This year marked our fifth year partnering with Riverside Covenant Church to host the women’s retreat. It has come to be a truly special time when women from several churches gather in worship, build community, and deepen their relationships with God and one another.

I had the joy of co-leading the retreat with Renee Sieplinga from Riverside, and together we experienced the blessing of serving alongside an incredible team of women who used their unique gifts for God’s glory and the good of His people.

From November 7–9, over 90 women joined us at Camp Tecumseh. The weather was perfect, and in God’s goodness, we experienced nearly all four seasons in one weekend, even waking up to gentle snowflakes falling just before Sunday morning worship!

Our speaker, Kayla Craig, reminded us that the sacred is woven into our everyday lives, often appearing in the most unexpected moments. Throughout the weekend, she encouraged us to notice how God transforms the ordinary into the sacred and to stay curious about where He might be at work.

Together, we lifted our voices in praise, listened to God’s Word through teaching, Scripture, and powerful testimonies from women of both The Grove and Riverside. We laughed, cried, built new friendships, and strengthened old ones.

There was so much more that God did during Sacred Ground. I encourage you to find someone who attended and ask them to share what they experienced. My continued prayer is that, with God’s help, we would recognize and participate in His holy work all around us.

Thank you for allowing me to serve and use my gifts in this way. I am already excited to see what God has in store for next year's women's retreat, November 6-8, 2026.

-- Katy Travis