| Child of God: Created for Good Retreat |
|
The women of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in
Greeley invite you to join them at a women's retreat to be held at the YMCA of
the Rockies camp in Estes Park, CO, October 21-23, 2005.
Download the Registration
Form >
Download the Brochure
>
|
| What Does it Mean to be a Child of God?
|
|
Joy + Curiosity + Hope + Awe + Expectation + Comfort + Responsibility + Creativity + Immortality . . . and more
Within the scriptures, we find many references to our relationship to God stated in terms of child and parent. We also find many stories relating to specific children. What is there about the faith of a child in Christ’s admonition that we must be born again (you can’t get much younger than that!) and that we must be like children to experience the Kingdom of Heaven? Much of our focus during the retreat will be to pursue individually and in small groups the inner child – to celebrate her, to ask why and for what purpose God created her, and to seek God’s will for her.
We invite you to bring your inner child with all her questions, hopes, memories, wisdom, dreams and disappointments for a weekend retreat at the beautiful YMCA of the Rockies, Estes Park Center. We will explore scripture, song, books and lessons to help us rediscover and renew the childlike faith that so delights our Maker.
Planned by and for the women of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church of Greeley, we welcome and invite guests from sister congregations and any who would care to learn what our faith is about.
|
| Program Features |
|
Exploring the
Child’s Faith Development +++ Worship and Celebration of the Eucharist
Creative Expression +++ Independent Reflection and Small Group Sharing
Time with God,
Self and Nature +++ Time with Friends and Sisters in Christ
Play +++ Prayer
+++ Rest
|
| Mission Focus |
|
Participants will have an opportunity to learn about one of the missions supported by women of Our Savior’s congregation. A ‘passive offering’ in support of that mission will be received throughout the retreat, allowing offerings to be left in a designated basket in the great room at any time. The offering will then be dedicated during worship in the great room of the lodge on Sunday morning.
|
| Accommodations |
|
The Barclay Lodge features modern guest rooms with private baths. Rooms accommodate up to four guests each, although we will not assign more than three persons to a room unless you and three friends choose to be a foursome and so indicate on your registration forms. A variety of beds furnish the guest rooms: some feature a double bed and two bunks, others feature two double beds. A couple of “bunkrooms” accommodate up to six people, if they choose. A great room, large kitchen, and beautiful porch and deck are comfortable, relaxing common areas of the lodge. Common areas and some guest rooms are accessible to guests with physical disabilities.
|
| Meals |
Because participants from past retreats expressed a willingness and preference to share meals in the lodge, Friday’s and Saturday’s meals and snacks will be prepared by teams and enjoyed in the great room or on the deck and porch if weather permits. Sunday breakfast will be available at the Ruesch Auditorium cafeteria where the YMCA Estes Park Center offers an extensive buffet available to guests during posted hours. (Your fee includes this meal, too.)
If you have not been assigned to a meal preparation/clean-up team before the retreat, you may sign up for one of these opportunities when you check into the lodge on Friday, October 21.
|
| Registration |
Registration forms are available in the display racks in the Parish Hall at Our Savior’s (Greeley), or upon request from Mary Adams, 970-356-9281 or maryadel@comcast.net. We ask that you register by August 21, since we must submit a headcount to the YMCA of the Rockies by that date. However, we will accept registrations through October 3, IF SPACE PERMITS.
Be sure to use your registration form to alert us to special needs of which we should be aware.
Return your completed registration form with payment of deposit or in full (see below) to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 1800 21 Av., Greeley, CO 80631, attn: Women’s Fall Retreat. Your form and payment may be mailed, brought to the church office, or left in the Women’s Ministries mailbox in the church workroom (south hallway, next to church library) following worship services or Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm.
Your registration and payment will be acknowledged, and you will receive a brochure with map and other instructions, information and updates concerning the retreat and the YMCA facility.
|
| Fee and Payment |
Cost for the retreat, including lodging, meals, and materials, is $144.
Deposit of $44 is due with registration. Payment in full may be made at that time if you prefer.
Payment by check made payable to OSLC is best, but you may pay in cash if you choose to deliver your registration and payment in person to the church office.
Balance of $100, also payable to OSLC, is due by October 3.
