Habits of Presence Prayer Retreat 2025
Come apart and rest awhile. In this retreat, you will be invited to cultivate habits of attention to the presence of the God who is always present to us. Begin the weekend learning how to notice the burning bushes in your life. On Sabbath morning explore daily rhythms of prayer that have sustained God's people for millennia. As prayer coordinators, learn how to provide a welcoming space for those who seek a spiritual companion on their faith journey. Refresh your spirit through praying alone in nature. Discover repentance as opening yourself to God’s healing love. End the weekend with hearing blessings on both the small and the momentous times of our lives and finish with creating blessings of your own.
Sheila Clark, our retreat leader, is the University Librarian at Burman University. Upon completion of a two-year spiritual direction program, she co-taught a course Christian Spirituality for eight years at Burman University. She has led groups in the College Heights Church on topics such as, the history and spirituality of hymns, Ruth: 12 moments in every woman’s life, and Ten Ways to Pray. As a spiritual director believing that God is present and active in every moment of life, she finds profound joy in providing a welcoming and hospitable space for fellow spiritual travellers to be attentive to the presence of God in their lives.
Where? Pioneer Ranch.
Directions from Rocky Mountain House:
- Drive west on highway 11 - David Thompson Highway (8 km)
- Turn right (north) towards Crimson Lake Provincial Park (sign) on Highway 756 (8km)
- Go past the Crimson Lake Provincial Park entrance 1 km and turn left at the Pioneer Ranch Camp sign. Follow the gravel road into the camp
- Unload your gear from your vehicle and park your car in the main parking lot next to the horse corrals
Times:
Arrival: no earlier than 5:00pm on Friday May 30, 2025. Have your supper before arriving.
Departure: out of rooms by 10:00am Sunday June 1, 2025 & depart the grounds no later than 2:00pm.
Meals: Breakfast 8:30am; Lunch 12:30pm; Supper 6:00pm. Catered meals begin with breakfast on Saturday and end with lunch on Sunday. Snacks are provided afternoon/evening.
Meetings: a program with meeting times will be supplied upon arrival. First meeting will be 7pm Friday.
Accommodations:
Pioneer Ranch (Rocky Mountain House) offers wood heated cabins, which can sleep 8-10 people. Most are one large room with double bunk beds along the outside walls.
You will need to provide your own sleeping bag/sheets & blankets, pillow, towel, toiletries, etc.
Washrooms are separate from the cabins.
Please note:
- Food allergies, intolerances, and religious preferences will be accommodated as much as possible. If you have questions email Honey Todd htodd@albertaadventist.ca
- Do not bring peanuts, peanut/nut products, alcohol, cannabis, or pets. These are not allowed on Pioneer property.
- This is Alberta, bring clothing suitable for all four seasons.
- Flashlights are recommended for walking to and from cabins after dark (included washroom trips)
- After each meal 4-6 people will be scheduled to help with dishes and dinning room set-up
- A general clean-up of the facility will be done by the group before we depart. This may include sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, emptying garbage, and general cleaning and tidying.
- The camp does not take any responsibility for lost items. We strongly recommend that groups do not bring cherished items, expensive electronics and other valuables to camp. There is a two-week hold on lost and found items after which they will be removed from site.