One of the highlights of my childhood every year was the church picnic. The church I attended until I was 12 years old was just a few blocks from Prospect Park, the enormous park in the middle of Brooklyn, New York. One Saturday morning every year, congregation members would gather at the church, pack up mountains of food and gallons of drinks, footballs and frisbees, jump ropes and hula hoops, and make our way, en masse, to the park. What great times we had together! Hours of fun in the sun. Laughter. Stories. Running. Napping. Singing. It was a glorious time of community building under the shade of enormous trees in the company of the people of God.
Caldwell, let’s create similar memories as a church family during the Caldwell One-Day Retreat on Saturday, November 20th, up in Reedy Creek Park, in the University area of Charlotte. We will gather at Pavilion #4 there at the park at 10 am and hang out together until 4 pm. The park address is 2900 Rocky River Road, CLT.
Fun will be had by all throughout the day. Come when you can; leave when you must.
One of the themes of this time together is creation. We plan to enjoy creation through nature walks, nature based activities, and enjoying the beauty and sounds of creation – rain or shine. We have three pavilions reserved so we can hide under them in case of rain and still be in the great outdoors.
Come for group games, hula hoops, giant Jenga and Connect 4, corn hole, catered food, and unscheduled time simply to be together. Telling stories. Laughing. Enjoying one another’s company.
Feel free to bring lawn chairs, blankets, frisbees, bubbles, jump ropes, sidewalk chalk, hula hoops, kick balls, and other shareable fun-making equipment – if you wish.
In order to live out our commitment as a creation care congregation, we invite you to fill your refillable water bottle or cup with whatever you wish to drink and bring it with you. If you have a large thermos, you’re invited to fill it with ice water and bring it along so that others can refill their bottles and cups.
Lunch will be provided by a Black-owned Charlotte-based business. Come with a hearty appetite and an adventurous spirit. Intrigued??? Good. Be there or be square!
Because we will be outdoors, because we have a very high vaccination rate at Caldwell, because we will have name tags available to indicate our physical distancing preferences, we will leave the decision to wear a mask up to each individual. Bring a mask if you wish to wear one. There will be hand gel and masks available.
Wanna play a game or two or ten, Caldwell? Click here to register to come and play games, eat delicious food, and reconnect with your Caldwell kin on Saturday, November 20th, between 10 am and 4 pm.
Let’s plan to gather together to eat, drink, and be merry. Let’s plan to create some memories that will last a lifetime. Look for more information and details in the coming weeks.
Yes, there is a cost for the retreat – $20 per person with a $50 max per family. BUT please do not let the cost deter you from attending. We are grateful to and for the Caldwell folks who are willing to pay a little extra so that everyone can attend. All are welcome. That means “ALL.” Including you.
I look forward to seeing you all there.
Even as we plan for this retreat, we continue to look ahead and dream of other events and activities and ministry opportunities at Caldwell in the future. In order to do the work we believe God has called us to do next year, we need your help. We need you to renew your commitment by giving to the work of God here at Caldwell. Please take a moment to click here and make your stewardship pledge for 2022.