Hello everyone! I received this from Beth at St. Paul in Ogden, it is an article about the Women's Day Retreat "God's Grace Filled Seasons" that they hosted for us in October. I wanted to share it with you all, God's blessings on your day! Thanks Beth and all the ladies at St. Paul for your faithful service to the Lord.

The women at St. Paul, Ogden, spent a beautiful day with Elaine Bickel at their annual women’s retreat on Saturday, October 4. The theme for this year was “God’s Grace-Filled Seasons,” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.

More than seventy women attended the event including District President Melody Rosenwinkel and Utah Zone President Ashley Willoughby. Most guests were St. Paul members and friends but many women came from the Salt Lake area for the fun day of fellowship and spending time in God’s Word.

The day began with coffee, tea, homemade scones and a Bingo icebreaker. The women learned some interesting and extraordinary details about the women in the room. Who drove a combine? Who plays bridge? Who has a pet reptile? Who is a stamp collector? Who married her high school sweetheart? Who has a PhD? Who is a root canal specialist?

The women spent the rest of the day singing, sharing, and listening to Elaine Bickel who shared her joy in the Lord. She led everyone in a Bible study, “That’s A Bunch of Bologna!” She encouraged women to open their Bibles and read Hebrews 13:8. “What is the comfort given in this verse?” she asked.

She also shared her bologna metaphor: “Chances are you have never spent much time thinking about what a piece of bologna might feel like when it is stuck in there in the middle of two pieces of bread—knowing it is about to be devoured—knowing it must “meat” the needs of the very ones who are getting their teeth into it. It probably feels trapped—stuck in the middle—trying to keep the two sides together and yet feeling pressed and pressured. Even though we have never been a slice of bologna, or even pressed ham, many women who are in the middle of their lives feel much like that piece of bologna would feel if it could feel…overburdened! We need to remember our entire lives are in His hands. As we are serving Him by trying to help carry others, He is carrying us.”

Sandi Dellermann led the women in singing and praise music while Dina Scheifl was the soloist. Pastor Gary Trickey joined the women for lunch and closing devotions and prayer.