We’ve been thinking a lot about families, and how difficult it is to raise children in this modern age, keep our marriages growing, whilst handling the stresses from work. I don’t think any of us will claim that we’ve got it all together.
This will be the first year where we’re creating a specific family focused retreat. We want it to feel like a big group family vacation. A family vacation where we have the added benefit of sharing good experiences, along with great conversations, deeper times of sharing, and opportunities to discuss some complicated issues of life that we usually don’t have the chance to think about.
I’m sure you know how much fun our kids have playing together. And at the same time, how much fun they’d have to have the families sharing time together too. If God’s church is His family, maybe this is a good way to explore what it means for our families to join together.
Highlights of the Schedule
We’ve got Kevin Hill, from G.r.e.a.t. Kids Mentor & Life Coach, coming in to run a special Children’s programme on Saturday. He’ll also be giving a workshop on Praying For and Praying With our Kids. Our Saturday morning speaker for the grown-ups is Kwok Leung. He’ll be sharing about his life experiences raising kids, and the lessons of God through that.
In the afternoon we’ll be holding a range of different workshops to encourage and challenge us, including a workshop by Liz Crowter about integrating and involving families with children with disabilities. And then later in the day we’ll be spending time as families playing some team games. Because after all, kids love watching their parents looking silly. 🙂
Here’s a more detailed look at our draft schedule (as I know these things are important to parents!) Things are still subject to change.
Accommodation
We will be staying at Whitemoor Lakes, a conference centre just north of Birmingham in Lichfield. Each family will have an ensuite room, and all the food is included with the cost.
Costs
earlybird prices
adults (17+) – £125
children (4-12) – £65
children (13-16) – £85
after March 16
adults (17+) – £135
children (4-12) – £75
children (13-16) – £95
Saturday only
adults (17+) £65 (£70 after March 16)
children (4-16) £45 (£50 after March 16)
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