St. Andrew Presbyterian Church | Women's Retreat 2025

St. Andrew Women's Retreat 2024

Fruit of the Spirit: “Patience” | Feb. 7 & 8, 2025

Join us on February 7 and 8 for St. Andrew’s annual Women's Retreat. Inspired by our Children’s and Family Ministry’s recent focus on “Fruit of the Spirit,” the planning team felt “Patience” would be a good theme during our congregation’s time of anticipation and transition.

On Friday Feb. 7, local historian Doris Montag will be back to speak on the history of that most popular of fruity snacks: Jello. To add a layer of fun, we are asking participants to bring their favorite Jello dessert to share with one another during the presentation. Music will be provided by Pat Penn and Patti Benson.

On Saturday Feb. 8, Abby Chen and Patti Benson will begin at 8:30 a.m. with a time of worship in the Sanctuary, followed by deep thoughts on “Patience” by the Rev. Dr. Jan Rippentrop Schnell, a professor of liturgics at Wartburg Theological Seminary. After a time of bible study, a light lunch of sandwiches and chips will be provided before the retreat ends at noon.

As always, we encourage you to invite a loved one, friend or neighbor to come with you. Cost for Friday and Saturday is $15 total. For more information, contact me at (nhoffman@saintandrew-ic.org). To register, visit https://tinyurl.com/sapc-retreat-2025.

We look forward to seeing you there!

— Nichole Hoffman

Friday Schedule (Feb. 7)

6:30 p.m. | Check in, welcome, fellowship & dessert
7:15 p.m. | Music with Pat Penn
7:30 p.m. | Doris Montag, "History of Jello"
8:30 p.m. | Voting on favorite Jello dessert & wrap up

Saturday Schedule (Feb. 8)

8:30 a.m. | Check in, welcome, fellowship & breakfast (Atrium)
9:00 a.m. | Music with Abby Chen (Sanctuary)
9:15 a.m. | Jan Rippentrop Schnell “Patience” (Sanctuary)
10:00 a.m. | Break
10:15 a.m. | Small Group Study (Atrium)
11:00 a.m. | Lunch
12:00 a.m. | Post-Retreat Meet-and-Greet with Pastor Carl Anderson

Registration Fee: $15 ($5 for Friday and $10 for Saturday)

To Register

Doris montag

Doris Montag is a freelance curator who unlocks the stories in the artifacts of ordinary things. She borrows and assembles vintage items, researches the stories they tell, and develops engaging exhibits for small museums, libraries, and public spaces. As a storyteller and homespun humorist, she narrates the exhibit sharing history and stories as she chats with the audience.

Her passionate objective is to entertain and educate, to engage, to reminisce, and to affirm the past. Locally, you can read her “History of Ordinary Things” in Mature Focus, a free magazine is often available at Fareway Stores and libraries.

History of Ordinary Things

jan rippentrop schnell

The Rev. Dr. Jan Rippentrop Schnell is a liturgical and political theologian. Trained as a Lutheran pastor, as well as practical theology and ethics professor, she is the Assistant Professor of Liturgics at Warburg Theological Seminary. She and her family live dependent on solar energy, where they help restore a natural Iowa prairie. They share interests in music, reading, theater, and playing outside.