Category Archives: Retreats

Soul of a Pastor Retreat

Synod of Lincoln Trails

APRIL 17-21, 2024 | Penns Creek, PA | $1,500

Two men standing in a river, water up to their thighs, beside the riverbank. They have fishing poles and nets.

As pastors, we understand the investment you make in others and the many facets of ministry that demand your attention each day. What is often missing from the list of needs is the time and attention needed for your soul’s health and well-being. Is it time for you to give yourself the critical gift of devoted time away for rest, renewal, and re-imagining life and ministry from the place of a healthy soul?

Altar’s staff brings over 75 years of vocational ministry experience and a deep understanding of the pastor’s life. Join us on an adventure that will heal and enliven your life for the sake of others.

Through support from your congregation, friends or personal network combined with Altar’s own support efforts, we desire to fully bless pastors by covering their retreat costs and follow up soul care and leadership investment for continued transformation for a greater life and ministry.

Virtual Women’s Retreat – January 20th, 2024

Wisdom For The Seasons of Life: What I Wish I Had Known

January 20th, 2024 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

As the seasons change, so do the challenges and opportunities that come with them. In recognition of this, we are delighted to invite you to this virtual women’s retreat. Come together to explore the wisdom we gain from God and one another as we navigate this current season of our lives with greater ease and a stronger sense of purpose.

Together, we will:

gently dismantle the walls that stand in the way of us wholeheartedly welcoming love
master the hormonal rollercoaster for a smoother ride
practice soul care: discover ways to nurture your inner soul

Presenters:

Angela Stephenson, Living Abundantly Ministries
Julie Hardwick, Certified Holistic Health Coach
Maryanne Kyle-Di Pietropaolo and Henrieta Ribeiro, Intentional Energy 3

Email us at info@ie3.life

Sponsored by the Synod of Lincoln Trails Presbyterian Women

Resilient Woman Retreat Sponsored by Presbyterian Women

UPDATE 8/9/2023 – Date corrections for both events

FELLOWSHIP | CONNECTION | INSPIRATION

Resilient Woman Retreat

October 6, 2023 from 7 pm to 9 pm and
October 7, 2023 from 8:30 am to 3 pm
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, WHEATON, IL

October 27, 2023 from 7 pm to 9 pm and
October 28, 2023 from 8:30 am to 3 pm,
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, DANVILLE, IL

For more information and to register to go: https://www.intentionalenergy3.com/general-8

We invite you to step away from the everyday, take a break and join us at the
Resilient Woman retreat as we explore the stories of resilient women from the
Bible, the enduring legacies they left behind, our own spiritual journeys and the
impact they have made on the world.

Together we will:

Ignite the spirit of togetherness among women by sharing our stories and lives
with other women of faith
Take a look at the stories of the women in the Old Testament whose legacy is
an example for us today
Explore our own journeys and legacies and their impact on the world around
us
Align with what God is calling us to do today through spiritual practices
Worship together

SPONSORED BY THE SYNOD OF LINCOLN TRAILS PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN
YOU ARE INVITED!

Pyoca Update

PASTORAL RESPITE

Pyoca is on a path to re-opening our doors, beginning in mid-July.

Our soft opening will start with overnight respite for Presbytery of Ohio Valley and Whitewater Valley Presbytery ministers and chaplains. Each pastor (immediate family is welcome to join) will be housed in their own cabin, either the Poplar Apartment or Oak/Cedar cabins. Guests will be responsible for their own meals. Dates and cabins will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. Stays are of no cost to pastors, made possible with the generous support of both presbyteries.

Pyoca is following enhanced cleaning procedures set fourth by the CDC, and additionally, air purifiers have been installed in all cabins.

Call Pyoca at (812) 358-3413 or email molly@pyoca.org for more details and to reserve your visit today.

A Message from Mike & Molly:
We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your continued support of camp in this season. It has been incredibly strange for us to be at camp without hearing the melodious sounds of campers laughing, singing, and lifting up their prayers to God.

That said, working on Camp to You has been such a joy. We have loved seeing pictures of campers and their families opening their boxes, making their tie-dye shirts, and getting a bit of camp at home.

In total, we were able to send out nearly 300 boxes to campers and alumni with this program. We are incredibly grateful to our four summer staff Eli, Ethan, Kari, and Abigail who were able to help us make this program a reality.

We are still at work with our board discerning how to open safely in the coming weeks. In the meantime, we are committed to staying connected virtually through all of our social media platforms.

If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel,
Pyoca Camp and Retreat Center, where you can watch devotionals that go along with this summer’s camp theme, craft and outdoor cooking tutorials, silly songs, and more.

This Summer of Sanctuary is unlike any other we have had in 68 years, and it is one we are likely never to forget. You are missed. You are loved. We can’t wait to see you.

