The Objective: to give congregation members the opportunity to experience a day of RE-treat, in their own facilities, utilizing their own know how and past experiences to create a day of re-juvenation, self re-evaluation, re-laxation, re-examination, re-connection and re-solve, to learn something new that would bring us closer to our Lord in a new experience for most of us.
It was a simple affair. Come as you are, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Come re-live a day of Retreat. From its initial planning it was meant to be simplistic yet educational, and that it was.
There were light meals scheduled, speakers covering topics such as meditation, prayer and relaxation techniques. There was also a physical activity with which to relate the topics that would ever keep them in front of you….literally. The making of Wesleyan Prayer Beads.
The premise was simple, the KISS principle kept it from being an overwhelming task as an organizer. It also meant that things were planned out simply and ultimately successful. There were few glitches along the way and they were worked out for planning next year.
WE started with a light breakfast, short prayer and an explanation of the day’s events that would transpire. Given a recipe, of necessary beads, wire, tools we were off to a gentle start. The whole idea is to be kept in prayer. Ourselves, our activities, our presence. This was a pattern that would follow several times during the day.
There was prayer, lunch, more learning, meditation, celebration and dinner all for the cost of $5. Then the finished product … your own set of Wesleyan Prayer Beads for present and future use. Perhaps the greatest thing of all was the hospitality and time spent in fellowship that allowed for the exchange of thought, purpose and relaxation. For those in attendance, it was just comfortable, to RE-treat to a slow, practical time with a reward of prayer, focus and sharing ones experience with the Lord.
We’ll do it again next year! Hope you can attend, Lower Lake Community-UMC’s “Day of Re-treat” at 16255 Second Street, Lower Lake, Ca.
Peace to you all!
John Pavoni serves as pastor for the Lower Lake Community United Methodist Church
