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2007 Retreats
The focus of the 2007 Retreats was restoration of relationships…
Dove Retreat Willow Park Auckland May 25th – 27th 2007.
Written by Margaret Rabone
As Helen Funnell our National President welcomed us, she encouraged us to come away with JESUS, take His hand for the weekend to receive His Peace, comfort and restoration and to be open to the move of the Holy Spirit. JESUS will meet you where you are. God himself welcomes you!!! Jeremiah 29: 11. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “They are plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. vs. 13: You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all of your heart.”
Before the Praise and Worship the SHOFAR was sounded calling us to prayer and then the blessing in Hebrew was spoken out, bringing a very special presence of God. The trumpet is to upset the enemy camp. Zechariah 9: 14.
What an amazing blessing to have Ruth Clark as our speaker. Out of her life experiences and Godly wisdom she led us to take off our Old wineskins, and receive God’s healing, restoring, renewing, refreshing love in the power of the Holy Spirit. Take on the New wineskins so that the New wine will flow through us, to our families, churches, work places and communities. The overcoming graces of the Most High God poured out in the power of the Holy Spirit on us. Ruth gave us so many practical and prayerful steps, based on the Word of God, Jesus. A depth and richness not to be missed. Amazing gems!! It is so worth buying or borrowing the tapes.
Celebration of the Holy Eucharist was a rich experience on both Saturday as well as Pentecost Sunday. Both were joyous celebrations of the Love and Majesty of God Most High. We had the privilege on Saturday of Bishop Pat Dunn (now our National Chaplain) celebrating with Father Michael Dooley, who was in residence all weekend ministering to the women. Blessed we were indeed.
The prayer room which had been prayed for and prepared by the South Auckland Fellowship was so special. The main feature was the huge red heart of Jesus, His Love flowing down to the small hearts (ours). It was truly a Holy Place where prayer and reflection abounded.
Powerful Prayer ministry was experienced over the weekend and seven Priests were available on Saturday afternoon for Reconciliation.
Praise and Worship for the weekend was led by Keryn Hewitt with great joy and enthusiasm, with Wilma and Mike Conroy singing and playing guitars and Wilma also playing the drums.
How mighty and uplifting. The songs chosen with words that helped us in opening up to the Lord and entering into the theme of the weekend. ‘See I make all things New.’
All through the weekend the fun, friendship and togetherness of the women buzzed around the camp. What a beautiful atmosphere.
We also once more were spoilt by three Joshua men who served us and kept us covered in prayer. May abundant blessings rain on them and their families Lord.
Now to the Saturday night of fun, laughter and dance. Wow! The National Team entertained us with stories, then three little Nat. girls danced and rocked for us. We just laughed till tears rolled from our eyes. What a hoot! Wait there is more! The whole hall of women got up, (young and not so young) and danced and rocked with the singing of Daniel O’Donnell. Rock n Roll era. Yes we were very good.
Yes the Holy Spirit came this weekend in great power and we were healed, restored, refreshed and set free by the mighty love of the Father & His Son Jesus.
“Mine is the Silver and the Gold and the treasures of your heart, which I will rain down on you, like the gentle rain from Heaven.”
“ How great is our God, sing with me, how great is our God, How GREAT how GREAT is OUR GOD.”
Dove Retreat Taupo Christian Camp May 18-20
Saturday Afternoon Taupo
It was like a Portal of Glory outside our venue, with the window of light becoming more focused until, as we started Mass. it was like a spotlight on the lake.
Written by Christine Kornman
We arrived with great excitement- the weather was great and the surroundings idyllic. The theme for this year’s retreat, “See I Make All Things New” was from Revelations 21:5
The call to praise began round 7.30 Friday evening with the sound of the shofar an ancient Jewish horn, played for us on DVD. This was followed by a beautiful Hebrew prayer. I felt the power of this call and we sprang into song led by Keryn and Wilma. The songs were new but quickly learnt as we caught up in the praise of our God.
“See I make all things new – new as night turns to morning – the Spirit is calling “I’m with you – I make all things new.”
Ruth Clark from Tauranga was our speaker for the weekend and her talks were full of amazing teaching, challengers and encouragement to empower us.
First Talk Friday Night, “Rear vision Mirror” We’re in a special time – God wants to do a new thing and if we’re going to move forward we have to let go of the past. Don’t keep looking in the rear vision mirror. Revisit, revise, relinquish – let go and let God. Jesus is all we need for all we need! Let Him be formed in us fully.
Second Talk Saturday morning “No Patch Ups”
Ruth had been given a word from the Lord, “wineskins”. He wants the old skins to be taken away. When the wineskin is hard it’s old and tired. Jesus wants to make new skin out of us – we are going to be stretched. We’ll have a new hunger. Ruth had brought a knife and steel- iron sharpens iron – we have a responsibility to stay sharp – are we prepared to be put on the sharpening stone? We are sharpened by our circumstances, other people and by the Word of God. Prayer and fasting humbles us – our strength comes not from food but from spiritual feeding. 2 Chronicles 7:12-14 If my people humble themselves and begin to pray; I will heal their barren land! Your land might be family or might be our physical bodies.
Third Talk Saturday afternoon “Destined for the Throne”
All of us are royalty – born of the Spirit to be effective- knowing we are taking the Risen Christ wherever we go. Ruth used a prop again “Keys”
All of us have been given the keys to the kingdom – we have keys for different purposes, to unlock the impossible situations. Our “keys” are: the Blood of the Lamb, the Power of the Holy Spirit and Love. If we loose the keys we can’t unlock. God has given us keys that are easy to pick up….Keys of the Kingdom to bind and loose…to bind up the broken hearted, to bring walls down. Our deficit is made up by all He is! We must keep the balance- we wrestle with the world, the “Me” generation but we’re different we’re daughters of the King. We’re called to be salt and light - salt always affects what it goes into and the light of Christ in us will make a difference.
