Saturdays Oct 14, Dec 2, Jan 13, Feb 10, Apr 13 (come to one or come to all)

Fee $40 per Saturday (scholarships available upon request)

Retreat location is the beautiful campus of North Hollywood First United Methodist Church

To register, sign up on the link provided for each date (new link will appear when the next retreat registration opens) or call the NoHo First UMC office at 818-763-8231

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Next upcoming retreat appears in bold.

 

Author and spiritual director Ruth Haley Barton wrote in her book Invitation to Retreat that we “routinely wear ourselves out with good things and with lesser things, and we don’t even know we are doing it half the time.” In the midst of such busy-ness, Jesus said to his disciples, “Come away to a deserted place… and rest a while.” Come to the Waters mini retreats are an opportunity to do just that, to come away for while and find rest for your soul. These half day retreats are led by Pastor Chamie, NoHo First UMC’s lead pastor, who is also a certified spiritual director. The flow of each retreat morning will look something like this:

 

8:30 AM Check-in, pour yourself a cup of coffee or tea, grab a snack, and settle in

9:00 AM Large group gathering time of teaching, reflection, and prayer

10:00 AM Individual time and/or small group time do the spiritual practice(s) you feel you most need on that day

11:15 AM Large group closing time

11:30 AM Farewell

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Each Saturday has a different spiritual focus:

 

Sat, Oct 14 

“First… Quiet”

In a world that is so loud and so busy, we will explore practices that might help us to turn down all the external and internal noise so that we can discover a holy stillness and draw strength from that well. 

 

Sat, Dec 2

“Keep It Simple”

In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, we will enter the quiet invitation of “Advent” - the Christian season of preparing for Christmas. We will explore practices that help us simplify life, simplify the season, simplify our minds, and simplify our expectations. Register here.

 

Sat, Jan 13

“Prayer and Our Bodies”

It is common at the start of a new year for people to make all sorts of diet and exercise goals. But how are our bodies connected to our souls? What bodily practices might help us be more in tune to the body that God gave us? For people of all varying ages, abilities, and body types, there will be embodied spiritual practices from learning breath prayers to practicing yoga.

 

Sat, Feb 10

“Preparing for Lent”

The Christian season of Lent begins on February 14 and is the 40-day journey to Easter. We will ponder the word “Teshuvah” which means return, repair, and renewal. What practices might help you find healing and renewal… practices that will bring you “home?”

 

Sat, Apr 13

“Sacred Pauses”

What might happen if we learned to punctuate our day with prayer? We will explore Macrina Wiederkehr’s book Seven Sacred Pauses: Living Mindfully Through the Hours of the Day. You will get practical things to take home with you for a more prayer-filled life.