Visual Faith Retreat at the Villages- Florida

Praying in Color:

Illustrating My Faith

Feb 24-25, 2017

we gathered at 

Amazing Grace Lutheran Church

at the Villages, Florida for a retreat event.

They had prepared for and prayed

 over this gathering.

The local newspaper had shared the story.

Things look a bit different in this part of Florida.

Amazing Grace Lutheran Church

 has four legged neighbors 

on two sides of their property.

I think there are more golf carts

 than cars in this area.

And I looked for the alligators.

There was great welcome 

and hospitality here in this place.

Preparations made to gather them in.
 112 participants for this event.

Visual Art graced the sanctuary

 and gathering area.

 Highlights:

A welcoming space,

supplies for each person in a 
handmade cloth bag tied with a bow,
 a well-done skit,

new friends, and great conversations.

A look at Sybil MacBeth's introduction to 

Praying in Color.

A simple way to use any piece

 of blank paper for prayer.

Visual prayer:

ways to slow down, 

pay attention and deal with distractions.

Graph paper for prayer time.

Simple shapes for teaching

 the petitions of the Lord's Prayer.
Graph paper prayer-
with our words.

Everyone received 

Sybil MacBeth's Pray and Color book.

Other resources were given as door prizes-
like Lisa Hickman's- Writing in the Margins.

Praying for our children and grandchildren-
 a way to bless others.
We talked about ways to use the product line
 of Joanne Fink for Visual Prayer. 

Journals from our Junk Mail.
Psalm Summaries with wine cork
 stamps and magazine cutouts.
Black ink tangles to make 
individual prayer cards-
 and keep them in a 
baseball card holder from Staples.

Gratitude Journals- One Thing a Day-
Day after Day.
Prayers by the Month and
Advent and Lent Visual Journeys.
Baptism and Confirmation Story books- 
ways to bless and conversation starters.
Tools to use in our own families.

A blessing to be with Arleen Bohlmann
 from the Southeastern District.
  Edith Walton - wife of LCMS Florida-Georgia 
District President Rev. Greg Walton
 joined us on Saturday.
And time to make a whole lot of new friends.

The women came in colorful attire to the 
Praying in Color Retreat.

Show and Tell tables
and 
Resources and supplies.

 Time to check things out
 and ask questions.

Pray about personal spiritual practices.

Bible Journaling was introduced.
Time to read, reflect and respond
in the margins of our Bibles.

Telling the story of the intersection
 of God's Word and our World.

Sharing the VRSLY app on the iPhone 

may have created a whole team of

Deployed Digital Missioners.

Time with a very special friend from
 Concordia College- 
Ann Arbor, Michigan days.
Cathy Driller trusted a friendship
 from 42 years ago 
and the nudges from the Holy Spirit 
to bring together 
a celebration of faith, 
prayer and spiritual formation.
A retreat covered in grace and connections-
 and we Give Thanks to the Lord.
And we can't WAIT
 to see what Kingdom fruit grows-
and to hear the STORIES.

And if you can't remember
 how to reach me to tell the story, 
or can't find the card you took,
 here you go.


 A VERY SPECIAL thank you to Thrivent 
for 2 ACTION GRANTS that blessed this gathering.

Some had asked for the link to the Youtube
 of the flip- through
 of the Gospel of John
 in my Journaling Bible- here it is-
The Gospel of John