Sweetheart
Weekend
(a CRC-sponsored event)
Please check back for Februaury 2011 Sweetheart Weekend Retreat dates and information.
Friday,
February 12 - Sunday,
February 14, 2010
Our
annual couples retreat is great fun! We put all our creativity
into making this a truly special event. Treat
your sweetheart to some real quality time.
John and Karen Carney “Hearts on Fire”
Let us introduce you to Pastor John and Karen Carney. This loving couple has been married for 40 years, raised their son and have been active in church and community throughout this time.
John and Karen met and fell in love in high school while mending the textbooks for the opening of school in the fall of 1968. They came from very different backgrounds—one from a large, Christian family with not very many financial resources, the other came from a very comfortable family (but not a Christian home) with two children very far apart in ages.
After dating for a year and a half, they made the decision to get married and attend Bible college 60 miles from home and family. By the time of their wedding, the school they had chosen had decided to relocate 600 miles away from their families. That new location was Salem, Oregon and within one week of their wedding, they were living in a small apartment in West Salem.
Like so many couples, the first few years were rough as they learned about each other and about themselves. They were blessed with a son after 5 years of marriage and the Lord was faithful in maturing them as a couple and as a family as they persevered in their marriage.
John started his career working in retail. Karen started her career in insurance. They had hoped to enter the pastorate early in their marriage but lost sight of their goal. In their late 20s, God began to reawaken His call on their lives and through some unusual circumstances, they finally entered the pastorate at the age of 32. Karen spent those early years of the pastorate working as an administrative assistant in the school district and later became a state employee where she works now as an executive assistant for Disability Determination Services.
John spent 5 years on the staff of Salem CMA before starting a new CMA church in Keizer—Northside Alliance. Two name changes and 23 years later, John continues to serve as the senior pastor of the Church at Meadows Ridge.
In addition to pastoring a local church, John served for 8 years as a city councilor and has ministered in more than 20 nations around the world—most recently in Ghana, Africa, the Ukraine, and Russia. He has a heart for teaching pastors in developing nations and encouraging the Church to walk in greater intimacy with Christ. Karen’s gifts of administration, hospitality and encouragement keep her busy in various areas of church ministry including authoring a bi-monthly newsletter for the women of the church.
Come prepared to be fed and encouraged by their ministry. We will have our "Hearts on Fire" Banquet Saturday night with a romantic candlelight dinner and piano music by Kevin Flierl—who will also emcee a fun “Not-So-Newlywed” Game. Sunday you will have an opportunity to renew your vows and share communion and prayer. Grow closer to your spouse and stronger in your marriage relationship. Space is very limited, so register early.
To register, click here
Married
couples only please.
Registration: 6:30 - 7:30 PM. First session
at 7:30 PM.
Suggested donation: (2 nights, 5 meals) $120/couple.
Deposit $45.
Click here to pay deposit online. |
