Who: Pilgrim 7th-8th Graders alongside our Deep Dive partner congregations.
When: Saturday-Sunday 3/18-19 Sleep at home, 2-day retreat: 3-9pm on the 18th and 9am-3pm on the 19th
Location: TBD, likely Augsburg University!
The Abundant Life Retreat is a series of retreats designed for junior high youth to enhance their confirmation experience by intentionally creating the opportunity to learn about sexuality in the context of faith in a joyful and inclusive environment.
What is typically an overnight retreat, Abundant Life “Everything except the Overnight” Retreat is adapted so that there are no communal overnights. Until it is safer to again explore overnight retreats I am glad to offer this modified version. At this point, only Year A: Faith & Sexual Identity is being offered in this alternate format.
The fun begins with ice breaker games and getting-to-know-you activities, optimally indoors and outdoors. Then the learning sessions begin with an anchoring in our scriptural themes, values and an overview of the retreat. After more games and food, we dive into an introduction that includes topics such as anatomy and physiology, body image and self-esteem, which allows youth to attend the retreats in any order with basic, foundational knowledge reinforced through different activities each year. The second half is retreat-specific focused content, and time for relaxation, reflection and closure, again broken up with more food and fun. For the modified version, additional activity ideas are included after programming ends, such as the option of a retreat related movie night, or sledding or skating time.