The Vision

“RETURN TO REST” is not just a catchy title we came up with. Psalm 116:7 calls us to do just that, to return to our rest in the Lord, and you can expect the retreat will be centered around this purpose.

“RETURN TO REST” will be an intimate gathering of faith-driven women. From entrepreneurs to busy moms to executives, ladies from all over will come together for a few days to encourage one another in the Lord and in an identity securely anchored in Him.

We hope that during this retreat, you can step away from your day-to-day busyness and escape from the demands of the working world and daily life. We desire that you have time to focus on what is of most importance, to refresh your soul by reading God’s word and delighting in His ways, to be encouraged by other women who can relate to where you are coming from and what you are heading back to after the retreat is over.

The Heart

When I moved to Boston back in 2012, I had a desire to bring together a community of Christian women. It had always been lingering in the back of my mind, but it wasn’t until the end of 2013’s wedding season (I'm a wedding photographer) that I felt God truly placing a vision on my heart. Since then, my passion has grown to include women in many industries and varying stages of life - single, married, moms, grandmothers, etc.

For the months of January, February and March in New England, we are in the midst of cold temperatures and piles of snow. Life slows down, and as a result we are forced to slow down. We are forced to rest. I long for that, not only as a photographer but as a woman of faith. I long for a time to sit among like-minded women who love Jesus and who desire to use their abilities and gifts to serve God. I desire to share with women who are struggling to find their identity in Christ, and to learn from those who are resting securely in it.

Maybe you’ve had a busy season of constant work and are ready to return to resting in the Lord. Maybe you long to be renewed and re-focused before next year’s busy season comes around. If so, I invite you to spend a couple of days with us, with women who love Jesus and yearn to be more like him – in our work, in our relationships, in our everyday life. - Ruthie

The Purpose

In a world where we are increasingly addicted to computer screens, to how many “likes” we receive on social media, and to being recognized for our work, it’s not long before these addictions feed into what we believe about our identity. Many of us are caught in a constant cycle of striving, thinking to ourselves, “I must do more and be more”.

Knowing this, we pose a question: You maybe the CEO of a huge corporation, a pastor's wife, a blogger, a mom, an artist, a college student, a grandmother, a nurse, an entrepreneur, but do you know what is of most importance? Do you know the very one you were created for, and do you rest in the identity graciously granted to you by Christ Jesus? Or, has this identity been hijacked by your day-to-day successes and failures?

All of life is affected by who we believe we are in Christ. Having a secure understanding of our identity allows us to fight against the temptations that come knocking at our door. It helps us turn the focus off our kingdom and ourselves, and back on the One it was intended for.

Don’t get us wrong- we as women love what we do and are so thankful for it, but we desire to create work that flows out of a joyful heart. As the seasons come and go, we recognize our need to return to rest. And the rest we are looking for? It is found in nothing else but knowing and believing our identity granted to us through our Savior.

Do you find yourself with similar desires? If so, we invite you to come join us for a weekend of rest. For the Lord has dealt bountifully with us…