Spiritual Growth Retreat

Walk with Hope June 15-16, 2012 Stuart Auditorium Lake Junaluska

2012 Spiritual Growth Retreats Flyer [PDF]
Complete information about registration & housing reservations

Early Online Registration will open on February 1, 2012, and close on May 31, 2012.
On-site registration is welcome, and will be open June 15-16 at Lake Junaluska.

Click here to register online for the 2012 Spiritual Growth Retreat:

AND

Separately, for housing reservations at Lake Junaluska,
make your reservations by calling
the Lake Junaluska reservations department at
1-800-222-4930
or go to their online reservations system using the button below:

Click here to make a housing reservation at Lake Junaluska:

Again in 2012:  We will have a hands-on mission project!  Information Coming Soon!
See complete information below

New! Click here to download 2012 Spiritual Growth Retreat Logo  [Color]

Retreat Leader:

Rev. Karen Kurtz
Rev. Karen Kurtz is currently serving as Associate Pastor of Congregational Care at Oak Ridge United Methodist Church. Karen is a provisional member in the Elder track in the Western North Carolina Conference. She had this to say about leading our Spiritual Growth Retreat: “I feel very honored and extremely blessed to get to do what I love! The ministry of United Methodist Women (and earlier, WSCS) has been a thread of support and inspiration for me throughout my life. I am very grateful to be part of this weekend.”
We are excited about Rev. Kurtz sharing with us! You will be blessed!

 
Photos courtesy of Lake Junaluska Assembly
Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center
Map of Assembly Grounds (PDF)

We all need a break from our busy lives, a time for reflection, a time to listen for God's guidance. We are so busy doing all the things we are called upon to do, we don't often take the time to slow down, to sit back and think about the things that are really important, to pray, to listen, to study, to fellowship with United Methodist Women from across the conference, and to spend some quiet time in reflection. We trust that your retreat will be a special time of renewal and spiritual growth for you.

Every year, the Western North Carolina Conference United Methodist Women sponsor a Spiritual Growth Retreat. In 2012 there will only be one retreat, which will begin Friday evening, and conclude around Noon on Saturday. This is an opportunity to get away from our daily routines and to reflect, pray, worship, and sing.

Retreat Registration: (Online Registration Opens February 1, 2012)

• Flyer with complete information about registration & housing.  Share it with your friends!

• On-site registration at the retreat - $20.00 per person

• Get a DISCOUNT! Register early and ONLINE! Online advance registration, February 1, 2012 through May 31, 2012 is only $11.00 per person! Use the online registration link shown below..

• Advance registration fees are transferable, but non-refundable. So, if someone registers for the retreat, and is unable to attend, their registration fee is not refundable, but it is ok for someone else to attend in their place.

• Register yourself AND others! Our online registration offers the opportunity for you to register up to 20 guests at the same time that you do your own retreat registration. Help other members of your local unit to register online — especially those who may not use a computer!

• Our online reservations process uses PayPal to securely process payment of the registration fee. PayPal is a secure, widely used processor of online payments. Through PayPal, you have two choices about making your payment:

  • Create your own free and secure PayPal account to use to make payment. The PayPal site will step you through that process.

  • Or, you can just choose to use your credit card, with PayPal serving only as the processor, and not set up a PayPal account.

Lake Junaluska Housing Reservations:

Reservations for housing at Lake Junaluska must be made separately from our retreat registration.  To book Lake Junaluska lodging for the Spiritual Growth Retreat:

• Call the Lake Junaluska reservations department at 1-800-222-4930. If you are not familiar with the Lake Junaluska online reservations system, we suggest that you make your reservation by phone.

• Make your reservation online at: http://www.lakejunaluska.com/wnc-umw-spiritual-growth/
  Our group reservation code will be available on that site beginning February 1, 2012, through April 16, 2012. After using the “click here” link, enter the group code in the Group Number box at the bottom left corner, and click “Submit” to get to the group reservations page for the retreat. Read the Lake Junaluska website reservation information carefully.

• Note...we are no longer using paper housing reservation forms for Lake Junaluska

Click here to make a housing reservation at Lake Junaluska:

Housing in Lake facilities fills up very quickly, so make your reservations early. We encourage you if at all possible to stay on the grounds to help support the facilities at Lake Junaluska.  If the Lake facilities are full, there are lots of motels near the Assembly grounds...Visit the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce or the Maggie Valley Area Visitors Bureau for more information on available accommodations.
 

