womens retreat

Report on the
Fourth Annual Retreat


4th Annual Retreat
October 3-4, 2003
Currier Hall
Newhalem, Washington





Mission Statement:
To spread the good news of the Lord to women in the Skagit Valley area by bringing them together to nurture their growth in Christ through worship, fellowship and teaching in a non-threatening, fun environment.


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      The Fourth Annual Upper Skagit Valley Womens Retreat took place on October 3rd and 4th, 2003 at the Currier Hall in Newhalem, WA.
      Our featured speaker was Dodie Cook who spoke to the theme of the retreat; "Clothed In Righteousness". She shared many personal insights and interesting antecdotes with the group as well as assisting in our musical worship.
      Friday night's potluck dinner was followed by a silent play that acted out the theme of this year's conference. The play was put on by our retreat committee members.
      Saturday found many of our fifty+ attendees participating in various workshops; crafts, hiking and bible studies. Dodie along with Pam Garland and Naomi Rumpff, led the group in beautiful song. She then shared more of her presentation with our group.
      Saturday night finished up with an excellent chicken dinner served by the Tom Purcell family and of course lots of yummy deserts. Many fun door prizes were awarded duringin the two days that the retreat took place. There were also favors for all the women at every meal and in our rooms, what fun that was! Newhalem offered a beautiful, natural, peaceful setting for our retreat with many women finding themselves hiking to various spots for prayer and meditation.
      The 2004 Retreat will take place in at Currier Hall in Newhalem on Friday and Saturday October 1 and 2 with Gail Woodruff as our speaker. Gail will be speaking on the theme, "Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled" taken from "John 14:" Something new for this year, the committee has decided to have Friday night dinner be served to all, rather than our traditional potluck dinner. This allows all tired souls to arrive at the retreat Friday night without having to worry about bringing anything along and relax and be served a very tasty meal. Come Saturday, we will finish the day with worship service, rather than Saturday night dinner.
      Our committee welcomes your advice, suggestions and comments. Please feel free to volunteer to help with the retreat in any fashion that works best for you.
We'll be doing an update on our progress and planned activities for the 2004 Retreat, in January. Watch for our 1st newsletter by the end of January. See you then!
Blessings to all, from Naomi, Debbie, Gladys, Maureen, Veneta and Elisabeth

2003 Speaker Dodie Cook of Stanwood

      Dodie Cook is a native of Washington State and resides in Stanwood, Wa. with her husband Wayne of 20 years. They have two grown children who are both married; Eric and Monica, and a son Casey who is enrolled in Seattle Pacific University.
      Dodie is an aesthetician for BeautyWorks in Lynnwood, Wa. She is a graduate in esthetics from Everett Community College and worked a private practice for two years as well as an internship for a group of plastic surgeons. She then received her advanced "International Certification" from the Euro Institute of European & Naturopathic Skin Care & Nutrition in Renton, Wa.
      Dodie believes in the importance of taking care of oneself physically and spiritually, and she believes that cultivating one's inward beauty with the Lord is a foremost priority.
      A Baptist minister named Daniel Corbett led Dodie to Christ in January 1986, and she has been serving the Lord ever since.Dodie never sang or spoke or led others in any way until she became a Christian.
      Now she serves the Lord as a vocalist, worship leader, and Sunday School teacher for youth at Seven Lakes Baptist Church. In the past she has been a women's bible study leader and a deaconess for her church. God has used her sweet and encouraging spirit to touch many lives for the Savior.
      Dodie believes that God's Word, when obeyed, can totally change one's life, and she wants everyone to know that she trusts totally in the Lord's help and strength for all that she does (Phil. 4:13) "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". Open your heart and step out and come and see how you can be clothed in "His Righteousness".
      This will be a weekend that you will not forget! 












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