Retreats and Events

Click on links for full details

Snowbird Retreat
February 13 -15
Lenten Text Study
February 16
Preaching John
February 17 - 18
Wellderhostel
February 20 - 24
Lutherhostel
March 11 - 16; 18 - 23
Spiritual Well Being
April 18 - 20

 

Process Preaching

February 13-15  Begins 1:30 Monday - Ends 11 a.m. Wednesday
Rev. Jerry Larson, D.Min., Luther Seminary, a parish pastor for 39 years, has developed a system for delivering sermons freely without reading a manuscript or simply speaking off the cuff. You will learn how to convert the written word to oral communication. This is done principally by learning a certain kind of oral rehearsal. Using this system, preachers are able to deliver their sermons freely. Students should bring a manuscript for a sermon they are currently working on.Class size limited to 15. This is our 4th year offering Process Preaching! 

A very popular event so REGISTER EARLY!!

Cost: $210 Tuition, meals & class materialsLodging: $45+tax per/night-semi-private room -or- $65+tax per/night-private room

This program is presented in partnership with Kairos at Luther Seminary.

Click here to register for this event


The End of Things: Heaven, Hell & Judgement
Snowbird Retreat
February 14 - 15

Begins at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday and runs through lunch on WednesdayDr. Luther Dale leads the retreat for the folks who flock to the desert in the winter for rest, renewal, relaxation, spiritual growthand stimulating Bible Study.  Luther is the Pastor for Adult Learning and Pastoral Care at Incarnation Lutheran Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Cost: $85 all inclusive includes 1 night lodging, double occupancy, all meals and class materials.  Commuters are $65 for program and meals.  Space is limited so regster today.

Click here to register for this event

 


Exploring the Lenten Texts for 2012

"Thunder & Angels" Preaching Between Two Gospels February 16, 2012 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Dr. Karoline Lewis, Professor of Preaching, Luther Theological Seminary, St. Paul, MN.

The Gospel lessons for Lent, Year B, are from both Mark and John, two very different stories of Jesus and por

traits of Christ. What connections can we make? What themes for Lent might surface if we put the two

in conversation with each other? How well might our Lenten journey be shaped by a dialogue between two Gospels?

Registration: $45 p/person includes lunch. Payment in full when registering.

Register for Lenten Text Class before 12/30/2011 and get $10 off!

Click here to register for this event


Preaching Workshop: "Wine, Water Jars & Witness"

Preaching the Gospel of John
February 17-18, 2012 10:00 a.m. thru Lunch on Saturday

Dr. Karoline Lewis, Professor of Preaching, Luther Theological Seminary, St. Paul, MN. The Gospel of John does not have its own lectionary year, as we all know. How does the preacher give the Fourth Gospel a fair hearing? What’s at stake when preaching John? Our study will look at key theological themes in John’s story of Jesus as a lens through which to interpret John and to lift up its unique voice in our understanding of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

Cost: $155 p/person includes meals, 1 nights lodging, dbl occupancy and class materials.  Payment in full when registering

Register for Preaching Seminar before 12/30/2011 and get $10 off or-  register for the combo for text and preaching class before 12/31/11 and get $25 off!

Click here to register for this event or both events

Enrich Your Ministry by Coming to Both Events!

The 1st workshop is using Mark & John for Lent only; the 2nd workshop is a more general introduction to preaching John as a whole, with a specific lens toward the  upcoming texts from John in Year B (like the bread of life discourse),” says Dr. Lewis.

$230 for BOTH Events - Includes
TUITION & All Class Materials
TWO Nights Semi-Private Room*(*Add $20 per night for private room - Subject to Availability)
SIX Chef-Prepared Scrumptious Meals!16: Lunch (Dinner on your own) ~ 17: Cont’l Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner ~ 18: Cont’l Breakfast-Lunch

$135 for Commuters (Tuition/Meals/Class Materials same as above. NO lodging included.)
Space Fills Quickly in February!  Book EARLY!!
All Fees MUST be Paid upon Registration


Wellderhostel

February 20 - 24

We’ve gone and done it again ... developed a NEW program - and you’re going to love it!
This new retreat, with an emphasis on “wellness in aging” will be modeled  after Lutherhostel,  offering a variety of workshops, field trips, worship, fellowship and afternoon free-time for rest  and relaxation. 

Our leaders are Dr. Dale and Annie Anderson. Two health care, re-fired “characters” who set the stage for a 
“Pain-less   Age-less   Joy-full  Fun-filled WELLderly Celebration in the Lord!

