Disciples Women Fall Retreat 2022

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“Let’s Fish or Cut Bait!”

Georgia Disciples Women are invited to gather in person for a fall retreat on September 23-25, 2022 at Epworth by the Sea, St. Simons Island, GA. In this beautiful seaside retreat setting, Disciples women will gather for fellowship, worship, learning, and service, guided by the theme “Let’s Fish or Cut Bait!” Keynoter Rev. Nancy Oliver will lead us through a creative exploration of the focus scriptures, Matthew 4:18-20 and John 21:1-14. Jesus called us to fish — for people! How do we mobilize, unify, inspire, involve, and act to accomplish that? How do we support one another as we “fish?” You will not want to miss these fishing lessons!

Schedule

Friday, September 23

4:00 pm — Retreat Check-in Begins
5:30-7:00 pm — Dinner Buffet
7:30 pm—Evening Worship & Fellowship
9:00 pm —Silent Auction Opens

Saturday, September 24

7:00-9:00 am — Breakfast Buffet
9:00 am — Morning Session with Breakout Groups
11:45 am-1:00 pm — Lunch Buffet
1-5:30 pm — Free Time* (explore St. Simons Island or enjoy onsite activities)
5:30-7:00 pm —Dinner Buffet
6:50 pm — Silent Auction Bidding Closes
7:00 pm — Evening Session Including Bible Study and Service of Remembrance
8:30 pm — “Re-creation”
9:00 pm —Silent Auction Payment/Pick-up

Sunday, September 25

7:00-9:00 am — Breakfast Buffet
9:00-10:00 am — Bible Study
10:00-10:30 am — Break (checkout is 11:30 am)
10:30 am — Closing Worship with Communion
11:45-1:00 pm — Lunch Buffet & Departure

*Free Time

Optional activities include free time for exploring St. Simons Island (beach, lighthouse, Fort Frederica, island shops, or bicycling — bicycles are available for rent, or bring your own) or onsite activities (crafts, puzzles, games, Silent Auction, visiting, conversation). Other scheduled activities are:

  • 1:00-5:00 pm —Epworth pool open

  • 4:15-5:00 pm —Prayer Parters available in Jones classrooms

  • 4:30-5:30 pm — Choir Rehearsal in Jones Auditorium

Registration & Fees

There are two separate fees for registration and hotel/meals. Retreat registration is $75 and covers costs including keynoter, booklet, supplies, and event center expenses. To fill out your registration form and pay, please click here no later than September 9. You may also write a check and mail it to the Christian Church in Georgia, 2306 Vineville Ave., Ste. B, Macon, GA 31204, with “DW Retreat” on the notation line. Late registrations may be accepted on a space available basis.

Please note: If you previously registered for the retreat, but forgot to pay, please do not register again. Instead, go directly to the payment link here to pay your $75 fee.

Retreat accommodations are a package that include modern, hotel-style accommodations for two nights plus six meals in the dining hall. You may choose between Pitts-Booth Motels or the Robertson Inn. Pitts-Booth Motels are identical hotels adjacent to each other, just across the street from the dining hall and an easy walk to the meeting rooms. Robertson is just a few more steps, across the parking lot on the inland waterway. You may choose a single, double, triple, or quad room, and indicate roommate(s) or not, as you prefer. Prices range from $167.80 to $349.76 for the weekend, all inclusive, depending on the accommodations selected. Learn more about Robertson Inn and Pitts Motel, and then make your reservation and pay through the Hotel/Meals button no later than September 9. Late accommodations may be accepted on a space available basis.

Please note: Your hotel/meal costs are fully refundable until September 9; after this date and until September 20, all but a $40 deposit is refundable.  If you must cancel between September 20 and the beginning of retreat, you will forfeit the first night’s fee. (Your credit card will be charged when you make your reservation). The registration fee to the Christian Church in Georgia is non-refundable, but transferable to another woman attending the retreat.

Retreat Leadership

Retreat Keynoter

Rev. Nancy Litz Oliver served most of her 25 years at Peachtree Christian Church in Atlanta as Minister of Children and Youth.  Prior to that, she was a professional entertainer, actress, and director with her husband, Steve Oliver, performing in theatre, television, radio commercials, educational television, and many other venues. In 1983, God called her to “fish” in a new area – Christ’s church, where her experience in professional drama and her degree in music education gave her the tools to work with children and youth and expand Peachtree’s Youth Program to include youth-led planning retreats, mission trips, and 25 summer tours of C.A.S.T., Peachtree’s Christian Acting/Singing Troupe. Read more about Nancy and other retreat leadership here.

Retreat Musician

Ann Edmondson currently serves as Minister of Music and Outreach at the First Christian Church of Atlanta, after a 24-year career as a full-time music educator at the Independent Private Schools in Georgia, including Woodward Academy in College Park, where she taught music and chorus from 2007 to 2022. Ann has a strong belief in building community and bringing it together through her music ministry in order to promote inclusion, embrace diversity, and celebrate each other's talents. Read more about Ann and other retreat leadership here.

Other Important Information

Service Project
For our retreat service project, we are excited to be partnering with Amity House, a shelter for women and children in nearby Brunswick, GA. Learn more about Amity House here and download a list of items to donate here.

Sunday Offering
An offering will be received as part of Sunday morning worship to support Georgia Disciples Women’s Ministries and other mission efforts. Please remember to bring your checkbook as well as any Blessing Box offerings you or your congregation has collected.

Silent Auction
Back by popular demand is our Silent Auction, with proceeds benefiting Georgia Disciples Women’s Ministry. Think creatively and start now to design, gather, purchase, and/or make: themed baskets, handmade jewelry, small decorative furniture, sewn or crafted items, gift certificates, and more. Silent Auction contributions are welcome even if you’re not able to be present. There will be scheduled times for Silent Auction shopping.

In Remembrance
Please submit names of women in your families or churches who have passed away since the September 24-25, 2021, Virtual Retreat.  Names should be submitted to betty@gadisciples.org by Sept. 12 to be included in the retreat booklet. 

Scholarships & Fundraising
You are invited to help support other women who need a transformative weekend away — and who might not otherwise be able to attend the retreat. If you need scholarship assistance, contact office@gadisciples.org. All scholarships and inquiries are confidential.

  • Contribute to scholarship assistance by mailing a check to the regional office at Christian Church in Georgia, 2306 Vineville Avenue, Ste. B, Macon GA 31204, with “DW retreat scholarship” on the notation line.

  • Plan a Disciples Women fundraiser in your congregation to help support your group’s retreat fees and/or to support women from other churches.

Questions?
We are excited to be offering our first in-person fall retreat since 2019. Even with our excitement, we will continue to monitor CDC public health guidelines and adapt accordingly. Special thanks to the Georgia Disciples Women’s Commission who have spent many hours planning the 2022 Fall Retreat.

  • Sharon Cline, New Hope Christian Church Lawrenceville

  • Rev. Lainie Jenkins, Guyton Christian Church, Guyton

  • Carol Steiner, Peachtree Christian Church, Atlanta

  • Dolores Trimiew, Ray of Hope Christian Church, Decatur

  • Rev. Betty Brewer-Calvert (ex-officio, Director of Women’s Ministries), First Christian Church, Decatur

If you have questions, please reach out to Rev. Betty Brewer-Calvert, Director of Women’s Ministries for the Christian Church in Georgia.