March 12, 2018

Greetings in Jesus Christ,

It is my privilege to write to you about a wonderful retreat opportunity at Hephatha. I invite you to join me – and others from our church family on March 17th from 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. on our campus in the fellowship hall. Most of us, myself included, never would have gone on retreat without being asked.  That’s why I’m extending this personal invitation. In the remainder of this brief article, I will address a few questions that people have about retreats?

What Are Retreats? One of the great opportunities of retreats, especially for leaders, is the opportunity to rest. I’m not just talking about the kind of rest that you collapse into after overworking for too long. That’s often more escape than true refreshment. I’m talking about the kind of rest that is positive and comes before our work. Rest is the good soil in which both good ministry and good work can truly grow. In many ways, it’s a completely opposite rhythm to the one so common in our day-in-day-out activities. King David, the psalmist, wrote these words,  “His soul finds rest in God alone”(Psalm 62:1). Later, in verse five, he urges himself to  “find rest, O my soul, in God alone.” A retreat is more than just a nap, a break, or even a well-deserved a vacation. In his classic work in the 1920s,  The Principles and Practice of Retreat Alan Simpson, an Anglican Spiritual Director, wrote about different kinds of retreats: “There is the corporate Retreat, and the solitary Retreat. There is the critical Retreat, when some great issue of life is to be faced, or some momentous choice is to be made. There is the Retreat that is undertaken as a special preparation for some act, or way, of service. There is the periodic Retreat—that is intended for the reordering of life and the renewal of spiritual life.”

Are retreats found in the Bible? Before our Lord began His public ministry, He spent 40 days in the desert praying and fasting as a way to prepare for the important work ahead (Luke 4:1-13). Those were days of retreat. During His three years of public ministry, Jesus would sometimes invite His disciples to  "come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while" (Mk 6:31). Again, days of retreat.  The Gospels, especially Luke, report that Jesus spent time in retreat before critical moments of His ministry. For instance, prior to embarking on a preaching tour in Galilee, before choosing the twelve, and night before His arrest, suffering, and crucifixion. These were times of retreat in Jesus' life. When Jesus entered forcefully into the life of St. Paul, He directed him to rise and go into the city, where he would be told what to do. For three days St. Paul neither ate nor drank, preparing himself to receive the spiritual direction of Ananias (Acts 9:1-9). Those, too, were days of retreat.

Why go on a retreat? For most of us, the pace of daily life is pretty hectic. Because we’re always on the go, there isn’t much time to think about the things that are truly important in life.  At Hephatha Lutheran Church, this retreat and the Good Friday Vigil are chances to take time to reflect, be refreshed, and renewed. During these times of retreat and reflection, you may even discover the inner strength to help with life issues facing you. And if you need it, there is always the availability of spiritual counsel or just the sympathetic ear of someone else.

Perhaps you think you don’t need a retreat; there are no extraordinary problems or challenges in your life just now. But a retreat is not only for the difficult times in your life – it’s also for those times when you are feeling happy, fulfilled, and thankful for all the many blessings. What better way to deepen your spiritual connection with the God to whom you are so grateful? In the last couple of years, I’ve come to believe that withdrawing to be alone and quiet with the Father was a critical rhythm in the life of Jesus. For us, retreats of various kinds provide an opportunity to follow Jesus’ way of life.

Come experience God in quiet prayer, Biblical reflection, and conversation in the community. Ms. Jen Manglos, an experienced retreat director, will facilitate our time in teaching, prayer, solitude, Scripture, community, and reflection, away from the non-stop demands of our busy lives.

If you’ve considered a retreat in the past, don’t miss this opportunity for an uplifting experience. The cost is just $5.00 to help defray the cost of handouts, a light continental breakfast, and spiritual director. Should you be unable to join us, please call me about how to build the practice of retreat into your life through guided, personal, min-retreats, or even silent retreats.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to call me directly at the church office at  714.637.0887 ext. 151.

I love being your pastor!

Because of Jesus,