Fourth Talk Sunday Morning “Live the Spirit filled Life”.
It is the enabling power of the Holy Spirit that empowers us – we are born to be overcomers. Sin has no dominion over us, God has won the victory Romans 8
In the spirit, satan has no more authority. He attacks us in mind, will emotions and actions. We must live in submission to God –James 4:7 Be subject therefore to God, but resist the devil and he will flee from you.
We are born to be overcomers, daughters of the King – that is the new - rise up in the power of a Spirit filled life.
These talks armed me – fired me!
The praise and worship before each session had my head dancing with the words “See I make all things new; Saturate my soul; All who are thirsty; How great is our God1 I was drawn to Jesus in a deeper way and the call from our national team all weekend was “Come to Jesus for everything you need in the Mass – never underestimate the power of the Mass”. And with Fr Tom Sherry as our chaplain and celebrant for Masses on Saturday and Sunday, how could we not come closer when he radiated all that Jesus is so beautifully.
There were many opportunities for prayer over this weekend - set times or in the quiet of the prayer room lovingly adorned by Wanganui Dove – those who visited Jesus there in the Blessed Sacrament received an autumn leaf with their own personal scripture inscribed into it.
To have such a powerful retreat as this was, my heartfelt thanks goes to our national team and all those in planning who sought God in prayer and obedience for months leading up to it. This was a mighty wave of the spirit and everyone there must have come away thinking “Yes, He has made me new!”
My first words on arriving home –“The best yet” Praise be to God.
Report on Dove Fellowships Christchurch Conference May 4th 5th 6th held in St Bede’s College
Written by Jo Carson-Barr
Fog settled down over Auckland Airport the morning of the 4th May conspiring to stop the flight of the Doves southward. Chaos reigned as hundreds of people tried to change flights. But the Lord had it in hand, had he not said “See I make all things new”. Rev 21.5 the theme of the Conference. Thank you Lord for cell phones as new arrangements for picking up speaker where organised, delegation became the order of the day and Helen Smithson, who by a miracle just happened to be in holidaying in Greymouth not in Whangarei where she lives, moved into the new role God had given her and with the help of the Christchurch team accomplished all the had to be done, by the time everyone finally arrived. Meanwhile back in Auckland Airport, Carleen Walshe, Intercessor for Conference, was able to transfer her ticket to a later flight and Helen Funnell National President changed airlines and secured a ticket, thus ensuring arrival in Christchurch in time to open the Conference. This left Marrion Stewart, Dianne Andrews and yours truly to exercise their faith and believe. “Stand By” was suggested, Yes we agreed, only to find on arrival at Departure gate there were many others already waiting on “Stand By” this was real test of faith, but prayer won out and with shouts of Praise the Lord we boarded the plane for Christchurch, we had a little taste of what it must feel like on Dancing with the Stars when you are waiting for your name to be called out!!!!!. Now this report is not all about cancelled flights and fogged in airports…….No it is a report that the God of miracles is alive and well…this was only the start of the “new” that happened during the weekend.
Saturday Morning Christchurch
The Rainbow was the promise of an amazing day or so to come!
Praise and Worship was led by Keryn Hewitt (National Team) who seemed to just glow with the Glory of God. Sr Marie Gore played guitar and Shona Glennie the piano, what a team they made, as they led us into the presence and glory of the King, the voices of the women, the dancing and waving of the beautiful banners made this an especially awesome part of the conference.
We were blessed with a very gifted speaker in Ruth Clarke, who led us through the process of becoming “NEW” The headings of her talks were very catchy
- Who’s in your Rear Vision Mirror?
- No Patch ups
- Destined for the Throne Room
- Born to Overcome
Ruth was inspired to use visual aids during her talk, which meant we would remember key points……
Let go of what we do not need and what the Lord wants us to let go of.
We need to be sharpened on steel, blunt knives can cause a lot of damage.
Cut the strings of the people who are controlling you, be free in God.
Prayer Ministry led by The Holy Spirit ably assisted by Diane Andrews (National Team) and her prayer ministry teams. This was the practical time to do something about getting rid of the baggage and being filled with Gods Grace to be the “NEW” person He wanted us to be. Reconciliation over in the St Bede’s Chapel with five priests was also available for those who wished to partake. Sunday morning was a final anointing to send us out, with words from the Lord for us, to walk in the NEW WAY. Fr Jack O’Connor joined us to celebrate two Mass’s over the weekend, he is a delightful man, a real breath of fresh air, he radiated joy and love, he had the gift of being able to laugh at himself and made us aware of how we need to be able to do the same, we can’t love unconditionally in our own strength, we need the Holy Spirit.
Now anything to do with Dove Fellowship would not be right without some fun and laughter mixed in, and fun we had, we danced and sang the night away being the “captivating women” our beautiful president had read to us about, indeed we could have had a contest for the prettiest skirt, they were so beautiful and feminine, but I wouldn’t have liked being the judge. This was followed by the most delicious party supper with grapes, huge pineapple lumps (I will not own up to how many I ate) and marshmallows.
There had been many “Words” about dancing feet during the weekend and we certainly saw those in a practical way, lots of those feet had not danced like that in years.
There will be lots of encouraging cards being sent all around New Zealand as Shelia and Peter Baker from St Joseph’s Takapuna had a wonderful “Special Price” on cards for the Conference, no one could resist, and no need for the scripture “My people will perish from lack of knowledge” to apply to any of us as there where books on every subject you could think of.
So to sum up the weekend, it was a wonderful, warm, challenging, Spirit Filled weekend,
A huge thank you to all who helped make the weekend “Life Changing”.
He does indeed make all things “NEW” as we allow Him too.