Siwok
Crafts sold by Diane Perry to help support her daughter Michele Perry's
missionary work in the Sudan appeared Saturday morning and were
very popular!
Diane Perry explains how Siwok
crafts are made | Saturday morning's
session began with Mother Kammy sharing with us her morning's devotion
from "A Pilgrim's Almanac." Today is "Candle Clock Day," remembering
the invention of the clock. It seems that time was once measured by
calibrated candles. Monks once were required to sleep with lighted
candles between their toes to measure the hours. As one could imagine
there were many complaints and this led to the invention of the clock.
So remember that it could always be worse, we could be sleeping with
candles between our toes instead of rejoicing in the 50 days of Easter
Celebration. Then Mother Kammy led us through all the lesson learned
from the many movie clips we watched. From the "Secret Life of Bees"
we learned that against all odds and crossing all boundaries, people
chose to be open to receive the light of Christ. From the clip, "Lars
and the Doll, we learned that loving each other means valuing each
other. we must listen and be open to the differences in one another
and we must value and encourage each other. To close the morning
session we had an exercise and were asked to find that one person we
did not know yet and who might be least like us to get to know before
lunch and share our moment closest to Christ this day or during the
past week.
Following that enlightening exercise we continued
partaking of the excellent food we have received since our arrival was
punctuated by trays of delicious chocolate macaroons. Dinner Friday
evening was an incredible pasta bar followed by a full breakfast
Saturday morning. No one let lack of hunger stop them from showing up
for a delightful soup and salad lunch though on Saturday! And every
time we looked around, the Chocolate macaroons and cookies seemed to be
following us!
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Saturday Afternoon Workshops 
Author Charles E. Pattillo III
promotes his book,
St. Dunstan's and John
Mr. Pattillo both spoke about and autographed copies of his book during the first afternoon
workshop after lunch
| Saturday
afternoon was a time to either relax or attend one or all three
workshops that were held. The author Charles Pattillo autographed
copies of his book, St. Dunstan's and John, and
entertained participants with an overview of his book. The second
workshop on making anglican rosaries and prayer box bracelets had to be
held twice and more than 50 rosaries and bracelets were made by the
many who attended. Following that workshop, there was a Christian yoga
workshop and Joe Chamberlain offered those interested a nature walk to
the new organic gardens. Others chose to relax and/or take advantage
of the many shopping opportunities. There were 3 Christian bookstores
with many gift items as well as books. In addition, there were SIWOK
Indian crafts and beautiful greeting cards to purchase at the Millenium
Development Goal Display. In the Saffran conference room were several
ministry displays continuing the long standing tradition of sharing our
ministries and ideas for evangelism. Additionally, there was also a
Saturday evening reception on the patio and Saturday night's dinner was
a huge hit with all. The prime rib and organic vegetables were equal
to any gourmet restaurant and everyone seemed more than happy with the
greatly improved food!
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| Making Anglican Rosaries
and Prayer Box Bracelets
The second workshop had to be run twice due to the numbers that showed. This workshop
was on making anglican rosaries and prayer bracelets and was attended by over 50 people. Linda Wilcox led this workshop assisted by Marianne O'Neill.
Lori Harley shows
completed rosary
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Saturday evening's session continued with 3. Revealing the Light. The
gospels tell us that Jesus is the light of the world and ... we are not
to hide our light under a bushel. In the clip, "Phoebe in Wonderland,"
the drama teacher coaching the little girl playing "Alice" is
explaining to the little girl who is scared, that at some point
probably much too late in her life, she will be able to look at herself
as the person she is with all her foibles and be able to experience
love. At some point, we have to recognize the Christ light within us.
In the film clip, "The Seekers," the boy Will has run from the light
because he thinks it is not enough and the older ones tell him that
even the smallest light is enough to dispel the darkness. It is not
about whether or not someone else's light is brighter but about
offering the light that we have. In the clip, "Pay it forward," the
young boy is being interviewed about the movement that he began which
is spreading across the country. He is asked if he is proud of himself
and he says he is glad that he got an "A" on the project, but it really
did not work because the one he was trying to help did not get it and
just could not change. We have to let the light in by sharing it with
others. When one candle gets snuffed out, it stops the process.