”They will share these basic skills:

  • Theater skills of the Happy ACT...Body, mind, spirit.
  • Aerobics - Neurobics - MINIrobics
  • Humor - Laughter - Music
  • Little HO-HO Holistic Medical skills to Youth-full-ize that promote energy & reduce pain.
  • RE-Fire - RE-gain  -and-  Maintain-the-Brain.
Cost:  $345  All inclusive fee covers Tuition, Class Materials & Meals plus...  4 nights lodging-dbl occupancy, 
(private room is $20 extra per night-limited availability)

Dr. Dale is an award winning physician/author/speaker.  Annie is a re-fired psychotherapist. Both are WELLderly players in “life’s 4th quarter”. They share , GOD GIVEN, UP BEAT theater and health skills to individuals and groups who want to MASTER the physiology of a SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE.  The health and happiness benefits are DRAMATIC!!

Click here to register for this event



Lutherhostel
March 11 - 16 & March 18 - 23

 

All lodging at Spirit in the Desert for Week 1 is taken.  Please let us know if you need suggestions for hotels in the area.  Commuters are welcome!!

 

WEEK ONE - Dr. Barbara Lundblad is a sought after speaker and author.  A Professor of Preaching, Union Theological Seminary,  New York City, she will be “Stretching Boundaries” asking us the question:  “Who is your Neighbor?” Wealth-poverty-sexuality-ethnicity-neighbors can be “different!” Using biblical perspective as a filter, she focuses on how we look at and act towards our neighbor. To learn more about Dr. Lundblad go to: www.utsnyc.edu/faculty

WEEK TWO - We are thrilled to have Dr. Barbara Rossing return to Lutherhostel! She is Professor of New Testament, Lutheran  Theological Seminary,Chicago, IL; an award winning author and popular speaker. Her theme centers on environmental initiatives:  “A Beloved Earth Community: Our Christian Mission” & “Faith and Earthkeeping.” To learn more about Dr. Rossing go to:www.lstc.edu/about/faculty/barbara-rossing

 

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND FOR BOTH WEEKS -

Tom Witt & Mary Preus lead music and worship that fills your hearts each day with life-giving healing, peace and inspiration! Mary and Tom co-founded Bread for the Journey, a musical worship leading ensemble.

They are also a team of teachers called Living Liturgy, offering workshops on music and worship in the church.

COST - $625 per/person per week   -or-   $1100 per/person for both weeks (does not include Fri-Sat lodging & meals in-between event).

ALL INCLUSIVE FEE INCLUDES: 5 nights lodging—Sunday thru Thursday nights.  ALL Meals: from Sunday dinner thru Friday Lunch.  Workshops

COMMUTER RATE: $300 p/week or $65 p/day Includes ALL except lodging.

*Lutherhostel is our most popular program and it fills quickly. If you need lodging prior/after the event or desire to come to both weeks, we suggest you register NOW!

Click here to register for this event


 

Spiritual Well Being for Clergy and Spouses
April 18 - 20

Begins at 1:00 p.m. on the 18th and ends at 4:00 p.m. on the 20th.

Rev. Sandy Rothschiller, ELCA Board of Pensions; partnering with Spirit in the Desert to provide this important opportunity for clergy. As spiritual leaders of the church you are called to provide spiritual guidance to your parishioners. But where do you go to obtain your own spiritual guidance? This will be a time to look at what makes your life whole through spiritual, emotional, physical, social, financial & intellectual wellness. The work of parish pastors can bring challenges to being centered, and finding wholeness.

This time away in the desert will provide the time-space-materials to guide you. Afternoons are free from scheduling allowing you to relax, renew, rest…space is being held before/after event to encourage you to further your well-being!

Cost: Clergy: $185 p/person includes tuition & Meals

Spouse: $125 p/person includes workshops and Meals

Special Lodging Fee: $75 p/night for private room, $90 p/night for couple/2 in room

Click here to register for this event


POLICIES

For more info click here for Policies Page

Payment Policy:

Full Payment is Due Upon Registration unless otherwise noted.
All Day Event Programs must be paid upon registration. Longer programs allow for a deposit which also must be paid upon registration. Your registration cannot be booked without payment.

Cancellation Policy for Guests registering/paying individually for programs:

  • 91 or more days prior to event: 50% refund
  • 30-90 days prior to event: 25% refund
  • 30 days or less prior to event: NO refund (for more info click here for Policies Page)