Visions of Healing Retreat

“There is a balm in Gilead
to make the wounded whole.
There is a balm in Gilead
to heal the sin-sick soul.”
Negro Spiritual

Our hearts have been deeply touched by the many personal stories reflecting the devastating brokenness throughout our world and we can sense that the emotional impact of these stories is oftentimes overwhelming.  Visions of Healing, A Curriculum for Congregational Care offers three experiential safe-space retreats that enable participants to explore personalized brokenness in ways that will provide both individual and congregational healing through the development of healthy relationships with God, others, and self.

Objectives

To raise awareness and consciousness of the emotional and spiritual effects upon congregations stemming from personal brokenness.
To develop interpersonal empathic connections.
To deepen relationship with God, others, and self.

 

The Retreats

Mirrors of Hope

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou are with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
(KJV) Psalm 23:4

This 3-hour-retreat provides healing from personal brokenness through using the Lament Psalm structure as a sacred vehicle to complain to God in faith.  Participants learn about the specific components of the Lament Psalm and are guided through exercises that apply their understanding towards the development of a personal Lament Psalm.

Reflections of Grace

Jesus said, “’Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’  This is the most important, the first on any list.  But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.”
(MSG) Matt. 22:37-40

This 3-hour retreat provides healing from personal brokenness by focusing upon building healthy relationships with each other.  Using Imago Relationship Theory, participants are guided through a process that creates interpersonal empathy and understanding.

Images of Love

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”  
(NRSV) Jer. 1:5

This 3-hour retreat provides healing from personal brokenness by focusing upon establishing a healthy relationship with self.  Using various communication techniques, participants develop self-portraits as reflected through spiritual autobiography, life history, and an exploration of personal purpose.

For more information, please contact The Rev. Dr. Robert Phillips, Canon for Leadership Development and Congregational Care.