WEST TENNESSEE PRESBYTERIAL SPRING RETREAT
This years Spring Retreat was just amazing. Perhaps I feel that way because it was
the first one I had ever attended. I'll probably drive you to distraction with the use of the word "amazing", but
there is no better word to describe this experience.
Our church was represented by Pat Jones and myself, Christine Walters. There should have been five of us in
attendance but for one reason or another, three of our members could not make it. I myself was not going to go, but
a phone call from Nelle Priddy (who got sick at the last possible minute), convinced me it would be great fun. All I can say
to the ladies of my church is this - "You Have No Idea What You Missed".
Many were meeting friends they had not seen since the year before, many were just like me,
meeting people they had never met before, hope they might meet again but might well never see again.
It didn't matter, we were all Sisters. I had forgotten my camera on Friday night so the pictures here are all from Saturday.
Regristration began at 6:30 p.m. Friday Evening on March 11th. After getting our name tags - entering our names for the "door prize drawing", etc.. we were free to mingle
and greet. Since Pat was busy helping with the regristration, assisting our very own
"previous member" Gloria Brien, I set out to mingle and greet on my own. Basically I'm kind of shy when
meeting new people but there is no such thing as "shy" at these gatherings. Every face had a smile on it, everyone was
friendly, everyone was talking to everyone else and there were no "strangers" among us.
I was in the midst of some "amazing" women who were acting as though they
just might been let out of the kitchen for the first time. They were carefree,
laughing, having a good time, and the thoughts of husbands, cooking, cleaning, children, and the
worry with everyday life and troubles at home, were gone from their minds.
Friday night was filled with entertainment. Janey Edwards, the Seekers of Joy President, gave the Welcome. Getting
acquainted was done by Joann Alexander and she played a "toilet paper" game that I won't go into
detail with, but it was hilarious. You might say that Pat and I were caught with our "pants down". After
this game we were all very well acquainted with each other! After we got to know
each other quite well we had an informal singing lead by Diane Wilkins and an added bonus was
"The McGuire Sisters" who sang a few songs for us. Then probably the most enjoyable and funny
part of the evening was "Ms. Martha" and I really do wish I had brought my camera. This is a unique and
original character created by an "amazing" lady named R. Jean Kalt of Estill Springs, TN who is blessed with
the ability to make people laugh. Everything she said was funny. Carol Medley gave the very inspiring evening devotional with a story about
the talking candles, ending with everyone in a circle, holding candles and singing the very beautiful song - "Go Light Your World".
Saturday morning dawned bright and beautiful in West Tennessee. For those who spent the night at Camp Clark Williamson they
were awakened to the Spring Birds singing, the rustle of the trees just starting to bud and the ripple of water that had lain
dormant all winter. The ladies, like nature, bursting to be set free. We all met for a delicious breakfast of scrambled eggs,
fluffy biscuits, gravy, jelly, sausage, orange juice and coffee. Why does it all taste so much better when your gazing out over the
water?
By 9:30 the newly arrived Saturday guests were registered and we were in the Lodge singing the Theme Songs. The new arrivals
were welcomed and introductions of guest speakers was made. The Regions were all recognized and the lodge was full.
The Morning devotional was given by Pat Smith the 2005 Convention President. She gave a fascinating talk as a Sheperdess.
Door prizes were given out on Friday Night and more were given out on Saturday morning.
Then the long awaited and anticipated special guest speaker was introduced. Pat and I had the joy of sitting
at the table with Nancy McClung on Friday Night and what a special lady she is. Nancy McClung is from Birmingham, Alabama and
had driven all this way to give her presentation of "Getting A Head in Your Bible Study". Nancy, like most of us,
has had her share of trouble and worry in this world. A few short years ago she was depressed, almost
to the point of giving in and giving up, and few among us have not been to that point ourselves.
Then one day came the voice of God whispering loudly to her, to get up
off that couch - stop feeling sorry for yourself and do something! The inspiration came to her that this was
what she needed to do and she began to create the "Heads" of the women of the Bible. They are beyond words -
they are the most beautiful, original creations that I've every seen in my life. The photographs don't do them justice.
This is one exhibition that you must see for yourself. The jewels glittered and shown in the sunlight,
the fabric was soft, silky and rich. They were just gorgeous and you knew immediately
that they were created by a woman who was "feeling" and was literally "living" in these women of the Bible.
These ladies are Eve, Mrs. Noah, Sarah, Mrs. Lot, Rebekah, Rachel & Leah, Miriam, Rehab, Deborah, Ruth, Hannah, Delilah, Bathsheba, Queen of Sheba, Jezebel, Esther, The Virtuous Woman, Mary Mother of Jesus, Elizabeth, Anna, Martha and Mary, Dorcas, Lydia, Eunice and Lois.
In Nancy's talk on these "amazing" women you soon began to realize that as women, we all have some of the
traits of these women. Nancy tries to get across to us
that the "Lessons" to be learned from these women will get us through our own lives if
we heed the lesson! These women are our ancestors - we carry them with us in our daily lives and we
have inherited those characteristics, we carry around the good
and bad - another reminder that we are not perfect. As women, we can all easily relate to these
women of the Bible..
Nancy McClung began her studies by gathering books on the women of the Bible. She studied them, she got to know everything there was to know about them, she
put herself in their places, lived their lives and became them. Nancy's long talk on the women of the Bible was fascinating and we all learned more
about them than we had ever known before. Nancy is also the Convention President-Elect.
Below are some of the ladies of the CPWM in the West Tennessee Region. It was impossible to get all their names so I'll just list them by the Churches they represent.
It was a wonderful weekend - enjoyed by all..
SEE YOU ALL NEXT YEAR !!
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