2009 Women's Retreat

Our speaker in 2009 was the Rev. Carmen Mason Brown, pastor of the Imani Fellowship Presbyterian Church in Vallejo.  She challenged and inspired us on the topic Women of Vision, Sisters of Change:  The Courage and Challenge of Change.

Movies, books, etc. mentioned during the retreat include:

Whale Rider, 2003 movie
The Joy Luck Club, 1993 movie (and book by Amy Tan)
Water, 2005 movie
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, 2000 movie
The Never Ending Story, 1984 movie

Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters First 100 Years by Sarah Delany, Annie Elizabeth Delany, Amy Hill Hearth

Gees Bend Quilts (and Wikipedia entry with more info)

Healing Hands

A note from Pastor Carmen

Dear new friends,

I loved meeting so many of you and hearing your powerful stories, wisdom and insights. Thank you for the absolutely lovely room and location. Everything was great. It was an honor and privilege of coming to lead the retreat and meet this absolutely brilliant, gifted and wonderful group of women. You all are amazing, fun and blessed in your church and circle of friends, also to have such a creative and gifted Pastor Cheryl.
Blessings to all -  Pastor Carmen

Betsy's poem:

On change...

There's some change at the bottom of my purse and if I take the time and dig down deep enough I can grab onto it and pull it out and give it to the man sitting before me named Tyrone who prays daily for five things; music, cleanliness, kindness, compassion and understanding. I can't say for sure but maybe if I pull out some change for him it'll make a difference. Maybe if everybody who walked by Tyrone sitting on a beat up blue milk crate, arguing with invisible foes and battling vicious enemies only he can see, pulled hard enough for change from the bottom of their purses, pockets, cup holders, sofa cushions, car mats and lint trays- maybe all that hard fought for change would make a difference for Tyrone and his battles and his gratitude and his memory.

Anne Hubble's Poem:

Oceans of Change

The waves crash,

       brushing the shore,

hissing into

        our consciousness.

 Stealing into our thoughts

                    and concentration.

As the sea changes the face

                    of the earth,

so God, endlessly washes

                    over us.

Bringing a gradual change

                    to our lives,

that we don’t always see,

                    until we no longer

can avoid it.

©Anne Hubble, Women’s Retreat, March 15, 2009