For the last 27 years, women of the community have been gathering twice each year just to get away from the house, husband, job and kids for a little while.
On Saturday, the tradition may have come to a close when Vera Focht, one of the originals who started the Ladies’ Retreat, announced this was the final installment.
“It has truly been a lot of fun and hard work and some of us are getting older so I think it is time to pass it on,” Focht said. “We are very hopeful that someone will come forth and pick up the challenge.”
Saturday’s announcement was hard to take as voices broke and tears flowed, but the committee is hopeful that some church group or others will carry the Retreat on. Miss Focht said they were making the announcement early to give others the opportunity to pick it up.
Those interested or who would like more information are encouraged to contact Focht at 684-2362.
Saturday\’s event was attended by 160 women from throughout the area and included a biblical message from Louellla Krieger portraying Elizabeth, a “fun time” and special music by Debbie McClellan, accompanied on some numbers by her daughter.
Following a turkey dinner, Krieger spoke of Elizabeth\’s life from disappointments she and Zechariah shared in years of not being able to conceive, to the visit of young Mary, who was to become the mother of Jesus, and finally years later, the birth of her own son, John the Baptist and the years to follow.
What began as a weekend Christian fellowship of women at Camp Kanestake in 1977 saw a few changes as it grew each year. As it grew and grew, the committee added a one-day retreat each Spring at the Warriors Mark Fire Hall. Eventually the overnight trips to Camp Kanestake became part of its past as many of the women felt they were getting a little too old for that setting.
However the Spring event continued each year with a total of 41 retreats held in all.
