Renewal In Christ Ministries: Milan Reflections

Reflections at Milan, May 28-30th 2004
by Julia den Blaauwen

   "Let Go, Let God" - the theme of the weekend really spoke to me months before the weekend even began - I just HAD to be there. The theme is one of the phrases that I like to keep close to my heart but don't always remember to follow until "holding on" and "doing it my way" fail.
    I was most surprised that Gary and Judith even had time to get this weekend off the ground having just become new Grandparents the week before - congratulations!!
    It was with great anticipation that I arrived on Friday night. Traveling up from Macomb never allows me to get to Milan very
early but at least this time we arrived before the evening worship started. Ship was in great form on the keyboard once again
and I was glad to find that over the past few weekends I had learned most of the choruses by heart which allowed me to
worship with a freedom that has grown over the past years. It's always great to return for a weekend and see old friends and
make new ones - it gives a new meaning to the term "family".
    Judith soon had us thinking very deeply about "Let Go, Let God" and how this related to repentance. At the service later that evening we were given the opportunity to allow God into those areas of our lives that we had not yet surrendered to Him. Oh what wonderful freedom!
    Not everyone made it to Morning Prayer, but it's amazing how the smell of Judith's wonderful cooking gets everyone there in
time for breakfast. As usual the food throughout the weekend was superb. Some of the Love Angels couldn't be there to help
in the kitchen, others helped and we all left feeling well and truly "fed up". Welcomed were the addition of "Low Carb"
alternatives which not everyone who should have (including me) took advantage of. Dieting and "retreat" never seem to go
together. Thanks Judith for thinking of us who should but don't always watch what we eat.
    During Saturday Fr Gary expanded on our theme and introduced the concept of "control" and how destructive it can be in our marriages and relationships, at work and also in the church.
    The banquet was once more superb - well done Love Angels - you did it again! Afterwards Jim shared his testimony with us. For me that was a real highlight of the weekend. It is not often that someone opens up and lets you share how the Holy Spirit has dealt with the intimate details of his life. Praise the Lord for His healing hands.
    What always surprises me, but shouldn't, about weekends is this: during each weekend I attend, God deals with another
issue in my life and heals that hurt/sin completely. And yet as I walk closer with Him, there seem to be more and more issues that I need to "Let Go and Let God" deal with.
    It's with a sense of sadness that we wish our friends farewell at the end of a weekend, but we do so knowing that we will soon be back together again as a family sharing another weekend adventure with them and praising the Lord.

Reflections on the RICM Weekend at Camp Milan

February 13-15, 2004                           By Deacon Andy Powell

    It's always tough to get myself down to Camp Milan on Fridays. It's the end of the school week here at Nashotah House, and I usually just feel like vegging out at home. But I make the 3 ½ hour drive down to Camp Milan, and when I walk in, I begin to feel a sense of joy and warmth. This feeling just gets stronger and stronger as the weekend goes on. It's like walking into the house all crusted over with dirt, and then taking a nice warm shower. It just refreshes you and makes you feel so much better. That's how I feel when I come down for a weekend.
    From the first time I came on an RICM weekend, I have felt at home, and welcome. Coming down this time, I renew acquaintances, and meet new people too. There is a sense of anticipation - what is God going to do this weekend? I love attending the Eucharist when I'm here on a weekend. The service is just so powerful and meaningful. I feel the Lord's presence so strongly. I sense so much unity on the part of the team.
    The weekend schedule is somewhat grueling. It can be very joyful, but also intense. The worship is great. I love the songs,
and I already know most of them without having to look at the songbook. I feel like I'm back in the Lord's arms. I hear His
affirming words of love and encouragement. I find myself feeling the love that He has for the others in the room. I don't usually
remember much of the specifics of the talks that are given, but I know that they are given from the heart. I just feel loved all
over. I finally start to relax about Saturday morning.
    The prayer times are powerful. I had the opportunity to be a "catcher" and the opportunity to pray for people in my table
group. It is so wonderful to see the Lord touch people in a special way. When I pray for others, I really desire for them to
experience God's love for them and His healing touch on their heart.
    The meals are wonderful too. The food is delicious, and I find that I'm really hungry, as if I've not eaten at all during the past
week. I think it's because the food is prepared with love, as an act of worship to the Lord, and as an act of service to others.
For me, the meal times are some of the best times of the weekend.
    The Saturday night banquet is always special. I remember at my first RICM, Sister Toni gave her testimony. What a
wonderful and powerful story that was! Tonight it's my turn. I tried to prepare something beforehand. I jotted down some
notes. But mostly I just spoke from the heart. As I spoke, I became so aware that the Lord has been with me all my life, that
He has been guiding me, and loving me through the good parts and the difficult parts of my life. I am filled with an ever deeper
love and praise for the Lord. I am so grateful for who He is and what He has done in my life. I also had a wonderful time in the
Prayer Chapel, were Margo and a few others prayed for me. Wow! In that place, it's like the Lord is speaking to you with a
microphone, you can hear Him so clearly! You also feel such love and joy in that chapel and from those who are praying for
you.
    I am so grateful for my RICM experiences during my seminary years at Nashotah House. I will always think of them as the
highlight of my seminary experiences.

