Church Retreat 2022

Everyone is invited to join Crosstown Covenant Church at Covenant Pines Bible Camp in McGregor, MN.  Church Retreat is a weekend of fellowship, discipleship,  and awe at God's beautiful creation.  It's a weekend where kids wander to the playground together, and families mix for canoe outings and hay rides. We cheer on the ones who are brave enough to drop on the giant swing and zip line. Strangers become friends around campfires, puzzles, board games, and meals. And most of all we grow spiritually together, taking extra time to dig into Scripture, discuss it together, and worship the Lord of all. 

Investing in Community  Sept 16-18 

Plans for the Weekend
Sept 16-18

This year the retreat theme is Activate: Community. Retreat weekend will be the kickoff weekend for our fall sermon series. The series titled "Activate:" will dig into Crosstown's core values, reaffirm our mission, and kickstart a new season of ministry.

You can read more about this series in Pastor John's blog post: "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it spring up; do you not perceive it? (Isaiah 43:19). We will listen to God’s call as we focus afresh on our logo, mission, and core values." 

Learning Sessions

The theme is Activate: Community.
Saturday sessions this year will be led by Pastor Evan Kolding.  There will be activities available for kids to engage with Pastor Evan during our two Saturday Chapel sessions. No child care will be offered. Saturday night there will also be a Bonfire Chapel service of fellowship and conversation. 

Activities

Camp offers may fun activities like a rock wall, canoes, swimming, and more. Crosstown will also have a couple special events. For youth, there is a Friday night gathering. Saturday there will be a hay ride and in the evening we will be enjoying some BBQ.

Sunday Worship Options

 There will be two in-person worship options: 
  • In McGregor at 9:30, Pastor John will preach and lead worship. 
  • In Minneapolis, John Yoder of Church Connectors Ministry will be the guest preacher at 10:00. 
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer a livestream option to join either service. 

Guest Speaker: Pastor Evan Kolding

Evan joined Lakeview Covenant's staff in 2018, coming from over a decade of youth ministry on the West Coast. He received his undergraduate degree from North Park University and his Masters of Theology degree from Fuller Theological Seminary. Evan is passionate about creating and facilitating transformative discipleship relationships and experiences for youth in ways that impact the church as a whole. You'll often hear him talk about the necessity of intergernational discipleship, the importance of Scripture, and the adventures of living in mission with God in our neighborhoods, city, and world! He is married to Christina and they have four daughters. Evan loves to be outside on the trails, at the park, drinking third-wave coffee, eating new foods, and spending time with people of all backgrounds.

Accommodation Options at Covenant Pines

There are multiple different accommodation options at Covenant Pines.
We have something to fit every need. 

The most central building at Covenant Pines Bible Camp is the Retreat Center.
The Retreat Center has 16 rooms, some with a full in-suite bathroom.  Rooms have various sleeping arrangements with twin and full size beds.
There are two levels of rooms offered for reservation: General & Semi-Private

The Lakeside Cabins are located on the Silver Beach property south of camp.  
Each cabin has 2 bedrooms, kitchen, bathrooms, and convenient lake access.  

Bring your camper or tent to the dockside Campsites.  The camping area has 3 options for electric hookup. Restrooms are located in the nearby dining hall or gym.  The gym also has showers. 

Why I attend retreat?

Cost

 Retreat costs for accommodations and/or the meals-only option are variable based on the location you choose. Your housing includes two nights at camp, 5 meals, speaker fees, and administrative needs.  After you have completed the registration form, we will contact you with the exact amount owed. If you are in need of financial assistance please indicate that on the form. Payment can be made by check or credit card and we hope to have it collected by Sunday, September 11th. Payments will NOT be collected at camp.

Registration

Registration due by Sept 5th!  More information about accommodation options located in the form. Accommodations are assigned on a first-come first-served basis. 

Location

Retreat is at Covenant Pines Bible Camp in McGregor. The camp is nestled between two lakes which allow for many great water views and sunsets. There are trails to walk, water equipment to use, a playground to romp, and two beaches for swimming.   There is a coffee shop to keep you energized, and many places to play games (ping-pong, gym, volleyball court, climbing wall, zip line, giant swing, ga-ga ball, 9 square and more).

FAQ

What are the Covid precautions?  Masks are optional in all locations at camp. This aligns with Crosstown’s current Covid policy. Questions about the Covid policy may be directed to Pastor John.
Will the meals accommodate dietary allergies?  Yes, CPBC kitchen is accustomed to fixing gluten-free, nut-free, and dairy-free meals.  Please indicate this need in your registration form.They are unable to accommodate dietary choices (Whole 30, Keto…).
Can I make a donation beyond my registration fee?  Sure, that would be awesome.  You can round up when you pay your registration fee.  
Is there childcare during the sessions?  No childcare needed. We are seeking to engage all ages during the Chapel sessions! All ages are invited and welcome to participate in Chapel worship. All our Chapel times will be kid-friendly!
Will I have to share a cabin/room with someone else? We don't believe that housing will be tight enough this year to need to share spaces. If there is someone you want to room with please indicate that on your registration form.
What if I can't make it that weekend but want to listen to the lessons?  Sorry, we will not be live streaming or recording our chapel sessions.
Is there a youth-specific activity? Youth are invited to hang out with Pastor Evan (Pastor of Next Gen Ministries at Lakeview Covenant) on Friday night at 9pm, around the firepit outside the Retreat Center.
What if I want to attend but not stay overnight?  That is certainly possible. Please use the registration form to indicate this desire and for how many meals you plan to join us.
What are the housing options through Crosstown? This year Crosstown will be in the Retreat Center and Lakeside cabins. The retreat center has been divided into two styles of rooms: semi-private and general. Explanation of these options can be found in the registration form. Camping is also an option.
Other housing options? The White Pines Cabin can be booked through Covenant Pines independently. Or you could book your own room at the Country Meadows Inn. If you would like to be included in Crosstown’s meal times, that should be communicated on the reservation form.
How do I pay for retreat? After you complete registration we will email you a response with the exact cost of retreat. Check payment is preferred. Credit card payment does incur a fee. Payment can be made in person Sunday, Sept 11th or Thursday-Friday, Sept 8-9 during the 9:00-3:00 office hours. Payment can also be made electronically through a Square invoice sent to your email. Payments will NOT be collected at camp.
Will there be Sunday Worship at Crosstown? Yes, John Yoder from Church Connectors (https://connectors.church/) will be our guest preacher. This will be a low-tech service, meaning no use of projector screens or livestream option.
How do I watch Sunday worship on YouTube? Unfortunately, we are unable to offer a livestream worship option.