Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Where's Rachel? -- July 2009

July 27-28, 2009
Rachel will be speaking on retreat planning at the National Women's Conference, Lake Williamson Conference Center, Carlinville, IL.

Where's Rachel? -- March 27-28, 2009

March 27-28
Rachel will be speaking on retreat planning, with a special focus on intergenerational retreats, at the Greater Chicagoland Sunday School Convention in Arlington Heights, IL. She will also lead a 2-part workshop on the benefits of intergenerational programming. See session write ups below.

Living His-Story, Part One: Whose Story Is It?
Using Deuteronomy 6:5-9 as a foundation, participants will explore the 3 key benefits of intergenerational programming: remembering God’s story, sharing God’s story and continuing God’s story…together!

Living His-Story, Part Two: Rated G, for All Generations
From family fellowship nights that follow the workshop rotation model to whole-church-family retreats, participants will experience examples of successful intergenerational activities, along with brainstorming their own.

Relighting the Torch through Spiritual R&R
Learn how to plan and facilitate retreats for various ministry groups (women, men, youth, etc.) that will relight the torch of God’s truth and provide spiritual R&R.

Where's Rachel? -- February 2009

Join Rachel and co-leader Christine Bierma at the "Love the One You're With" women's retreat February 13-14 at Camp Manitoqua in Frankfort, IL. Remember what it's like to walk hand in hand with the Savior. Renew and refresh your relationship with Him as you prepare your heart for Easter. Registration information is at www.writerrae.com/feb_retreat.html.

Good News -- Jan. 7, 2009

What a most excellent day! The Complete Leader's Guide to Christian Retreats made the #20 spot on the Judson Press Top 20 list for 2008...and it only released mid-December! Yay, God!

To buy your copy, visit Judson Press at www.judsonpress.com.

Friday, December 26, 2008

Reader Recs

As part of the blog, I'd like to be able to post information about camps/retreat centers that blog readers have used and would like to recommend. You can post a comment to this post with your camp name in the subject line OR send me an email with the camp specs and why you love it and I'll create a post under the subject heading Reader Recs: (Camp Name). Thanks for helping create a network of user-friendly retreat locations.
Peace,
Rachel

Friday, December 5, 2008

Retreat Centers for Personal Retreats

For my friends at The Writers' View and others interested in taking a little time for yourself to just be in the presence of God without distractions and other voices (unless of course you're a writer and those voices are talking to you again!)...

Please note: This list is not comprehensive but is compiled through the research of retreat centers that I did for The Complete Leader's Guide to Christian Retreats. If there's a retreat center near you, it's worth a call to ask if they are open to personal retreats (you might have to explain that a personal retreat is where one person comes and uses their lodging for a set period of time, generally no meal service provided, just a quiet place to think/reflect/pray/write). Also, as with planning any retreat, you should fully check out the facilities in advance (web site, okay; personal site visit, recommended) to make sure that they meet with your expectations.

If you have additions or feedback to this list, I'd be happy to post them on this blog for the book. Just reply to this post or email me at rachel@writerrae.com.

Blessings to you as you Write For Him!
Rachel


Covenant Camp
Fairfield Bay, AR
985-839-2391
www.covenantcamp828.com

Christ Haven Lodge
Florissant, Co
719-687-3425
www.christhaven.net

Camp Manitoqua
Frankfort, IL
815-469-2319
www.manitoqua.org

Techny Towers
Techny, IL
847-272-1100
www.technytowers.org

Lutherhaven
Albion, IN
260-636-7101
www.lutherhaven.org

Dayspring Retreat Center
Germantown, MD
301-428-9348
www.dayspringretreat.org

Saint Joseph Retreat Center
Cohasset, MA
781-383-6024
www.cjsretreatcenter.org

Camp Geneva
Holland, MI
6116-399-3150
www.campgeneva.org

Maranatha
Muskegon, MI
231-798-2161
www.maranatha.gospelcom.net

Dunrovin Retreat Center
Marine on St. Croix, MN
651-433-2486
www.dunrovin.org

The Bear's Den
St. James, MO
877-543-3943
www.bearsdentretreat.com

Hermitage Spiritual Retreat Center
Pittsburg, MO
816-363-3968
www.hermitageretreats.org

Life-Giving Spring Retreat Center
Boulder City, NV
702-293-7208
www.lasvegasorthodox.com

Singing Hills
Plainfield, NH
888-863-2267
www.singinghills.net

Bishop Stoney Camp
Santa Fe, NM
505-983-5610
www.campstoney.org

Stella Maris Retreat and Renewal Center
Skaneateles, NY
315-685-6836
www.stellamarisretreat.org

Mount Shepherd Retreat Center
Asheboro, NC
336-629-4085
www.mtshepherd.org

Sacred Heart Monastery
Richardton, ND
710-974-2124
www.sacredheartmonastery.com

Our Lady of the Pines Retreat Center
Fremont, OH
419-332-6522
www.pinesretreat.org

Menucha Retreat and Conference Center
Corbett, OR
503-695-2243
www.menucha.org

Shalom Prayer Center Retreats
Mt. Angel, OR
503-845-6773
www.benedictine-srs.org/retreats.html

Franciscan Spirit and Life Center
Pittsburgh, PA
412-881-9207
www.osfprov.org/FSLC.htm

Our Lady of Peace Spiritual Life Center
Narragansett, RI
401-783-2871
www.intap.net/~evanpro/OLP.htm

St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center
John's Island, SC
843-768-0429
www.stchristopher.org

Penuel Ridge Retreat Center
Ashland City, TN
615-792-3734
www.penuelridge.org

Scarritt-Bennet center
Nashville, TN
615-340-7500
www.scarrittbennett.org

Mo-Ranch Camps and Outdoor Ed
Hunt, TX
830-238-4455
www.moranch.com

Wind Walker Guest Ranch
Spring City, UT
435-462-0282
www.windwalker.org

Bishop Booth Conference Center
Burlington, VT
802-658-6233
www.dioceseofvermont.org/Orgs/BishopBooth.html

Monastery of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Westfield, VT
802-744-6525
www.ihmwestfield.com

St. Joseph's Dwelling Place
Ludlow, VT
802-228-4952
www.stjosephdp.com

Weston Priory
Weston, VT
802-824-5409
www.westonpriory.org

Roslyn Center
Richmond, VA
800-477-6296
www.roslyncenter.org

Rolling Ridge Study Retreat Community
Harpers Ferry, WV
304-724-6653
www.rollingridge.net

West Virginia Institute for Spirituality
Charleston, WV
304-345-0926
www.WVInstituteforspirituality.org

Ring Lake Ranch
Dubois, WY
888-458-5253
www.ringlake.org

Thomas the Apostle Center
Cody, WY
307-587-4400
www.thomap.org

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Release Date

The Complete Leader's Guide to Christian Retreats will be out in bookstores nationwide beginning December 10. It is also available through www.judsonpress.com or www.amazon.com.

Rachel will also be conducting mini-retreat planning workshops and book signings at Chicago area bookstores and is working to schedule more comprehensive retreat planning workshops at camps and conferences centers throughout the midwest. Please watch the blog for updates.