New Around the Mission
Women Reflect and Revitalize at Contemplative Retreat
July 13, 2011
Children. Marriage. Church. Work. Friends. Many women struggle to find their way among the competing demands for their time and energy. Christ Our Hope in Ft. Collins, Colorado, hosted a contemplative women’s retreat June 24-25 to address this issue.
“We were looking for God's answers to the temptations to become overly focused on self on the one hand or overly busy doing good works on the other,” says the Rev. Fawn Corbin, recently ordained to the diaconate at Christ Our Hope. 
Held at the Abbey of St. Walburga in rural northern Colorado, the retreat wove together teachings based on the book of Ephesians and Romans 8:31-39, which assures believers of God's amazing love. Speaking was a team effort amongst Fawn and Christ Our Hope members Jill Austin, a retreat speaker for many Anglican women’s events; seasoned teacher Sharon Lance; and Sarah Hoskins, the rector’s wife. Through four sessions and plenty of reflection time, the 25 attendees found space to ponder God's love for them and how to live in that love. 
“We made several activities available on Friday afternoon to help the women transition from their very busy lives into the rest and reflection that they wanted,” Fawn says. “Many participated in Lectio Divina. They prayed together through Ephesians 3:14-20.”
The women also enjoyed walking to the Abbey from the retreat center, taking in the beautiful mountain surroundings. They sometimes joined the nuns living at the Abbey in singing prayers five times a day.
“After listening to Vespers the first evening, some remarked that they felt they had a taste of what heaven must sound like,” Fawn says. 
At the end of the retreat, the women thanked, encouraged and prayed for one another, then shared personal testimonies of how the time had touched them. Many commented that the sharing from scripture challenged them to begin with God, love each other and remember that they are, together, Christ's and one another's.
“As women we serve in so many capacities that it is vital that we have time to examine and nourish our connection with God,” Fawn says. “We just cannot do all that we are called to do in our own strength. The balance of getting away and being together refreshes us individually and knits us together to take strength from one another. We build each other up in love to love and serve the Lord.”
Learn more at Christ Our Hope Anglican.
Posted By: Cynthia P. Brust
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