Why Are We Doing a Churchwide Retreat?

In May of 2025, we launched a new vision for New City, a vision that can be captured in three simple words: COMMITMENT, COMMISSION, and COMMUNITY.

In regard to the last C, we prayerfully envision our church becoming a deep, compelling community of the Spirit, marked by gospel welcome, hospitality, and Spirit-filled corporate prayer and worship.

There are many ways to build this kind of community. But a churchwide retreat can help us take a step in the right direction. How?

A churchwide retreat arranges a change in pace, place, and face.

1. Pace

We are creatures of habit. Good spiritual habits and rhythms facilitate health and wholeness. But we all develop unhealthy rhythms that throw our spiritual lives out of kilter, and the daily grind of life can wear us down. Spiritual retreats can help us breathe, reestablish good spiritual patterns, and evaluate where we may have gone astray. And doing this with others can be immensely helpful, as we can encourage, sharpen, and correct each other.

2. Place

Where we live, work, and worship make a difference. Familiar surroundings bring comfort and much-needed predictability. But occasionally, we need to step away from the familiar to give us fresh perspective. The Lord can use new, unfamiliar settings to wake up sleepy Christians from their spiritual doldrums. Exploring and inhabiting a new place together as a church family can strengthen bonds, promote a sense of belonging, and facilitate shared spiritual renewal.

3. Face

We are accustomed to interacting with each other on Sunday mornings. But Sunday mornings can often be busy and packed with distractions. It is good for us to laugh, play, sing, and have fun together, as we share burnt marshmallows, play games, and share silly, embarrassing, and memorable moments. It helps break down fears, suspicions, and assumptions about each other, and promote lifelong friendships.

If you haven’t already pre-registered for the churchwide retreat taking place on August 21-23 at Maple Grove Christian Retreat Centre, please do so HERE!

Are you interested in helping us plan and run the retreat? Please let us know by emailing us at office@newcityhamilton.com.

Are you single and interested in sharing a cabin with others of the same gender? Please preregister and/or let us know.

We hope to see you there!

Moses