+ Where will this journey of formation and healing lead us?

The movement of this retreat series is framed by the life of the Triune God – from God, with God, and (in)to God – for “from Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things” (Romans 11:36). God is love (1 John 4:8). And the love within God is constant from eternity to eternity; and the movement towards humans from creation to new creation are movements of love. God enters our existence in Jesus Christ and through the Holy Spirit to pull us into this eternal love. And nothing can separate us from it (Rom. 8:38-39).

However, we develop barriers that obstruct our awareness and keep us from enjoying the love of God – emotional, intellectual, relational, and spiritual barriers. Surprisingly, these barriers can actually become pathways to experiencing the love of God more fully. As we walk on their path with God who has become one with us in our sin and pain, we enter into greater awareness and freedom in the love of God. This journey will help us move through these powerful emotional, intellectual, relational, and spiritual states. Thus, this formational and healing journey will lead us through some of the most common barriers to find our home in the love of God.

+ What is its purpose?

This series of retreats will immerse us into a lifestyle rooted and grounded in the love of the Triune God. Its aim is to help participants establish a way of life with more awareness, understanding, and responsiveness to God’s love.

+ Who is it for?

This course is designed for those who...

• Long for more of God.
• Desire to live more deeply in the love of God - for God, for one's self, and for all others.
• Are desiring to pursue spiritual formation with greater intentionality and depth.
• May have hit a wall in their faith journey.
• Desire healing and growth in some area of their relationship with God.

+ What is the format?

• Participants will journey together with a cohort, a small group of participants.
• The cohort will gather for 9 retreats approximately every 4 weeks.
• Each small group will have a spiritual director as its facilitator.
• Each member of the small group will receive individual, monthly spiritual direction to accompany them on this formational journey.
• A written and audio guide to engage in daily spiritual practices.

+ What are the key practices?

• Participate in nine retreats full of contemplative exercises, soul-level conversations, healing experiences, and quality instruction.
• Engage relevant spiritual practices between each of the retreats, including practices such as journaling, meditation on specific Scriptures, examen, centering prayer, and Sabbath.
• Receive individual spiritual direction once per month.
• Read classics from the Christian spiritual tradition and more recent, stimulating material.
• Establish a "rule of life" to support a lifestyle centered and grounded in the love of God.
• Articulate a "vision of life" flowing in the love of God.

+ What will we gain?

• Growth in awareness, experience, and understanding of the love of God; and consequently, growth in love for God, self, and others.
• Healing from some of the most common barriers to the awareness, experience, and enjoyment of the love of God.
• Exposure to many spiritual practices and immersion into a lifestyle saturated and centered by the love of God.
• Greater recognition and ability to process various emotional states, giving us ways to re-center and return to our home in the love of God.
• Increased awareness and enjoyment of our personal relationship with God through individual, monthly spiritual direction.
• A community of participants who will experience deeper levels of formation together.
• A rhythm of life which will help us live from our increased awareness of God’s love for them and others.
• Experience in missional living as compelled by the love of God and guided by the Spirit of God.
• Acquaintance with some of the classic literature in the history of Christian spirituality on the love of God.
• Practical action steps for living out God's love within their family, work-place, and church.