Men's Retreat
March 6-8 at Huston Camp and Conference Center in Goldbar, WA
Theme: Prayer—A Provocative and Paradoxical Gateway. Enter into an art-full, engaging, and unsettling journey into one of our foundational spiritual disciplines.
Welcome to the 5th annual HSLC Men’s Retreat! We gather for a weekend of renewal, rest, reflection, prayer, laughter and fun—time and space to get away from the demands of daily life and to build relationships with men in the congregation
Retired ELCA Pastor Alex Schmidt (friend of Pastor Larry’s) from Leavenworth will be our guest speaker/facilitator this year. Alex is very much looking forward to joining the men of HSLC, and for the first time men from Salt House, for a meaningful time of fun and fellowship together.
Jason Bendickson, from Salt House, will once again be leading us in song. Jason is inviting men from Salt House to join in the fun.
About Huston Camp and Conference Center
Camp Huston, in Gold Bar, is a year-around retreat center that is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia. It is located adjacent to the entrance of Wallace Falls State Park and borders up to the Wallace River, with views of Mt Index on a clear day.
Our lodging is barracks style (bunk beds) in the “Saint Clare” dorm, with two separate heated sleeping areas, complete with their own bathrooms and showers. The sleeping areas are joined together by a common living area with fireplace, sink and COFFEE POT! Group gatherings will be located in a separate building known as the “Long House”. All meals (dinner Friday and Saturday nights, breakfast Saturday and Sunday mornings, and lunch Saturday) will be in the main lodge called “Curtis Lodge”. In addition there is a covered sports court for basketball, etc. during free time. All areas of camp are accessible by foot trails, or by car, if preferred.
WHAT CAN/SHOULD I BRING?
You should bring personal items (bedding and towels are provided). Bring your bible and a notepad to jot things down. Bring things you like to do during free time—books, games, sporting goods, musical instruments, hiking boots and possibly rain gear (i.e. for hiking to Wallace Falls) – whatever you find relaxing and fun.
Please bring snacks to share, especially for the evenings. Beer and wine are allowed, so you can bring them to share as well. We are planning a “blind” beer tasting competition for late Saturday afternoon so come prepare with some of you favorite beer(s) to enter the competition. Some snacks and non-alcoholic beverages will also be provided.
SCHEDULE
Friday, March 6
5:30pm – Arrive at Camp Huston (if possible).
6:00pm -- Dinner at Curtis Lodge
7:30pm—Introductions and logistics
8:00pm –Evening Session, Prayer: What it is, what it is not, and how have our life’s experiences reshaped our understanding and expression of prayer.
Saturday, March 7
8:00am—Breakfast at Curtis Lodge
9:30am—Morning Session, Provocative: Though at times comforting and sustaining, prayer also needs to be disquieting and disruptive. How so?
11:30am—Fun and Games if time allows
12:30pm—Lunch at Curtis Lodge
1:30pm—Free time (personal journey options include hiking, games, resting, coffee or ice cream in Gold Bar)
4:30pm—Beer/Wine gathering and pre-function before dinner.
6:00pm—Dinner at Curtis Lodge
7:30pm—Evening Session, Paradoxical: In the midst of wonderful and reassuring promises, how do we deal with our harsh and painful realities? How is this paradox to be understood and integrated?
Sunday, March 8
8:00am – Breakfast at Curtis Lodge
9:30am—A ½ hour of Silence
10:00am—Worship and Holy Meal, “The Gift of Healing Presence”: Let us be strengthened with litanies, prayers, and songs of hopeful healing and an “art-full” looking ahead.
11:30am – Final Pack Up and Departure
DIRECTIONS TO HUSTON CAMP AND CONFERENCE CENTER
The address is: 14725 Ley Road, Gold Bar, Washington
Phone: (360) 793-0441
From Kirkland take I-405 north to Highway 522 to Monroe. From Monroe take U.S. 2 East to Gold Bar. Upon entering Gold Bar follow the signs to Wallace Falls State Park, which means turning left off U.S. 2 onto 1st Street. At the end of 1st Street turn right on May Creek Road. Stay left of the “Y” intersection of May Creek Road and Ley Road. At the end of Ley Road you will be at the Camp Huston entrance.
The office and the Curtis Lodge dinning hall are up the hill from the entrance gate. Take an immediate right after the entrance to find your way to the Saint Clare dorm/barracks and the “Long House” group meeting area.
Cost of the retreat is $150.00. Mark Weiseth (mweiseth@comcast.net) is collecting monies (checks or cash only) on Sunday mornings or please contact him to make other arrangements. However, money should never keep someone from participating. Scholarships are available—talk to Pastor Katy or Pastor Mary-Alyce. All conversations are kept confidential.
Questions? Contact Mark Weiseth at mweiseth@comcast.net.