By Dawn Taloyo, Director of Pastoral and Congregational Health, PacNWC
It’s the season for retreats….The Women Ministries Fall Retreat; Clergy, Staff, and Family Retreat; MUD. You get the picture. You may have heard me say this before, but to quote a favorite author of mine, “In times of retreat, we remember who we are.” And, I like to add, “whose we are”. Getting away from whatever we call normal, for reflection, prayer, study, and rest is invaluable. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say they regretted going away on retreat. And yet I know we all struggle to make time for retreats in our schedules.
I am grateful that one aspect of my work with the conference is to host and facilitate retreats. This past summer we had our first Women in Vocational Ministry retreat at Rainbow Lodge in North Bend, WA. About a dozen women gathered for more than 24 hours of rest, fellowship, and great food. My greatest joy was watching these pastors and chaplains linger for hours getting to know one another and share stories. There is nothing like having the space and time to connect with colleagues – others who “get it”.
Our chaplains often miss out on opportunities for fellowship afforded our pastors, such as monthly lunch gatherings and even the fall clergy retreat. Their work does not allow them to take off during the week. And in most cases, their ministry context does not pay for retreats or travel, something churches often do for their pastors. So, in an attempt to provide a space for connection and encouragement for them, the conference is hosting a Chaplain Day Retreat at Cascades Camp the Sunday before the Clergy, Staff, and Families Retreat, and a longer spring retreat in 2019. We hope this will become a new rhythm for our chaplains and an opportunity for them to find refreshment from a very emotionally heavy line of work.
I want to say thank you to the individuals and churches who generously give to the Pacific Northwest Conference, which allows us to provide our ministers with these opportunities for rest, connection and retreat. But, let me end with a question: Is there an upcoming retreat on your schedule? A time to get away and remember who you are and whose you are?