When was the last time you had a chance to sit in a comfortable chair with a cup of tea, and talk to a friend all afternoon?

"Taking tea" is more than the simple act of dragging a tea bag through a cup of hot water. It is the leaving of daily activities and removing oneself to a place that has been prepared with you in mind. Taking tea is the exercise of etiquette and handling of heirlooms. Fresh flowers and candles have been thoughtfully arranged. Fine china and linens have been set out. Taking tea is also the exchange of anecdotes and confidences between long-time friends, and the sparkling introduction of new acquaintances.

Emilie Barnes relates in her book If Teacups Could Talk,

"it is not the tea itself that speaks to the soul. It is what happens when we make a place in our hearts for the ritual of sharing. We want to offer an opportunity where some one has bothered with the little extras that refill the soul and nurture the senses and can make peace for unhurried conversation."

This is the experience that is being planned for Women’s Retreat this year. Our vision is to create an opportunity for women to come together to be personally, socially, and spiritually filled and refreshed.

We've invited Barbara and Richard Howard to come and provide their special ministry with us. They are each excellent speakers in their right, but when they put they their heads together, they can come up with some terrific ideas to share.

Participants are asked to bring a special teacup or mug, and we will share their stories at our Saturday night "High Tea." Everyone is encouraged to make it a true tea-time and wear one of those hats, from the back of the closet, that has long been neglected.

There will also be personal moments for "tea and inspiration"—spending time with the Lord as a special occasion—just a though your dearest friend was coming to visit.

Emilie Barnes also relates even if you don’t care for tea–if you prefer coffee or cocoa or lemonade or ice water, or if you like chunky mugs better than gleaming silver or fine china, or if you find the idea of a traditional tea overly formal–there’s still room for you at the tea table."

So, whether your favorite tea is brewed from orange pekoe leaves, chamomile blossoms, cocoa or arabica beans, citrus fruit, or cola nuts; you are invited to come to our tea party. It is in this spirit, we hope you will join us.

Here's a letter I sent you about our plans for Women's Retreat.

Choose a cup of tea for more information.

Guest Ministry

What to Bring

Retreat Schedule

Directions to the Retreat

This retreat is sponsored by the Greater Los Angeles Stake of the Reorgranized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

We are looking forward to the special ministry of Barbara and Richard Howard.

Barbara Faye Peavy Howard:

In April 1995, Barbara retired from Herald House, where she had served as an editor for more than 25 years. During that time she edited the news section of the Saints Herald, Restoration Witness, Daily Bread, Stepping Stones, and Zion's Hope. She is the author of a number of books including The Scriptures Speak to Women Today, Be Swift to Love, Journey of Forgiveness, and Journey of Joy. She has had articles published in the church's periodicals as well as The Christian Century, and also authored hymns for Hymns of the Saints and Sing for Peace. Several of these were co-authored with her husband, Richard.

Barbara, a native of Mobile, Alabama, in 1974 received her B.A. from Graceland College twenty-five years after she received her A.A. She did graduate work at St. Paul School of Theology where she received an award for biblical scholarship. She also took graduate courses at Kansas University in the School of Religion.

Barbara has done numerous women's retreats throughout the United States and has also served the church in The Netherlands, Germany, England, and Australia. She was a keynote speaker at the International Women's Conference, one of the Temple dedicatory events. She also was privileged to be one of the ordaining ministers of President W. Grant McMurray at World Conference this past April. President McMurray said that her hand "was the hand of so many of you who have lovingly nurtured children, played volleyball with youth, and cared about the strength and stability of our families."

"Perhaps no event in my life in the church has helped me understand how vital the ministry of every person is to our faith community," Barbara says.

"President McMurray made a significant commitment to children and youth at the recent World Conference. He reminded each of us of our own calling to minister to each other.".

Richard P. Howard:

Richard was an appointee minister for The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints from October 1962 until his retirement on September 30, 1994. His first assignment was to the History Department at World Headquarters, as assistant church historian. He was named church historian in April 1966, and served in that capacity for the remainder of his appointment. At the 1994 World Conference he was named "historian emeritus."

