By Jan Roemer and Maryann Stevens
COVINA, California--One hundred fifty women attended the second Southern California regional women's retreat March 20 to 22.
The retreat, with a theme Celebrate Being a Woman of God, was sponsored by the Southern California Women's Ministry Planning Council.
Two early-bird workshops, Being a Woman of Purpose and Being a Woman of Confidence, started Friday afternoon. An evening praise service officially opened the retreat and was followed by a dessert buffet with a getting-to-know-you treasure hunt.
Saturday had a full day of workshops: Being a Woman Abiding in Christ, Being a Woman Loved by God, Being a Woman of Peace, Being a Woman of Responsible Grandparenting, Being a Woman of Hospitality, Being a Woman of Comfort, Being a Woman of the Family, Being a Woman of Love, Being a Woman of Vision and Values and Being a Woman of Appreciation for the Men in Your Life.
An evening praise service was followed by dinner, guest speakers and the keynote speaker.
Sunday morning again began with a praise service, after which the women broke into various discussion groups from Facing Abuse to Being a Christian in Public.
The highlight of the retreat was keynote speaker Patsy Dooley, known as the Erma Bombeck of Christian speakers. As Patsy showed us "When Survival is Questionable, Laughter's an Option." She showed through everyday experience that laughter is a coping mechanism from God.
Ms. Dooley commented: "The things you as a body are experiencing must have been much like the early church.
"They were brought up in the traditions of Judaism and the law and then found grace in Christ Jesus.
"They also experienced the split between those that hung on to the old and those that embraced the new. And they changed the world!"
May WN page 16
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