Jan Richardson, celebrated author, artist and United Methodist Pastor, each year offers a Women’s Christmas retreat. The introduction to her retreat explains: Whether your domestic commitments are many or few, Women’s Christmas offers a timely opportunity to pause and step back from whatever has kept you busy and hurried in the past weeks or months. As the Christmas season ends, this is an occasion both to celebrate with friends and also to spend time in reflection before diving into the responsibilities of this new year. The Women’s Christmas Retreat is offered in that spirit. We will celebrate Women’s Christmas – A Retreat, on Saturday, January 9th, beginning at 10 a.m. and closing at 3 p.m. with a prayer service. Come for the whole time or a part of the time. This very casual retreat includes reading, writing, art, and lots of talking. Due to the current gathering practices masks are required with social distancing. The retreat will also be offered online via Zoom. The location in the church will depend on how many people register for in-person attendance. Here are some comments from Jan Richardson about her writings for this retreat: This year’s women’s Christmas retreat invites you to ponder the practices by which wholeness happens. With reflections and images from my ongoing journey to find new patterns among the pieces, the pages of this retreat offer a welcoming space for you to pray, to imagine, to rest, and to dream as you contemplate how restoration takes place in your life, and how it calls you deeper into the life of the world. The retreat includes all of her readings and art for the program. We are asking for a $7 donation to be sent to Jan Richardson for “Sanctuary of Women” which will be shared with the A21 Campaign, an organization devoted to ending human trafficking and providing sanctuary and healing for those rescued from slavery. If attending in person please bring lunch for yourself, as well as treat to share with other women. You will need to package your treat to share in individual packages so they can be easily picked up. Coffee and tea will be provided, along with childcare if needed. Please register for the retreat by Tuesday, January 5th, by contacting Tracy Brinker by e-mail at tbrinker@duluthumc.org or calling 770-476-3776. Let Tracy know if you need childcare for the day, and if you will be attending in person or online via Zoom. If you attend on Zoom please arrange to pick up the packet of readings the week before the gathering or receive it electronically. For childcare bring lunch for your child and any snacks they may enjoy. For questions or if would like to assist with the retreat, please contact Rev. C. Kay Fuino, by e-mail at ckfuino@duluthumc.org or call 770-476-3776, ext. 117. Blessings and joy for Advent as you prepare for the Christ child to shine in your heart and for your family. Celebrate all you have done with a retreat together in January.