Richard was born and lived his early life in Independence, Missouri. He attended Graceland College, and the University of Kansas, Lawrence, where he received his B.S. in Education in 1954. He served in the United States Army CIC Corps, being discharged from service in June 1956. He received the M.A. in history at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1958. He also did further graduate studies at The University of Kansas, American University in Washington, D. C., and St. Paul's School of Theology at Kansas City, Missouri. He taught history and public speaking in the Shawnee Mission, Kansas, High School District from 1958 until he accepted church appointment.

Richard's publications include numerous essays in scholarly journals. His book, Restoration Scriptures; a Study of Their Textual Development, received the 1970 book award from the Mormon History Association (MHA). A second, revised edition of this book was released from Herald House in 1995. He wrote the "Since Yesterday" column in the Saints' Herald from 1969 through 1984. He wrote a two-volume collection of essays on RLDS history: The Church Through the Years, (Herald House, 1992, 1993). He also compiled a Temple School course, HI 151, "A Survey of Church History," in 1993.

Affiliated for many years with professional historical societies, Richard served as president of the MHA in 1990-1991, and president of the John Whitmer Historical Association for the year 1985-86.

Howard has traveled widely through the church, and has taught a variety of Temple School courses, both in the field and at headquarters. For many years he has taught history and Restoration scriptures in the Park College M. A. in Religion program, and continues on the adjunct faculty in his retirement.

As historian Howard also directed the work of jurisdictional historians throughout the church, who provide much historical information about the church for the Archives. He was instrumental in developing world church headquarters programs and facilities of the library and archives, and established the records management and oral history programs as well.

Richard and Barbara:

Barbara and Richard were married in 1953. They have jointly facilitated many educational and inspirational classes, workshops and institutes in both church and community settings since the late 1970s. They taught story telling classes at two Elderhostels at the Temple in Independence, Missouri, in 1995 and 1996. They both affirm: "Working together in these ways has been a highlight of our years of church service. We have learned so much about ourselves and each other, and about the meaning of mutuality. We have discovered deeper levels of community working with people in the church. It has been such a delight, we often call our presentations "playshops."

The Howards live in Dunwoody, Georgia, and are parents of four grown children: Les, Jim, Joy, and Kip; and grandparents of Emily, Oliver, and Sam.

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• Clothing suitable for warm & cool weather
• Coat or jacket
• Bedding, towels, & pillow
• Hat to wear to tea (optional)
• A special teacup or mug with a story to share
  (One that's not so special you'd hate to see it broken.)
• Special tea or coffee to share for the beverage bar

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Friday, October 4, 1996

• 7:00 p.m. Registration & Check-in
• 8:30 p.m. Opening Meeting
• 9:45 p.m. Tea & Company

Saturday, October 5, 1996

• 8:00 a.m. Breakfast
• 9:15 a.m. Morning Devotions
• 9:30 a.m. Guest Ministry Session 1
• 10:45 a.m. Elevenses
• 11:00 a.m. Guest Ministry Session 2
• 12:30 p.m. Lunch
• 1:30 p.m. Rest and Relaxation
• 2:30 p.m. Specialtea Classes
• 3:45 p.m. Tea & Company
• 4:15 p.m. Chat with the Howards
• 5:15 p.m. Break
• 6:00 p.m. High Tea
• 7:30 p.m. Guest Ministry Session 3
• 9:00 p.m. Campfire
• 9:45 p.m. Tea & Company

Sunday, October 6, 1996

• 8:00 a.m. Tea and Toast
• 9:00 a.m. Guest Ministry Session 4
• 10:30 a.m. Communion Service
• 11:30 a.m. Sunday Brunch

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From Interstate 10
• Traveling east on I-10,
• exit at Banning,
• to Highway 243.
• Camp Buckhorn is 1 mile past Pine Cove.

From Interstate 215
• Take I-215 to Hemet,
• exit at Highway 74 East towards Mountain Center,
• then take Highway 243 to Idyllwild.
• Camp Buckhorn is 2 miles north of Idyllwild.

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