Jennifer grew up attending Drift Creek as a camper. As a young adult she served on the summer camp staff and has given many volunteer hours over the years. Today she is a Clinical Chaplain at Providence Portland Medical Center in Portland, OR where she ministers in the Maternity and Neonatal Intensive Care Units. She is an active member at Salem (OR) Mennonite Church. Jennifer graduated from Goshen College in 2002 with a degree in Bible, religion and philosophy, and Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in 2012 with a Master of Divinity degree concentrating in Pastoral Care and Counseling. She enjoys spending time with her friends and family (especially her nieces and nephews), playing games, reading, knitting, singing, and listening to audio books.

Activities: Guests can choose to have an active weekend or to simply BE. Feel free to sleep in, sip on a cup of tea, dive into a book while warming by the fire, learn a new skill, spend time with your journal, chat with old friends or get to know new ones.

Worship and Fellowship: Gather each morning for singing, prayer, reflection and sharing. A quiet space will be available for those who crave time alone. Guests are also invited to explore the benefits of spiritual direction. Spiritual direction is a means to enhance spiritual formation in the life of the believer. In the classic sense a spiritual director is one who, as a representative of the church, walks with another as a mentor or guide to facilitate that person’s relationship (formation) with God; it is a voluntary relationship between an individual wanting to enhance his or her spiritual growth and a mature Christian who is able to serve as mentor.

Explore the natural wonder of DCC’s beautiful surroundings: Breathe in the fresh mountain air. Walk with a friend or dedicate time alone for prayer and quiet mediation.

Bring along a knitting project that you’ve been wanting to make time for… Don’t know how to knit and want to learn? Join a knitting circle and learn the basics or new techniques.

Get moving! Space will be set aside for movement and stretching. We hope the weather will cooperate for hiking!

Open Studio… Take advantage of ample work space, an abundant supply of paper, adhesives and assorted ephemera to express yourself in new and creative ways!

Like to read? Diana Blackstone-Helt will lead a discussion on: The Invisible Girls, A Memoir, Author, Sarah Thebarge. After battling breast cancer and getting dumped, Sarah moves across the country feeling lost and alone. She never guessed she’d find her way again through the chance meeting of a sleepy little girl on a city bus. (Book does contain strong language.)

Schedule:
Friday, April 10:
Plan to arrive as early as 5pm, A light supper will be served and kept hot for guests arriving later.
Saturday, April 11:
Morning worship will be followed by your choice of activities and free-time. An all-group activity will take place Saturday evening.
Sunday, April 12:
Group study and worship followed by Glen’s delicious cinnamon rolls & brunch will conclude the weekend.

2014 Mennonite Women’s Retreat

Amidst the chaos of life’s constant demands, the benefit of self-care… Turn off the phone, let go of nagging responsibilities for a bit. Invite a sister, a daughter, a mother, a friend… gather for music, worship and relaxation. Come, be renewed . Think of the weekend as a gift to yourself or to someone you love. Participants will find opportunities to grow in mind, body & spirit through group sessions, exploring DCC’s beautiful surroundings, taking time for meaningful conversations and pausing to be still and reflect. Delight in nourishing food, coffee treats and time set aside to connect with women of all ages, be quiet with God, and feed the spirit. You can choose how to spend your time so if a guilt-free nap is what you need, enjoy it!

INTEREST CENTERS: hiking; book discussion group led by Diana Blackstone-Helt on Sue Monk Kidd’s latest novel The Invetion of Wings; knitting, journaling, cooking, creating cards with vintage papers with Risa, stretching and bit of yoga…
Group sessions led by artist & quilt designer, Carol Honderich.

See this poster for more information.

2013 Mennonite Women’s Retreat

Consider the benefit of self-care in our fast-paced society. Turn off the phone, let go of nagging responsibilities for a bit. Invite a sister, a daughter, a mother, a friend… gather for music, worship and relaxation.  Come, be renewed .  Consider the weekend retreat as a gift to yourself or to someone you love.  There will be opportunities to grow in mind, body & spirit through group sessions, nature hikes, meaningful conversations and times of reflection. Fun will be had as guests invite others to share in activities that bring them joy. Delight in nourishing food, coffee treats and time set aside to connect with women of all ages, be quiet with God, and feed the spirit.

Gather in community to tackle an issue we all struggle with:  Perceptions of beauty!  Join in as Rose Marie Zook Barber leads discussion times and explores the lives of Eve, Bathsheba and Martha.

