One of Jesus’s frequent commands in the Gospels is, “Do not be anxious,” but as women, we can find this hard to obey. We feel stress at work, at home, with our family and friends, even at church. We are often anxious, weary, and in need of rest.
How can we actually do what Jesus says?
The truth is we can’t achieve freedom from anxiety on our own, and that’s good news. Instead, Jesus invites us to receive it from him: “Come to me and I will give you rest.”
This is just what Jesus does for the weary, fearful, and anxious people he encounters in several stories recorded in the gospels. At our 2020 Exodus Women’s Retreat, “Restore,” we will spend time studying these passages to see the rest Jesus provides. We will look at his character as revealed in the Old and New Testaments to see how Christ alone is the one who “restores my soul.” (Psalm 23:3)
Our goal for the weekend is to not just study rest, but also enjoy it. Ridgecrest Conference Center has a beautiful campus in the Blue Ridge Mountains, not far from Asheville. We’ll spend time in worship and prayer, and have free time built into the schedule so you can take a nap or hang out with friends. There will also be several activity options on Friday afternoon: a hand-lettering lesson and craft, guided yoga, a hike, or a trip into Black Mountain for some good coffee.
Pricing for the retreat depends on the type of room you choose and starts at $55 for a bed in the bunkhouse. There are private hotel rooms as well. A detailed schedule is below, along with some FAQs.
Click here to register. There is an early bird discount of $20 per person if you sign up before March 17.
FAQs
What are the rooms like?
We have two bunkhouse rooms reserved in the Royal Gorge building. These have 12 beds and two bathrooms each. Cost is $55 early bird/$75 after March 16.
We also have a block of rooms reserved in Mountain Laurel West. These are hotel rooms with queen or king beds. You can choose a single room, 2 to a room, or save money by sharing beds with 3 or 4 women to a room. To see the price range, check the registration page.
Can I bring my nursing infant?
Yes. We will have some moms bringing their little ones. If you have a baby who needs to stay with mom, we recommend you find a friend or two who are willing to stay with a tiny roommate, or you can get a single room.
What if I need to arrive late or leave early? Can I come for one night?
You can stay for one night, but Ridgecrest does require payment for both nights, so we cannot offer a discount. If you have a work schedule or other commitments that will cut into the retreat, no worries. Come when you can — just let us know by emailing women@theexoduschurch.org so we can plan accordingly.
Can Ridgecrest accommodate my food allergies or dietary restrictions?
The cafeteria offers gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian options. If you have specific concerns, you can get more information and the phone number for the dining room at this link.
Schedule for the weekend
Thursday, April 30
4:00 – 7:30 Check-in and free time – visit the conference room to get your welcome packet, for snacks and to hang out. Dinner on your own.
7:30 – 8:30 Meet in the conference room for introductions and icebreaker time, plus first discussion with your small group.
9:00 Free time/bedtime.
Friday, May 1
7:15 – 8:15 Breakfast
8:15 – 9:00 Quiet time for Bible reading/prayer
9:00 – 10:45 Session 1 – What is rest? (A time of worship and Bible teaching, followed by small group discussion)
11:00 Guided prayer time
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch
1:00 – 2:30 Session 2 – Where do we find rest? (A time of worship and Bible teaching, followed by small group discussion)
2:30 Free time (Take a nap or hang out with friends, or participate in one of 4 activity options: a hand-lettering lesson and craft, yoga, a hike, or a trip into Black Mountain for coffee)
5:30 – 6:30 Dinner
7:00 – 8:45 Session 3 – How do we enjoy rest? (A time of worship and Bible teaching, followed by small group discussion)
9:00 Free time/bedtime.
Saturday, May 2
7:15 – 8:15 Breakfast
8:15 – 9:00 Quiet time for Bible reading/prayer
9:00 Panel discussion/Q&A
10:00 Check out
10:30 Giveaways, final discussion and prayer time in small groups
12:00 Head home
