Hearts Awakened Retreat

“The Journey toward freedom and intimacy with God”
(based on Psalm 25)

This retreat will be organized around four themes:
                           Trusting in and abandoning ourselves to God
                           Taking God’s path
                           Opening our heart to God’s examination
                           Walking in friendship with God

The retreat will consist of a blend between small group gatherings of teaching on the four themes, and extended times of solitude for prayer and meditation. Participants will come away from this retreat with a renewed connection to God and tools for continuing the development of their relationship with Him.

Retreat Schedule: Friday night, 6:30-9 PM/Saturday morning, 8:30-Noon
Retreat Location: Northern Hills Church, Brighton Colorado (1.5 Miles East of I-25 on Hwy 7 – Exit 229)

Retreat Leaders:
Dave Gifford — Ordained Pastor and M. A. Counselor at Northern Hills Church in Brighton Colorado.
Scott Toillion- Spiritual director and current student in the Christian Spiritual Formation and Soul Care Program at Denver Seminary.

Please RSVP to Dave Gifford at Northern Hills @ 720-685-1717 or at daveg@nhcc.cc

Http://wellspring1.wordpress.com

A reflection from the Stations of the Cross walk

 

Saturday night forty-five people walked the stations of the cross around Golden Ponds in Longmont.  This year’s walk was in pleasant conditions as opposed to the side-ways blowing blizzard that descended upon us last year. 

The moment I take with me was at the fourth station.  We arrived at the edge of the third pond to listen to how Peter denied Christ three times before the rooster crowed.  At this point dozens of geese began to honk and do their own sort of “crowing”.  They didn’t even have the decency to wait for the third denial, they just got with it right away. 

I wondered as I read whether this was the “crowing” for my own denials of Christ, the times where I failed to respond or say a good word for my God.   But something different happened.   I had a deep sense that Jesus’ walk to the cross and His shed blood was for my redemption, not for my condemnation.  The geese could “crow” condemndation all they wanted at me but it wouldn’t change the fact that Jesus came to restore.

And just as Peter was restored by Jesus around a campfire of freshly cooked fish on the shore of the sea of Tiberias, Jesus was reminding me of the restoration accomplished in my own life as we walked around this much smaller pond.  I was so grateful for this as I walked these stations of the cross Saturday night.  There is no condemnation in Christ.  Jesus made this painful journey that I might find grace.   My prayer is that others find this too.

Blessings to all of you who walked with us at Golden Ponds and also who visited this website during this time to read and reflect on the passion of Christ.

scott, for wellspring copyright 2009

And special Thanks to Tim Weddington for the fantastic photos!  See his website at www.browneyestudio.net