INTEREST CENTERS:

• Hiking
• Journaling
• Knitting
• Cooking demonstration (exactly what, to be determined!)
• Paper play!
• Explore the CALLANETICS EXERCISE METHOD with Cathie Jo! Callanetics are safe and non-impact, provide a balanced approach emphasizing stretching and neuromuscular coordination while also strengthening deep postural muscles. Callanetics provide deep muscle work – leaving you feeling stretched and relaxed! Bring a yoga mat!

2012 Mennonite Women’s Retreat

SCHEDULE…

2011 Mennonite Women’s Retreat

Consider the benefit of self-care in our fast-paced society. Turn off the phone, let go of nagging responsibilities for a bit. Invite a sister, a daughter, a mother, a friend… gather for music, worship and relaxation.  Come, be renewed .  Consider the weekend retreat as a gift to yourself or to someone you love.  There will be opportunities to grow in mind, body & spirit through group sessions, nature hikes, meaningful conversations and times of reflection. Fun will be had as guests invite others to share in activities that bring them joy. Delight in nourishing food, coffee treats and time set aside to connect with women of all ages, be quiet with God, and feed the spirit.
Gather in community to tackle an issue we all struggle with: the balance of time.  Join in as Charlene Epp leads discussion times and explores the lives of Mary and Martha and the way each woman chose to use her time. Charlene was born in SD, raised and baptized in the Northern District Conference of the Mennonite Church. Her family were farmers. She attended Freeman Jr. College in Freeman, SD and graduated from Bethel College, North Newton, KS with a BS in Elementary Education. She entered Mennonite Voluntary Service, living in Kansas City and Chicago during her service assignments as a teacher in several settings. It was in Chicago that she met Duncan Smith, also in MVS, and whom she married following the completion of their MVS terms. Two years later they relocated to Elkhart, IN for Duncan’s seminary training at the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries (AMBS); towards the end of his schooling, she began seminary courses. They relocated to the Bronx, NY for Duncan’s first position as a solo pastor of a congregation: North Bronx Mennonite Church. She continued in the education field, serving as substitute teacher, then teaching in and coordinating gardening programs in The Family Garden at the New York Botanical Gardens. When Duncan’s mother’s health issues called them to follow through on their commitment to care for her, they relocated to Spokane, WA, moving into her home to care for her during the last 26 months of her life. During this time, Charlene completed residency in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), a pre-requisite to being a Board Certified Chaplain (BCC) through the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC). She also continued seminary course work in stints back to AMBS. Following her mother-in-law’s death, they relocated again to Portland when Duncan accepted a position on the PNMC staff. Here she completed her seminary courses at Western Evangelical Seminary (now George Fox Seminary), volunteered as a chaplain at Inverness Correctional Facility and Providence Milwaukie Hospital until acquiring a full-time staff chaplain position in October of 2000 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, where she continues to minister today. She was ordained to Christian Ministry through PNMC, as a member of Portland Mennonite Church on July 14, 2002.
Bring sleeping bag, pillow, flashlight, personal items, Bible, notebook, personal copies of Sing the Journey and Sing the Story if you have them, camera, your favorite game, fresh fruit for snacks and perhaps a talent or story to share for Saturday evening’s gathering around the fire.
Interest Centers:
Nature Walk
Pampering massage, shoulders and feet, $1 per minute.  Hand wax wrap $5
Create greeting cards Learn to knit with Sara Gibson (bring worsted yarn of your choosing, needles provided or bring your own favorite pair)
Book discussion— “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett Food demonstration — chocolate lava cakes!
Table settings — We’re still looking for someone to teach this if you are interested?
Directed journaling & found poetry with Jaqui Eicher Forney
Creative paper play with Marisa Eicher Demasi
Visiting / Table Games
Schedule:
Friday 4:00 Registration opens 5:30 -8:00 Supper makings set out Evening Interest centers 9:00 Get acquainted activities, led by Pam Fahndrich followed by evening prayers by in the chapel
Saturday 8:00 Breakfast; 9:00  Chapel Morning interest Centers; 12:00 Lunch Afternoon Interest Centers 6:00 Dinner Evening Activity—Talent Show   Bring along a talent, story, joke, skit song, game, etc. to share Saturday evening.  Followed by evening prayers.
Sunday 7:00 Early-bird breakfast; 9:00 Chapel; 10:00 Brunch; 11:00 Clean-up and departure