Retreat Leader
	Reverend Karen Kurtz Rev. Karen Kurtz was born into a parsonage family of the Western North Carolina Conference.Her parents, John and Joan Christy, served the conference for 50 years, and her brothers Mark, Paul, and David are also ministers in the conference. Karen is married to a UM pastor, Rev. Dr. Michael Kurtz, and they serve together at Oak Ridge United Methodist Church in Oak Ridge, N.C. They have two children: Josh, who is a student pastor at Edgerton Memorial UMC in Selma, N.C., as well as a student at Duke Divinity School. and Anna, who is a student at Guilford Technical Community College with a major in Early Childhood Education. Karen graduated from Brevard College in 1977 and from Emory and Henry College in 1979 with an interdisciplinary degree in Religion, Sociology, and Psychology. She served as a US-2 missionary through the General Board of Global Ministries in Omaha, Nebraska from 1979-1981. After finishing Duke Divinity School Course of Study and the Advanced Course of Study, she was commissioned as provisional member in the elder track in the WNC Conference in June of 2011. She has served Mt. Carmel UMC, Concord; Forest Hill UMC, Concord as an assistant pastor, and is now serving as Associate Pastor of Congregational Care at Oak Ridge UMC. Karen had this to say:  "I feel very honored and extremely blessed to get to do what I love! The ministry of United Methodist Women (and earlier, WSCS) has been a thread of support and inspiration for me throughout my life. I am very grateful to be part of this weekend."

Music Leaders
Hands-On Mission Opportunity
Our Hands-On Mission Opportunity for the 2012 Spiritual Growth Retreat will be: UMCOR Birthing Kits Click here to download a flyer with complete information about our hands-on mission project Because of the continuing humanitarian needs around the world, our conference is collecting Birthing Kits as our Hands-On Mission Opportunity at the Spiritual Growth Retreat. Birthing kits provide the essential items to promote a safe, clean delivery of a child, and to encourage good care afterwards.  Encourage others in your local unit and congregation to participate...even if they cannot attend the Spiritual Growth Retreat.  We will deliver the birthing kits to our conference Mission Response Center for shipment to the UMCOR Sager Brown Depot. Participating in this Hands-On Mission Opportunity will help your local unit to meet Mission Today criteria #22. UMCOR Birthing Kit Contents:  Place the following NEW items inside a sealed one-gallon plastic bag. 1 hotel-size bar of soap (1 oz. to 2oz.) 1 pair of clean latex gloves 1 square yard of clear 4 mil plastic sheeting 3 pieces of clean string each 12” long 1 clean single use razor blade (carefully wrap the blade in paper or plastic to protect it and keep it from causing injury) 2 flannelette receiving blankets, 30"x30" or 32"x32" In a separate envelope, please include a check payable to UMCOR Sager Brown for at least $1.00 per kit to help with the costs of the costs of processing and shipping the kits around the world. Please do not put the money envelope in your UMCOR Birthing Kit bag. If you are bringing multiple kits, it is fine to just write one check in an amount sufficient to cover all of your kits. If your whole unit is collecting the kits, it will be okay to collect the money and put it all in one envelope to be turned in when you drop off your kits at the Spiritual Growth Retreat. Please pack your kits in a box that can be handled easily by our women and write the total number of kits on the side of the box. (Paper case boxes are a nice size.) We want to make it as easy as possible to collect, count and transport our Health Kits. Important Kit Assembly Information: All items included in kits must be NEW items.  All emergency kits are carefully planned to make them usable in the greatest number of situations. Since strict rules often govern product entry into international countries, it is important that kits contain only the requested items - nothing more. Do NOT include any personal notes, money or additional materials in the kits. These things must be painstakingly removed and will delay the shipment. Please do not include any religious, political or patriotic notes or emblems in any kit. Frequently Asked Questions About Birthing Kits: We have received a number of questions about making birthing kits. So...we contacted UMCOR, and here are some answers that we hope will be helpful for everyone: It is fine to get 30x30 receiving blankets...UMCOR knew that the 36x36 size are either no longer available or very difficult to find. These receiving blankets should be the little thin flannelette/cotton ones that roll or fold up to almost nothing...not thick blankets. If the correct type is purchased, all items will fit in the 1 gallon bag. The razor is a single EDGE razor. The UMCOR website and our flyer says single USE. There actually is such a thing for medical and other purposes, but the single EDGE is what is needed for the kits. DO NOT use dental floss as a substitute for the string. Use regular string...like cotton string you buy on a roll. Here are some further suggestions from a group that made a bunch of kits: Purchased the single EDGE razor blades at a hardware store...10 in a plastic box for $1.59. Bubble wrap works best to cover them for safety. Wal-Mart has the 30x30 receiving blankets. Wal-Mart also has the soap...hotel soap is only ¾ oz. Travel size is 2.6 oz. and can be bought for 97¢ a bar. Lowe's Home Improvement lumber department has 3x50 ft. 4 mil plastic sheeting. The paint department has 1 & 3 mil. Fifty feet makes 17 kits. Lowe's also had 3x100 feet. Remember to put all six items (soap, plastic sheeting, latex gloves, string, razor blades, and blankets) in the gallon size plastic bag. We also learned that generally the items in a birthing kit are all used only once for a single birth, and the everything is rolled up & put back in the plastic bag for disposal. Thank you for your support of the retreat hands-on project! Your gifts will make a difference for a mother and her child as he/she is born. Thank you for your generous support of our hands-on mission opportunity! 2012 Information Flyer - Spiritual Growth Retreat Hands On Mission Opportunity (PDF) Have a question?  Need more information?

Other Information

• Registration will open at 2:00pm, downstairs in the auditorium of Harrell Center.

