Dallas Willard once said, “Grace is not opposed to effort. It is opposed to earning.” This wisdom has come back to me over and over as I have made efforts to establish rhythms that open me up to grace, God’s grace that leads to true transformation. This good effort to establish sacred rhythms has indeed changed my life.
As 2025 approaches, you may want to take time to reflect on your own rhythms here as we transition into a new year. As we experience that fresh slate feeling of January’s arrival, we must also be cautious to resist the self improvement energy that can very much characterize this time of year as well. You might wonder: what is the difference?
Intentionality is built on rhythms, habits and practices that make us available to God’s transforming power, to the Spirit’s life giving, loving energy. We make space to be open, but God is the Source and Director of any real, lasting formation. Self improvement projects depend on us. These are the things we do, usually for a short period of time, to try to be better in whatever areas of our life we see as needing improvement.
Self improvement says, “I know what needs to change, I am going to change it little by little, and here are the outcomes I am hoping to see.” Intentionality says, “I am on a journey of becoming exactly who God dreamed me up to be, a unique vessel of Christ’s love through the particulars of my very life. I have glimpses of who that is, but God sees in full and is committed to my spiritual formation. I want to open and surrender to whatever God is up to. I want to sync up with God’s love in my one, short life, and I want to engage in practices and rhythms that make me available for that transforming grace.”
At The Retreat House we are all about offering a variety of ways to support spiritual pilgrims who want to follow and live the way of Jesus. We believe that rhythms, habits, and practices are foundational for this pilgrimage!
So our first retreat of the year will focus on just that: establishing rhythms! On Sunday, January 5th, from 12:30-5:30, we will gather to enjoy a meal together, a time of teaching and reflection led by Allison Bradsher, and some silence to sit with the Spirit. This retreat falls on the last day of Christmastide, a season of celebrating Christ’s presence with us, and launches us into Epiphany on January 6th. Sign Up Here
Epiphany is a season of light from January 6th leading all the way into Lent on March 4th. This season focuses on following that light to find Christ. The wise men travelled and risked and paid close attention to how God was guiding them in order to get to where Jesus was. This is a beautiful picture of discernment, an incredibly important aspect of the Christian journey. We will have a workshop on Thursday, January 23rd, from 6:00-8:00 taught by Dr. Kevin Shelby and Britney Christie, on this very topic: Discernment. If you are wanting guidance in listening to God and desire to sense God’s movements in your life and respond to those, then this is the workshop for you! Sign up here
As always, we have openings for half day silent retreats on Thursday January 9th and Tuesday January 28th. These retreats offer a brief teaching, practice guide, a block of silence, and opportunity to enjoy lunch together afterwards. We are moving back to providing a simple, but delicious meal, for these retreats with a local deli, Canale’s, home of the ham, featuring basic sandwiches, chips, and dessert. If you have allergies or other preferences, please feel free to bring your own lunch and still join us! Sign up here
Open Hours will be offered on Friday, January 17th, from 10:00-2:00.
We hope to see you soon and are excited for all God is doing and will do through this special place in 2025! Thanks for being a part of it!
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