May 26-28, 2020
Apply now.
(Registration Deadline: May 19.)
Ministry is a profound, demanding & continuously changing vocation. Sometimes it’s good to get away, reconnect with God and consider the important choices you face as a spiritual leader.
Shepherd Heart is honored to provide a haven for ministry leaders as they come together to experience refreshment and spiritual renewal.
Meet our facilitator: Spiritual Director, Rev. Teresa Blythe
Teresa Blythe is an ordained United Church of Christ (UCC) minister specializing in spiritual direction and discernment coaching. Her role at the retreat is to invite us into an exploration of the three important aspects of spiritual direction: awareness of God, reflection on our life and discerning choices in alignment with the Spirit.
She has been working with individuals, groups and organizations in spiritual direction since 1997. She founded the Phoenix Center for Spiritual Direction at First Church Phoenix UCC in 2015 and spent 14 years as the director of the Hesychia School of Spiritual Direction in Tucson.
Teresa is the author of Spiritual Direction 101: The Basics of Spiritual Guidance and 50 Ways to Pray and is a frequent public speaker and full-time advocate for spiritual direction. She received her Master of Divinity and Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction from San Francisco Theological Seminary in 2000. For more information about Teresa and her philosophy of spiritual direction please visit our consultants page.
Meet our host: Melissa Hofstetter, PhD, MDiv, Shepherd Heart
Melissa is an MC USA minister and founder of Shepherd Heart, which strives to promote emotional wholeness and mental health among pastors and churches through clergy continued education, ministry consultation, and pastoral support.
Melissa is a minister, therapist & an educator, teaching seminary courses in Pastoral Counseling & Congregational Health. She currently lives in Pasadena, California, with her little flock of chickens, where she has a psychology practice and oversees the ministries of Shepherd Heart. (No psychological services are provided through Shepherd Heart.)
We are meeting virtually, over Zoom, for the retreat in May.
Proposed Programming
(subject to change based upon unique needs of the participants)
Day 1
8:00 Registration
8:30 Welcome and Introductions /Morning prayer
9:00 Session One (large and small group gathering) on Awareness
11:00 Lunch Break
12:00 Prayer
1:00 Session Two (large and small group gatherings) on Reflecting on our Lives
3:00 Session Three (large and small groups) on Discernment
5:00 Evening prayer
8:00 Grand Silence (as possible)
Day 2
8:00 Morning prayer
8:30 Session Four (large and small groups) More on Discernment
10:00 Silence and journaling
11:00 Lunch Break
1:00 Free time
3:00 Session Five (large and small groups) Finding your Discernment Process
5:00 Evening prayer
8:00 Breakfast
8:30 Large group discussion on bringing retreat to daily life
9:30 Corporate sharing & Communion
10:30 Benediction
Stay tuned for retreats
in Our “Summer Retreat” Location:
Munds Park, Arizona (Sedona)
Munds Park is about 20 miles south of Flagstaff, Arizona, within easy driving distance to Sedona proper & the Grand Canyon. Our gathering place is in a comfortable, spacious home, where we will make sacred space, with meals provided. Please let us know of any dietary restrictions that you have.
Overnight accommodations: The inn in Munds Park is providing overnight lodging, about 1 ½ mile from our meeting place. Take an easy drive, walk, or call Shepherd Heart to arrange for shuttling.
Traveling Instructions
& Recommendations:
The retreat is in Munds Park, Arizona, nestled in the ponderosa pines between Sedona & Flagstaff- which makes it particularly picturesque. The exact address is given upon approved application and full payment. (Includes meals, retreat activities in Munds Park, overnight accommodations) Refund schedules are arranged for partial refund depending on the date of cancellation relative the the event.
Meet at the Retreat center for Registration You will be required to provide your own transportation to the retreat site, and to any points of recreation, such as Flagstaff, the Grand Canyon, Sedona, or the Tlaquepaque Arts Village. (Fees associated with such excursions – shopping, and/or dining out, etc. – are not included in the retreat cost, of course, but are fun “extras” to choose from during your “play times” over the week.)
Flying: There is a major airport in Phoenix (Sky Harbor) with direct flights from many departure cities across the country. There are also two smaller regional airports (Sedona & Flagstaff). See maps below. Many people find Sky Harbor (Phoenix) to be the easiest airport of the three, due to greater availability and flexibility in daily arrivals and departures. For this reason, Sky Harbor (Phoenix) is the recommended destination for air travel. (Even though it’s *really warm* in Phoenix in July & August, you’ll be amazed at what a difference an elevation of 7000ft can make!) Rental cars for the weekend should be easy to come by, especially from Sky Harbor – but reservations are always recommended. (Pro-tip: Especially for those flying great distances, travel insurance to compensate you for any travel inconveniences, like flight delays, cancellation, etc, is often a wise choice.)
Driving Instructions: From the North: The city of Flagstaff is at the junction of I-17 and I-40. Munds Park is 21 miles South of Flagstaff on I-17, exit 322: Pinewood Blvd.
From the South: Munds Park is 126 miles NORTH (and many degrees cooler!) from Phoenix on the I-17.
Sky Harbor Airport (Phoenix) to Munds Park
Regional airports (note: Phoenix Sky Harbor is recommended)
For those who wish to extend their stay in the area after the retreat has ended, there are several lovely resorts available in and around the Flagstaff & Sedona areas.
Payment:
For virtual retreats, the fee per participant is $250. (Virtual retreats do not include overnight accommodations or meals.)
Make checks payable to “Shepherd Heart.”
Payment options:
Mail check to:
Shepherd Heart
595 E. Colorado Blvd., Ste. 409,
Pasadena, California 91101
– or –
Pay through PayPal Link
(this option includes a $10 convenience fee)
Refund schedules are as follows: Once registered, there is a $25 cancellation fee. No refunds (partial or full) are available for cancellations on or after May 19.
Financial Hardship? Here’s one possible resource: Follow this link to information regarding The Everence® Pastoral Financial Wellness program. If you are interested in learning more the matching grant program through the Everence Lilly Endowment, contact Rhoda M Blough at rhoda.blough@everence.com or at 970-219-0900.
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