TC18 | Retreat #4 - Details from the Team

Dear Friend,

It’s only a couple days until we are on retreat together! We are so looking forward Engaging Scriptures for Spiritual Transformation. The retreat is December 4-6 with check-in beginning at 4pm on Sunday at University of St. Mary of the Lake.

Remember to bring:

Your Bible and journal
Casual, comfortable clothing with layers for adjusting to varying temperatures
Pillow or any other items that would help you rest well
Alarm clock so you can completely unplug
Toiletries and hair dryer (if needed)

Lastly, you will need a Vehicle Access Pass for your arrival on Sunday. USML is having a Christmas concert that day and there will be a section of the purple lot reserved for TC. If you are driving in, please print out and have this placard on your dashboard so you can park in reserved area.

Blessings,
The TC18 Ministry Community

Arrival and Lodging

As you may remember, the main entrance of University of St Mary of the Lake is closed at this time. When using an address to find the conference center, please use 300 Principal Ave, Mundelein, IL. Upon entering the USML campus at the University Drive entrance, follow signs to the Purple parking lot which will be on your left. NOTE: your GPS will probably bypass the Purple parking lot so watch carefully; the Purple lot will be less than one mile from the entrance. Here is a map for easy reference. After parking in the purple parking lot, walk down the ramp from the lot to the Conference Center Lodging Building.

You can check in at the registration window, then around the corner in the living room, find the Transforming Center check-in table.

The TC check-in table will not be ready prior to 4pm. USML will make every effort to accommodate you if you arrive early, but we are not able to guarantee early check-in. We will meet for dinner in the dining hall at 5:30pm.

Your Small Group and Convener

Listed below are the conveners for your small groups. If you are named as the convener below and know you will be running late on Sunday, please let your small group know and ask someone to substitute for you. The convener has responsibility for Sunday's dinner discussion:

Ask the Holy Spirit to be present in your time together
Watch the time as each participant shares
Close with a prayer of thanksgiving for the time together

Please judge how much time each person will have to share (5–10 minutes for a larger group) and use the questions for your sharing about our last retreat topic, Prayer over the last quarter (the questions were in Ruth's recent email and also will be in your folder).

While the dinner hour can't have the same rhythm of silence-and-speaking as your group spiritual direction times, it can still contain the same spirit of allowing each person to share their experience of prayer these past three months and to receive their words with listening reverence.

The convener will act as time-keeper for the small group direction experience Monday night as well. Instructions will be given while on retreat.

Conveners for this retreat are: Rachel Clair, Charla Gwartney, Brad Yordy, Jennifer McHugh, Anthony Favors, Matthew Howe, Trudy Stoffel, Antonio Marshall, Deb Outlaw, Jeff Coleman, Erika Haveman, Katherine Koonce, Randall Hicks, Lynn Miller Jackson, Annie Laing, Desiree Lawson, Matthew Tinken, Sharon Lobel, and Rebecca Johnson.

Other Reminders

Papers
If you have not already done so, email your written reflections to TC18papers@transformingcenter.org by the Friday before the retreat begins. For formatting guidelines, please refer to the During the Quarter document in your folder or visit the TC18 webpage.

Absences
Remember, if you have to be absent for any retreat, email your small group and TC18@transformingcenter.orgto let everyone know so we can be aware of the things going on for you and can hold you in prayer. Also, refer to the Helpful Information document on the TC18 webpage in order to catch up with all that is needed to fulfill the requirements to earn a certificate.