During the first weekend in June, 36 women from the classis of the Canadian Prairies gathered for a two day retreat that was simply drenched in chocolate.  Calgary Community Reformed Church hosted the delectable event that focused on how God’s grace is extravagant – just like chocolate.

Every portion of the retreat was designed to “pamper” the guests, from the luscious chocolate fountain and delectable goodies to the candles and lotions in the bathroom.  The expression of love was forefront in the mind of the leadership team as they tried to pay attention to the small details that make us feel loved.

The retreat had no main speaker - the ideas, teaching and worship sets came largely from a box published by Group called the Chocolate Boutique.  For the leadership team the ideas in the box acted as a springboard allowing for creativity within a framework.  After the retreat several women expressed their appreciation for the lack of a main speaker saying that it allowed the entire event to focus on the grace of God.

The weekend’s teaching was based on John 2:1-11; Jesus’ first miracle at the wedding in Cana.  The main idea was that when Jesus turned water into wine, he didn’t simply make enough for everyone to have another glass of mediocre merlot, but he went all out - making more than enough of the really good stuff.  Jesus’ first miracle was an expression of his extravagant grace.

Over the course of the two day retreat women participated in small group activities like the laughter boutique where they shared stories, laughed, and even cried together; chocolate tasting boutique; and guided prayer time using simple objects like a pencil and eraser.   There were several crafty opportunities with the creation of chocolate facials and chocolate cake bath salts, not to mention chocolate bars that were created to share grace with a friend in need.

There is nothing quite like the sound of voices raised in praise to the giver of all grace, and the times of worship were certainly delectable.  The selected songs added to the constant reminder of the grace we have been given – take for example this sample of the lyrics from the theme song: 

“Extravagant grace, extravagant love.
Taste and see that the Lord is good
He is gracious and compassionate.
Slow to anger and rich in love.
Extravagant grace flows down,
extravagant grace all around,
extravagant grace I can taste it I can touch it.   
It’s like chocolate for my soul, extravagant grace.”

The prayer of leadership team was that women at various stages of their faith journeys would share and experience grace by considering chocolate and God’s gift of love in Jesus.  God was faithful.

May each of us be blessed by the reminder of God’s extravagant grace demonstrated on the cross as we savor our next piece of chocolate.