A searchable, downloadable PDF of the original article, with pictures from the retreat, appears below. Dr. David D. Stewart is Professor Emeritus, Trent University, and teaches Humanities as a volunteer at St. Stephen’s University, St. Stephen, NB.
Presbyterian pastors and their families from across the Maritimes gathered at St. Stephen’s University (SSU) in St. Stephen, for their first three-day holiday retreat June 23-26, sponsored by the Renewal Fellowship. The guiding idea was to offer a real break after a long year in harness, to be quiet and to chat and pray and encourage one another. The planning committee led by Rev. George Anderson (St. Andrew’s Moncton), convenor of the Atlantic Region Steering Committee, sought to come up with a good mix of relaxation, sightseeing (Charlotte County’s historic churches such as the Kirk in St. George and Greenock Church in St. Andrew’s, and other sites in the cradle of New France, along with Campobello Island), superb cuisine prepared by Agnes and Bill Stassen of SSU, and an interesting program for the children during the times of teaching and sharing led by the Rev. Charles Taylor and his wife Ann of Springhill, NS, George Anderson and Calvin Brown. People clearly wanted as couples or families a chance to be with others walking the same path of pastoral ministry, and a time for spouses to encourage one another in their very special challenges.
Charles and Ann Taylor had prepared a series of excerpts from recent classics by Eugene Peterson, Henri Nouwen and Alan Jones, for reading and reflection, all focussing on the inner life and struggles faced by pastors and their families who have determined to live out their ordination vows in faithfulness to Christ. Participants were grateful for the sensitive way in which Charles and Ann Taylor made a real conversation possible; unhurried and unforced sharing and encouragement for the pastors and their spouses with total mutuality.
It was great to have Calvin Brown, Executive Director of the Renewal Fellowship, with us for the entire time, along with his son Tim. Calvin gave us the wider picture of the Renewal Fellowship’s life countrywide, and contributed with rich devotional times.
Professors Gregg Finley and David Stewart contributed to the programme by way of lecture-discussions on faith, art and culture both historical and contemporary.
It seems to have been what people were looking for. A repeated comment was that it was great to be able to come as families and to see the children fully integrated into the retreat as participants in creative ways appropriate to their ages. So a second holiday retreat has been planned, again at St. Stephens, for June 29-July 2, 1998. (Even non-Maritimers will be welcome) For information please contact Dr. David Stewart at St. Stephens University, 8 Main St., St. Stephen NB E3L 3E2, Fax 506-466-1783, or e-mail: dstewart@nbnet.nb.ca
Come to the Sea!