Winter Retreat: The Queer Joy of God

February 21-23 | Lake Waubesa Bible Camp

Winter Retreat is a great way to take a break from your normal routine and enjoy some time away from campus with friends! We eat, play, and make memories together while holding space for spiritual reflection and conversation. Whether you are brand new to Pres House or have been a part of the community for years, Winter Retreat is one of the best ways to build relationships at Pres House.

Theme: The Queer Joy of God
Join us for a weekend of reflecting and deep-diving into the queer joy of God. Living outside of our human understanding of binary, the Triune God of the Bible and our lives is ebbing and flowing in an ecstatic and queer way. We will spend time learning (and unlearning) what the Bible has to say about how queerness is present and deeply valued in the church and the world.

The Reverend Jo Wiersema (they/them) serves as the solo pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Oregon, Wisconsin. They were ordained as the first trans* clergy person in the John Knox Presbytery and they absolutely love being queer. Involved with both local and national LGBTQIA+ organizations, they are excited to share their experiences and perspectives with you all. They are a parent, baker, and queer romance book enthusiast. When not hanging out with Presbyterians, Jo can likely be found at the local library with a pile of books with people kissing on the cover.

The registration fee is $70. However, if this is your first Pres House retreat, you will automatically receive a $10 discount. Scholarships are available if you cannot pay the full registration fee; contact Nii Addo before registering to request a scholarship. The deadline to register is Friday, February 14.

FAQ’s

Retreat is in McFarland at Lake Waubesa Bible Camp, a 20-minute drive from campus. The rooms are dormitory style with bunk beds (2-4 people per room). There are two shared bathrooms with multiple sinks, stalls, and curtained showers. All the meals are cooked on-site and served family style.

During free time, there are lots of fun outdoor activities to choose from: hiking, sledding, snowshoeing, skiing, and more.

Please note that this schedule is subject to change. We give everyone an updated schedule at the retreat.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21
5:15 ~ Meet at Pres House
6:00 ~ Arrive at Lake Waubesa Bible Camp
6:30 ~ Dinner
7:15 ~ Session 1
7:45 ~ Small Groups
9:00 ~ Free Time

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22
8:15 ~ Breakfast
9:00 ~ Session 2
10:00 ~ Break
10:30 ~ Small Groups
12:30 ~ Lunch
1:30 ~ Free Time
6:00 ~ Dinner
7:00 ~ Session 3
8:00 ~ Small Groups
9:00 ~ Free Time

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23
8:15 ~ Breakfast
9:00 ~ Session 4
10:00 ~ Closing
11:00 ~ Pack up and Depart
12:00 ~ Back in Madison
4:30 ~ Worship at Pres House

  • Clothing:
    • Clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty (on Saturday afternoon, we have lots of free time to play outside)
    • Warm clothes for sitting/playing outside (weather permitting, we will have a campfire on Friday and/or Saturday evening)
    • Comfortable shoes
    • Check the forecast!
  • Toiletries (shampoo, soap, toothbrush, etc.)
  • Personal items (medications, etc.)
  • Water bottle
  • Journal (if you have one)
  • You do not need to bring bed linens, a pillow, or a towel; the retreat center provides those. 
  • Please DO NOT bring alcohol, drugs, controlled substances, fireworks, firearms, or weapons of any kind (this includes pocket knives).

You’re not alone! There is free time on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon if you need to work. But we also encourage everyone to put down the books if they can. It’s important to make time for rest and play! Just ask Kevin (or anyone else who’s been to a Pres House retreat).

Register for Retreat

Registration for Winter Retreat is now closed. If you have any questions, please email Pastor Nii Addo.

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