1302 W. 11th St., Cedar Falls, IA 50613
(319) 266-5959
e-mail: firstchristian@cfu.net  
Rev. Liz Woodward, Pastor

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The Red Tent Women's Retreat, February 2002 

The "Listening for God" book discussion group at First Christian Church in Cedar Falls felt so inspired by our reading and discussion of the Biblical-era novel, "The Red Tent" by Anita Diamant, that we decided to hold an all-church women's retreat in February 2002. The setting of the book is in ancient times, when the Red Tent was a sanctuary for women during their time of confinement (menses, pregnancy, or illness). It was a sacred place where women rested from their hard work, nurtured each other, and shared laughter, secrets, and stories. Here are some photos from the weekend overnight.

  
Photo 1: On Friday afternoon, committee members prepared Pioneer Hall on the Cedar Falls Bible Conference Grounds. It was early February with a light snow cover, but the weather was calm and mild. Here Teresa Carr organizes the surprise mail we had solicited from family and friends for Retreat participants. Connie Deaver hand-sewed 45 fabric bags to hold the mail and other presents we made for everyone.

Photo 2: Here's Alyce Jenkins preparing the fresh flowers that would decorate the dining and sleeping areas. Committee members prepared food, decorations, and activities ahead of time so we could enjoy the retreat, too.

Photo 3: Pioneer Hall has a cozy community meeting area with a fireplace and a kitchen, and the lovely park surroundings were perfect for taking walks in the serene late winter landscape. Pioneer Hall became our Red Tent for the weekend, and we lit it with candles, holiday lights, laughter, and companionship.

Photo 4: Retreat Committee Members Pastor Liz Woodward, Teresa Carr and Connie Deaver (standing, at left) welcomed participants at the door, distributed name tags, and shared moments of exasperation in between arrivals. At right, Jody Rogers, Shari Willett and another guest begin the long evening of talking. We had hoped for 15 participants and were thrilled to scramble for sleeping space when 42 had registered for the night! About 10 were friends of church members, completely new to the group.

Photo 5: Women brought their sleeping bags and belongings to stay overnight--some of them for their first-ever sleepover, and for many of us, the first sleepover with women friends in a long, long time.

Photo 6: The Red Tent Retreat opened with a prayer and some comments by Liz (standing, center). Then committee member Marianne Abel-Lipschutz (standing, at right) introduced our guest presenter for the Retreat, Cedar Falls massage therapist and creative artist Deblyn Russell (standing, at left). Deblyn led us through an entertaining get-acquainted exercise by having everyone write their name vertically on a piece of paper, choose a descriptive word for each letter, and introduce themselves to the group by explaining how the words described them.

 

Photo 7: Snacks, visiting, shoulder and foot massages, painting nails, a bedtime story, a late night movie with popcorn, and some of us talking till dawn carried the evening along easily.

Photo 8: After breakfast, Deblyn led us through a morning exercise routine suitable for all fitness and ability levels, followed by mail call. Participants received their letters from family and friends, and wrote Red Tent letters to all the women church members who hadn't come so they would feel remembered and included. Lunch was another one of the delicious meals committee members had prepared ahead of time so we could all enjoy fresh baked breads, salads, soups, fruits, and desserts.

Photo 9: Committee member Pat Graham led our Saturday afternoon activity by teaching us how to make several different herbal bath and body products we could take home and use. Here's Kim Carbiener (left) and Pat Graham (right) sorting through the ingredients used in making perfumed bath crystals.

Photo 10:  A closing circle at three o'clock ended the Saturday afternoon with reflection and joy. Everyone left refreshed and renewed, and we cleaned up our Red Tent and went home, grateful for this time of sanctuary in midwinter--and wondering what we might do next year!

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