Overview
August 1-4, 2022
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.
Relationships: Strengthen your partnership as a couple; develop friendships 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: Participate in continuing education. Leave better equipped for ministry by gaining tools from our leaders as well as 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, as well as time to be among other adults while the kids participate in their own activities.
Questions?
Email Colleen Earp at colleen@massanettasprings.org
Leadership
Chaplain Couple
Rev. Loli and Rev. John Reiter
Lolimarta (Loli) Reiter has been the pastor at The Presbyterian Church of Seffner since 2008. After she graduated with a degree Social Work from the University of South Florida, she attended Union-PSCE (now Union Presbyterian Seminary) where she received her Masters in Divinity and Christian Education. Loli believes strongly that retreat and conference opportunities can change lives and she feels blessed to have been a leader in a wide variety of them – from Montreat Youth Conferences, leader at Presbytery events, to preacher at women’s conference in Minnesota. She believes that when doing God’s work, chocolate is essential and sharing the journey with friends is “a must”!
John currently serves as the Interim Associate Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Winter Haven, FL. John is a graduate of University of South Florida and received his Masters of Divinity and Masters of Christian Education from Union Presbyterian Seminary. He heard a call to ministry while serving at Cedarkirk Camp and Conference Center in his college years. John served Presbyterian camps in Virginia (Massanetta Springs), South Carolina (Bethelwoods), and Florida; where he most recently served as the Executive Director at Cedarkirk for 13 years.
John and Loli met serving on summer staff at Cedarkirk, were married just before starting seminary, and have been married for over 20 years. They have two teenage daughters, Isabel and Olivia, who fill their lives with lots of laughs. Together they enjoy traveling, good food, going to the movies, and picnicking at the beach.
Resource Staff
Harvey Yoder
Harvey has served as a high school teacher, congregational pastor, retreat center director, and pastoral counselor. He came to the Shenandoah Valley from Kansas as a young child, the eighth of nine children in an Amish family. He attended Eastern Mennonite College (now University), which named him Alumnus of the Year in 2016, honoring his ministry, counseling, and social justice advocacy. He went on to earn a Master’s degree in counseling from James Madison University and a seminary degree from Eastern Mennonite Seminary. He is the author of “Lasting Marriage: The Owner’s Manual",” published by Herald Press in 2007. Harvey is a counselor and church resource staff with the Family Life Resource Center in Harrisonburg, VA, as well as pastor of a Mennonite house church congregation. He is married to his college sweetheart, Alma Jean Wert; they have three children and six grandchildren.
Registration Information
Registration includes lodging, meals, and programs. For questions about housing, scholarships, or program, contact Colleen Earp, Program Director: colleen@massanettasprings.org.
We are excited to see this program grow! At this time, the hotel-style rooms in Hubler Lodge are booked. We have dorm-style rooms available in Richardson: four suites have queen beds, and share a bathroom with another room with two twin beds (some have a third trundle bed available). These rooms will be offered privately, meaning we won’t book another family in the other half of the suite. Please be in touch to discuss options that might best suit your family! We have extended the earlybird pricing to reflect this change in lodging options.
Registration Dates
$599 per couple until Friday 6/17/22
(When registering, the full price of $649 will appear without the earlybird discount until the final checkout page. Just continue through the registration process till the end!)
$649 per couple after Friday 6/17/22
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.
Suggested packing list
For adults:
comfortable clothes for each day, including socks and undergarments
clothes for recreation (such as canoeing, zip line)
clothes for date night
bathing suit and towel
sneakers
sandals
toiletries (include sunscreen and bugspray)
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
snacks are provided during children’s program
Children's Program
The Called Together Children’s Program offers childcare and programing for children of all ages during scheduled events for clergy couples. As parents are forming a community with other clergy couples, our staff provide an opportunity for clergy kids to connect with other ministry families. This program includes age-appropriate activities and supervision, with typical camp activities like swimming, arts and crafts, exploring nature, devotions, and rest time.
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 (see suggested packing list for more details).
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. Groups are determined approximately two weeks before the event, once we know who’s coming!
Unless overflow is needed, all participant families will be housed in the same location in Hubler Lodge. This will also be the location where evening social time happens. Families with younger children might find it helpful to bring a baby monitor. (Hubler Lodge also has WiFi, so using phones, tablets, 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
Sample Schedule
This is the 2021 schedule. We’ll share a 2022 schedule soon!
August 1st
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 – Time with Chaplain Couple (Session #2)
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 2nd
8:00 – Breakfast
9:15 – Morning Devotion
9:45 – Gather with Chaplain Couple (Session #3)
12:30 – Lunch Dining Hall / Free Time
5:45 – Dinner Dining Hall
6:30 – Gather with Chaplain Couple (Session #4)
8:00 – Social Time
Children’s Program or Childcare Available
9:00am-12:30pm
1:30-4:00pm
6:15-8:00pm
August 3rd
8:00 – Breakfast Dining Hall
9:15 – Morning Devotion TBD
9:30 – Gather with Chaplain Couple (Session #5)
12:30 – Lunch Dining Hall
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 4th
8:00 – Breakfast Dining Hall
9:15 – Gather with Chaplain Couple (Session #6)
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.