2023 Women's Retreat Breakouts
How Now Shall We Live: Cultivating Your Christian Worldview
We live in a dark, increasingly secular world. Yet, we are meant to live out the Greatest Commandment and the Great Commission where we are planted. This workshop will give you tools and inspiration from the Colson Fellows Program to encourage and inspire you. It will showcase great books, outstanding podcasts and biblically inspired resources to strengthen Christian worldview, mature your faith and assist you in bearing fruit. ...so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God ~Colossians 1:10.
Note: The Colson Fellows Program equips Christians with a robust Christian worldview so that they can thoughtfully engage with our post-Christian culture, inspire reflection in others and work effectively toward re-shaping the world in light of God’s kingdom.
KAREN LOVE graduates from the 10-month Colson Fellows Program on May 21, 2023. She is a retired Air Force aviator and officer, and high school math teacher. She substitutes in NYS public Adirondack Junior & Senior high schools. Her passions include women’s Bible Studies and mission trips. Karen is married to Bishop Bill Love, Assisting Bishop to the Anglican Diocese of the Living Word. She enjoys traveling on visitations with Bishop Bill and encouraging others. Their joy after Jesus includes traveling to be with their two adult children, Chris (and Lauren) & Catie (and Doug), and five grandchildren: Peter (10), Caleb (8), Lenora (6), Alister (5) and Emma (almost 2).
Marching on Treetops
We wait for so many things. Wait for the light to turn green. Wait for someone to show up for an appointment. Wait for the weekend to come or a much-anticipated vacation. Wait for the call from the doctor about a test. But, what does it look like to wait on the Lord? We will look at David’s example of waiting on God in 2 Samuel 5:22-25 as well as Elizabeth’s own waiting journey. There will be teaching as well as guided time for reflection and personal application.
Eliza
beth Snow has been encouraging women in their faith through leading Bible studies and speaking at women’s events for over 25 years. She is a wife of 33 years, has three children ages 27, 26, 20, and works in the philanthropic world. She loves long walks, a good book or movie, and anything chocolate! To follow her journey through adoption, foster parenting, and “God moments”, you can visit her blog at www.marchingontreetops.Wordpress.com
Play and Sing Praise and Worship
Bring your instrument, your voice and 35 copies of your favorite song (with chords) to teach us! All styles versions of Christian praise songs or hymns welcome. Just come ready to teach it to us! If you simply want to learn and sing along with us, you are welcome too!
DEB GER
LACH is a retired high school Spanish teacher who has been singing and playing music outside and inside of church since 3rd grade. She has been on numerous mission trips to South America and has traveled on 4 continents with high school students. Deb has worked for Inter-varsity Christian Fellowship and Evangelical Hispanic Outreach in New Jersey. She has three grown children and seven grandchildren on earth and one in heaven. These days she enjoys traveling, sharing folk praise music with friends and family, and is so blessed to be on the organizing and music teams for the Women’s Retreat 2023 again this year. Deb is very happily re-retiring in June from her part-time English as a New Language position at the local high school.
CORINNE DUBOIS is a skilled singer, musician and piano tuner. She has been the worship leader of our women's retreat for three years and a member since the beginning. Following in her father’s footsteps, her work as a piano tuner/technician (C.M. DuBois Piano Service) has brought her to all kinds of places and allowed her to meet many wonderful people. She was raised in, currently worships at and is Music Director for Calvary Episcopal Church in Burnt Hills. From childhood, worship and music have played a key role in her faith journey and her family. She gives thanks to God constantly for her wonderful friends and family!
The Unity House Story
Unity House is a human service agency based in Troy, New York. Their programs serve men, women and children from all over the Capital Region. Learn about the ways each of their programs serve women in our communities, including Domestic Violence Services, Mental Health Housing, Supported Employment, Poverty Services, and Children’s Programs that all help women and moms to live as safely and as successfully as they can-realizing that it looks different for everyone.
With Mother’s Day just around the corner- during the talk, attendees will work on a simple yet creative craft activity for mom’s in the Domestic Violence Shelter and Mental Health Housing Program. To say it will be such a special gift to them is an understatement! (all you need is to bring your own pair of scissors)
Come with an open mind and heart as you listen to the Unity House story, and please share any thoughts, ideas, and experiences you may have and/or how an agency like Unity House has served you or a loved one in the past.
FOR ALL RETREAT ATTENDEES: We will be collecting the following Toiletries for Women in all Unity House programs. Simply drop your donation in the box located in the Welcome Center.
Bar Soap , Deodorant, Shampoo/Conditioner (for all ethnicities), Toothpaste, Toothbrush, Disposable Razors, Hairbrush, Lotion, Sunscreen, and Hair Ties/Clips of all types and sizes
MOIRA SPAIN GERACITANO is Volunteer Coordinator and Development Team member at Unity House of Troy. She is passionate about working for an agency that Makes Life Better for those in our communities that need it most. Moira also truly enjoys working with volunteers and donors to come up with ways to support our mission through sharing their time, talents, and more.
As Volunteer Coordinator Moira recruits, orients, and places volunteers and interns across all programs. She also manages and coordinates all of the details involved with maintaining a volunteer program with over 100 volunteers. She works with volunteers/interns, volunteer groups, and programs to make sure all involved have a successful experience.
As a Development Team Member, Moira works with the donor and volunteer database, Raiser’s Edge. She also works with the team on events, special programs and committees, procuring smaller grants for the agency, and more. She loves working with her team to creatively come up with ways to support the programs and all of the amazing work that they do.
Walking with God in the Midst of Great Challenges
Psalm 37 gives wonderful admonitions about walking with God in the midst of great challenges. It is an encouraging and challenging call to live a Christ centered life in difficult times. We fix our hope on God who is Faithful and Good! We delight in him, not our circumstances. We trust that God has purpose in all of our life circumstances.
LAURE
L BISSETT is the wife of Pastor David Bissett. They have seven children and two grandchildren. Laurel is the teaching director for the Capital District North NY Community Bible Study class. She loves teaching God’s word, hiking and enjoying her family.