2024 Men's Retreat Breakout Sessions
BREAKOUTS
All breakouts are availabe on a first come first served basis and must be signed up for at registration
FOLLOW ME! Discipleship for Dummies
When’s the last time you seriously asked yourself “what kind of person am I becoming” and “is it more like Jesus or less”? This session will be an introduction to the deeply profound and yet simple book by pastor/author John Mark Comer Practicing the Way: Be with Jesus, Become like Jesus, Do as He did. We will explore the life Jesus envisioned for his followers and look at the practical pathway He modeled that is compelling and accessible. This book has been described as “an invitation to go deeper and the perfect primer” for newer apprentices of Jesus.
RICK COLQUHOUN has been on The Way since 1976 after spending his teen years as an atheist. Married since 1980 to Brenda, he raised 4 children while serving as a pastor for over 30 years. He currently serves as a lay leader in a Vineyard church in central NY, manages a small realestate business and works with leaders via PRAXIS Coaching when he’s not on the golf course.
The American Dream – let’s raise the roof together
“We believe every neighborhood can be a good place to call home. Everyone deserves the opportunity to build a stronger future. Habitat for Humanity believes that healthy and affordable homes are the foundation for people and communities to thrive.” habitatcd.org website This breakout session will cover topics from the how and who can get a home; to the various ways to get involved with Habitat for Humanity Capital District. The discussion will explore topics such as;
- How to become a home owner(application, need base, financial literacy trainings, sweat equity)
- How to volunteer
- What it means to host a Team Build
- Shop and Donate to the ReStore
Financial contributions may be made to:
- Click HERE to give online -- Or --
- checks can be written out to Habitat for Humanity Capital District and mailed to:
Habitat for Humanity Capital District
207 Sheridan Avenue
Albany, NY 12210
TIMOTHY CONDON and his wife April have been members of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Colonie for Twenty plus years. Tim gladly uses his talents where God leads him. For many years, Tim organized and lead teams of skilled and unskilled volunteer’s for Habitat builds on houses in the Albany and Troy communities. Separately, he coordinated campers for a week long fund raising event that involved sleeping in tents at a Guilderland Park. Ten new construction homes were built from the money raised in the twenty years the annual summer event ran.
A Prayerful Journey Through Christ the King Center
Join Christopher on the way as we embark on a prayer walk through the beautiful grounds of Christ the King Center. With each step, we open our hearts to the concept of place and its profound impact on our spiritual lives. On this journey we visit five chapels scattered across the campus, each offering a unique atmosphere to deepen our connection with the divine.
1. The Chapel of St. Michael and All Angels: Sunlight streams through stained glass windows, illuminating in vibrant colors, the story of Saint Michael slaying a demon. Here, we reflect on the wonder of the workings of heaven. We prayerfully acknowledge that God works in ways far beyond our understanding and give thanks for all He does that we do not know.
2. The Healing Center Chapel: Overlooking the pond we find the Oratory of Christ the Healer. The serene view from the seats and the rich history of a converted barn are whispers of the importance of comfort, hope, and serenity.
3. The Barry House Chapel: The uncomplicated beauty of the chapel in the sunroom contrasted with the grandeur of the soaring stone wall of the library leads us to pray that we may commune with God in simple settings.
4. The Burton Rd. Chapel: Stepping into this chapel filled with historical pieces, we reflect on the importance of spiritual heritage and the comfort found in tradition. We pray for the wisdom to learn from those who have walked this path before us and the courage to build upon their legacy of faith.
5. The Outdoor Chapel: Sunlight filters through the pines in this chapel built for Beaver Cross Camp. Here, we pause and give thanks for the natural world, a constant reminder of God's creative power. We pray that, like this chapel bathed in light, our hearts may be open to God's illuminating presence in every aspect of our lives.
Bonus – The Oak Tree: As we conclude our prayer walk, lush greenery and a stunning view await us and invite us to a state of peace and contemplation. We pray for the ability to create sacred spaces within ourselves, sanctuaries where we can connect with God amidst the daily hustle and bustle.
We carry the essence of each chapel within our hearts, a reminder that sacred spaces can exist anywhere, fostering a deeper connection with the divine. We return to our daily lives, forever changed by this journey, more aware of the profound impact of place on our spiritual well-being.
Weeds and Wheat
We will look at the parable Jesus told about wheat and weeds in Matthew 13. Together we will consider how we can discover our true self (the deeper I), the one God has in mind for us. And the weeds are an important part of that. We will explore the mystery of God’s grace that we seem to grow spiritually by doing it wrong and falling into something bigger and deeper. There is a God-sized hole in the masculine effort to be successful, compulsively trying to “fix” or hide our mistakes. How can we lay hold of the wisdom which comes when we realize that renewal and transformation lie on the other side of loss and failure?
Rev. Rupert "Bo" Harris lives in Cambridge, New York. A graduate of Lehigh University and Princeton Seminary and Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, he is a member of the Presbytery of Albany. Rev. Harris has served congregations in Colorado, Oregon, Scotland, New Jersey, and New York. He and his wife, Janice, have three children and three grandchildren. He enjoys birding, hiking, and singing.
High Ropes Course Workshop: Running to God, Our Refuge
If you want to spend some quality time outside with an amazing team of men and experience the thrill and challenge of high ropes, this is the workshop for you! We'll begin with a short time of devotion and prayer looking at Psalm 73 and study how God gives us courage in calamity. Then, we'll put on our harnesses and helmets and cheer each other on as we conquer the heights of the CtK ropes course. NOTE: This breakout is offered Saturday only and runs from 10:30 am - 12:00 pm. A waiver must be signed at check-in on Friday. Ropes activities will be determined based on the number of people signing up for this breakout.
DANIEL (Danny) HYDE is a born and bred Englishman with a passion for the Lord! Serving alongside his wife Kaitlyn, Danny is one half of the Diocese of Albany’s Youth Ministry team: serving youth and young adults across 19 NY counties. Prior to full time ministry work, Danny’s background was in Elementary Education, and he has lived stateside for almost 10 years. Joining Beaver Cross Ministries in 2008, this year will mark 16 years of being involved in youth ministry with no plans to hang up his basketball shorts anytime soon. Being the father of 2 small children, Danny’s time is spent praising the Lord, drinking coffee, attempting to keep his children safe, and drinking more coffee!