Fall Retreat Information and Schedule
August 15-16, 2025 (participants return to their own homes overnight)
August 15-16, 2025 (participants return to their own homes overnight)
Purpose of the Retreat
This yearly fall spiritual retreat is designed to balance spiritual growth, rest, and fellowship through worship, reflection, and communal activities. We want students to engage with each other, faculty, and staff.
Friday Evening:
7:00 PM – Arrival and Check-In
We will welcome participants with dinner (come hungry).
Distribute retreat materials (schedule, devotional guide, name tags, etc.).
We will welcome participants with dinner (come hungry).
Distribute retreat materials (schedule, devotional guide, name tags, etc.).
7:30 PM – Welcome Session – Dean Brockway
Brief overview of the retreat’s theme, expectations, and guidelines.
Icebreaker activity to build connections.
Brief overview of the retreat’s theme, expectations, and guidelines.
Icebreaker activity to build connections.
8:00 PM – Evening Worship – William Etheridge
Guided worship with music and a short devotional.
Prayer of dedication for the retreat.
Guided worship with music and a short devotional.
Prayer of dedication for the retreat.
8:45 PM – Closing Reflection – Dr. Hummel
Reflection for personal meditation.
Participants are encouraged to consider their hopes for the retreat.
Reflection for personal meditation.
Participants are encouraged to consider their hopes for the retreat.
9:00 PM – Departure or Quiet Time
End the evening with a blessing.
Optional quiet spaces are available for prayer or journaling.
End the evening with a blessing.
Optional quiet spaces are available for prayer or journaling.
Saturday:
9:00 AM – Breakfast
9:30 AM – Morning Worship and Teaching – William Etheridge and Professor Brown
Worship through song followed by a teaching session related to the retreat theme.
Included time for small group discussion or personal reflection.
Worship through song followed by a teaching session related to the retreat theme.
Included time for small group discussion or personal reflection.
10:30 AM – Break
Light refreshments and fellowship.
Light refreshments and fellowship.
11:00 AM – Workshop Session 1 – Dr. Hummel
Focus on a spiritual discipline of prayer and personal identity
Focus on a spiritual discipline of prayer and personal identity
12:30 PM – Lunch
Take this time as a time to foster fellowship.
Take this time as a time to foster fellowship.
1:00 PM – Guided Reflection or Quiet Time at the Beach
We will provide prompts for silent personal reflection.
Participants will break into small groups to spend time in solitude with God. (Bring Headphones!)
We will provide prompts for silent personal reflection.
Participants will break into small groups to spend time in solitude with God. (Bring Headphones!)
2:30 PM – Workshop Session 2 – Dean Brockway
Introducing scripture reading plans and connecting the groups together.
Introducing scripture reading plans and connecting the groups together.
4:00 PM – Closing Worship and Group Reflection – Dr. Hummel
Worship with music, prayer, and an opportunity for participants to share experiences or insights from the retreat.
Worship with music, prayer, and an opportunity for participants to share experiences or insights from the retreat.
4:45 PM – Farewell and Blessing with Communion
Provide closing remarks and thank participants for attending.
Participate in communion together as a community.
Provide closing remarks and thank participants for attending.
Participate in communion together as a community.
5:00 PM – Departure – Dr. Hummel
Prayer and conclusion.
Prayer and conclusion.
