A Weekend of Faith, Connection, and Renewal
by Amber Mornes
The Women of the FPC Women’s Retreat 2026
What happens when women step away from the busyness of everyday life and make room for God, for one another, and for themselves?
At our recent Women’s Retreat in Estes Park, Colorado, we explored that question together through Journeying Toward Wholeness. Throughout the weekend, we were reminded that sometimes the most meaningful steps in our journey happen when we slow down, open our hearts, and allow ourselves to be renewed.
Our time together included meaningful conversations, an inspiring guest speaker, hikes surrounded by the beauty of God’s creation, and the simple joy of being together outdoors. We even made sugar scrubs as a reminder that caring for ourselves matters, too. Sometimes renewal begins by giving ourselves permission to pause.
But the retreat was about more than rest and relaxation. It was also about putting our faith into action. Together, we created a service project for members of our congregation who are homebound, offering a tangible reminder that they are remembered, loved, and valued members of our church family. Even when someone cannot join us in person, the connections we share continue to matter.
Isn’t that part of what God calls us to do—to love one another and build meaningful connections? As your Director of Welcome, I want to help everyone feel seen, welcomed, and connected at First Pres. If you are looking for a place to connect or wondering where you fit into our church family, I would love to talk with you. You are also invited to join us for our quarterly Newcomers Coffee Hour!
We also made space for the things we carry. During one group activity, women reflected on what they needed to release and symbolically placed those burdens in God’s hands. It was an opportunity to remember that we were never meant to carry everything alone. Sometimes moving toward wholeness begins not with doing more, but with surrendering what we were never meant to carry by ourselves.As the weekend drew to a close, each woman was invited to identify one thing she wanted to take home from the retreat—an insight, a practice, a change of heart, or a next step on her journey toward wholeness.
The women also came together to create a work of art, painted by Madgetta Dungy, filled with their hopes for the journey ahead. You can see this meaningful piece displayed in the Gathering Place. Take a moment to stop by and discover what the women of First Pres hope to carry forward as they continue their journeys toward wholeness.
Because the journey doesn’t end when the retreat is over.
We return to our everyday lives, with responsibilities, challenges, relationships, and unexpected turns. But perhaps we return a little lighter, a little more connected, and a little more aware of God’s presence along the way.
Wholeness isn’t a destination we reach overnight. It is a journey of becoming—learning to release what weighs us down, receiving God’s grace, caring for ourselves and others, and taking the next faithful step, even when we cannot see the whole path ahead.
May the connections we formed, the burdens we released, the wisdom we received, and the hopes we shared continue to grow long after the weekend has ended. And may we remember that we do not journey alone. God walks beside us, and we have one another.
One step. One prayer. One act of love at a time. Together, we continue journeying toward wholeness.
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