The peace of Christ be with you,

Mike Davis, Senior Director
Rev. Molly DeWitt, Program Director

Pyoca Women’s Retreat: May 3-5, 2019

Rest, relax, renew.

Join us this May as we grow into spring with our women’s retreat
Flow & Grow: Creative Respite held at Pyoca May 3rd – 5th, 2019.

There is no expectation of perfection; we merely seek Sabbath and connection.

Our philosophy is that art & yoga allow us to connect to God and one another through the movement of the Holy Spirit. Over the course of the weekend each woman will discover her innate sense of creativity and discern the movement of the Spirit in her life.

For more Information | To Register

Hope & Clarity: Recharge Your Spirit

Ready for a reset? Just in time for summer, Hope & Clarity: Recharge Your Spirit will be offered June 2-4, 2019 in Peoria, IL. This is your chance to join female colleagues in ministry for about 40 hours of relaxing, re-energizing and restoring. We’ll begin with a reception Sunday night at 7 pm Central, and end on Tuesday morning by 11 am Central.

We can’t promise that you’ll leave the retreat irrevocably transformed, but our intention is that you will leave strengthened, refreshed, and more connected with your self and with others.

We have a great hotel reserved for about 40 women.

We’ll begin there Sunday night at 7 pm Central for hors d’oeuvres and drinks, and informal conversation. Then we invite you to get a good night’s sleep.

On Monday (all day) and Tuesday (morning only) we’ll meet on the 12 beautiful acres of United Presbyterian Church. We’ll have small and large group discussion, worship and individual reflection time. All the things.

Drs. Caroline Burke and Krista Redlinger-Grosse will facilitate our time together.

Revs. Sue Krummel and Sara Dingman will host us.

The Synod of Lincoln Trails is directing its financial resources toward this event, regardless of your presbytery membership, so that YOU can enjoy the resources of ONE ANOTHER. You must be a PC(USA) teaching elder or certified ruling elder/commissioned lay pastor, in good standing, to attend. Whether the setting in which you serve is a congregation, a hospital, a university or college, or another missional organization, we welcome you.

Total cost to you, for two nights’ lodging and all food and conference fees, is $50 if you share a hotel room, and $150 if you’d like your own hotel room. This fee is non-refundable beginning May 1st. Some partial scholarships are available – contact Sara for more details.

Spaces are limited and registration will go live on April 1st. We are asking that colleagues from synods beyond SOLT wait until April 10th to register.

We are proud to subsidize $250+ of the actual cost per partipicant, for all participants regardless of synod membership. We are stronger together.

For logistical questions, contact Wynesia (wynesia@lincolntrails.org). For other questions, contact Sara (sara@lincolntrails.org).

October News from PYOCA

Friends of PYOCA,

This fall has been extremely busy at Pyoca which is great news! We’ve hosted many retreats including large church groups, high schools, and non-proft organizations. Many volunteer work groups have helped us continue to tear down the rustic cabins, spruce up the grounds, and deep cleen the facilities. Without volunteers, Pyoca wouldn’t be able to offer its outstanding ministry programs at our current level. A big thanks to our volunteers!

Pyoca High School Conference
On Oct 7-9, 70 youth and 20 adult leaders/volunteers joined us for our second ever Pyoca High School Conference. Rev. Mihee Kim-Kort delivered the keynotes themed “This is My Story” and Rev. Jorge Sayago-Gonzalez lead inspiring worship. The keynotes and small group discussions delved into stories of Jesus being the light of the world, the good shepherd, the true vine, and the bread of life. On Saturday night, Jorge and the Louisville-based music outfit, Mundo Brew, played originals and covers, while conference attendees danced and sang, roasted marshmallows, and shared stories around the campfire.

One adult leader said this about the conference, “Our youth truly had a transformative experience. The entire ride back, as well as during our brief stop for lunch, the youth spent their time sharing story after story with me how much they enjoyed the conference. Their experience at PYOCA was one in which they were affirmed as individuals while also being challenged to push themselves outside of their typical comfort zones. They left feeling energized about their faith.”

The Pyoca Yurt Project Fundraiser
On Sept. 10, we had over 70 friends of Pyoca attend our Rustic Cabin Party. Many shared stories and memories from the 65 summers these cabins were a part of Pyoca’s camp ministry. From the silent auction, we were able to raised over $3,200 for the new rustic yurt cabins! Thanks to all those who have donated and/or pledged.

2017 Summer Camp
Check out the Pyoca website for our 2017 summer camp schedule! Registration will go live in November so be sure to sign up soon!

Next month will mark my two year anniversary as executive director of Pyoca. I continue to be grateful everyday for this place and for Pyoca’s community. I appreciate your continued support of our ministry, our staff, and the whole Pyoca family.

Grace and peace,
Rev. Dr. R. Jacob Hofmeister