January 2021 Refresh Retreat

Director, Dr. Trisha Wheelock

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January 4-6 the Moses Project hosted its annual January Refresh Retreat hybrid style with pastors meeting both in person at the Embassy Suites in Des Moines and joining online from home.

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The goals of the retreat were to reflect, connect, and laugh.

 

The pastors enjoyed goodie bags filled with treats along with Moses Project and Grand View swag, virtual happy hour, and a “fun” activity. For the fun activities, pastors “traveled” to the city of Prague and learned about an 18th century plague, solved a murder mystery where some of our own pastors were part of the crime, toured a Guggenheim exhibit featuring Hilma of Klint, a Lutheran artist, and competed in ancient Greek trivia with “Socrates,” a modern educator living in Athens.  

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Along with time for independent contemplation, journaling and bible study, one of the joys of the January Retreat is the opportunity to worship together. Dr. Michael Elsbernd, a Grand View faculty member and Director of Worship and Music at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Des Moines, led daily worship. The mentors, Rev. Steve Peterson, Rev. Sarah Ciavarri, and Rev. Bob Chell, preached. To view copies of their sermons, please visit our blog or click on their names. 

 

As the psalmist exclaims in Psalm 84, “How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.”

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Visit our Facebook page for a glimpse of the January Retreat.