The Lewisburg United Methodist Church invites you to take part in a “sleep-in-your-own-bed” retreat on Friday evening, Jan. 30 and the morning and afternoon of Saturday, Jan. 31. All women are welcome! We are thrilled to share that this year’s retreat leader will be the one and only Rev. Dr. Heather Murray Elkins. Retreat participants will take part in group sessions and worship with our retreat leader, break-away small group sessions with other participants and also three wonderful meals on site.
The retreat will begin with dinner on Friday evening and continue until around 9 p.m. We will reconvene on Saturday for breakfast, worship and retreat, lunch, and final afternoon sessions. No packing is required – you can go home to your own bed and bath on Friday evening.
This year’s retreat, titled, “Fashion & Faith: What Women Wear When God Throws A Party,” will allow us to delve into the difficult images and metaphors of the Bible dealing with being clothed/garbed by Christ – clothed in the gospel, clothed in righteousness, why women covered their heads and Paul’s words, and dressing for the resurrection, to name a few. We will worship, learn and grow together, and get to know one another better.
We are beyond thrilled that Heather Murray Elkins, who is on sabbatical this year and spending her time back at home in West Virginia, is able to be our retreat leader. Heather Murray Elkins is professor of worship, preaching, and the arts of The Theological School of Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. She is a graduate of Prescott College (B.A.), the University of Arizona (M.A.), Duke University (M.Div.), and Drew University (Ph.D.). In addition to numerous articles in academic journals and church publications, she is the author of The Holy Stuff of Life and Worshiping Women: Re-forming God’s People for Praise. She is contributing editor of Wising Up: Ritual Resources for Women of Faith and Pulpit, Table, and Song. Many of Professor Elkins’ essays, poems, and sermons are available in denominational publications, such as Lectionary Homiletics, Weavings, and Storyteller’s Companion to the Bible. She is an ordained elder in the West Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and served as a pastor, a truck stop chaplain, university minister, and an academic dean. Her husband, William Wesley, is also a pastor and adjunct professor.
The cost of the retreat is $25 per person and includes all retreat sessions and three delicious meals. Registration forms are available in the Lewisburg United Methodist Church office at 304-645-2727 or on the church’s website, www.lwbumc.com. Questions? Contact one of the volunteer coordinators, Lara Edwards, by e-mailing her at lnunley@lwbumc.com or call the church office at 304-645-2727. All women are welcome to take part in this retreat.
Lewisburg United Methodist Church is located on the corner of Washington and Lee Streets (beside the Post Office) in downtown Lewisburg.
