Many of our congregational clergy were unable to take time for retreat and renewal in 2020, and if we are honest, it doesn’t seem like conferences and retreats will be available in 2021. And so, Regional Staff and Indiana clergy are working together to provide a God-directed virtual retreat for our congregational clergy.
Our hope is that, by reconnecting with each other, with God, and with our souls, we will find rest, renewal, inspiration, and new energy to lead us through the Lenten season, Eastertide, and into that time when it is once again safe for us to gather together in-person.
We encourage congregations to support their clergy in this retreat through prayer, encouragement, and cooperation.
Rick and Carolyn will provide sermons for January 31 and February 7 worship. We hope that this will empower pastors to dedicate time toward this retreat, and we hope that this will give our regional staff the opportunity to reconnect with the congregations of the region.
Cost: $0
Date: February 1-4, 2021
Click here to register.
Agenda:
Monday: Reconnecting with colleagues through worship, prayer, and fellowship via Zoom. (More information on this will be sent later. This is the only day that will have things scheduled for the group.)
Tuesday: Reconnecting with yourself: How is it with your soul?
Suggested activities:
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Consider your own self-care. What would you like to do differently?
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How can you restore joys that were set aside or lost during 2020?
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Savor something: a good book, a warm bath, a piece of chocolate, a perfect fruit.
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Listen to music that lifts your soul
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Go outside
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Take a nap
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Pray about your health, calling, and life.
Wednesday: Reconnecting with the sacred in your home.
Suggested activities:
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Take some time to appraise and address your office/in-home worship space. Let’s be honest, when we started this back in March, we didn’t have time to make things work well…and we haven’t had time to fix it since. Take some time to make the “off camera” view just as pleasant as the “on-camera” view.
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Consider how you will change your in-home worship space for Lent.
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Do something nice for your home
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Do something nice for/with the residents of your home
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Pray about God’s presence in your home and relationships.
Thursday: Reconnecting with scripture as Lent approaches.
Suggested activities:
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Read a book, scripture, and/or discern Lenten worship and study programs.
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Pray about God’s direction for your congregation and its ministry.
More information will be coming in January.
