The next District Pastor’s Retreat is coming! We invite you to join us at the Carmel Retreat Center in Mahwah, New Jersey for the Pre-Lenten Pastor’s Retreat. This will begin with a 12:30 lunch on Tuesday, January 26. The Retreat will end on Thursday, January 28 after a 12:30 lunch. The cost of the retreat per person is $180.
Our theme this year is one chosen at the last retreat. We will take a look at our Synod’s CTCR Document—Homosexuality: A Plan for Ministering to Homosexuals and Their Families. We will discuss current trends in churches and society in regards to homosexuality. We will ask God to help us to fashion a faithful, biblical, compassionate response in our ministry and witness to homosexuals and their families. If there’s time, we may also deal with the DVD, Responding to Sexual Temptation in a High Tech Society, produced by Ambassadors of Reconciliation from Billings, Montana.
The opportunity to discuss such issues with a group of brother pastors is a precious one indeed. Our retreats also leave time for individual study and prayer. We share in the Lord’s Supper in the Carmelite chapel, led by our District President, Pastor Bill Klettke. There’s time for singing and devotions and group prayer. There’s also time around the dinner table and at our movie nights for mutual conversation and consolation of the brethren.
The retreat center is simple, and scenic. (We overlook the Ramapo Mountains) The food is good. I encourage you to prayerfully consider participating in this upcoming retreat.
Please notify the District Office by January 18 if you plan to attend. You can make your check out to the New Jersey District, LCMS. You may also contact Rev. Bob Holsten at 201 768-6310.
Please bring a snack and beverage to share. You may also bring along copies of your favorite Lenten devotion or hymn. Our retreat typically numbers about a dozen pastors.
God bless your consideration of this invitation. God bless your celebration of Christ’s incarnation.
We hope to see you in January.