A retreat guided by the Spirit in the midst of everyday life.

What is it?

Opening oneself to God through praying scriptures and sharing that experience with a trained companion each time you meet. Rather than drawing apart from regular activities, a  Guided Prayer retreat is a retreat in the midst of daily life. 

Commitment?

A Guided Prayer Retreat involves:
•  A 2.5 hours Opening Session on Sunday (lunch provided)
•  Spending 30 minutes praying scripture at home and then coming to Mountainview Church for another 30 minutes to meet with a "Prayer Companion" each day of the retreat week from Monday to Friday. (or 5 sessions over the retreat month)
•  A 2.5 hour Closing Session on Saturday morning (breakfast provided))

When?

This year’s Guided Prayer Retreat will offer two ways to participate…
•  One week event from Sunday April 7th to Saturday April 13th (7 days) or
•  One Month event from Sunday April 7th to Saturday May 4th (7 times over 4 weeks)

This Year’s Theme?

Called to Community – We are invited to live – to be in relationship with God, one another, and the world – as a reflection of the image of God: we are called to community.  We will explore what it means to be community in the image of God, through this guided prayer retreat.

We will reflect upon the struggles and challenges that we encounter as we engage in life as well as ponder how relationships grow as we deepen our connections with each other though our willingness to trust and be vulnerable.  In the end we will celebrate in the knowledge that the God of love, in whose image we are created, encourages us and feeds our spirits through our interconnectedness. 

Our Guided Prayer Retreat is focused on enabling participants to attend a prayer "retreat" while still maintaining their normal daily routine.

The Guided Prayer Retreat involves spending time praying scripture at home and then coming to Mountainview CRC to meet with a "prayer companion" each day of the retreat week from Monday to Friday.

At the church you will share your prayer journey with a trained Companion for 30 minutes. Your Companion will offer support and help you be attentive to God’s leading, by asking questions, offering suggestions, and sharing experiences.

This is an opportunity for you to grow with God through private personal prayer and sharing with a companion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be a Biblical Scholar? It is not about knowing the Bible -­‐ the background, the history or the people of the Bible -­‐ it is about reading a small themed selection of scripture verses and discussing with a trained Companion what those verses mean to you.

Do I need to know how to pray? Do you teach me how to pray? WOGP is not about teaching you how to pray in the "formal sense". It is about looking at scripture in a different way. You will learn how to do this in the opening session. As well, you will be given notes to use as a point of reference.

Will I have to pray out loud? Prayer is a personal matter between you and God. You will not be asked to pray aloud. If you wish to do so you will be given the opportunity.

What if I cannot prepare for that day's meeting? Come anyway. You can read the material during your session and then have a discussion with your companion or use your time to read and meditate on your own.

How will I find the time? God will help you. Retreatants have arisen early to prepare, or utilized their lunch hour, or scheduled the time, telling their families that this is their own half hour for the day.