The Heart of the Lutheran Home

A retreat to refresh, educate, and encourage Christian families; featuring Rev. Peter Bender, pastor of Peace Lutheran Church, Sussex, Wisconsin & Director of the Concordia Catechetical Academy

Tue Aug 3, 2010 – Thur Aug 5, 2010 at Redeemer in Ft. Wayne.
Cost: $25/adults, $20/18-12, 11 and under free, maximum cost per family: $90.
BBQ dinner and Square Dance and lesson provided Wednesday evening.

Description and Rationale

Our retreat will be marked by a gravitas and reverent approach to all aspects of our time together. When we worship, we will worship. We will not work at or play during our worship. When we work, we will work. We will not worship our work or play at it. And when we play, we will play. We will not work at, or worship, our play. Uniquely, this conference is designed for families. See the FAQ below.

Worship: Matins, Holy Communion, Vespers

Worship will be central to our retreat. Holy communion will be offered every day. God will refresh and encourage, feed and nourish His people. We will use historic liturgies and ceremonies exclusively. Rev. Dr. Daniel Reuning will accompany the services along with help from Dcs. Sandra Rhein and Dr. Jason Thompson and the choirs the Gregorian childrens’ choir. Worship will also feature the preaching of Rev. Dr. Rick Stuckwisch, Rev. Peter Bender, Rev. David Petersen, and others.

Work: Lectures, Sectionals, Workshops

Our work will be done in the main plenary sessions and in smaller sectionals. We will not play at it. We will not waste your time with inside jokes and silly skits. We are bringing you a world-class theologian and expert on Luther’s Small Catechsim in Rev. Peter Bender. He will challenge you and stretch you. You will leave his sessions tired, with your mind popping with ideas. He will help you bring more of Lutheran orthodoxy to your daily, family life.

We will also bring you seasoned homeschool educators, pastors, and other specialists in our smaller sectionals. We will have sectionals geared specifically for grade-school children, parents, high-school-aged youth, pastors, and more. But we will not worship our work. We know the distinction between works and faith. We know that we can all improve, and we are forgiven, so we will respect you and challenge you. We will ask you to work, but we will not be condescending.

Play: Plenty of time to visit and relax, a square dance lesson, a cookout

We will also play at the retreat. We will sing, dance, and visit together. Free time will be provided. We will not try to sanctify this. We will believe that music, food, and good company are gifts from God to be enjoyed, not apologized for, and need no sanctification. We will embrace them in their proper place, confident that these things are also good for God’s people.

Plenary Sessions: Rev. Peter Bender, Concordia Catechetical Academy

Parents and their children will be engaged by the Word of God in Pastor Bender’s presentation and encouraged in their use of the Small Catechism even as their understanding deepens. While Pastor Bender will speak at length about how to use the Catechism at home and its central role in the piety of Lutherans, he will also include many practical examples and provided resources for further use for homeschooling, un-schooling, and schooling.

Sectionals

Featuring seasoned homeschool parents, pastors, university professors, and moms. They will be targeted for parents, teens, and younger children on a variety of practical topics.

Cost & Registration

Cost: $25/adults, $20/18-12, 11 and under free, maximum cost per family: $90.
BBQ dinner and Square Dance and lesson provided Wednesday evening.

To Register or ask questions -

e-mail: secretary.redeemer@gmail.com
phone: 260-744-2585

Mail registration to:

The Catechism
Redeemer Lutheran Church
202 W. Rudisill Blvd
Ft. Wayne, IN 46807

Please include contact information with names of all adults and children, payment of $90/family or $25 for each adult and $20 for each child 18-12, whichever is less. (Children 11 may attend with their families for free.)

How can this cost so little?

To send a single child to a Higher Things conference costs over $300 plus transportation. To go to the National Youth Gathering costs even more. How can we take your entire family for just $90? By not having any paid staff or executives, getting the space donated by Redeemer, not paying for preachers or sectional leaders, but using volunteers, and by the extra generosity of many attendees. We are grateful to have these resources, to be able to do this, and are glad to share it with you.

For more information see the website