This Weekend's Church Retreat at Shepherd's Spring

 

Church Board Retreat Outline – “Solving The Mystery, part II”                 January 13-14, 2012

at Shepherd's Spring

Jeremiah 29:11-13

            “For surely I know the plans I have for you…for your welfare not harm, to give you a future with hope….”

Friday  (times may be adjusted to accommodate late arrivals)

7:30 p.m.

            Introduction of Theme

            How do we discover the plans God has for us?

            What is Spiritual Oasis Time?

8:30 p.m. (time may be adjusted)

            Evening Devotions

Spiritual Oasis Time and Time for Community

Saturday

8:00 a.m. Breakfast

           

9:00 a.m. (adjust time as needed for breakfast)

Hymn #1 v. 1 What is this place

Session One            Finding Direction in Scripture

(Nancy)

-       The open book method – not for professional detectives

-       Brethren/Anabaptist Style Sleuthing

Groups of 4 by your own determination– use handout credit Nancy Ferguson  Retreat-Leaders-Manual

-       Mt. 25:34-40      The story of the King, the sheep & the goats

-       Hebrews 13:1-2      the hospitality basket

-       Lev. 19:33-34      Aliens have landed

-       Mark 12:29-31      the Greatest (and hardest) Commandment

-       1 Peter 4:8-11      Mountain love (maintain it)

If needed add

            - 1 John 4                        Perfect Love; not just for weddings

            - Gal. 5:22-23,25            Fruit for every meal.

 9:45 – 10:00 a.m. Break Time

10:00 a.m.

Hymn            #395 v.1            Here I Am, Lord

Session Two

BarnYard Scramble

(Make sure your barn group includes at least one person with long history at ACOB and one with a short history)

(Nancy)

Sharing our Sleuthing  - What did you hear this morning?

-       Samuel’s story, 1 Samuel 3:1-20

-       Looking back to see forward; the detective’s work

10:35 a.m. In Barnyard groups,

            Detective Interviews: Tell stories of early ACOB                        15 minutes

            Advancing the Plot: Write a story                                                20 minutes

                        Your group’s ‘vision’ of the NEXT story for ACoB

Break 11:00-11:10 a.m.

11:10 a.m.

Hymn #1046   Gathered Here In The Mystery of This Hour

Session Three

(Nancy)

Sharing our Sleuthing

            Each group shares the story they wrote, ncluding if needed, what past story informed their vision.

11:45 a.m.            The Detectives’ Conference:            Quick break into barnyard groups.

      Based on our sleuthing and our visioning,

“What scripture should be our focus in 2012 and inform our goals?”

12:00 noon Lunch

Spiritual Oasis Time

2:00 pm

Hymn            #594            Lord, you sometimes speak

Session Four

(Nancy)                                                           

Sharing results our Detectives’ Conference

Group chooses one scripture for 2012 focus

(Nancy & Everett briefly)

            Board process by Commission – a quick review

            Commission’s authority and purpose

2:20 p.m. Commission Based Groups (3, + music/worship)

            Where you serve or where your interest lies.

Listening To God’s Call

3:00             Closing Worship - Everett