Park View Mennonite Church Retreat (September 16-18, 2016)
What is our church retreat like?
Each fall, we take a weekend to practice "slow church" by being together for a couple days without a heavy agenda -- simply spending time together in God's good creation, conversing, relaxing, playing games, sharing food, singing, laughing, and more. Expect some fun and optional afternoon workshops and playshops, and the usual great food to share, and zany entertainment from/for all ages. The children and youth will have some planned activities (and supervision) just for them, as well as plenty of intergenerational time for all ages. |
About Our Theme & Speaker
In a time of wide-spread anxiety in our culture, rapidly-changing politics, and growing violence everywhere, many people reach for quick solutions and easy answers, Christians included. We look for ways to categorize and simplify, as if there were a short-cut to wisdom. And we often co-opt Jesus in our quest for categorical answers to life’s confounding questions. But handing out answers was not Jesus’ way. Some suggest Jesus only directly answered 3 of the 183 questions he was asked. Instead, Jesus responded with his own questions. They were usually unsettling questions, redefining questions, transformative questions. 
Jane Hoober Peifer, a retired pastor, educator, and spiritual director, will spend the retreat weekend with us, and help us wrestle with the implications of following a Jesus who asks questions that move his followers into uncharted territory, exposing their assumptions, and inviting them into a transformative encounter.
Jane and her husband Daryl recently moved back to the Shenandoah Valley after being away for 17 years. What was always their retirement plan happened a few years early since their daughter and family have made Harrisonburg their home. Jane continues to provide Spiritual Direction in Pennsylvania and is open to expanding her practice in Virginia. She serves as a cohort leader for 4 new pastors in MCUSA’s TiM (Transitioning Into Ministry) program. She is also worship planner for MCUSA Constituency Leaders Council meetings in this biennium. |
Can you help in other ways? We need a number of volunteers to help with meal set-up, clean-up, etc. To sign up click here:
SCHEDULE Friday 6:00 - 8:00 check-in 7:30 informal fireside, singing, and popcorn Saturday 7:30-9:15 breakfast 9:15-11:15 childcare/children’s activities 9:30-11:00 session - Jane Hoober Peifer 11:00-noon free time noon-1:00 lunch 1:30-3:00 workshops & playshops 3:00-3:30 ice cream break 3:30-5:00 workshops & playshops 5:00-6:00 free time 6:00-7:00 dinner 7:00 variety show 8:30 board games, campfire, s'mores 9:00 late night activity Sunday 7:00-8 :00 fun run/morning walk 7:30-9:15 breakfast 10-11:30 worship service 12:00 lunch 1:00 clean-up |
Cost of retreat
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The costs of Park View's annual church retreat is covered entirely by donations. We want this event to be for everyone regardless of ability to pay. Those who register are given an estimate of the costs their household's registration entails. That estimate is only a guide. Give as you have ability. Even if you can't attend, feel free to donate, and help out those who can't give as much. Donations can be put in the bucket in the foyer on Sunday mornings, or at the retreat itself, or using this PayPal donate button. Thanks for your support!
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