22nd Annual Gathering

Formation of the Human Heart - Walking with God

Together we will explore a fresh understanding of the formation of the human heart. Each one of us has been gifted with profound formational power and a divine invitation to dance to the music of God in our lives. A cooperative response to the whispers of God deep within opens a flow of amazing, generous grace in our everyday life. All of this is fully practical. The way forward is unique for each of us, but not impossible to find. You are invited to join other women for a weekend on the journey.

Session Leader         

Dr. Marilyn Elliott
MTh DMin

Dr. Marilyn Elliott is Director of Spiritual Formation at Asbury Seminary, a post-graduate school of formation located in Kentucky. Her unlikely journey to this place began as a middle child in a large working class family. Marilyn (with Steve) raised three of her four children in rural Stony Plain and then the city of Calgary in the seventies and eighties. In these ordinary places she learned the value of the earth, the importance of creating holy space and the beautiful sacredness of every person.

A powerful formation event in Marilyn's story unfolded three years ago when she was unexpectedly reunited with a son who was lost to her when she was 16. As an 'unwed mother' in the early seventies she experienced a pregnancy in a girl's home and childbirth alone. The reunion with a beautiful son opened a floodgate of grace and healing, as well as deep grief, and transformed Marilyn's understanding of God and herself
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Marilyn spent her 'first' adulthood (using the idea of adulthood being divided into a 'first' significant period, and then a 'second' more mature season made possible by longevity and personal growth) loving and laughing with the marginalized, heartbroken and those with great unfulfilled longings: unwed mothers, persons in crisis, those struggling with brokenness and loss. Three decades of life serving in ministry taught her to live courageously without power, to honor and listen to the stories of life, to sacrifice and suffer in communion with others, and to embrace the daily bread of bodily life and ordinary tasks. Now she writes, speaks and teaches about what she has learned.

Marilyn has always loved ideas, and began undergraduate schooling when she was 36. Her studies have led her to the work of understanding human formation. She mentors women leaders, works with marriage education and teaches formation at conferences and retreats worldwide. She is a life coach, teacher, mimi (to six grandkids), gardener, gourmet cook, lover of the earth, true friend and faithful companion. But her most demanding role is being a human who is growing in openness, gentleness, honesty and humor.

The Benedictine Rule includes the admonition to 'order life in such a way that the strong have something to yearn for and the weak have nothing to run from.' At its best, this is how Marilyn desires to live.

Married (joyfully) 36 years to Steve.
Currently the Director of Spiritual Formation at Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky.

Have worked as life-coach since 2002.
           
Four Children:

o  Mark, married, twin 2 yr old daughters, lives in Portland, OR
o  Rachel, married, 2 daughters, lives in North Carolina
o  Benjamin, married, 1 son, 1 daughter, currently teaching in Jakarta, Indonesia
o  Vince, currently living in his sister’s attic and trying to find his life
All of which means my grandchildren are all too far away.

Worship Leader

The Rev. Pilar Gateman
BEd BA MDiv

The Rev. Pilar Gateman has just been ordained as an Anglican priest (Christ Church Fort Macleod) after an exciting and busy time of study at Wycliffe Theological College. All the while she manages to be a loving wife, and mother to three active children.

Born in North Vancouver and raised in the south end of the Okanagan valley, Pilar moved to Alberta and completed undergraduates in Education (BEd) and Music (BA). She worked as an elementary school teacher in the Lethbridge Public School District for 14 years.

During her lay ministry years, Pilar was involved in Stephen Ministry as a Stephen Minister and Leader, Alpha Coordinator, Sunday School teacher and Superintendent. She began a women's study group called Feminae Fideles (Latin for Faithful Women) and helped coordinate a women's group which provided child care for participating moms of young children.

She continues to serve on the Ecumenical Campus Ministry board of directors which supports the chaplain at the college and university in Lethbridge. She is the Associate Chaplain at the Lethbridge Regional Hospital. She is currently working as the priest of Christ Church, Fort Macleod.

Her greatest supporters and encouragers are her husband Brent and children Sara, Michaela and Andreas.

Entheos Retreat Centre

ENTHEOS is just west of Calgary, Alberta and is located in a lovely, natural setting. There are woods that border the Elbow River with walking paths, outdoor stations of the cross, a campfire pit, and frequent animal visitors - deer who come to graze on the lawn. The accommodations are shared rooms and baths (2 people per room) in two 3-story sleeping lodges. Bed linen is supplied and all the meals are prepared by the staff.

The main lodge has a large meeting room, a cozy fireside room, and a chapel, with the dining room and kitchen downstairs. There are stairs in all buildings and an elevator in the main lodge only. If you have difficulty with stairs, there are rooms on the ground floor in one of the sleeping lodges.