The Program
The Program At The Springs Retreat
The key verse for the retreat comes from Isaiah and it is our prayer for each one who comes:
"The Lord will guide you always. He will satisfy your needs in a sun scorched land and will strengthen your frame. And you will be like a well-watered garden, like a SPRING whose waters never fail." Isaiah 58:11
Schedule
At The Springs retreat, we gently move from whole group times to small group times, to individual times of silence and solitude. We worship in a beautiful chapel first thing in the morning, before meals and to close our day. We are encouraged by the Scriptures with short devotional thoughts. We talk about how to use journaling to reflect on our lives and the Word. We will share our meals with a small group of women who are serving in a similar role (pastors' wives, directors of women’s ministries, laywomen). We pray. We have hours to spend as we choose to draw near to the heart of God.
First Day
12:00 Registration
12:30 Settle in, unpack, walk the grounds
12:55 Welcome and Orientation
2:00 Chapel
2:30 Time to be Alone with the Lord (Solitude and Silence)
4:30 Quilt - WHOLE GROUP ACTIVITY
5:40 Chapel
6:00 Dinner with your small group
7:30 Communion Chapel
8:15 An Evening of Solitude with the Lord
Second Day
7:45 Chapel
8:00 Breakfast with your small group
9:00 Journaling Workshop w/Luann Budd
10 AM-5:30 PM Time to be alone with the Lord
5:30 Chapel
6:00 Dinner with your small group
7:30 Worship in the Chapel
8:15 An Evening of Solitude with the Lord
Third Day
7:45 Pack up, Chapel is open for worship
8:00 Breakfast
8:45 Time for Prayer and Reflection (Silence and Solitude)
9:45 Small Group Prayer
11:15 Chapel and Closing
At some locations, the retreat may include lunch and end at 2 p.m.
Tracks
TRACK 1 - FOR FIRST-TIMERS
Track 1 is designed to lead you through an individual contemplative retreat. We talk about the purpose of the Springs retreat and give practical ways to leave behind the concerns of our everyday world and focus on the Lord. At the beginning, there is time to get comfortable at the retreat center. Throughout the retreat, we have short (20-minute) chapels for worship and a devotional thought first thing in the morning, before meals, and to close the evening. Blocks of time for silence and solitude provide the space for quiet with the Lord: several hours the first day, seven hours on the second day, and 1 hour before we go home. We’ll eat together with the same women in small groups of 5-6 with the opportunity to pray together with this group toward the end of the retreat. One-on-one prayer with a leader is available. Not only will you experience the blessings of this time away with the Lord as you are led through the retreat, you will also learn how to design your own personal retreat.
TRACK 2 - FOR WOMEN RETURNING TO THE SPRINGS
Track 2 is similar to Track 1 in that women share meals and chapel times and have an opportunity to pray together.
What’s unique to Track 2 is that women meet with a retreat facilitator for 2-3 sessions exploring a devotional practice (prayer, rule of life, lectio divina, journaling, ways to read the scripture, listening prayer, developing a heart of gratitude, art collage, praying while walking the labyrinth). The leader for Track 2 changes from one retreat to another, as does the topic of discussion.
This track is a wonderful way to have a personal retreat in a familiar setting, reconnect with The Springs team, and learn a new way to grow in your walk with Christ. Usually, about half of the women coming to the retreat are on Track 2.
TRACK 3 - FOR WOMEN RETURNING TO THE SPRINGS
Track 3 is designed for women who have already attended Track 1 or 2 and who want to spend the majority of their time on their own and yet be retreating alongside other women. Women in Track 3 are invited to join the rest of the group for chapels and meals, however, even this is optional. Women may decide to eat their meals separately and some choose to have a completely silent retreat. This track is an opportunity to get away with Jesus in a quiet, safe, sacred setting and spend 48 hours in his presence.
Many women have found The Springs is so helpful in their spiritual lives that they make the retreat a part of their annual or semi-annual rhythm, coming every fall and/or spring, year after year.