Fall Fellowship Women's Retreat
Come be refreshed and encouraged in your faith together with your sisters in Christ at beautiful Covenant Harbor on the shores of Lake Geneva. Set aside this weekend and invite a friend to join you at Fall Fellowship.
2024 Date Coming This Spring!
Women — this retreat is designed for you—it is your turn to enjoy all that Covenant Harbor has to offer!
This retreat is designed for you! It is your time to enjoy all that Fall Fellowship team has put together, as well as Covenant Harbor has to offer. Through joyful worship, engaging workshops, and rejuvenating fellowship, women can make lasting connections with each other and with their heavenly father. This retreat is offered to all women age 18 and older.
2023 Health and Safety
We are doing our best to incorporate the CDC, State, Local and other guidelines into our programming. We are continually refining our practices, placing an emphasis on safety and responsibility, while at the same time recognizing the need for fun and to be together socially. Continue reading on Covenant Harbor's current Health and Safety page.
2023 Health and Safety AnnouncementsTheme: But, God is Good 2023
Speaker 2023
Sara Diemer
Sara is the youth director at First Covenant Church in Peoria. She holds bachelors degrees in Art History and Fine Arts from the University of Texas at Arlington and a masters degree in Fine Arts from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. Sara is happily married with two daughters, Isla and Addy. In 2019 Sara was diagnosed with stage four metastatic breast cancer. At the time, she was an adjunct professor at two colleges as well as the youth director at her church. While her cancer is not curable, it is treatable. Sara could not continue her role as an adjunct professor, but with the love and support of her church family she recently celebrated her 10th anniversary as youth director at First Covenant Church in Peoria.
Pricing & Registration Information 2023
Fees are per person and include meals and lodging from Friday afternoon through Sunday brunch. Friday supper is included, from 6pm – 7:30pm with program beginning at 8pm. Check-in begins at 5pm.
Geneva Bay Center*: $258 – Hotel style with elevator. Each room can house 4 guests and has a private bathroom. Bedding & Towels are provided. Building is accessible. Priority placement will be for those with identified special needs.
Twins*, Engebretson and Lower Carriage House*: $228 – Dormitory style with bunk beds and has an attached bathroom. Guests will need to bring their own bedding and towels. Some rooms in each building are accessible.
Hilltop House: $208 – Dormitory style with bunk beds and an attached bathroom. Guests will need to bring own bedding and towels.
Guest House: $198 – Dormitory style with bunk beds and an attached bathroom. Guests will need to bring own bedding and towels.
Maple Commons: $158 – An economical option for “Roughing it.” Dormitory style with a bath house down the path, space heaters available. Guest will need to bring their own bedding and towels.
Commuter: $148 – Includes all programs and meals (no lodging).
*These buildings are ADA compliant.
Registration Information
Registration Closed on Monday, September 11, 2023
All registrations will be completed online, with an initial non-refundable $50 deposit. Covenant Harbor staff will review registrations and accommodation requests. Covenant Harbor will confirm your accommodations and inform you of the balance due.
Registration is to be paid in full by August 20, 2023. Any final balance is due at that time. Refunds, less the $50 deposit, are given until September 1.
Morning Workshop Examples
Poison: What the world does to us; what we are expected to do back! Unforgiveness: How to forgive someone who clearly doesn’t like you, or doesn’t want to resolve issues with you. Michaela Austin is the South District Liaison, an avid ministry worker and leader, Autism Advocate and parent, wife, Behavioral therapist, Endometriosis & UF warrior, member of OES & PWM of my Chapter, world traveler and Humanitarian. – Michaela Austin
What’s Your Story: The Apostle Paul says that we are living epistles, letters from Christ. There’s a story from your life’s experiences that will draw someone to Christ. This workshop will help you identify, craft, and share that story. Nilwona Nowlin is a redemptive artist, someone who believes in the transformative power of the arts to bring about God’s shalom in individuals and communities. She is a minister and the church board chair at Kingdom Covenant Church in Chicago, a hospital chaplain, and an associate editor for InterVarsity Press (IVP). – Nilwona Nowlin
Intro to SPICES: Since January 1, 2011, ten thousand people (Boomers) have been turning 65 every day and that trend will continue through 2029! That’s a lot of folks joining the “Boomers and Beyond” age demographic! Learn more about living lives of lasting purpose as a “Boomer and Beyond” and hear about a framework for “adding zest” to the lifelong journey. Sootie Havens is blessed to be a wife, mom, and grandma. She has served as BSF teaching Leader in Bothell, WA and Madison, WI. Currently Sootie and her husband Vance are crescendo coaches for the Central, Great Lakes and Alaska Conferences of the ECC. – Vance and Sootie Havens
The truth about Muslims & the Middle East: Missionary: Serving amongst Muslims; How to befriend and care for our neighbors. I will be sharing my experiences and some helpful guidance to demonstrate God’s love to our friends. – Melinda Murtz
Afternoon Workshop Examples
Hymns & History: Many of us know the background of a few composers, but many more composers came from circumstances similar to ours. Let’s sing their music and explore their lives to see how God worked in their struggles and joys. Peggy is a musician, composer, and enjoys sharing music information. – Peggy Peryam
Teaching Church Ladies to be Hookers: Learn 3 beginning stitches; the chain, which is the basis of all crochet; the single stitch and the double stitch. We will begin a mug rug that you can finish after class. Ladies will be able to keep their crochet hook and the yarn, along with instruction handouts. Sherry Sansom learned to crochet from her grandmother, and has taught adults and children and many of which are still hooked today. She has been married 25 years, and attends First Covenant Church in Peoria. – Sherry Sansom
The Secret of the Scarlet Cord: Rahab: The restoration of a woman who by all accounts was outcast by her community and without hope, Rahab found redemption through the secret of a scarlet cord. Johanna Mercado is a woman of God whose passion is to walk alongside her husband in life and ministry. Together they lead a congregation in the Edgewater neighborhood in Chicago. Johanna leads a ministry called Persevering Woman of God. – Johanna Mercado
Seeing our Sisters Through the Eyes of Jesus: In a divided and toxic world, this workshop will help us look past our differences in order to see each other through our shared humanity. Jesus tells us to love each other. How do we do that if we only see people through the lenses of the world and not through the eyes of the Messiah. Cheryl Cornelius is Co-Pastor of the Church of Gary Covenant Church. She is the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Specialist for the Justice Journey Alliance Leadership Foundation, Founder and President of Dynamic Inclusion and member of Wailing Women International Intercessory Prayer. – Cheryl Cornelius
Spiritual Direction 2023
Available during free time (3-5pm Saturday afternoon). Spiritual Direction is a spiritual practice in which a person seeks to deepen their awareness of God’s presence and work in their life with the help of another. In these individual conversations, one is listened to deeply and what is shared is held in confidence. This can be helpful in times of transition, loss, seeking discernment and wondering where God is in the midst of one’s life or situation. 50 minute sessions will be available and facilitated by trained spiritual directors. $50 is payable with your registration.