From the President’s Desk:

Greetings Christian Educators!
Please consider this your official invitation to attend the upcoming Iowa CEF Fall Retreat!  I’m personally very excited about the day, as it’s being held at one of my favorite places on earth- Soul of the Prairie.  Located just off of Interstate 35, Soul of the Prairie is a retreat center run by Mary Dreier.  I’m sure many of you have Mary in the past- she used to have my job here at First UMC, Ames!  Here’s what she writes about the retreat center on her family’s century farm:
Here at Soul of the Prairie, where life and goodness have been nurtured for generations, you'll find a quiet space to relax, renew, and reconnect with yourself, God and others. Soul of the Prairie offers opportunities for individuals, groups, and church staff and congregations to "come away for awhile" and be fully alive in this quiet place where the breath of a creative God fills each space with grace, blessing, and beauty.
Find more information about Soul of the Prairie, including directions on how to get there at www.souloftheprairie.com.  You’ll love the pictures of the three labyrinths and the retreat center that was at one time a chicken coop.  Fall is my favorite season to walk the prairie labyrinth when the grasses are as tall as my head and the weather is cooler.  You won’t want to miss the opportunity to walk the labyrinth this time of year!  Soul of the Prairie is located right outside of Hubbard, so right in the middle of the state. 
Mark your calendars for Monday, October 24, and plan to enjoy a wonderful day of learning and fellowship.  We'll gather at 10:00am.  Our scheduled time will end at 3:00 pm, but you're welcome to stay and enjoy the farm afterwards.
Yes, as we’re gearing up for Advent and all its craziness, October is a hard time to miss a day in the office.  But I firmly believe the time we spend together as Christian Educators prepares us to be more efficient, more effective when we return to our churches.  As we’re more centered in our own faith, we’re able to return more spiritually-grounded as well.
You can find the registration form listed under the spring retreat (on the section of the website as this information).

See you there,

Ellen