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What is Grace Place Lutheran Retreats?

Grace Place Lutheran Retreats provides a haven for Lutheran pastors, teachers, DCE's and other professional church workers and their spouses through education, restoration and recreation. During the week-long retreat they learn new ways to be healthy, and enjoy rest and fellowship. The couple will walk away from the week renewed in body, mind, and spirit.

Our retreat program was developed by top pastoral care professionals nationwide in conjunction with Lutheran leaders and created to sustain church worker excellence through an extended, intentional retreat program for Lutheran church workers and spouses.

Generally, each retreat is focused on a specific worker category; i.e. pastors retreat with fellow pastors; teachers with teachers, DCE's with DCE's. etc. Church workers are always encouraged to attend with their spouse.

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What are the retreats like?

"No one sleeps on a week-long Grace Place Retreat. It is a five-day, five-night experience...not a vacation...but a comprehensive retreat. Activities fill the day with continuing education, fellowship, afternoon adventure activities, evening faith exploration and worship. Topics range from physical, emotional and spiritual health, marital enrichment, conflict resolution in the home and parish, money management, diet and exercise. Daily, there is time for just plain old, good Christian fun.

The retreat, by its design and structure, becomes a "wholistic" seminar itself as it models the very "outcomes" it strives to convey to each participant.

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What are some immediate benefits?

All sessions are designed to help church workers enrich their spiritual, physical, emotional, intellectual and relational health and wholeness.

Church workers will learn how to engage their home congregations and communities in new health and caring ministry programs and make connections to denominational human care agencies for their families.

Individuals pair up to become confidential website peers who share their concerns and support directly.

Church workers will enhance the longevity and effectiveness of their public ministry and the vibrancy of their personal pilgrim journey.

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What is the cost to attend a retreat?

The cost to attend a retreat is $300 per couple for the week.

The "actual cost" of attendance is approximately $2,000. (This is what it costs Grace Place, not what it costs you.) However, through grants and generous donations of individuals and organizations, the out of pocket expense is dramatically reduced for the church worker.

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Why should I attend a retreat?

Many church workers enter the ministry excited and ready to serve. Soon the demands of their Office take over. As servants, pastors and educators are to spread the Gospel and carry many administrative duties within the congregation, this is in addition to the many hours pastors counsel troubled members, visit the sick, bury the dead, and marry engaged couples. And we are all aware of all the extra classroom activities our teachers & DCE's do daily.

Well-meaning workers spend so much time taking care of parish members, they may fail to make time to take care of themselves and their families. Ironically, as the workers strive hard to help members be healthy, they themselves forget to keep their body, mind and soul in great shape.

Sound familiar...?

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How do I prepare for a retreat?

• We ask that each participant has a physical with their primary care physician prior to attending the retreat.  A Medical Form will be sent to you when you register.
• Fill out the Self-Assessment Tool – available online at:  www.graceplaceretreats.org and email to the Grace Place Office at:  annette.woehlke@graceplaceretreats.com
• Bring comfortable, casual clothing.  No ties allowed.
• Bring exercise clothing for the daily exercise sessions -  based on yoga stretching.
• If you plan to play golf or tennis during the afternoon free time, bring your own equipment as it may be expensive to rent.
• If attending a retreat in Aspen, Colorado see “Coping with the Altitude” article below.
• Pray for all those attending and leading the retreat

Aspen sits at 7,908 feet above sea level and that’s quite an adjustment for most of us.  Upon arrival you may notice that you don’t feel like yourself.  Do you feel fatigued, or have a headache and stuffy nose?  And why are you so short of breath after walking up one flight of stairs?

You are experiencing the symptoms of mountain sickness as your body is trying to adjust to the high altitude.  At this elevation it takes more pressure to drive oxygen into your blood.

Here are a few suggestions that may help:

1. Drink plenty of water to offset the effects of dry air.
2. Moderate alcohol intake. 
3. Don’t over-exercise.  Too much exercise too soon can produce nasty symptoms.  You will be led gradually into an exercise regimen at the retreat which will prepare you if you wish to hike the trails.
4. Eat lightly.  Carbohydrate foods require less oxygen for digestion than do meats and fat.  They also provide the best fuel for active endeavors.
5. Sleep.  Get it!  You deserve it?  You earned it, just as long as you get to morning exercise and stretching with your fellow Lutherans. 

What to avoid:

• Sunburn.  High SPF lotion or sunblock of 15-30 is a must.  High altitude has strong ultraviolet light during any season.  Also, bring a hat, sunglasses, and chapstick.
• Giardia lamblia.  This intestinal parasite thrives in mountain streams.  Don’t drink stream water and wash hands well. 
• Turbulent water.  Below those crystal streams are slick stones covered with moss.  Water can be deceptively deep. 

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Where are the retreats located?

Retreat sites are chosen for excellence in service and facility and are held nationwide in regional settins of great beauty. Examples include, Aspen, Colorado; Cumberland, Maryland; Seattle, Washington; Mackinac Island, Michigan; Gulf Coast, Alabama.

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Does Grace Place have a denominational association?

Yes, Grace Place Lutheran Retreats is a Recognized Service Organization (RSO) of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS).