What Is a Retreat?
A Spiritual Christian Retreat
There are all kinds of retreats: women’s retreats; Christian retreats; even corporate retreats, workshops, and seminars. Retreat, Reflect, Renew defines a spiritual retreat as intentional time taken to step back from the noise of the day and go within to connect with yourself and with God. God is everywhere and in all experiences, yet it is easy to forget this in the midst of a busy day or stressful time.
What Does the Bible Say About Retreats?
You may have already experienced your own kind of retreat through time spent with the Bible. Jesus is our model for how to retreat when we need to give ourselves permission to pause and Be still and know that I am God (Ps 46:10).
He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. Mk 6:31
Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Mt 11:28
But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Mt 6:6
What Will I Do on a Spiritual Christian Retreat?
Each of us experiences God and processes information in our own way. We honor this by offering four elements designed to empower you to walk in your own way, at your own pace.
Whether you are taking an online retreat or in-person retreat, you will experience:
A reflection (with Scripture, prayer, and a poem or music)
Personal time (with questions to draw you within)
Sharing (in a respectful way and with the option to pass)
Experiential activity (such as a walking or art meditation)
Who Attends a Spiritual Christian Retreat?
We want all who are drawn to our retreats to feel comfortable attending.
Active churchgoers and those who have not been to a service in years are both welcome. We want to share with those who have an intimate knowledge of scripture just as much as those who do not recall when they last held a Bible.
Foundress Christine Jurisich is Catholic and welcomes people from different Christian denominations. We unite in our yearning for a deeper connection with God, our desire to make sense of a confusing world, and our need to connect with others in a Christ-centered environment.
Am I Selfish for Taking Time Out?
“Do I have time?" "Am I selfish for taking time out for myself?" "Do I really want to grow closer to God?"
If these are some of the questions wandering through your head, spend five minutes with the reflection sheet linked below. The questions can help you reflect on feelings that may be buried in your heart, getting in the way of your saying “yes” to the gift of a spiritual retreat.
