Women's Retreat at CSMSG: October 1, 2022

Saturday, October 1, 2022, 9:00 AM

The Episcopal Church of St. Michael & St. George in Clayton invites women throughout the Diocese to their One Day Women's Retreat - Saturday Oct. 1, 2022, from 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Saying Yes to Christ’s Love at the Center:
Suffering, Transformation, and Resilient Joy

Jesus says follow me not worship me. What does it mean to trust, as Jesus does, in Love in all things, even through —especially through — profound suffering within ourselves, in those we love and in this precious world that is experiencing so much pain and hurt?

Discover what the mystics know: how our “yes” leads to an embrace of our own unique gifts and capacities, strengthens us to be even more present to those we love, and contributes to making a more beloved community. When embraced, this lifelong practice of transformation, while not easy, helps us to discover within us a surprising, resilient joy.

The Retreat Leaders:

The Rev. Elizabeth Jameson

Throughout her life and career, Elizabeth Jameson has been committed to nurturing spiritual growth, fostering community, and saying ‘yes’ to love by putting Christ and Christ’s love at the center.

Elizabeth served as the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Seabury-Western Theological Seminary (now Bexley-Seabury), the Curate and Associate Rector of Church of the Holy Comforter in Kenilworth, and ultimately as the Rector of St. Simon’s in Arlington Heights.

Elizabeth has a Masters of Divinity degree from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary and is a graduate of Harvard University. In 2016-2018, Elizabeth participated in the Living School through the Center for Action and Contemplation, led by the faculty Richard Rohr, Cynthia Bourgeault, and James Finley. Engagement with wisdom teachers, mystics, spiritual practices and community grounded her life, as well as her ministry.

In the last four years, in a season of profound loss and suffering, Elizabeth has experienced how contemplative teachings and spiritual practices can infuse us with strength and resilience and open a well of joy that is sufficient to hold immense grief and suffering. After residual complications from a traumatic brain injury in 2018 which led to her resignation from active ministry and learning to live with a disability, Elizabeth learned the value of acceptance. Following the tragic death of her beloved 18-year-old child, Bee, by suicide this past summer, Elizabeth experienced a Love that has sustained her.

Sharing a message of unshakeable joy is her passion and ministry as she continues to expand her capacity to hold the beauty and suffering of this life.

Today, Elizabeth lives in Estes Park, Colorado with her husband, Jim. She has a son graduating from the University of Illinois, and a stepson in Austin, TX. She loves her black lab mix, Bailey, and hiking, traveling in their travel trailer and spending time with friends and family.

Leslie Peters

Leslie’s life and career have been focused on helping people discover the unique gifts and capacities that are theirs to contribute to making our world a more beloved community.

Through her work as an independent facilitator, consultant, and guide, Leslie has partnered with leaders of for-profit and not-for-profit organizations to provide counsel and training in organizational development, board development, strategic planning, and leadership. In support of her leadership work, Leslie has written an Amazon best-selling book entitled Finding Time to Lead: Seven Practices to Unleash Outrageous Potential.

Leslie has a bachelor’s degree in English and an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis, where she served on the National Council for the Undergraduate Experience for more than 20 years.

Leslie cares deeply about engagement, leadership, and the kinds of shared experiences that lead to real change in individuals, groups, and organizations. Her warm approachability reflects an integration of her professional experiences and her personal experiences with parenting remarkable children who struggle with anxiety, trauma, self-harm, mental health challenges and suicidality.

She is married to Dan Rubright, a musician and composer. In addition to a collection of children and grandchildren that she has gathered along the way, Leslie has a daughter, Grace, who is studying art in Chicago, and a stepson, Aidan, who is finding his way in a challenging world.

We hope you will join us for this meaningful retreat! Scholarships are available.

Register online at: https://onrealm.org/CSMSG/Registrations/Info/ec08a1b2-a5a7-4127-a66d-aee5010b2bce

or with Laurie Brown at [email protected].