By Kurt Notehelfer, Chair, PacNWC Ministerial Association
Thank you to everyone who helped make our Fall retreat a great success! It was such a blessing to be able to gather with old friends and to make new ones, as well. As someone who is still fairly new to our conference, it was great to be able to meet many of you for the first time. And it was a gift to be able to relax and fellowship with such and amazing group of colleagues and their families. The camp staff did such an amazing job hosting us and everything was so well done â from the food to the accommodations to the smiles and willing support throughout the retreat.
Starting the retreat out with some comedy and laughter was a refreshing break from some of the weightier things I am working through right now. And, having the freedom on Tuesday afternoon to rest, take a nap, and enjoy Godâs beauty at Cascades Camp was just what the doctor (a.k.a. âgreat physicianâ) ordered! Hearing the personal stories of how Godâs grace has allowed pastors and their families to thrive through many challenging life circumstances was inspiring. It was a good reminder and challenge to me to be open to seeing Godâs faithful work in my life at every point, even the difficult times. And it was good to again hear the invitation to live into a life of healing and wholeness by learning what âflourishingâ in ministry really looks like.
It is my hope and prayer that each of us will be able to find times of refreshment, renewal, and healing as we continue on this journey of following Jesus together. Our retreat this year was just such a time for me. I hope it was for you, too. If you werenât able to make it to the retreat this year, I hope you can find other places and spaces for you and your family to rest, to connect with God in fresh ways, and to redeem the time that God has given you.
âBe very careful, then, how you liveânot as unwise but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil.â â Ephesians 5:15-16
