If you don't know your family's history, then you don't know anything. You are a leaf that doesn't know it is part of a tree. – Michael Crichton
Last year we had our first ever family camp/retreat in East Troy, Wisconsin, during the first week of August. It was a great weekend of fellowship, food and fun, and not just because it was my birthday. It was a great time to learn more about the church family and spend quality time with them. Beginning with Adam and Eve, God created people to exist in a system of families. In this system, the Christian church family is an extension of the core family and retreats such as this allow for a much closer relationship to form between them.
I must admit, I was a little apprehensive about spending an entire weekend with folks, because I thought if they were
anything like my extended family, by Sunday we would be ready to say "goodbye" to each other. I was pleasantly surprised; many of us were not ready for the weekend to end, so we went to lunch afterwards to continue the kind of fellowship we had experienced at the retreat.
For me it was a time of getting to know my church family better; as Crichton's quote states above, I was starting to learn more about the church's family tree and the "leaves" that make it up. I got to wake up and brush my teeth with Pastor and Scott Anderson, play unique game of Ping-Pong with friends young and old, hang out on the ropes course with Jay Gustafson and encourage him as he conquered the course with small yet humble steps, huddle up with the kids on the floor to watch a movie, and worship together in an informal but very profound and meaningful way.
It enabled me to just live and fellowship with other believers in a relaxing and casual setting, which in turn brought me closer to Christ. As Martin Luther once said, "Anyone who is to find Christ must first find the family of the church. How could anyone know where Christ is and what faith is in him unless he knew where his believers are?" The weekend allowed me spend time with those believers, draw nearer to Christ and experience the family of the church.
Therefore, I highly recommend you to consider joining us this summer, August 5-7, as we plan for our second annual retreat at the Army Lake Camp & Retreat Center in East Troy (it's only 50 miles or so from Libertyville). Come, eat, play, relax, share stories, and get to know this family tree we are connected to through Christ. The weekend is designed for families of all ages, and stages. Costs include lodge accommodations, meals, activities, pro-gram, swimming, campfires, etc.
Costs: 12-adult, $60; 8 to 11 years old, $50; 4-7, $40; 2-3, $10; under 2 years of age, free.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another…and to be together. - Hebrews 24:25