• Check in time at the Lake hotels is 3:00pm. You are encouraged to register before going to your accommodations, especially if you are arriving before 3:00PM.  At registration you will find information as to where you need to go to check in if you are unfamiliar with the accommodations or if you are staying at the Terrace Hotel, Lambuth Inn, Lakeside Lodge, Mountainview, Sunnyside Lodge or the Junaluska Apartments.

• Watch for information about Program Resources hours.

• Singing will begin 15 minutes before each session, led by our music team.

• Be sure to bring your Bible, note pad, and pen so that you may study and take notes to help you remember the messages you receive.

• Dress comfortably, wear good walking shoes. Bring a warm sweater and rain gear, just in case the weather is cool or rainy.

• Emergency Telephone Number: The Assembly's switchboard number is 828-452-2881.  Please leave this number with your family in case of an emergency. 

• If you need Child Care, you may make arrangements in advance by calling Lake Junaluska at 1-828-452-2881.

Lake Junaluska is a beautiful place where you can spend some quiet time in reflection, study, and prayer with your United Methodist Women sisters. We trust that your retreat will be a special time of renewal and spiritual growth. Please be in prayer for the retreats and the retreat leaders.

Other Opportunities for Spiritual Growth
and Reflection During Your Stay:

The Memorial Chapel will be available for personal prayer time.

The Susanna Wesley Gardens

The International Prayer Room

The Junaluska Cross

Walking by the lake and enjoying the roses.

2012 RETREAT COMMITTEE:

Sandy Hieronymus, Chairperson; Mildred Carter, Tonya Lanier, Julia Willis, Martha Phillips, Sherry Sink, Virginia Robinson, Ann Aldridge

A retreat is a time to reflect upon your relationship with God. It is a time to be attentive as God speaks to us. The committee has worked hard to plan an inspirational retreat. We anticipate a wonderful time together. We hope you will meet us by the lake in June.

Obtain free Adobe Acrobat Reader 

Conference Gram - April 2012 - Spiritual Growth Retreat Issue [PDF]

What's the Weather at Lake Junaluska?

For more information on the 2012 Spiritual Retreats

2012 Spiritual Growth Retreats Logo - Walk with Hope
[Color JPG]

How to get to Lake Junaluska...

• FROM THE EAST: Travel west on I-40 to Exit 27, US-23/US-74. Go 1.5 miles. Bear right on US-19/US-23/US-74 and go 2.5 miles. Continue on ramp at sign reading "US-19 to Maggie/Cherokee/Junaluska Assembly" and go for 0.2 miles. Bear right on US-19 and watch for the signs. It’s a snap.

• FROM THE WEST: Travel east on US-19 and watch for the signs. It’s a snap.

• FROM THE SOUTHWEST: Travel northeast on US-23/US-441. Turn right on ramp at sign reading "US-76 East US-23 North to Waynesville/Asheville". Go 20 miles. Exit 102B, sign reads US-276 North to Maggie Valley/Junaluska Assembly". Turn right on US-276, Dellwood Ave and go north 1.4 miles. Turn right on US-19 and watch for the signs. It’s a snap.

Link to Lake Junaluska Directions Web Page
Map of Assembly Grounds (PDF)

As soon as you get to Lake Junaluska, look for the bright yellow UMW Registration signs. Stuart Auditorium & Harrell Center are right next to each other on Lakeshore Drive. Parking surrounds the auditorium.
 

Program Elements from Previous Spiritual Growth Retreats

Song/Prayer Used by Mary John Dye:  Lord Jesus, Friend of Women  [PDF]
“Lord Jesus, Friend of Women” by Betsy Phillips Fisher in Images: Women in Transition compiled by Janice Grana. Copyright 1976 by Upper Room Books®. Used by permission from Upper Room Books®.
Tune is 76.76 D.  United Methodist Hymnal #545, The Church's One Foundation, was the tune used at the retreats.

Prior Year Program Information:

2011 Retreats Program Book - Peace, Popcorn & Pansies (PDF)

2011 Spiritual Growth Retreats Logo

2010 Retreats Program Book - Grounded in Love (PDF)

2010 Spiritual Growth Retreats Logo

2009 Retreats Program Book - Encounters with Jesus (PDF)

2009 Spiritual Growth Retreats Logo

2008 Retreats Program Book - The Rooms of Your Life (PDF)

2008 Spiritual Growth Retreats Logo

2007 Retreats Program Book - Faith, Fears, and Dandelions (PDF)

2007 Spiritual Growth Retreats Logo - Faith, Fears, and Dandelions (JPG - Color)

2006 Retreats Program Book - Help! My Light is Under a Bushel (PDF)

2006 Spiritual Growth Retreats Logo - Help! My Light is Under a Bushel (JPG - Color)

2006 Spiritual Growth Retreats Logo - Help! My Light is Under a Bushel (JPG - Grayscale)

2005 Retreats Program Book - The Music Within (PDF)

2005 Spiritual Growth Retreats Logo - The Music Within (JPG - Color)

2005 Spiritual Growth Retreats Logo - The Music Within (JPG - Grayscale)

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The PURPOSE of United Methodist Women
The organized unit of United Methodist Women shall be a community of women whose purpose is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church.

This page was last updated on Sunday, January 29, 2012.