Mother Kammy challenged us to think about when we have let our light be
hid?
Saturday evenings session culminated with an
intercessory prayer and praise and worship service. Several
intercessory prayer teams were available and Sue Carmichael played
"Gabriel," her harp.
To Download a List of All Movie References used in Mother Kammy's talks, click here.
To Download the document "In Louisville," by Thomas Merton, click here.
To download the African Model for Bible Study used in Rev. Kammy's Sunday Morning Session, click here.
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Jackie Wright shows
completed rosary
The last workshop was Christian Yoga led by Sharon Richards "The Sun Salutation
using the Lord's Prayer." (If you have any yoga pictures please email to iluvecw@comcast.net) | Sunday morning's session picked up
with
the fourth "R," Rekindle. We have the responsibility not to hide the
light and to proclaim it in word and action. We are all scared but we
all have to at some point recognize and reveal the light of Christ
within us. We are also called to grow up in carrying the light, to
change the universe. We are called to reflect the light in the ways
that we respect the dignity of every man and woman and strive for
justice and peace for all in words and always in actions. As in the
film clip, "Zachery Beaver," when Zachery's young friends showed up
prior to his departure to a foster home to take him to the river to get
him properly baptized so that he could one day be with his recently
disceased mother again, we need to be the friends that will help each
other get there. In the South African clip where the farmer was able
to restore a village girl struck by lightening to health, he
continually proclaimed that it was not he, but God that was at work in
her healing and we must all proclaim that it is God who restores and
redeems , who has the power to heal and give new life. In the film
clip "The Great Debaters, Denzel Washington, the Professor, is being
challenged about his methods in bringing about civil reform and how his
methods might look radical to the world around him. His response was
that Jesus was a radical and when asked if he was confused he said no,
he was just convinced. We must sometimes be radical in our methods and
convinced when we proclaim the healing power of Jesus Christ to
transform the world.
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Saturday Evening
Commitment Service
Carry the Light Candle
| Rekindling is persevering in
resisting evil and whenever we fall into sin, repenting and returning
to the Lord. It is about forgiving others and it is about standing
together, just as the three women in "The Secret Life of the Bees,"
stood together resisting evil offering radical hospitality across all
boundaries against all odds. We see in "Paying it Forward," that
sometimes horrible things happen that we cannot understand and these
things would break us if it were not for the communion of saints, the
body of Christ, who carry the light for us and stand with us in our
pain and grief. The fifth "R" Rejoice, we practiced at our celebratory Eucharist in Mandy's Chapel. During the Eucharist, Mother Kammy told a story about returning to Haiti to visit with a young man she had met on sabbatical who had been like "Christ" to her. She had wanted to return
with her family and two years later she was able to get back to the
mountain where he lived but was unable to contact him prior to her
arrival and was able to find his dwelling and he was there at the time.
She related his disbelief and joy as like the disciples joy in their
disbelief in Jesus' appearing to them following his crucifixion in
Sunday's gospel lesson. Sue Carmichael led music and all rekindled
their joy in the Eucharistic feast and through all the weekend's
activities. And once again, no one let the lack of hunger prevent them
from enjoying a fried chicken lunch before heading home, well fed in so
many ways!
 Kay Kay from St. Mary's Sings for group
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Sunday Morning Pictures  Singing from ECW Songbooks
Kay Kay and Sue jazz it up St. Mary's style
Mother Nancy and Mother Kammy
Mother Kammy in "renewal vestments" made
from materials collected during her travels
on her sabbatical
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Linda Baker thanks Mother Kammy
Jeanette shows St. Mary's Birdhouse prior to Drawing
Mother Kammy draws winning ticket
And the Winner is...
Barbara Lauer Wins the Birdhouse
ECW Quilt nears completion
And the 31st Annual Spring Retreat is Complete and was one of the Most Successful Ever!
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