PILGRIMAGE WEEKEND..
What is it? ” A Taste of Heaven ” by Emily Nichols
“Have you heard folks around you talking about Pilgrimage? What it could mean for you and your life is not just a chance to ‘get away,’ to retreat from the busyness of life, but an opportunity to truly connect with Christ in a way that many say is unique and life-changing.
And how exactly, you ask, will that happen? You will find that folks are hesitant to really answer that question – and that’s because the weekend is filled with soul-touching surprises. It is unique to each participant.
Over the course of the weekend,there are 15 ‘talks’ given – ten are given by lay people, and five by ordained pastors. You will be part of a small group that will discuss the talks. If you attend in November, we will be at Lake Lavon Camp and Conference Center where you will share a motel- style room (single beds) with one other person. If you attend with your spouse, you can attend chapel together, eat together, and share a common experience. You will sing, laugh, make wonderful new friends, and renew your spirit.
The weekend is a great exercise in surrendering and living in the present. You don’t get an agenda for the weekend, but you will be told where to be when (and no, we don’t take your watch or your cell phone away – but we will encourage you to turn off the phone!). You will be pampered, you will be loved, you will be prayed for, and you will be accepted just the way you are.
Pilgrimage is a GracePC sponsored ministry.
Click here for more details: www.ntpp.org
Testimonials our members about their experiences:
From Bryan Raaum, “For me Pilgrimage is three life-changing days that impact a lifetime. I went to Pilgrimage expecting a three-day retreat with singing, food and a little bit of personal reflection and sharing. I experienced so much more. I did not want to leave on Sunday evening at the end of my Pilgrimage weekend even if it meant not returning home to my family. I received grace and love from others in a way that cannot be expressed in words. For me it was an experience as close to heaven as can be reached on earth. I did not turn on the radio in my car for three weeks as sports, talk radio and world news had little significance in light of the renewal I had gone through. The Pilgrimage experience is sustained today through renewal meetings with other Pilgrims (alumni) and the sharing of my thoughts with others. I feel a sense of belonging and community that transcends anything Ive known before. Pilgrimage has shown me what true agape love is, and how I can be a vessel in the Potters hands to share that love with others. Is God calling you to attend Pilgrimage? It is my hope and prayer that you listen for that call.
From Mike Shaw, “Before I left for Pilgrimage, James Thomas said it reminded him of what the first Christian communities must have been like. That is a very accurate picture of what your time will be like at Pilgrimage. Imagine that for a moment. Laurie, my wife, was just about positive she was ready to turn the Youth Ministry over to new leadership, as we headed off for the weekend. We both felt the Holy Spirit refreshing and reassuring us about this being the correct decision. The timing of Pilgrimage for us was no accident. It was truly on God’s timing. Do you have anything you need to turn over to God?
Initially, I was a bit of a skeptic. Working with the Youth had given me many great opportunities for fantastic retreats. I have seen lives changed on many occasions, including my own. My attitude was different after the weekend. There is really nothing that compares to Pilgrimage!
Eight of us went from Grace, this past fall and every single person continues to rave about it. Change is in the air at GPC and Pilgrimage has the ability to be a catalyst for positive energy that only the Holy Spirit can provide, if we allow it to. Come and be a part of the Pilgrimage experience!”
From Beth McInerney, “Pilgrimage was a joy-filled experience for me as a participant and a staff member. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to draw closer in their relationship with Jesus Christ and others in their faith community. My husband joined me on the Pilgrimage weekend, and I loved being able to share such a spirit filled weekend with him. A verse of scripture that reminds me of Pilgrimage is this one from Colossians 3:16: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” Pilgrimage is an experience of “a little heaven on earth”