Will the Fall Retreat Change Your Life?
A post from Connally Gilliam, an active member of Restoration:
Last year was Restoration’s first church-wide retreat, and I – one who often speaks at retreats but secretly never really likes going to them – well…I liked it! It was, for lack of a more profound word: good. Seriously. Fun, solid, real, good – showing up in basic stuff like this corn hole game at which I initially scoffed and which, honestly, turned out to be a corporate blast. Or getting to play with some of the little kids who in turn became co-conspirators on many following Sundays, our turning blind eyes to one another’s extra doughnut holes snatched during refreshment times. And then there were those three or four more-significant conversations I had with a three or four people I’d always thought seemed “nice” or “interesting” but with whom my path never meaningfully crossed on Sunday mornings. Plus, since I like learning, talking, singing and communion, connecting more deeply with a group of people around corporate worship was a good thing.
So, was my life changed forever by that retreat? Not exactly. But I returned to DC woven a bit more deeply into the community that continues to emerge at Restoration. And the Jesus-centric corporate life, which so many others and I have been increasingly experiencing, has slowly but surely been showing itself to be life-changing.
Jennie
August 20, 2010 @ 4:12 pm
Very well, said! I am not a “retreat person” either. And I do not EVER speak at them. :> Last year was my first ever family church retreat. (I had been to one women’s ministry retreat). I liked it for the same reasons you did. I loved having a very low key weekend with fun people. And what I liked most? Somebody else doing the cooking and cleaning up after 5 pretty darn yummy meals. Oh, and the always-available apples (I will not confess to the donuts). Looking forward to Oct!
Christine
August 30, 2010 @ 7:37 pm
Bummed to miss it this year. It was absolutely a great, stretching, relaxing, stimulating, fun time last year – all 5 Joneses loved it and for different reasons. But my ## high school reunion (and time with family) calls. Sign up Now! Have fun without us. cnj