Church-Wide Retreat is Scheduled for Sept. 18-20

By Susan Shinn Turner

The date is set for the annual church-wide retreat to Lutheridge: Sept. 18-20. The theme is also set: One Church, One Purpose, One Weekend — Unified in Christ.

“We’re really trying to bring all three services together and focus on an inter-generational weekend,” says Donna Groce, who’s heading up the planning committee for the retreat.

The memory verse for the weekend is John 15:5 — “I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.”

Donna plans to utilize Lutheridge’s entire campus, from a hayride to a nature trail scavenger hunt to a Saturday night event that promises lots of dancing, fun, and interactive events.

Last year, Donna shadowed Michael DeNise, who headed the event, in preparation for her leadership role this year. “I’m looking forward to generating some excitement to make it a true intergenerational event.”

Donna is the director of Trinity Oaks University, a lifelong learning program at Trinity Oaks Retirement Community.

“I love working with children and seniors,” she says. “I hope to use my communication skills and my connections to make it all happen at Lutheridge. I love events and bringing people together to make a big event fun.”

Diane Poole, the staff liaison on the retreat committee, notes that the after starting the year with time physically apart due to Covid-19 restrictions, it will be nice to focus on unity as a congregation in the fall.

Due to the impacts of the coronavirus, registrations for the church-wide retreat will be available in May.