Pioneer Christian Monthly - December, 1997

Blessings Received and Shared
Cindy Kerr

This past April, Emmanuel Reformed Church hosted our RCWM Conference. A small group of ladies from Grace Community Church in Thorold travelled to Woodstock for the day. Babette Moerman was our speaker. She focussed on the role of women's ministry in our denomination and the fact that we need to reach out to both young and old, seeking to serve the Lord joyfully with the gifts He has given us.

Our group came home excited and encouraged by the message. We felt a renewed sense of purpose and had a great desire to pass the blessings of that day on to the ladies from our own church. We formed a committee of four women and, prayerfully, began the process of organizing an overnight retreat for October 17-18, 1997.

Our speaker was Lynne Maukonen, a Christian woman with a counselling practice in Port Colborne, Ont.

Our site was the beautiful Rathfon Inn on the shores of Lake Erie. It sits on a large piece of property and offered many of us a peaceful atmosphere in which to walk the beach and enjoy fellowship together during our afternoon free time.

The theme for the weekend was Love, Honour, Serve and was based on Romans 12:9-13. Lynne emphasized that "without the Spirit's work of regeneration and indwelling of our hearts, neither loving, honouring, nor serving can be done in a manner that glorifies our Lord.

Our late afternoon small group sessions provided a quiet time of sharing and developing deeper bonds of trust and friendship.

In summary, the food was delicious; the singing was vibrant; the fellowship was sweet. But most important, the spiritual nourishment for our souls was both powerful and refreshing.

We are grateful to the Lord for His guidance and wisdom in preparation and to the Holy Spirit for His gentle movement throughout the weekend. It truly was a blessing.

Cindy Kerr is a member of Grace Community Church (Thorold, Ont.) and is an active participant in Reformed Church Women's Ministries.

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