Dr. Mark Roberts to Speak at Annual Pastors Retreat
February 15-17, 2016
Serra Retreat Center, Malibu
Fellow colleagues in Los Ranchos:
We invite you to sign up for the 2017 edition of the Los Ranchos Presbytery Pastors’ Retreat, scheduled for February 15-17, 2017. Once again we will be gathering at Serra Retreat in Malibu and we will be joined by a number of other pastors from neighboring presbyteries as word has gotten out that this event is “where it’s at” as we used to say.
We are also convinced that some of the positive vibe is the result of our speaker, Dr. Mark Roberts, the Executive Director for the Max De Pree Center for Leadership at Fuller Seminary. As many of you know, Mark was formerly a member of Los Ranchos as Senior Pastor at the Irvine Presbyterian Church. From there he went to Laity Lodge in Texas as senior director and scholar-in-residence. During his first year and a half at Fuller, Mark completed a new commentary on Ephesians, due out in December, in the Story of God series published by Zondervan. Ephesians, as you know, offers a profound theology of the church, with practical implications for how we live as God’s people in the world. Mark’s teaching from Ephesians will lay out new models of being Christ’s church, including leader training and discipleship strategies. Our time with Mark will be rich and interactive, and will give us insights and materials to use in our ministries, enhanced by some of the best collegial fellowship of the year and the beauty of one of the most pristine places in our area.
We will again be gathering at the breathtaking Serra Retreat in Malibu, with registration starting at 1 p.m. A reception for our newest pastors will take place at 4:30 with dinner at 6. The retreat will end late morning on Friday and will include serving the Lord’s Supper as we conclude. Cost of the retreat will be $250 per person for a double room, $310 for a single occupancy room. This of course includes room and board, full access to Mark’s presentations and the great delicacies that our friends from the kitchens of Serra Retreat provide.
Even though the cost shows a slight increase this year, as always we offer scholarships to those who need them to come. No one who wishes to come should stay away because of the cost. All you need to do is ask and we will work things out for you.
We have chosen to extend invitations to pastors in neighboring presbyteries but want to get the word out to those from Los Ranchos and Santa Barbara folks before we send it out to the broader group. We are anticipating a healthy response, so make your plans. You can sign up using the link on the LRP website. If you have any questions, you can reply to this email or call the presbytery office (714-956-3691) and ask for Bonita Carr (x 122).
Our retreat will be an exciting and uplifting time together amidst the uncertainties we are serving in.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a transforming Advent season. We hope you can join us in February.
Tim McCalmont and the Retreat Planning Team