Trish Lawson's Reflections

During my time as a member of FPCV, I have heard about how amazing the Women’s Ministry was “way back when” and I am lucky enough to be a part of the planning team for The Women at the Well, the reimagined and updated Women’s Ministry group. We have been meeting since last fall dreaming and imagining what this would look like, and that moment is upon us! Tomorrow, we will see all the planning created with love and creativity come to fruition and we are excited!

In case you missed the advertising leading up to this event and are curious about how we got here, keep reading.

On Saturday August 31, myself along with Pastor Nancy Becker, Ginger Boys, Lou Ann Karabel, Sharon Kinsey, and Pastor Julia Zhao gathered from 9am-4pm to pray, meditate, brainstorm, and vision what would God desire this particular ministry team to be. We want this to be a ministry that begins with us and the women of FPCV and reach out to the women of our community and even other churches.

We began with our own faith story, the beginning, the growth, the fruitfulness and how women affected and influenced our journey. Some of us came from different denominations and some were influenced by women of our church. We focused on the idea of a tree and how the roots not only grow deep but stretch wide as well reaching, supporting and communicating with other trees.

Those roots are our influencers, and we are those branches each gifted with a special skill or talent that we want to share with other women.

By the end of our truly fulfilling day, we had our name courtesy of our dear Pastor Nancy Becker…The Women at the Well. We want to be like that woman who encounters Jesus and wants to share what He has told her with others.

Since that day in August, Dana Hanson, Madison Keller, Kathryne Penninga, and Rose Ross joined the planning team, and we are blessed to be able to lead our first retreat on Saturday, April 26, 2025.  If you did not register and you want to join us…come - all are welcome! Childcare will be available.

Women at the Well

Day Retreat

Saturday, April 26, 2025

9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

First Presbyterian Church of Valparaiso

As always with love,

Trish