Called Together Online
Called Together Online
2020
We are sad to announce that Called Together will not be held at Massanetta Springs this summer due to Covid-19. However, we are excited to share that we will be providing virtual opportunities throughout the time the conference would have been held. We invite you and your spouse to take a break and join us for a time of fellowship, laughter, spiritual renewal, and communal support. It is times like these when we can rely on one another for strength, encouragement, and guidance. Join fellow clergy couples from all over the country who are experiencing similar struggles, questions, joys, and unknowns for this virtual edition of Called Together.
Virtual Schedule
All events below will happen over Zoom. You will need to download the app to participate.
Aug 3, 9:00pm - Called Together Cocktail Hour
Aug 4, 2:00-3:30pm - Roundtable Discussion - Being a Couple in Ministry during COVID: Family Frets (first 15 minutes a Popsicle Pop-in for kiddos)
Aug 4, 9:00pm - Sometimes You Just Need a Drink - A Virtual Craft Cocktail Class and Interactive Discussion with Premier Mixologist Rusty Lewter. (Over 17 years of experience in bartending including work with the Carolina Panthers). Rusty will work with us between now and August 4th to craft a drink menu for the evening (we can include a mocktail if we wish as well). Download Ingredient List
Aug 5, 5:00pm - Date Night Cooking Class. Download the menu!
Aug 6, 2:00pm - Roundtable Discussion - Being a Couple in Ministry during COVID: Calling Concerns
Sounds great! How does registration work?
Registration is simple and free. Please fill out this google form to let us know what events you will be attending. We encourage you to attend as many as you can so we can all get to know one another and enjoy a week of being in community.
If the round table discussions would qualify for continuing education for you, we would invite you to make a donation to Massanetta Springs through our online platform in the amount you feel appropriate, that would be most welcome. If you need an actual purchase receipt to use continuing education funds, we can make that happen as well.
Questions?
Call 540-434-3829 or email hannaha@massanettasprings.org
Overview
August 3-6, 2020
Due to Covid-19, Massanetta has cancelled its on-site Called Together retreat. We will have some fun virtual opportunities during the original scheduled dates. Please get in touch with hannaha@massanettasprings.org for more information.
Grow Stronger In Marriage And Ministry.
Called Together is a four day retreat focusing on relationships, renewal, and resources for couples who are both in professional ministry.
Strengthen your relationship as a couple/family; develop relationships with other couples who get the unique challenges and blessings of being called together.
Renewal – Enjoy the gift of letting others plan opportunities for your spiritual renewal. Take time for Sabbath in a beautiful corner of God’s creation.
Resources – Leave better equipped for ministry by gaining tools from our leaders and the community of ministry couples.
Bring Your Family!
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.
Leadership
Chaplain Couple
The Rev. Michelle Holly Carlson and Rev. Rick Carlson
The Carlsons currently reside in Kearney, Nebraska where they are co-pastors at First Lutheran Church. Rick re-entered parish ministry after 27 years of teaching at Gettysburg Seminary in Pennsylvania where he taught New Testament literature and language (specializing in Paul) as well as directed internship and post-internship candidacy. Michelle is in her second call after serving in a congregation in Keymar, MD as well as in many and various roles at the seminary in Gettysburg. She taught high school English before going to seminary. She is also a trained Healthy Congregations Facilitator. They have been married for 15 years, have three adult children and a dog named Natasha.
Resource Leader
Carol L. Schnabl Schweitzer
Dr. Schweitzer joined the faculty of Union Presbyterian Seminary in January 2001 and recently retired (June 2019). She was a member of the Practical Theology department and taught courses in pastoral care, as well as interdisciplinary courses with members of the Bible and Theology departments. Dr. Schweitzer received her clinical education in family systems theory at The Family Institute of Philadelphia and the Princeton Family Institute. She received her undergraduate degree from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ, her M.Div. from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, and her Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary.
Dr. Schweitzer is married to the Rev. Dr. John Schweitzer and has first-hand knowledge of the unique challenges of being part of a clergy couple. They reside in Bucks County Pennsylvania and are enjoying the transition to life as a retired clergy couple.