Cancellations/Refunds – Please read carefully, as this is a new policy:
Deposit and payment in full are fully refundable through August 19. If, after that date, you find that you cannot attend the retreat, we ask that you arrange to transfer your registration to a friend or family member who has not already registered and who would benefit by attending. If that is not possible, and you prefer to receive a refund, please note that our ability to provide refunds is limited due to our contractual agreement with and financial obligation to YMCA of the Rockies for reservation of the Barclay Lodge.
|
| Deposit refund restrictions |
The $44 deposit is non-refundable after August 19, but may be transferred at your request to a later-registering individual who has not already paid her deposit. If that is not possible, your deposit will be acknowledged by receipt as a $44 donation to OSLC Women’s Ministries.
Payment in full refund restrictions:
After August 19, $72 of your payment in full is refundable. In addition, you will receive a receipt for donation of the non-refundable portion of the payment ($72) to OSLC Women’s Ministries.
*** PLEASE REGISTER BY AUGUST 21 ***
However, registrations will be accepted as long as space remains, prior to October 3.
|
| Things to Bring |
-
Your Bible
-
A picture of yourself as a child (somewhere from birth to 10 years, if possible); if you don’t have pictures from your childhood, a picture of YOUR child, nephew, niece, grandchild, a friend’s child, etc., in that same age range would work very nicely, too.
-
A flashlight (extra batteries a good idea)
-
Optional: A favorite mug (there are mugs in the kitchen, too)
-
Optional: Your camera, film (spare battery?)
-
Optional: Bathing suit for water aerobics
-
Optional: Your favorite pillow
|
| Opportunities to
Add to Your Enjoyment of the Retreat |
-
Invite others to register with you.
-
Plan to carpool to and from the retreat
-
Use the registration form to advise us of special needs of which you’d like for us to be aware.
-
Bring a table game to share during free time.
-
Bring a favorite treat/snack you’d like to share.
|
| Carpooling Opportunities |
|
Please mark your registration form if you wish to participate in a carpool to and from the retreat. Carpooling will leave from the Our Savior’s East Parking Area at 3:30 p.m. on Friday and return around 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.
|
| Retreat Schedule |
When you check in at the Barclay Lodge on Friday, you will receive your room key, a ticket for Sunday’s breakfast, a name badge, a pencil and your retreat materials.
FRIDAY, October 21
| 3:30 PM |
Retreat planners/facilitators arrive and set up for check-in at the Barclay Lodge |
|
5-6:00 |
Other retreat participants arrive and check in
Supper Team prepares and sets up the supper buffet: Soup, Bread & Desserts |
|
6-7:15 |
Table grace, supper and clean-up |
|
7:15-8:30 |
Program introduction, review of schedule and procedures for the weekend |
|
8:30-10 :00 |
Individual and small group time (conversation, reading, prayer, flashlight walk, etc.)
This is truly unstructured time so that you can do what you like to prepare yourself for
the weekend, even if all you care to do is get a head start on a good night’s rest. |
SATURDAY, October 22
| 7-7:30 AM |
Breakfast Team prepares and sets up a simple breakfast buffet |
|
7:30-8:45 |
Table grace, breakfast and clean-up |
|
8:45-11:00 |
Program
Presentations
Discussions
Activities |
|
11-12:00 |
Individual and small group time*
Lunch Team prepares and sets up the lunch buffet: Sandwich, Chips, Fruit & Veggies |
|
12-1:15 PM |
Table grace, lunch and clean-up |
|
1:15-2:30 |
Individual and small group time* |
|
2:30-4:30 |
Program continues |
|
4:30-6:00 |
Individual and small group time, including an optional water aerobics class
Supper Team prepares and sets up the supper buffet: Tostada Bar & Desserts |
| 6-7:15 |
Table grace, supper and clean-up |
|
7:15-8:30 |
Mission Focus and Vespers |
|
8:30-10:00 |
Individual and small group time |
SUNDAY, October 23
| 7-8:30 AM |
Breakfast in the dining hall of the Ruesch Auditorium (hike/carpool – take your ticket!) |
|
8:30-9:15 |
Share reflections on the weekend (oral recap and evaluation of the retreat) |
|
9:15-9:30 |
Worship leaders set up for service |
|
9:30-10:15 |
Worship and Eucharist |
|
10:15-11:00 |
Participants pack, clear out any trash or litter that has accumulated in the lodge,
and check out (leave keys with facilitator: she will return them to the YMCA Conference
Services Office) |
|
11:00 |
Depart for home – Go in peace to love and serve the Lord! |
*In addition to the unstructured option explained above, this time includes opportunities for creative expression and appreciation. Some simple arts activities will be provided in the great room, or you may use the time to enjoy creative items you brought with you: for example a flute, cross-stitch, journal, book of poetry or meditations. Enjoy them alone or with a friend(s).
|
| |
