Speakers

Rachel Nafziger Hartzler

Rachel Nafziger Hartzler was happily working as a childbirth educator when her husband had a deadly heart attack while jogging. At age 51 she was catapulted into a new stage of life with unrelenting sorrow, horrendous confusion, and unanswerable questions. Adding to her distress was becoming a single parent to grieving children. With the support of a caring community and by the grace of God, Hartzler endured the early months of widowhood only to discover new questions and challenges emerging as she slowly moved along on her grief journey.

Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary was one place where she engaged the questions and began to discover that loss is an invitation to transformation. Her seminary work included a study of widowed people that became a foundation for her 2006 Herald Press book, Grief and Sexuality: Life after Losing a Spouse.

Hartzler is now an ordained minister in Mennonite Church USA. She has been a pastor and now works as a spiritual director, writer, retreat leader and speaker on topics related to grief, sexuality, and spirituality.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I register?

To register, you can print, complete, and send a registration form to Laurelville Mennonite Church Center either by mail (941 Laurelville Lane, Mount Pleasant, PA 15666) or fax (724.423.2096). You can also call (800.839.1021 or 724.423.2056) to register by phone. Payment in full is required with each registration (your $50 non-refundable, non-transferable deposit is included in the registration cost). Please be sure to indicate any special dietary needs you might have so we can make necessary accommodations.

What if I need to cancel my registration?

We refund cancelled program registrations minus the $50 non-refundable, non-transferrable deposit you submit upon registration. Please notify us by phone (800.839.1021 or 724.423.2056) or email (program@laurelville.org) as soon as you know you will be unable to attend so that we can open additional space(s) for other interested participants.

How do I get to Laurelville?

Laurelville is located 45 miles southeast of Pittsburgh in Western Pennsylvania's Laurel Highlands, just fifteen minutes from the Pennsylvania Turnpike. For GPS coordinates and driving directions, click here.

We also arrange for transportation for guests who are arriving by plane ($50 each way to/from Pittsburgh International Airport) or train ($25 each way to/from Greensburg/Connellsville Amtrak stations). If you are planning to travel by plane or rail, please notify us at least one week in advance with your travel plans so we can arrange transportation for you.

Some guests seek to carpool with others traveling to Laurelville. While we cannot coordinate these efforts or give out contact information for other guests, we recommend you post your query on the event page on Facebook.

What are the lodging accommodations like?

Your retreat experience begins with finding a comfortable place to rest and relax. Lodging at Laurelville varies in terms of comfort and style, so we encourage you to select an accommodation that will best suit your needs.
Learn more about our lodging facilities.