Monday, April 07, 2008

Registration Now Open for the October 3-5, 2008 Retreat!







Pastor Tim Pauls


Please register as soon as possible for the third annual Zion Lutheran Youth Retreat in Marshall, Michigan. We again expect over 100 attendees at the retreat. We will have to cut off registrations when we reach 125 attendees, so don't delay!

If your church does not have an organized youth group, you are welcome as well. The fee is $75 per attendee, including parents and chaperons. Chaperons will be provided if you are unable to provide your own. We request that groups bring one adult for every 3-4 youth. We will accept checks from individuals made payable to Zion Lutheran Church, but we would prefer one check per group if possible.

It is important for you to remember that current sixth-grade youth are eligible to participate in this fall's retreat, which is again open to 7th - 12th graders and college students. So be sure you make information and registration forms available to this fall's incoming seventh grade class. This is a great way for new catechumens to become involved in your church's youth activities and begin socializing with each other and their older Lutheran peers.

We made the decision last year to maintain this annual retreat on the first weekend in October so people can easily remember when it is. We've been told by a lot of churches that the timing of our retreat serves as a wonderful way to kick off the year's youth group schedule. It's also an ideal setting to introduce new catechumens to socializing with other Lutherans. The format of the retreat is the same as last year's, with a few minor changes, including a new subject and main speaker, Pr. Tim Pauls of Boise, Idaho!

The topic: Living by Faith

You live by faith every day as a Christian, but faith is one of the most misunderstood doctrines in Christianity. It's also one of the most important! If you get faith wrong, you'll also be misguided about all sorts of things. What does it mean to live by faith? What does it have to do with things you might encounter any day--like worship, geometry exams, prayer, miracles, ravenous wildebeests or doctors with the sniffles? Based upon the upcoming book from CPH, /You Ask About...Faith/, Pastor Tim Pauls will talk about the basics of faith--what it is and what it isn't, and then talk about what it means to live by faith in Christ...even during geometry class.

It’s no secret that many youth stop attending worship in their high school and college years. What can parents and others do to encourage children in the Christian faith? During the Bible study period on Sunday, Pastor Pauls will give a presentation addressing these questions. The talk will be based on some pertinent texts from Scripture, followed by a time for discussion, questions and answers. This is the final catechesis session of the retreat, but is open to all ages and should be of interest to everyone.

So, to reiterate, please make enough copies of the "Retreat Description and Schedule" and "Individual Registration Form" from the PDF files (linked below) to provide to all your youth from sixth-grade up, as soon as possible! Thank you for your prompt attention!


1. Retreat Description and Schedule


2. Individual Registration Form


3. Group Registration Form

4. Area Maps and Information

If you have further questions you can email Dr. Heidenreich at toothdoctor@hughes.net