Women's Retreat 2024
January 26-27, 2024
We are so excited for what God is doing in our women's ministry.
Our retreat last year was so special and we cannot wait to do it again!
Scroll down for lots of great information about our weekend together. If you need to register, see the form all the way at the bottom!
Schedule (FINAL)
Friday January 26
3pm Prayer (optional) (Gym)
4pm Hike (optional) (meet in front of gym)
4:00pm: Carpool leaves the church
4:30pm Registration Starts (Turner Lodge)
5:00pm Dinner (Turner Lodge)
6:00pm Craft and Hanging Out (Turner Lodge)
7:00pm Worship and Session 1 (Gym)
8:00pm Break
8:15pm Small Group Discussion (Gym/Turner Lodge/Find a spot)
9:00pm Bonfire and Relax (Outside)
9:30 Carpool leaves the retreat center (Meet outside Turner Lodge)
Saturday January 27
7:00am Walk (optional) (meet in front of gym)
7:15am Carpool leaves the church
8:00am Registration (Turner Lodge)
8:00am Breakfast (Turner Lodge)
9:00am Guided Quiet Time (Gym)
9:30am Worship and Session 2 (Gym)
10:15am Group Picture and Break
10:30am Small Group Discussion and Reflection (Gym/Turner Lodge/Find a spot)
11:00am Low Ropes Course & Free Time
12:00pm Lunch (Turner Lodge)
1:00pm Zipline
2:15pm Session 3 (Gym)
3:00pm Small Group Reflection (Gym/Turner Lodge/Find a spot)
3:45pm Break
4:00pm Closing Songs and Prayer (Gym)
4:30pm Clean up
5:00pm Carpool leaves retreat center
5:00pm Dinner
Sunday January 28
Check out by 10am
What to Bring
+ your Bible
+ an open heart
+ hiking shoes (if you will hike)
+ weather-appropriate clothing
+ flashlight
+ your towel or pillow if you prefer
+ toiletries
+ bedding if you are staying in the bunkhouse ONLY
+ snacks but NO NUTS
+ water bottle
+ sign the retreat center waiver
Location
Barefoot Republic KY Campus:
8824 Brownsford Rd, Fountain Run, KY 42133
This campus is located in Southern Kentucky on Barren River Lake.
Our Speaker
Rev. Anna Merlo has been serving at Florence Methodist since January 2009. She began as Director of Children’s Ministries and became Associate Pastor in January 2023. In 2022, she served temporarily as Director of Creative Beginnings Christian Preschool. Anna and her husband, Dave, were married in 2001 at Florence Methodist Church. They live in Burlington with their three children - Maggie, Matthew, and Mycah. Dave is a plumber for Cincinnati Public Schools and a Senior Master Seargent in the Air Force Reserves. Anna graduated from Kentucky Wesleyan College in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science in History and Political Science. She earned her Master of Special Education at Xavier University in 2013. In her pre-mom life, Pastor Anna worked as a defense contractor in Washington DC, managed Huntington Learning Centers in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Kentucky. She also taught special education in Grant County and Covington, KY. In 2019, Anna completed her Theology studies at United Theological Seminary and was ordained in the Global Methodist Church in 2023. Her deacon area of ministry is christian education and spiritual formation. Her favorite things are the rare occasions when all five Merlos are together in one place, reading, teaching Bible stories to children and anyone else who will listen, FMC Thanksgiving Dinner, road trips Dave and macaroni & cheese. Everyone at church knows she does not like raisins, pineapple or watermelon and she got an F in art in the 6th grade.
Rev. Anna Merlo
Prayer
Let us begin praying today for a time of restoration, renewal, and reconsecration.
If you know someone else who is going, pray for them by name. Let us cover our weekend in prayer!
Our Host
Barefoot Republic Camp & Retreat Center
Our retreat will be hosted at Barefoot Republic Camp and Retreat Center. Please note that it is a nut free facility.
Host Amenities
These standard amenities are available for us group to use anytime during our stay, completely free of charge.
Hiking Trails
Canoes
9-hole Disc Golf Course
Football and Soccer Field
Whiffle-ball Field
Full Basketball Court
Sand Volleyball
9 Square In The Air
Tetherball
Carpet-ball
Bouldering Wall
Skate Park
Gaga Ball
Pickleball
Corn Hole
We are also free to explore the many lush woods, spring-fed creek, open fields, and the serene beauty of the cove on Barren River Lake.
Overnight accommodations
We have three options for your overnight stay.
Hotel Style Room (Turner lodge): $99 per room, per night
These rooms each have a queen size bed and a comfortable full size futon, plus a full bathroom. There are handicapped accessible rooms. We can accommodate 26 women at double occupancy in these rooms ($50 each). These rooms are located in the same building as the eating space and a very short walk to the meeting room.
BUNK HOUSE (Treehouse Village): $20 per person, per night
There are four villages of treehouse cabins. Each cabin has 7-9 sets of sturdy bunk beds plus a bathroom with multiple stalls and showers. We will likely be placed in the newest village which is a short walk to both the meeting room and the cafeteria. We are able to use just the lower bunks to help everyone feel most comfortable. Please note: you need to bring your own bedding to the bunkhouses!
ROOM IN A HOUSE (Lakeview Lodge): $35 per person, per night
Retreat Fees
We do not want cost to prohibit anyone from being able to attend. We believe this weekend is an investment in the growth of the women of our church which is beyond value. This will have an impact not only on the women who attend, but also on their families, friends, and spheres of influence.
These fees are the direct costs from the retreat facility. The church will subsidize the rest of the expenses for the retreat. If you cannot afford the amount listed, please sign up anyway. If you would like to give above the amount suggested to help cover other expenses or to provide a scholarship, we thank you in advance.
Fee breakdown:
Attend retreat Friday: $10
Attend retreat Saturday: $20
Single occupancy hotel room $100
Double occupancy hotel room $50
Bunk bed in cabin $20
Bed (queen, bunk, or pull-out sofa) in lodge: $35 per night
Meals are $10 each with a maximum of $30
Optional add-on activity: $10
Bus transportation: suggested $5-10 for gas
How to give?
You can drop off your donation at the church office or in the offering plate.
If you pay by check, please write women's retreat in the memo line.
If you pay by cash, please use an envelope, clearly marked with your name and "women's retreat."
Donations are requested at the time of registration. You are welcome to donate in installments if needed.
Please note: the retreat facility requires a 50% deposit from our church by the end of July, so we appreciate any early donations.
Directions
Turn left from the church parking lot.
At the stop sign, turn left onto Cave MIll Road.
At the stoplight, turn right onto Smallhouse Road.
At the end of Smallhouse Road, turn left onto Three Springs Road.
At the intersection of Three Springs Road and Scottsville Road, turn right onto Scottsville Road (US-231S). Drive approximately 19 miles.
Turn left onto Gallatin Road (Scottsville Rd ends here. McDonalds is on the left after making the left turn onto Gallatin.).
Turn right on East Main Street (98). 98 will veer to the right about half mile ahead where Old Glasgow Road veers left.
Continue on 98 (Brownsford Road) for approximately 9 miles (highway 3499).
Barefoot Republic will be on the left. Parking is near the lodge.