by Marisa Gronholz

There is a movement in the retreat-planning world (did you know there was a retreat planning world?), to do away with the word “retreat.” Some say that it connotes defeat, or withdrawal and doesn’t do justice to the experience of a real “retreat.” So, as these things often go, their solution is to swing the pendulum to the antonym. Rather than go on a “retreat,” people should go on an “advance.” With its militaristic root and implicit connotation of forward movement, I can’t say that really does it for me either. Perhaps that is one of those instances where words simply fail. It would be nice if the English language provided us a word that simply meant go and be.

That is exactly what the women of Bethany will do on April 23-25, 2010. We will go to Camp Berachah in Auburn, WA and will have a few days to just be together—to laugh, talk, eat, play, cry, pray—all of the things that go into being present with one another.

Our time together will center around the idea of story—what does it mean to live in light of story? What can we learn as women from the stories of other women in our lives? What stands in the way of us living a better story? What would it look like if we embraced the story that God has given us individually and collectively as we pray and live out, “[God’s] kingdom come.”

There will be many more details to follow, but for now, know that, whatever you want to call it, we would love to have you come and be with us!

For information contact: Marisa Gronholz: marisa@spu.edu / Sara McMahon: ksamcmahon@comcast.net. Camp Berachah.