Lutheran Youth Retreats - Marshall, Michigan

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

2008-04-07T11:22:00.022-04:00

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

My Favorite Podcast...

2007-10-21T19:31:00.000-04:00

Law & Gospel at Zion: Subscribe in a reader

Our Speaker for Next Year (2008)

2007-10-11T17:46:00.000-04:00

Pr. Tim Pauls has agreed to be our main speaker for next year's annual Zion-Marshall youth retreat (planned from now on to be the first weekend in October every year).

Pastor Tim Pauls has a Bachelor of Arts degree in pre-theology from Concordia College (now University) in Portland, Oregon; and a Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. Ordained in 1993, Pastor Pauls currently serves as associate pastor and acting school administrator for Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Boise, Idaho. He also currently serves as Interim Executive Editor of Higher Things Magazine. He has authored three books for Concordia Publishing House, including Going Out, Getting Dumped, and Playing Mini Golf on the First Date. His personal interests include writing, outdoor activities, camping, reading and directing the church choir. Pr. Pauls and his wife have two sons.

Some photos from October 5-7, 2007

2007-10-11T16:27:00.000-04:00

By the way, there were well over 100 souls in attendance at our retreat this year (adults and youth).

Audio Files of Retreat Talks and Sermons

2007-10-07T20:27:00.000-04:00

I have begun to put up audio recordings (mp3) from this weekend's retreat.

Go here: http://www.zionmarshall.org/audioarchive.htm#retreat2007

I have also received permission from Eric and Polly Rapp to put my recording of the concert last night at Stuart's Landing online, so you should expect that soon. (Does anyone else think that Eric and Polly should perform at a Higher Things conference this summer? Perhaps if they perform at the St. Louis conference Pastor Wilken could introduce them. I really enjoyed the concert and subsequent dancing last night!!!)

Rest well and God bless you.

Rob Olson

Holy Wah! Total Registered at 91! This will be some retreat!

2007-09-30T20:36:00.000-04:00

Erich just sent me this note:

That number includes 61 youth. The rest are adults, pastors, musicians, etc., a few of whom are only attending part of the retreat. I expect about 90 at the Schuler's dinner.

Praise God! We have already surpassed last year's numbers. The response to this year's retreat has been amazing, and thanks to Erich for his work on this project.

Last year's retreat was such a struggle at times, as I had to go to great lengths to just get our numbers up to 50 kids. But the response this year has been overwhelming, and since numbers haven't been an issue, Erich and Co. have been able to focus on making the retreat as great as possible.

It will be bigger, and more than likely, even better than "For All the Saints 2006" was!

We can't wait!

Thank you, Erich!

Information and Forms

2007-08-16T16:55:00.000-04:00

Here are the various forms relating to the 2007 Zion Youth Retreat "Christian Faith and Pop Culture" October 5-7, 2007. Please download and return a.s.a.p. as attendance is limited to the first 125 registrations received. The price is an affordable $55.00 per attendee, including parents and chaperones ("group leaders").

For individuals:
Retreat Info and Schedule
Housing and Marshall Info
Individual Registration Form

Additional forms for groups:
Letter to Youth Leaders and Pastors
Retreat Poster
Retreat Photo Poster
Group Registration Form
Medical Release Form

Marshall Attractions

2007-08-16T16:24:00.000-04:00

Here is a link to some of the attractions in Marshall.

2006 Zion Youth Retreat Photos

2007-08-01T16:21:00.000-04:00

Here are dozens of photos from last year's retreat.

Our Speaker: Rev. Scott Stiegemeyer

2007-06-24T18:45:00.000-04:00

Rev. Scott Stiegemeyer, Director of Admissions, Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, Indiana, was born and grew up in Kansas City, MO. A product of Lutheran schools, K-12, he attended Concordia College, Ann Arbor, MI from 1987-1991. There he met his wife, Julie, who is now an accomplished children’s book author.

They have one child, a son, Jacob. Rev. Stiegemeyer served as pastor to Concordia Lutheran Church in Pittsburgh, PA. A 1995 graduate from CTS, he returned to be the Director of Admission in 2006.

Lutheran Rapp Music at the Retreat!

2007-06-24T17:50:00.000-04:00

No, not rap music. Rapp music.

Meet Eric and Polly Rapp!

Here is their web site.

Here is Eric Rapp's blog.

And here is their interview with Pastor Wilken on Issues, Etc. (with a few samples of their music!)

Our Second Annual Youth Retreat!

2007-06-24T17:09:00.000-04:00

Greetings in Christ!

Thanks to those of you who replied to our last e-mail with compliments regarding the youth retreat that we hosted at Zion-Marshall last year. Again, you are receiving this e-mail because you either attended or expressed interest in that retreat.

In response to all your comments and suggestions, this fall's youth retreat is now being planned for the weekend of October 5-7, 2007. We are greatly blessed to have secured one of the most popular speakers at Higher Things youth events, Rev. Scott Stiegemeyer, as our main speaker! He serves currently as the director of admissions and recruitment at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana and is the author of the blog Burr in the Burgh.

The subject chosen for this year is "Christian Faith and Pop Culture."

We plan to balance the serious teaching and worship which you experienced at last year's retreat with more activities that youth of all ages will enjoy. We even have live musical entertainment (Lutheran, of course) lined up for the weekend.

Let us know if you have any further suggestions for us. We want to make this the best Lutheran youth retreat yet!

So, be sure to put it on your calendars and in your church newsletters:

Lutheran Youth Retreat October 5-7

Confirmation age through college

Zion - Marshall, Michigan

Main Speaker: Rev. Scott Stiegemeyer

Live music, social activities, worship

Last year's retreat received rave reviews

We should have mentioned that the fine details of the retreat agenda, cost of attendance, and registration materials, will be available later this summer, probably not before mid-August. We just wanted to get the word out so you would be informed of this great opportunity for constructive youth fellowship in time to begin planning to attend. And, just to clarify, the ages of youth we plan to have registration for this retreat open to are from those enrolled in confirmation class (typically 7th grade) through college age. We will also have very close supervision of the youth at all times, assigning all attendees to responsible chaperones of our choosing. Some activities may be age-specific.

Thanks for your help, and we hope to see you!

Erich Heidenreich, DDS
Zion - Marshall