Doors into Prayer -Part Two- Camp Arcadia, Michigan

Camp Arcadia brings together 

long-time friends and new friends to be made.

 Sometimes it is cousins, and sisters, 

and sometimes it is sisters in faith.

 Doors into Prayer- 
our Heavenly Father meets us in all sorts of ways.
We learn to pay attention, become child-like, 
cry for help, practice Sabbath, 
and watch and give thanks.

Sometimes those prayers 
end up right in our Bibles.

The Camp Arcadia Women's Retreat

 had a section of break out sessions.

Visual Faith Coach Valerie Matyas

 led a break out session on Scripture Doodles

 using Portal of Prayer devotion 

and the Concordia Publishing House calendar.

A great way to process and remember words 

and highlights from a Bible reading or devotion.

What does it LOOK LIKE when our prayer life 

becomes a visual story?

Visual Faith Coach Candice Schwark

 led a breakout session 

on making a paper bag journal

 to use to collect your retreat experience.

 The paper bag method can be used 

as a processing resource

 for all sorts of Visual Faith projects.

                                                                                                                              photo credit- Candice Schwark

Working on the 

Doors to Prayer - Paper Bag Journal

Here is the youngest attendee 

with her lovely paper bag journal.

Saturday evening included great music

 from the talented brother duo-Brothers Mogan.

They had us up and dancing.

Sunday morning worship

 by the lake was a highlight of the weekend.

So was the gathering of this team

 of Visual Faith Coaches.

Left to Right- Candice Schwark, Pat Maier, Connie Denninger, 

Katie Helmreich, and Valerie Matyas

We form online relationships and friendships

 as teammates for Visual Faith ministry.

What a joy to actually meet in person!

This was a best gift of the weekend.

Doors into Prayer-Camp Arcadia, Michigan- Part One

There are some things that are iconic

 about Camp Arcadia Michigan.

Worship on the edge of Lake Michigan

 and this cross is one of them.

So is crystal clear water and blue

 as far as you can see.

 The tree-lined shoreline

 and the bluffs of distant Frankfort are another. 

 Then there is the Walter League history

 of a nearly 100 year old camp.

History and artifacts galore.

A blessing of the weekend 

was reconnecting with fellow CUAA-

Concordia University - Ann Arbor friends and alumni.

Thanks Debbie and Sharon for making

 this weekend reunion so much fun!

Doors into Prayer was the theme

 for the 2018 Camp Arcadia Women's Retreat-ONE.

Show and Tell for the gathering.

Index Cards and

five minutes in prayer.

Time to slow down, pay attention

 and deal with distractions.

And an honest conversation 

about our prayer life 

with our Heavenly Father.

What wonderful music with Brooke!

Thanks to dear friend and 
Visual Faith Co-Founder- Pat Maier
 for the opportunity to bring Visual Faith practices 
to this wonderful group of Christian women.

Part 2-
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