay Schroeder.
	Jane Oswald-Lambert and Ruby Funk get acquainted in Wichita.
	Alice Suderman and Shan Copeland
	Gladys Wallace Chambers and Virginia Van Wyngarden
	A special guest at the Laurelville retreat was Rebecca Osiro, one of the African Women Theologians leaders. Her workshop described personal perspectives of AWT leaders.
	For her workshop on using sculpture as part of a worship experience, LaVerle Schrag brought her artwork, "Web of Life."
	Rachel Sartori's workshop introduced participants to Doxasoma, integrating the physical with prayer and worship.
	Other workshop options: Lynette Kauffman Plank, "The Write Time: Journey in Journaling"
	Valerie Weaver Zercher, "A Time to Shop and a Time to Stop."
	Author Katie Funk Wiebe, "Your Child's Faith, Your Faith, Your Mother's Faith: The Same or Different?"
	Karen Schertz, "Capture your dreams"
	Linda Martinez-Groditsky, "Capture your dreams" Two additional workshops were sponsored by MMA Hesston: "A Walk in the Park" led by Jen LeFevre and "Make the Laughter Connection" by Judy Young
	Conversation circles are a traditional part of MW USA retreats.
	And who could forget the worship, especially the music?
	Each weekend scheduled plenty of time to relax -- including, for many participants, a stop at the "MennoSpa" for a bit of pampering, such as soothing wax treatments for hands . . .
	. . . and feet. A few lucky spa-goers were treated to the "ahh!" of a professional shoulder massage.
	Kay Schroeder tries out the wax treatment.  Other recreation options were craftmaking, hiking, and shopping.
	Retreat participants were invited to bring a special outfit they rarely have the appropriate occasion to wear. The clothes created a delightful "Timeless Treasures from Your Closet" dinner.
	Speaker June Alliman Yoder brought her "pets."
	Every woman deserves to be queen for a day, Rebecca Sommers claimed in her workshop. Her tiara showed up at the dress-up dinner. . . .
	. . . and elsewhere. Kathy Shelly and Marie Brenneman
	Linda Shelly
	Rosanna Vintura and Ramona Cruz
	Sisters Trish Brenneman and Betty Handrich (plus Marcia Miller below) enjoyed a chance to see each other at theWichita retreat. Marcia and Betty live in Michigan. Kansas resident Trish, previously president of the South Central Conference Mennonite Women, was on the Wichita planning committee.
	The third sister, Marcia Miller
	Marathana Prothro and Anna Ruth Beck
	Cookie Wiebe and Kathy Goering
	Barbara Kaufman and Phyllis Goertzen
	Two quilted wallhangings were sold by silent auction to raise scholarship monies for the 2008 retreats. Pat Miller, pictured, won the bid for the Wichita banner, while Kathy Shelly and Jen Carter got to take home the banner at Laurelville. Donated by Elaine Good and Rebecca Sommers, past and current president of the MW USA board, the two wallhangings together raised $375. We hope you can join us in 2008! Mark your calendar: Laurelville on April 11-13 and Wichita on April 18-20.