Pastors’ Wives Retreat

by Deanna Hautz

Photographed by Connie Barr

PASQUA LAKE, Sask. – A spring blizzard could not deter twelve Central Region pastors’ wives from gathering at Camp Lutherland on Pasqua Lake from April 17-19 for the fourth in-person retreat! All experienced challenging driving conditions, and two of the women needed their vehicles pushed out of the snow in the Camp Lutherland parking lot, so it was quite an adventure for all!

The theme was “Blessed to Be a Blessing,” and once again the women were blessed with new and renewed friendships, with laughter and tears, with support and encouragement, with singing and worship, and with learning. Rev. Ken and Bernice Keller attended the retreat in the role of Support Couple, and Rev. Keller led the worship service with communion.

Jennifer Jade Kerr (MAMFT), a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist from Regina, spoke to the theme and introduced the “Infinity Loop,” a concept from Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) developed by Dr. Sue Johnson. The Infinity Loop helps to visualize how couples get trapped in recurring arguments that trigger each other’s reactions and create a cycle that damages connection and feels impossible to break. The women filled out half of the loop for themselves and were encouraged to have their husbands fill out the other half, then talk about it together.

Organizers thank the Regional Mission and Ministry Council (RMMC), LWML Canada, and others, for the financial and prayer support, and the encouragement to hold these retreats–they support the health of clergy households in Lutheran Church–Canada!

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