What’s New?
New and exciting things have been happening at Retreat-in-a-Bag!
I am most excited to announce our new downloadable Retreat Guide. This is the first of (hopefully) many to come. This Retreat Guide gives you resources specific to the theme “Hidden Riches,” including theme verse, ideas and links to decorations we used, color photos, teaching sessions outline, quiet time study and skit (reproducible theme graphics are not provided). I have to say that our recent retreat with this theme was one of our sweetest retreats ever, as we compared our Christian life to a mining expedition where we search for hidden treasures. And the greatest treasure of all is to know the Lord!
In addition, our Retreat-in-a-Bag book series, consisting of three books, is now downloadable. Up until now, they have only been available for purchase as a hard copy. Now you can get what you need instantly from the Retreat-in-a-Bag website. Compared to the Retreat Guide just mentioned, each of these books covers general information for those planning a retreat from start to finish, but they include theme-related resources as well (graphic, quiet time, skit).
We have been adding content to our free downloadables – with new skits, quiet time studies and even a new downloadable form or two. So if you haven’t been to the website for a while, it may be worth your time to take a gander, especially if you are planning a retreat for 2015!
Sad to say, but if you have been in ministry very long, you know the hard truth that some of the deepest wounds in our hearts come from God’s people. The women you minister to have been hurt by those in the church, and you yourself have probably not escaped the hurts, intentional and unintentional, caused by those who call themselves Christians.
Ladies, let me take a moment to say Happy New Year! 2015 is well on its way…where did the time go? We’ve had a few weeks filled with family and visitors and shopping and cleaning and Christmas and get-togethers……..a busy holiday season. But if you’re like us, women’s ministry is never far from your thoughts…and now the new year is finally here. Time to hit the ground running! Time to get your women’s ministry events for 2015 on the calendar, and start the process afresh.
I am guessing that your busy fall season of women’s ministry events is coming to a close, as mine is. Our fall women’s Bible study is ending for the year (to resume in January with a new study). Our women’s missions Christmas project, purchasing gifts for the staff at an orphanage in Mexico (our church adopts the kids at Christmas) in complete and in Christmas bags, waiting for delivery by a missions team over the holidays. This coming weekend we will have our annual women’s retreat, the culmination of months of prayer, planning and work. And then we have one last event for the year–our women’s Christmas dinner. We do our Christmas event at the beginning of December (this year it is actually on December 1st!), so that our ladies can start this busy season of shopping, entertaining, family and (possibly) stress by considering the “reason for the season” 
