Who are the Women of St. Luke’s (WOSL)?  We are a women’s organization dedicated to serving our church and community through prayer, study, and service. All women in the church are welcome and invited to participate with us.

What is the purpose of WOSL?   The purpose of WOSL is to support the women of this parish by offering opportunities for spiritual growth through programs of worship, fellowship, education, service and outreach.  Donations are accepted to support book scholarships for graduating seniors as well as other outreach programs.

How can I participate in WOSL?   WOSL activities are advertised in “The View,” in the pew sheets, on the bulletin board located in the Fellowship Hall, by e-mail and mail.  If you would like to be on the e-mail list to receive reminders of our activities and have not been receiving reminders to date, please e-mail the church office to update your contact information.  We don’t want you to miss out on any of our activities together!  You may also participate by volunteering for the various fundraising, service, and outreach activities that are planned throughout the year. For more information, e-mail Betty Crawford or call her at 260-2262.

Women of St. Luke’s 13th Annual Retreat

April 30 - May 2, 2010

Lotus Ranch

Wimberley, Texas

"Yearning for Jesus"

with

The Rev. Dr. Helen Appelberg

Fellow, Sealy Center on Aging

Director, Center for Spirituality of Aging

The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston

Office 409-772-5352  

Fax 409-747-3585

Email:  hwappelb@utmb.edu

Registration deadline is April 21 and is limited.

Due to popular demand, registration will be opened to other churches on April 16, so please don’t delay!

Questions?  Contact Sytha Minter at 512-573-1345 or sythagus@hotmail.com.

Register on-line or by using the registration form available by download or at St. Luke's.

About the Retreat

The Holy Spirit plants in each of us a yearning for Jesus in the very center of our soul and that yearning nurtures and touches our heart.  In those rare moments of solitude and deep quite of just ‘being’ the Spirit awakens and stirs the soil of the soul which causes an ache, a deep longing to see and be with Jesus, the Christ.

Psalm 42 echoes this ache, this longing with these words,

“As the deer longs for the water-brooks,

so longs my soul for you, O God.

My soul is athirst for God, athirst for the living God:

when shall I come to appear before the presence of God?

My tears have been my food day and night,

while all day long they say to me,

“Where is your God?”

During this retreat we will join the crowd who, in John 12:20-33, asked Philip, “Sir,” they said, “We would like to see Jesus.”  Then they heard Jesus call them and say, “Follow me.”  In this time apart we will seek new ways to ‘listen to Holy Scripture and to each other’ for God’s will and path for our lives so that the words from Galatians 2:20 will be our own: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

--The Rev. Dr. Helen W. Appelberg    

About the Retreat Leader

Our retreat leader is The Rev. Dr. Helen Appelberg. Helen was ordained in 1990 and served at St. Luke’s Episcopal and Texas Children’s Hospitals on staff and as Assistant Director of Pastoral Care from 1990-1996.  In 1994, she founded the Community of Hope, a 14-week lay chaplain training program.  From 1996 to 2002, the Community of Hope spread to churches and institutions across Texas, the United States and Mexico.  Until her retirement in 2002, Helen served on the Diocese of Texas Executive Board, Standing Committee and Clergy Pastoral Care Committees.  For twelve years she was a full-time Sunday assistant at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston. She is a graduate of Pecos Benedictine Monastery School for Spiritual Directors and an oblate in the World Community for Christian Meditation.

About the Retreat Site

Join us in the Texas Hill Country for the 13th Annual Women of St. Luke’s on the Lake Retreat to be held at Lotus Ranch, www.lotusranch.org in Wimberley, TX. 

This 40 acre ranch has over 2 miles of natural trails on the property, 2 landscaped ponds, a natural Labyrinth (coming soon), spectacular 15 mile vistas, over 32 types of birds, and 16 different animal species.  The ranch is extremely peaceful and lends itself to invoking your creative thoughts and ideas.

This weekend is also “Market Days” in Wimberley and additional, optional activities are available Saturday afternoon.

Tentative Schedule

Friday, April 30, 2010

4:30 pm                         Check in

6:00 pm                         Dinner

7:00 pm                         First Session

8:30 pm                         Compline

Saturday, May 1, 2010

8:00 am                         Breakfast

8:30 am                         Morning Prayer

9:00 - 9:45 am               Second Session

10:15 - 11:00 am            Third Session

11:45 am                       Noon Day Prayers

12:15 pm                       Lunch

1:15 - 2:00 pm                Afternoon Session

2:00 - 2:30 pm                Contemplative Prayer

3:00 - 6:00 pm                FREE TIME

6:00 pm                         Dinner

7:00 pm                         Evening Session

8:30 pm                         Compline

Sunday, May 2, 2010

8:00 am                         Breakfast

9:00 am                         The Wrap-Up

10:30 am                       Holy Eucharist

11:30 am                       Checkout and Lunch to Go

 About Registration

Cost

• $135 for both nights and all meals
• $95 for one night [either Saturday or Sunday] and three meals
• $55 for one day and one meal
• $9 each for additional meals
• Note:  A limited number of partial scholarships are available. Please contact Carolyn Franklin, 512-250-0527 or frankly5@sbcglobal.net.

Click here for a downloadable brochure.

Click here to register on-line now!