Camp Milan, October 2001, Honoring Sister Toni
by Margo Harmon

    The Camp Milan Weekend theme, held on October 5,6 & 7, 2001 was from Isaiah 44:3 "I will pour water on the thirsty." We all arrived thirsty for more of our Lord, and as always He did what He said He would do. This particular weekend we were going to honor dear Sister Toni for all the faithful years she has ministered with RICM. We all have been so touched by her ministry.
    We were blessed to have her blood sister, Lillian, her sister-in-law, Cora from Wyoming, and her niece, Sandy, from Arkansas to join in all the excitement. Sister Toni almost missed the Saturday night banquet in her honor. Apparently, they took the wrong turn after their nap at the motel and were headed to Chicago! We were all so thankful to see that sweet lady walk through the double doors to receive the love and cheers from us all.
    As always, we all were treated like royalty at the banquet by Judith and her team. Thank you, Judith and your helpers for
ALL the banquets that you so lovingly prepare and serve. Each one is a tribute to your servant's heart to RICM. This one was
totally in Sister Toni's honor. Fr. Gary presented her with a beautiful remembrance scrapbook of pictures and quotes from her
RICM extended family. Then it came time to present her with a gift, which by the way had to have been a big challenge,
because Sister Toni has been quoted to say she doesn't want or need anymore stuff. Thanks to her sweet and thoughtful
niece, they presented her with the softest, most royal color purple lap throw. It will be her love blanket. Can't you just picture
her sitting in her chair, hands folded interceding for us all! What a treasure you are, Sister Toni, to the body of Christ.
    It was thrilling to hear the recollections of her recent fall, waking up to her ecumenical prayer warriors surrounding her bed. It truly was a little glimpse of heaven for us all. She is a walking, talking, praising miracle of what God has done! Armed and
dangerous, as she often would say. It was a weekend to honor Sister Toni and WE received the blessings! Thanks be to God
for His faithfulness, not one of us came away thirsty.

A reflection on the May 2001 RICM Weekend at Camp Milan
by The Rev. Ron Drummond

...That we all may be one

    If you're an Episcopalian, chances are you pray during the prayers of the people "that we all may be one" in response to the petition for the whole Church. If you're not an Episcopalian, chances are you still pray for Christian unity according to Jesus' high priestly prayer toward the end of His earthly life. Either way, we pray and hopefully long for Christian unity, but how does that happen? Surely we will continue to attend our own churches with our own doctrinal statements and liturgies and local customs, wont' we? Of course we will. Unity doesn't mean that we will all attend the same church, but it does mean that there is "one body and one spirit…one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (Eph. 4:4-6) This one Lord Jesus, this one God and Father of all, and this one spirit is what we all experienced as one body during the Milan weekend this May. And this, I believe, is what Christian unity is all about.
    The theme of the weekend was "Healing in all its aspects." Indeed this was a fitting theme, as all who were there needed
some kind of healing in their own life, and God was there to provide that healing grace. The teachings were inspired and
edifying, and led well into the powerful times of ministry in the Spirit where our Lord ministered to his body directly and
through the gifts given to others. It was yet another wonder manifestation of what it means to be one body. Indeed, the Holy
Spirit even "rearranged" some the talks so that He could do His work in His way at the time He wanted. What a wonderful
Lord we have! Especially powerful was a time of ministry on Saturday where God seemed to hover over us as we ministered
to one another through song, through visions and words from our Lord, and through the laying on of hands. God uncovered
some problems that people were struggling with and that freed them to come and receive ministry. The family groups
ministered to one another in great love and care. We shared a wonderful agape-feast and broke bread together as we
laughed, shared, and enjoyed each other's fellowship. We heard wonderful testimony from Jo Ackermann who shared with us
her wonderful story of God's grace in her and the life of her family. Again, our Lord confirmed that His body is truly one.
    For me, the culmination of this great revelation of the unity of the Church was at the Eucharist on Sunday. Jack Hayford
once said, "Christian unity will never be found around the text of a theology but at the table of His testimony." I couldn't agree
more. And what better table of testimony than the altar of our Lord, where we share His very body and blood as a Church?
As I saw Bishop Ackermann, Father Gary, Father Knapp and Deacon Shawn at the altar, and all of the faithful servants of
Jesus Christ among the congregation, I saw the Church as I believe Jesus intended it and it overwhelmed me. All four orders
of ministry, gathered together to celebrate the life, death, resurrection, and glorious ascension of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ, and His wonderful healing love.
    This weekend for me was such a healing in many aspects. I was caught up into worship and into the holy presence of our
Lord. I was able to give to Him those things that I held back for so long. And I was able to say "yes" to Him anew. God is
good all the time. His body is one. We are one. And I long for the day when we, His saints, will dwell together in that
heavenly city where we will dance on streets that are golden!