Registration Information
To give you an idea of what to expect, below are our costs and deadlines for 2019. We have done our best to keep retreat costs reasonable, while giving you the absolute best experience possible. Nine meals, lodging in our hotel-style Hubler Lodge (two queen beds and private baths in each room), and all retreat activities are included in the per couple or child price.
Registration Dates
Before 4/20/20 $599 per couple*
After 4/20/20 $625 per couple*
After 6/15/20 add $50 per couple*
Children’s Program
$59 Children 5 and under
$89 Children 6 and over
Maximum $179 per family in children’s program costs
There are no early discounts or late penalties for the children's program.
*Please send your registration form to our Registrar at registrar@massanettasprings.org
*It is Massanetta’s desire for our retreat experiences to be affordable for everyone in need of them. If funding is the only thing keeping you from attending, please be in touch with Hannah Altman, our Acting Program Director at hannaha@massanettasprings.org to work out a plan to enable you to come.
Children's Program
One of the ways we are making Called Together welcoming to families is by providing childcare for all planned activities during Called Together. As you are forming a community with other couples, we hope the children will be doing the same among their peers.
One of the ways we are making Called Together welcoming to families is by providing childcare for all planned activities during Called Together. As you are forming a community with other couples, we hope the children will be doing the same among their peers.
Helpful Things To Know
All Massanetta caregivers have gone through a national criminal background check. They have also completed Massanetta’s required Child Protection 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
Parents will be responsible for administering regular medications. Massanetta staff will be happy to keep any emergency medication your child may need during childcare times. (Epipens, Rescue Inhalers, etc.)
All children will need a bag with a spare change of clothes, swim suit, sunscreen, and water bottle.
Snacks will be provided at appropriate times as part of their children’s program registration fee.
If your child is in diapers, please provide your child’s caregiver with appropriate diapers, wipes, etc. (Swim diapers required at the pool.)
Children will be grouped by age approximately 2 weeks prior to the event once we know how many children are coming and their ages.
Unless overflow is needed, all participant families will be housed in the same location. This will also be the location where evening social time, etc. occurs. Bringing baby monitors may be helpful for you. (Hubler Lodge also has WiFi, so using phones, tables, etc. should also work.)
Massanetta has a limited number of pack and play cribs. If you need one provided for you, please let us know as soon as you can. (If you are able to bring yours easily, that would help us.)
Tentative Schedule
Tentative Schedule
There may be slight adjustments, but this will be pretty close to the actual schedule.
August 3rd
1:00 – 2:00 – Arrival/Check In
2:30 – Welcome, Introductions, Etc.
3:15 -Break/Childcare Orientation (For all other childcare times see childcare schedule)
3:45 – Gather with Chaplain Couple (Session #1)
5:15 – Break until Dinner
6:00 – Dinner Dining Hall
7:15 – Dedicated time to get ready for first session with Resource Leader
8:15 – Evening Devotions
8:30 – Social Time
Children’s Program or Childcare Available – Times listed are drop off and pick up.
3:15 -3:35- Childcare Orientation and First Drop Off
3:15-5:15pm
7:00-8:30pm
August 4th
8:00 – Breakfast
9:15 – Morning Devotion
9:45 – Session 1 with Resource Leader
12:30 – Lunch Dining Hall / Free Time
4:00 – Workshop
5:45 – Dinner Dining Hall
6:30 – Gather with Chaplain Couple (Session #2)
8:00 – Social Time
Children’s Program or Childcare Available
9:00am-12:30pm
1:30-4:00pm
6:15-8:00pm
August 5th
8:00 – Breakfast Dining Hall
9:15 – Morning Devotion TBD
9:30 – Session 2 with Resource Leader
11:00 – Gather with Chaplain Couple (Session #3)
12:30 – Lunch Dining Hall
5:00 – Optional Family Photos
5:30 – Group Photo, Child Drop Off, and Date Night Begins!
Children’s Program or Childcare Available
9:00am-12:30 pm
1:30-3:15 pm
5:30-8:30 pm
August 6th
8:00 – Breakfast Dining Hall
9:15 – Gather with Chaplain Couple (Session #4)
11:30 – Closing Worship/Communion
12:30 – Lunch / Depart Dining Hall
Children’s Program or Childcare Available
Drop-off at 9am; Children will be brought to closing worship.