Many Ebenezer members and friends gathered to learn, pray, sing, talk, and laugh on February 6 - 7. For 22 hours a conversation about God's Radical Freedom emerged under the sensitive leadership of Rev. Sandy Roberts and Dr. David Rhoads (photo above left). Many people should be thanked for their work and support of the retreat. Thanks to Michel Lathop for the flyer and striking program, to Dan Clark for printing 600 copies of the program, to the Endowment Committee for $400 of scholarship funds, to the Education Committee for their support, to Bev Albert for the fun ice breaker, to John Elmquist for selecting wonderful music to accompany the theme and working on the lovely prayer service, to Hannah and Leah Otto for being our child care people, and to our leaders, Dr. David Rhoads and Rev. Sandy Roberts whose words caused discussion and conversation for days after the retreat. Throughout the retreat, we were aware that this was Pr. Paul's last retreat as our pastor. (Photo above right: Pr. Paul receiving t-shirt from Darlene Erickson) We want to thank him and Sharon for their support and attendance all of these nineteen years. It won't the same without them.

The flavor of the retreat is best communicated by those who attended and here are some comments:

For me, the Retreat was a real eye opener. First to think that God's grace is with me no matter what, whether I do anything or not is a foreign thought for me, (how great is that). It's something that I know but never realized. As for David Rhoads, he's incredible!
Dion Walton

As someone relatively new to Ebenezer, I was grateful for the opportunity to meet and get to know other members of the Ebenezer community at the retreat. Reflecting on and discussing the meaning of justification by grace helped me to see some aspects of my life in a different light, and raised again the question of how to be more conscious of and to respond to this grace. While I am overwhelmed by the second part of the question, I hope that acting on the first part of the question--trying to be more conscious on a daily basis of grace in my life and the world--will provide me with some answers to the second part.
Elizabeth Stranges

When I arrived at the retreat on Friday evening, I was thinking about all the things I should have doing instead...namely, all the homework I wouldn't be doing, or the cleaning of the my apartment that I wouldn't be doing. However, even in that short amount of time that we spent together at Techny, I was able to leave it behind and enjoy getting to know the people of Ebenezer better. The topic (What should I do now that I know I don't have to do anything?) didn't sit well with me. What do you mean I don't have to do anything?! But it's true. We are saved by grace through God - every good Lutheran knows this phrase, yet how often do we actually believe it and live it out? Besides spending quality time with some of the dear people of Ebenezer, the retreat also helped me to put things in perspective. I was reminded of the unconditional love that God has for me, for all of us. Now, at home, I am asking myself, how can I be more grace-ful? What can I do to help others understand the meaning of grace?
Becky Sorensen

The retreat again reminded me that scripture raises more questions that it answers, and that so many people use the Bible to support their position when they know so little about the context that it was said in, and that seeing an example of how one of Paul's letters was "performed" instead of written and sent in the mail, opened my eyes to a whole other way of seeing how the "Good News" was and is being carried to the unchurched.
Ken Otto

Watch for information for NEXT retreat February 5-6, 2010.