Join us for a wonderful weekend of rest, fellowship and encouragement as we engage in worship, teachings and prayer. Prayer stations will be available throughout the weekend as an option for individuals to reflect on and deepen their relationship with God. Space for silence and quiet will be offered for those who wish to take a step back from ordinary life and find rest. Other free time options include crafts, games, and horseback riding.*‍ ‍(*Additional fees apply.)

Whether you are coming by yourself, with your family, or with a group of ladies from church, all ladies are welcome. 

(Select Programs, Retreats, Events 2027 when starting a new application.)

Speaker: Carmen Biggs

I’m excited to “come home” to Pennsylvania and share this retreat experience with you. After many years in Mechanicsburg, where I served on staff at Daybreak Church, my family and I now live in Ludington, Michigan, along the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan. It’s a place that invites the things I love most—kayaking, hiking, and getting lost in a good book.

I currently serve as the Managing Director of Ziva Network, a nonprofit supporting survivors of human trafficking through restorative and respite care. This work—and life itself—has taught me so much about faith and struggle, joy and grief, and what it means to sit with God and others through it all. And there is always more to learn.

If you’re interested in the formal details, I hold a BS in Education, a Master’s degree in Leadership Development, a graduate degree in Missional Theology, and I am a certified Forest Therapy Guide.

My faith journey is grounded in the belief that joy and struggle can coexist, and that God meets us honestly in the midst of real life. I look forward to getting to know you and sharing a small part of this journey together.

In the Gap: Finding God Between What We Hoped For and What Is

Many women carry a quiet ache or disappointment in the gap they feel between the life they expected or hoped for and the life they are actually living. Faith can sometimes feel confusing in that space—especially when we’ve been taught, implicitly or explicitly, that a strong Christian life should feel consistently joyful, peaceful, and resolved.

In our four sessions together, we will explore this “gap” between expectations and reality, inviting women into an honest wrestling of this tension. Rather than avoiding or minimizing this gap, we will explore how God meets us within it. Through the story of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha in John 11, we will examine how Jesus meets us not only in victory, but in delay, disappointment, grief, and unanswered questions. The goal is to help women develop a resilient, authentic faith—one that can hold both sorrow and joy, uncertainty and trust.

Worship Leader: TBA

Coming soon…   

Lodging

Sylvan View

Our all-in-one retreat facility has lodging, meeting and dining under one roof. Sylvan View Retreat Center has 35 private hotel-style rooms, as well as plenty of space to enjoy conversation around the fire. 

Hillside Villa

Hillside Villa features 9 comfortable, motel-style rooms each accommodating  up to 4 people. A large living room with a fireplace can accommodate up to 20 people. 

Meals

 We take care of all the cooking and dishes for you! Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served buffet style in our Sylvan View Dining room. Enjoy great conversation and beautiful views overlooking a wooded stream. Don't be shy about letting us know about any food allergies you may have; our kitchen staff will be glad to meet your needs.

Activities

DIY crafts
Large group games
Small group discussions
Team building challenges
Hikes
Special workshops
Horseback Riding (additional charge)

Pricing

Prices listed below includes lodging, 5 meals, snacks and all other program fees.

Reserve your spot for the Women's Retreat with a $50 deposit.

Come as a day guest for $65 per person.

Single Occupancy-Sylvan

$230

Per Person

Triple Occupancy-Sylvan

$170

Per Person

Double Occupancy-Sylvan

$185

Per Person

Reserve your Single or Double Occupancy space in Hillside Villa for $20 less per night. Hillside Villa offers similar accommodations to Sylvan View, but is a short walk away from the retreat center. Lodging in Sylvan View is offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. Late registrations may be housed in Hillside Villa once Sylvan View is full.