Women in Conversation - Schedule

Saturday afternoon activities - Hesston retreat

Prayerful Action: Creative Movement in Worship

Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. This workshop explores worship as prayer in motion using our physical bodies as instruments of praise. Participants should dress comfortably and come willing to worship with heart, mind, soul and strength. Learning will be accomplished through lecture, demonstration of techniques, and active participation in movement. "Come let us worship the Lord! Let us bow down before the Lord our Maker!"

Joanna Gerber Pinkerton has used movement in worship for over 30 years. She understands her calls in ministry include healing, hospitality, and creativity. Her professional background is in nursing--she graduated from Hesston College and worked as an RN 20 years.  More recently she graduated from WSU with a BA in Studio Art. She is an artist and currently serves on the worship commission in her home congregation, Hope Mennonite Church, Wichita, KS. Her passion is using the arts in worship.   

Love in Pencil and Watercolor (Amor en Lapis y Acuerela)

Crayons, watercolors, pencils, markers, paper and more can be amazing tools to express or share a story.  In our life we have persons we love so very dearly  they move our being.  Foolishly we often forget that we are incredibly loved as well.  In this workshop, as a motherhood love story is being told visually and verbally, you will be a participant in creating a visual to one of your many stories.  We will reach within ourselves to find the shapes and colors  of those we love, those that love us, and the Great Spirit Creator. \

Fabiola Flores was born and raised in Guatemala City, Guatemala. She is a single mother to Camila (8).  Fabiola and Camila have made Newton, KS their home which they share, with the goldfish named Dot, and five chickens, Sleepy, Pecker, Georgia, Freda, and Lilly. Fabiola attends Shalom Mennonite Church and works as an Administrative Assistant for Latin America and East Asia for Mennonite Mission Network, the mission agency of Mennonite Church USA.  She is also a Co-Leader for the Newton Office MCUSA Anti-Racism Team, which she has found to be invaluable in her life as an individual and community member.  Fabiola, together with her daughter enjoy reading, writing, art, music, raising chickens, and nurturing the community of friends “that have made our lives so very rich”. 

(Español)

Crayones, acuarelas, lápices, marcadores, papel y más pueden ser herramientas increíbles para expresar o compartir una historia. En nuestra vida existen personas a quienes amamos tan profundamente que mueven nuestro ser. Sin embargo, neciamente a menudo olvidamos que somos increíblemente amadas también. En este taller, mientras una historia de amor maternal se cuenta visual y verbalmente, usted será participe en la creación visual de una de sus varias historias. Buscaremos dentro de nuestro ser para encontrar las figuras y los colores de aquellos a quien amamos, los que nos aman, y el Gran Espíritu Creador.

Fabiola Flores nació y creció en la ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala. Ella es madre soltera de su hija Camila (8). Fabiola y Camila han hecho Newton, KS su hogar el cual comparten con su pez dorado llamado Dot, y cinco gallinitas, Sleepy, Pecker, Georgia, Freda, y Lilly. Fabiola asiste a Shalom Mennonite Church y trabaja para la agencia misionera de la Iglesia Menonita EE.UU.,  Red Menonita de Misión, como Asistente Administrativa para América Latina y Asia Oriental.  Ella también es co-líder del equipo de Anti-Racismo en las Oficinas de la Iglesia Menonita EE. UU. en Newton, trabajo que considera invaluable como persona, y como miembro de la comunidad. Fabiola junto con su hija disfrutan de la lectura, escritura, arte, música, el cuidado de sus gallinas, y amando la comunidad de amigos "que enriquecen tanto nuestras vidas".

Expressing/Sharing our Spiritual Journeys Through Sculpture

Walter Wink says that in order for transformation to take place in our lives we need to engage the right side of our brain—the side that is recognized as the creative side.  LaVerle believes that creativity dwells within all of us.  Our creativity is a gift from God and plays a significant part in our spiritual journeys while putting us in touch with how God is working in our lives.  During this workshop she will be using 3 or 4 of her sculptures to explore the theme, “Into the Wilderness: The journey of God’s Beloved,” and make connections between the creative process and our spiritual journeys. 

LaVerle Schrag, a graduate of Bethel College, spent time as a first grade teacher, a stay-at-home Mom, a volunteer in school, church and the community, and as a chiropractic assistant.  She served as associate pastor for six years at First Mennonite Church in Hutchinson, KS, retiring in 2004. A special long-term interest has been volunteering at Ten Thousand Villages as a visual merchandiser. Since about 1994 she has been committed to working as a sculptor, using her sculptures to offer programs to groups, sharing about the creative process and the analogies that process has to our spiritual journeys. For four years she and three other women provided spiritual retreats for women known as, “An Inward Journey,” in her back yard.  Her other interests include serving on the Collaborative Worship Team, working in her yard, reading, doing Tai Chi and yoga. She and her husband are the parents of two daughters, both of whom are married and live in San Diego, CA.  They enjoy two grandsons, ages 6 and 3. She resides in Hutchinson, KS.