Saturday, May 9 | 9AM-4PM
703 E. Main St., Dewitt, MI 48820
St. Francis Retreat Center. Women are invited to a special Spring Retreat centered on the theme Of One Heart’s Beat, For One Great Peace. Drawing inspiration from the hymn “For One Great Peace” by Shirley Erena Murray (The Faith We Sing, #2185), Rev. Melanie Baker invites us to consider how we serve God not only in grand gestures, but in the ordinary rhythms of daily life. Melanie shares that this hymn “resounds in my heart with possibilities of how we can serve God through what we do.” Together, we will explore the idea that wherever our gifts lie, we can offer our best to God—even in the most everyday settings. In a time that often feels extraordinary (and not always in positive ways), how might we live out our faith faithfully in ordinary things?
Rev. Melanie Baker is a retired United Methodist pastor who served five parishes in Michigan before retiring from appointed ministry in 2015. She now serves as Director of Reading is Fundamental for the Lansing School District. Melanie appreciates “a good novel, a bad pun, and moments to sing for the pure delight of it.” You may wish to reflect on the words of “For One Great Peace” prior to the retreat.
The cost is $35. Please bring a snack to share for 10–12 people; lunch is provided. Payment and registration may be mailed to Karen Firos, 1300 S. Geneva, DeWitt, MI 48820, or placed in her church mailbox. Please ensure it arrives by April 26, 2026. Checks should be made payable to “UWF,” with “UWF Retreat” in the memo line. Sign up in the Gathering Space or contact the church office at 517-351-7030 or office@eluumc.org