Get off the grid for a couple days and join us in 40 weeks of prayer amid God’s beautiful creation.
As you may have read in a previous Kōrero, over the past three years the Nelson Diocese has been working with the Petterson family to build the Ruru Cabin at Mamaku Grove in Golden Bay. The Ruru Cabin is a space that has been especially built as an off-grid location for prayer, contemplation and retreat. Made from timber milled off the Mamaku farm, and built prayerfully by volunteers, it’s the perfect spot for individuals or small groups who want to disconnect from the hustle in order to reconnect with God.
This year as a way of launching the space we’re running 40 Weekends at Ruru, where individuals, pairs or trios are being invited to book a Friday and Saturday night weekend to go on a time of quiet retreat, prayer and reorientation towards God’s rhythms of grace.
There's something special about joining 39 others to create a continuous chain of weekend prayer over the course of a year.
A number of us have noticed the impact that going on a personal time of retreat has had on our discipleship journeys, as a time that re-invigorates our walk with Jesus. But for most everyday Christians it’s something that’s usually missing in their lives. Sure, most people schedule a few holidays over the year, but few of us schedule in a time to get away from the hustle to be with God. We’d love to see that change, so more people can experience the joys that come from this rhythm of retreat.
The words of Matthew 11: 28-30 come to mind.
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion?
Come to me.
Get away with me and you’ll recover your life.
I’ll show you how to take a real rest.
Walk with me and work with me — watch how I do it.
Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.
I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.
Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.
Ask anyone who’s been on a church camp and they’ll tell you there’s nothing quite like going away with a bunch of people to form strong bonds, and to gain the distance and space to uncover significant revelations and insights. Plus going off-grid and eating food off a gas hob is actually kind of fun.
A good retreat allows the space to slow down and create the room to be attentive to three dimensions and directions of a person’s life.
Inwards: How is the interior in my life? How am I feeling? Am I tired? Sad? Do I have things I need to grieve? Do I like myself, or loathe myself?
Upwards: How is God in my life? How is my relationship with God? Is God speaking to me? Prompting me in any area? Challenging me? Can I see the Spirit at work in my life? Can I simply delight in resting in union with God away from the pressures of my regular life?
Outwards: How is the world in my life? What am I noticing about the world around me? Am I being more attentive to the awe and wonder of the mundane? Am I seeing the world I will return to in a new light? Am I understanding my vocation or calling in a new way? Am I feeling a new love and compassion for the people I’ll return to back home? Am I allowing myself to enjoy the bird song, the crunch of leaves under foot, the smell of coffee?
It’s amazing what insights people can receive after just a few nights away. Maybe this is your chance to be brave and take a weekend of retreat to be with God.
Our team will provide a basic template for prayer and retreat if you wish to have some structure. You don't have to pay anything, but a modest koha is appreciated.
To take part, just head along to the Mamaku Grove page here, and fill out the form below to book your weekend. You won’t regret it.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
We have invited these writers to share their experiences, ideas and opinions in the hope that these will provoke thought, challenge you to go deeper and inspire you to put your faith into action. These articles should not be taken as the official view of the Nelson Diocese on any particular matter.
Get off the grid for a couple days and join us in 40 weeks of prayer amid God’s beautiful creation.
As you may have read in a previous Kōrero, over the past three years the Nelson Diocese has been working with the Petterson family to build the Ruru Cabin at Mamaku Grove in Golden Bay. The Ruru Cabin is a space that has been especially built as an off-grid location for prayer, contemplation and retreat. Made from timber milled off the Mamaku farm, and built prayerfully by volunteers, it’s the perfect spot for individuals or small groups who want to disconnect from the hustle in order to reconnect with God.
This year as a way of launching the space we’re running 40 Weekends at Ruru, where individuals, pairs or trios are being invited to book a Friday and Saturday night weekend to go on a time of quiet retreat, prayer and reorientation towards God’s rhythms of grace.
There's something special about joining 39 others to create a continuous chain of weekend prayer over the course of a year.
A number of us have noticed the impact that going on a personal time of retreat has had on our discipleship journeys, as a time that re-invigorates our walk with Jesus. But for most everyday Christians it’s something that’s usually missing in their lives. Sure, most people schedule a few holidays over the year, but few of us schedule in a time to get away from the hustle to be with God. We’d love to see that change, so more people can experience the joys that come from this rhythm of retreat.
The words of Matthew 11: 28-30 come to mind.
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion?
Come to me.
Get away with me and you’ll recover your life.
I’ll show you how to take a real rest.
Walk with me and work with me — watch how I do it.
Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.
I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.
Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.
Ask anyone who’s been on a church camp and they’ll tell you there’s nothing quite like going away with a bunch of people to form strong bonds, and to gain the distance and space to uncover significant revelations and insights. Plus going off-grid and eating food off a gas hob is actually kind of fun.
A good retreat allows the space to slow down and create the room to be attentive to three dimensions and directions of a person’s life.
Inwards: How is the interior in my life? How am I feeling? Am I tired? Sad? Do I have things I need to grieve? Do I like myself, or loathe myself?
Upwards: How is God in my life? How is my relationship with God? Is God speaking to me? Prompting me in any area? Challenging me? Can I see the Spirit at work in my life? Can I simply delight in resting in union with God away from the pressures of my regular life?
Outwards: How is the world in my life? What am I noticing about the world around me? Am I being more attentive to the awe and wonder of the mundane? Am I seeing the world I will return to in a new light? Am I understanding my vocation or calling in a new way? Am I feeling a new love and compassion for the people I’ll return to back home? Am I allowing myself to enjoy the bird song, the crunch of leaves under foot, the smell of coffee?
It’s amazing what insights people can receive after just a few nights away. Maybe this is your chance to be brave and take a weekend of retreat to be with God.
Our team will provide a basic template for prayer and retreat if you wish to have some structure. You don't have to pay anything, but a modest koha is appreciated.
To take part, just head along to the Mamaku Grove page here, and fill out the form below to book your weekend. You won’t regret it.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
.jpg)
