Courage to Connect Reflection

​While reflecting on the experiences seen, heard, and felt during the 1st Pres “Courage to Connect, Let’s Journey Together” Women’s Conference, I thought about what connection means to me and how it “showed up” during this wonderful event. 

​Connection can come to us in so many unexpected, but beautiful ways …

Cheryl Broadway

​(touch) holding my dad’s hand as I watched him take his last breath knowing he was being placed into our Lord’s loving care.
(smell) being reminded of my mom when catching a hint of her favorite scent while walking through a store’s perfume section.
(sound) watching my sweet mom-in-law, Diane (a classical pianist), who sadly could no longer communicate due to Alzheimer's, surprisingly lift her hands in the air “playing” piano while listening to the music of her favorite composer.
(written words) finding out how much the cards I sent my grandmother over the years had meant to her when I unexpectedly received, after her passing, her most precious piece of jewelry.
(fellowship) in Krueger Hall enjoying times of friendship, conversation (and donuts) with fellow Christians on Sunday. 

As with the members of the early church, fellowship gatherings can occur in different ways - large or small, one-on-one or Bible study groups, conferences, or retreats.

On Friday evening and Saturday, October 4-5, I participated, with a joyful heart, in such a fellowship gathering as over 70 1st Pres women came together at the Women’s Conference. What sights and sounds to behold! The laughter, the joy, the hugs, the love. The conversations, the teachings, the connections.

As Presbyterians, we love communing over a meal and Friday evening didn’t disappoint. After checking in at the registration desk, we gathered in the gym for a pleasant dinner before moving into the sanctuary to open conference with worship, uplifting praise music, and Bonnie Piovesan as the keynote kickoff presenter. She led us on a journey about connecting with landmarks in the Old Testament and New Testament, finishing with … “Is there an OT landmark that resonates with you and why?” Is there a NT landmark that God may be calling you to hold onto?”

We moved into Krueger Hall where we spent time contemplating and discussing Bonnie’s questions. During this “Connection Hour”, we also had fun reading the inspiring “connect” questions with women at our tables and then pinning our answers up on the “Post It” wall to share with the congregation. Connecting with two women at my table who I had seen many times, but never spoken with, was very special. 

Saturday was a day full of learning, sharing, contemplation, prayer, insight, and building friendships. After some participated in the Neighborhood Prayer Walk (one of Yvette’s favorite activities), we shared a great meal and were blessed with a swag bag filled with wonderful treasures like a prayer journal and a delightfully fragrant moisturizer.

Once we all settled down from the excitement of our swag bag treasures (and in some cases swapping items), we gathered in the sanctuary to listen to our keynote speaker, Laurie Short. With many women having read one or more of her books and/or heard her preach at 1st Pres, we were excited to hear Laurie present “The Community God Wants Us to Be”. She did not disappoint! We then spent time discussing key points that would help us better connect as a community.

Afterward, we were introduced to the four “Prayer Stations: Exploring Ways to Pray” set up by Susan Lauer. A detailed brochure helped us move through each thought-inspiring station giving us new, different ways to experience prayer. Thank you, Susan, for this meaningful encounter!

Later in the day, after fun fellowship time over lunch, we moved to our assigned breakout sessions where we explored topics of “Breath Prayer”, “Target of Courage”, and “Faith Like A Web” presented by Yvette Wyatt, Bonnie Piovesan and Kierstie Renninger, respectively. There is not enough space in this blog to describe these thought-provoking, informative sessions. (The presenters would be happy to chat with you about them.)
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To close out the conference each woman chose a prayer partner continuing the idea of connection with the hope of carrying it forward to 2025, in the context of a women’s two-day retreat. (S’mores over the campfire anyone?!)

It’s hard to express the moments of vulnerability, thoughtfulness, joy, friendship, and, of course, connection I saw during the conference…seeing several women sitting quietly in the youth room praying while listening to soft music (“Contemplative Centering Prayer Station”) or asking each other the “Get To Know You” questions and hearing some surprising answers or small touches like scripture trivia cards on the tables as conversation starters.

It was such a pleasure to be part of the planning team and attend this event with the beautiful, faithful women of 1st Pres. May we stay connected every day and throughout the years to come. Blessings and Prayers!

P.S. It was gratifying and encouraging to receive positive verbal and written feedback about the amount of work put into this event and appreciation for the level of professionalism, imagination, and thought put toward organizing it all. The Planning Team was touched by these expressions of appreciation!

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” Acts 2:42 NIV
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In His Name, Cheryl
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Much Thanks & Gratitude to:
The Planning Committee - Ann Smart, Bonnie Piovesan, Kierstie Renninger, Naomi White, Susan Lauer, Teri Burch & Yvette Wyatt; Janet Starkey for creative, timely marketing & promotion materials; amazing volunteers (too many to name!) for set up/tear down, meal prep, registration, & more; generous sponsors - Adult Discipleship Committee, Deacons, Presbyterian Women & Session; photographer - Justeen Moran; & swag bag donors - Karyn Smyth (handmade bags) & Sue Lauer (Just Like Jane tallow whip); for helping make this such a wonderful event.