July 27-30, 2026
Registration will open in early december.
Grow stronger in marriage and ministry.
Grow stronger in marriage and ministry. This ecumenical retreat for clergy couples focuses on:
relationships, both as a couple and a community;
renewal, with a gentle and gracious schedule planned by someone else (!!);
resources, with continuing education led for and by the gathered community.
Bring Your Family!
Does your family include kids? During retreat activities for adults, children of all ages will enjoy a program designed especially for them. Enjoy opportunities for recreation and renewal as a family, as well as time to be among other adults while the kids participate in their own activities. (Sorry, human children only, unless your furbaby is a service animal trained to do particular helping tasks!)
Questions?
Email Colleen Earp at colleen@massanettasprings.org
continuing education: building a discernment toolbox
Alison Wood (they/them)
Alison is a facilitator, schemer, and educator rooted in the U.S./Mexico borderlands on Tohono O’odham land colonially called Tucson, Arizona. Outside of Dream & Scheme, they work as a faculty associate at the Arizona State University School of Social Work and as a baker at a local coffee shop. Alison is called to community tending and deep listening while holding space for rest and silliness. Alison built their vocational discernment passion and skills over ten years of work with young adults in year long service corps, elders in mainline Protestant churches, and people of all ages surviving burnout in non-profit agencies. Alison maintains their resilience with haphazard arts and crafts, walks in the desert, and group viewings of trashy television.
Luke Rembold (he/him)
Luke is an educator, youth leader, and advocate for the leadership of young people in our churches and communities. A child of two educators, Luke is passionate about the intersection of education and faith, and fervently believes education has the power to transform our communities and the world. He currently serves as the youth and young adult ministry coordinator for the Presbytery of Santa Fe, while also spending a lot of time in the New Mexico sun teaching tennis at the Tennis Club of Albuquerque. Luke enjoys caring for his houseplants, listening to and playing music, and taking camping getaways as methods to sustain his resilience.
worship and workshop leadership
Rev. Martha Spong (she/her) and Rev. Kathryn Johnston (she/her)
Martha Spong and Kathryn Johnston met through a clergy group in 2005, and after years of being friends first, married in 2012.
Kathryn is the Senior Pastor and Head of Staff at Mechanicsburg Presbyterian Church, where she has served since 2009. A graduate of Eckerd College, Kathryn got her start in youth ministry and served in a solo call after receiving her M.Div. at Princeton Theological Seminary in 2000.
Martha graduated from William and Mary and Andover Newton Theological School. She is ordained in the United Church of Christ, and served churches of varying sizes and situations as both an installed and intentional interim pastor, then started a coaching practice in 2016, working with church leaders and specializing in the Enneagram.
Kathryn and Martha have four "hers and hers" children, three daughters-in-law and a growing family of grandchildren. Kathryn appreciates how Martha can walk into a room and immediately understand/assess the whole situation. Martha appreciates how Kathryn leads her team by drawing out the best in everyone who works with her. From Martha, Kathryn has learned that knowing your motivation is key to taking healthy actions. From Kathryn, Martha has learned that it's okay to say, "no."
Planning Team
Revs. Linda Kurtz Burch and Daniel Burch
Lexington, KY
Revs. Meg Flannagan and Adam Fischer
Greenville, SC
Revs. Beth and Alex Martini
Mechanicsburg, PA
program
For the clergy couples: Each year, the planning team calls a clergy couple to share their expertise as well as their own experience and insight into surviving and thriving the blessing of being a dual-clergy family. Program details to be announced!
For children of any age: all Massanetta caregivers have gone through a national criminal background check as well as Massanetta’s Child Protection Policy training.
Since they will be in our care during retreat activities, we need parents to fill out a health form on each child. We cannot take children into the program without completed forms. Children's Health Form
For the teens: our community is reaching a point where many kids are going into middle and high school! We organize children and youth programs around who signs up, so if we’ve got middlers and high school aged youth, we’ll make sure they have their own breakout space.
For the school age kids: our summer camp counselors will guide K-5th grade aged kids through typical camp activities like team games, arts and crafts, Bible study, canoeing, campfire cooking, and more. We’ll explore the site and the springs
For the babies and toddlers: our summer staff will provide care based out of Knox, the room immediately downstairs from where keynote sessions will be hosted. This will include some time outside, as appropriate.
For everyone: s’mores and campfire vespers, family slip and slide, time in the pool, family pictures, and date night are all on the docket, and more! The 2026 schedule will be released in the winter, but here’s last year’s schedule to give you an idea of the flow.
housing
Housing is mainly in our hotel-style rooms in Hubler Lodge, all linens provided. These rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis, with overflow housed in our dorm-style rooms in Richardson.
If a dorm-style suite might better suit your family (this has been popular for families with older kids, who like a little more space and privacy!), check in with Colleen (Program Director) to make arrangements: colleen@massanettasprings.org.
date night
David, our foodservice manager, loves to prepare special meals for events like Called Together! Previous date night dinners have included lobster tail, bacon-wrapped filet mignon, rib eye steaks, twice baked potatoes, and more. Beer and wine as well as a variety of non-alcoholic beverages will be provided at our on-site dinner.
Children and youth will enjoy pizza and a movie night under the supervision of our Netta Day Camp Staff.
extra day option
For just $75, your family is welcome to stay for an extra night. We won’t be serving meals on site, but there is plenty to see and do in the Shenandoah Valley!
Suggested packing list
For adults:
comfortable clothes for each day, including socks and undergarments
clothes for date night
bathing suit and towel
sneakers
sandals
toiletries (include sunscreen and bug spray)
medications
charger for cell phone, baby monitor, etc
Bible
free time materials (books, knitting, etc)
favorite snacks, board games to share during evening fellowship
personal snacks
adult beverages, if desired
communal fridge available
For children:
clothes for recreation, including socks and undies
closed-toe shoes
sandals
bathing suit and towel
small backpack or bag with child’s name on it, to bring to children’s programs
sleeping arrangements (play pen, bed rails, etc)
sleep stuff (stuffies, nightlight, pjs)
sippy cups/bottles as needed
diapers/wipes as needed
sunscreen, bugspray, medications
games or snacks to share during evening fellowship
Registration will open in early december.
2025 Prices
$785 per couple
$74 per child 5 & under
$99 per child 6 & older
$229 maximum for children’s program per family
Registration includes lodging, meals, and programs. Housing will be in hotel-style rooms in Hubler Lodge on a first-come, first-served basis, with overflow housing in dorm-style suites in Richardson. (Some families have preferred the arrangement of a suite, especially for older kids!) For questions about housing, scholarships, or program, contact Colleen Earp, Program Director: colleen@massanettasprings.org.
refunds and cancellations
Families that cancel before Monday, May 4, 2026 will receive a full refund less a 3% processing fee. After May 5, cancellations will receive a 50% refund up until 10 days prior to the start of your session start date. Generally, there are no refunds for cancellations within 10 days of the conference start date.
extra night
Want to stay an extra night? For $75 you can keep your room here at Massanetta, and explore the Shenandoah Valley. Just email Colleen to get on that list: colleen@massanettasprings.org.