WOMEN’S RETREAT
JANUARY 23-25, 2015
Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church and St. Peter’s By the Sea Lutheran Church
“Balance”
Sometimes life is a walk on the beach. Sometimes it’s an uphill climb. Sometimes we have so many things competing for our time and attention that we feel that we could snap. Other times we feel like we are walking through life in a semi-conscious state. But for most of us, life isn’t spent on either end of the range, it falls somewhere in the middle. It’s a fact of life in the 21st century. We struggle every day with things that are critical to attend to immediately, things that we can put off, and things that we can ignore. Many are things we are obligated to do, almost without choice. Sometimes, our only choice is when and how to manage these many obligations, which can become quite the balancing act. Carl Jung would call this balance management “holding the tension of the opposites.” F. Scott Fitzgerald is attributed with writing, "The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function." He continued writing, “One should, for example, be able to see that things are hopeless yet be determined to make them otherwise.” This notion is not new. Christians today live in a constant state of duality. Our faith holds together seemingly contradictory ideas: Jesus is both human and divine; God is both three and one. Together, we will explore healthy ways to hold the tension of the opposites through Bible study, sharing personal experiences, spiritual meditation, and fellowship. We’ll learn to lean into living not in the “either or,” but the “both-and.”
Deb Mitchell is the pastor at Southeast Community Presbyterian Church. She directs the work at Presbyterian Urban Ministries, a mission on Market Street that assists the homeless and needy people of our city. By managing these two ministries simultaneously, she lives in the land of “both-and.” Deb left her first career as a VP at AT&T when her call to her true vocation became so loud that she could no longer ignore it. She started seminary after celebrating her fiftieth birthday and began speaking at retreats and academic forums. She has wisdom from life experience, but has a teaching style that is fresh and infused with humor. Deb lives in Point Loma and her husband, Mitch, captains an offshore oil services boat. Their grown daughter, Courtney, lives in Irvine.
MAKE PAYMENTS TO: Presbyterian Women. Cost includes 2 nights and 5 meals. Single: $344 Quad: Queen $194 Triple: King $214 Double: Queen or King $244 This is a non-smoking hotel providing rooms with 2 queen beds and king studios. They have small microwaves and refrigerators, and we may bring food/snacks. Paid refunds can be obtained until January 6, 2015.
Missional Giving: We would like to ask everyone to bring a donation of either new underwear or new socks (for men or women) that will be given to PUM (Presbyterian Urban Ministries) to hand out to clients. Checks are also welcome. Check-in: Friday, Jan. 23 after 3:30 p.m. Register in the lobby. There is plenty of parking and an elevator. Check-out: Sunday, Jan. 25 after our worship service and sharing time. Meals: There will be five buffet meals starting at 6:00 p.m. Friday night, ending with breakfast on Sunday. Coffee and tea will be provided in the dining room all day. What to bring: Bible, notepad, pen, journal, camera, casual clothing (nights are usually cold in January), bathing suit and towel (for hot tub or outdoor heated pool), and “nice, no longer needed treasures” to donate for Bingo prizes. Returning attendees: Please bring your name tag holder/bead necklace –if you have one. A bead for this year’s retreat will be added. Extras provided for attendees.
Pre-Retreat Lunch: Head Start to Fun—To avoid the Friday afternoon traffic on the I-5, join us at 12:30 p.m. for lunch at Sarducci’s in San Juan Capistrano (26701 Verdugo Street). On the Ortega Hwy, take Exit 82 and go 0.2 miles. Turn left on Camino Capistrano and right on Verdugo St. Following lunch, there will be ample time for shopping and browsing, or visiting the famous Mission before retreat check-in beginning at 3:30 p.m. For lunch reservations, contact Gail Bennett gail_dean_bennett @ sbcglobal.net, or (858) 268-3668.
Directions: From San Diego (or Sarducci’s) to the Ayres Hotel & Spa, 28951 Los Alisos Blvd., Mission Viejo, CA 92692: Non-Toll Road Route: Take I-5 north. Exit Oso Pkwy, turn left on Marguerite Pkwy and continue for several miles. Turn right on Los Alisos. The Ayres Hotel & Spa (not Ayres Suites) will be on the left. Approximate drive time from Point Loma to Ayres Hotel is 90 minutes during non-peak traffic time. Toll Road Route: Take I-5 north, exit Oso Pkwy. Continue on Oso Pkwy, and then go left onto CA241. Exit Los Alisos Blvd, go left over the toll road a short distance and turn right into the Ayres Hotel & Spa (not Ayres Suites). NOTE: Toll payment procedure has changed. No longer are payments accepted at the toll booth when passing. Payments can only be made with Fastrak or online at www.thetollroads.com/onetimetoll within 24 hours of using toll road. Call (949) 727-4800 for more information. The Athena Spa is located in the hotel. If you wish to have facial or body treatments, make your own appointment well in advance (949)6006272 or www.aspa-mv.com. Retreat attendees are eligible for a 25% discount.
For more information: Beth Zedaker,
[email protected], (619) 602-9610 or (619) 224-0395, or Geri Nielsen,
[email protected], (619) 571-8693. Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church, 2128 Chatsworth Blvd., San Diego, CA 92107 (619) 223-1633 www.pointlomachurch.org
