Christ Church Women's Retreat and other retreats

Well I finally went on the Christ Church women's retreat. It is run by Rev Julie Yarborugh our associate minister. Julie said this was the 13th retreat that she has run. Well 13 is my lucky number as I was born on the 13th and lived at 13 Dennis Place in Summit for years so I am not afraid of the number 13. It the first time I had no real excuse not to go on the the retreat so I went and I am glad because I had fun.
This year it was held at a new location for the retreat, the Carmel Retreat Center in Mahwah New Jersey which is about as far north as you can go in New Jersey without going into New York state.
It is lovely in the hills of New Jersey, I hesitate to say mountains in case people who really live in the mountains read this. I went with my Hillsborough friend and Christ Church member Kathryn and for us it was a straight ride up I 287. We could have gone all the way on Route 202, but even though that would be scenic it would also be very slow.
The Carmel Retreat house" began as the private estate of Clarence Chapman, a New York financier whose principal interests were in mining and shipbuilding. A ship's bell forged by the Menelly Bell Company of Troy, New York in 1903 still reminds visitors of Mr. Chapman's business interests when they visit the site of his summer home in the Ramapo River Valley of New Jersey. He named the estate "Welawiben", a word created by him to connote good health and fellowship " For more information about the estate and it's history see this website: http://www.carmelretreat.com/html/about/history.html

This year thirty women decided to go on the retreat which is the largest group ever. Julie thought it was because of the topic. "Hope in HardTimes". I guess I went just to see what it was like.
I am not going to discuss everything we did because that would not be right. It was an opportunity for me to meet and interact with some of the women of the church and their friends as we were allowed to bring non church members. Almost everyone in the church knows me because I sing in the choir and I am very vocal about UCC announcements but I don't know everyone in church. This was indeed a way to interact and meet with the women.
What was good about the retreat was silence. Many people took a walk or a run around the property when we had breaks. It is a beautiful property to walk. I did not because walking is hard for me and I also have a cold.
Sunday we did a craft project lead by Lynn our crafts person. At first we all thought it might be too hard but we all got into the project and came out with very pretty accordion books that we made by making a printing block and printing on paper.
The meals were good and a good time for informal fellowship and talks with people whom I did not know until then.
This retreat was good time to get away and think about our lives without the hustle and bustle of life.
So as not to reveal all that we did I will leave it at that.
This was the first Christ Church retreat I have been on but not the first retreat in my life. I am a Turtle Sister which means I have been on the Turtle Island Project retreat twice. This is held in Arizona in the fall. This year it will be either the first or second weekend in October and I hope to fit it into my plans again. You are welcome to join me.The highlight of this retreat is the sweat lodge. The retreat is run by three therapists, one of them being a Native American and another being Native American and African American. The sweat lodge takes some getting used to. As I said I hope to go again this year if I can fit it into my schedule.
Sorry guys these retreats are only for women. Do you have retreats like this?
Jeannette Brown