March 2013

Foundations Class Retreat Video Retrospective

Fight Fair Promo Video

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is invited?

This year the Foundations Class has opened the invitation to the Retreat to the Becoming One Class. The question has been raised about children. Infants are allowed to come, but please keep in mind that this is a marriage retreat. If you plan on bringing your baby, please notify the Planning Committee so other sleeping accommodations can be arranged.


What's the schedule looking like?

We will all be arriving at 7pm Friday night. Eat dinner first, but bring a snack to share. We'll have an organized activity before you're on your own (which can include games in the lodge, a nice long walk, campfire fun, etc. Saturday will include worship time, 3 sessions, 3 meals, group activity, free time and campfire. Sunday, after breakfast, we'll worship together and then have a final wrap-up session before we head for home at about 11am.


How do we get there?

For a map, see previous post: How do I get there?
Otherwise, take 131 North to exit 118 - M82 (Newaygo/Howard City exit). Turn left. After 9.5 miles, you'll see the Camp Calvary sign on your right. Turn right - this dirt road is Pettit Drive. Follow signs to campground.


What should we bring?

Sleeping bags & pillows, tent if camping, toiletries, snack to share Friday night, Bibles, and games (we will not have the usual supply from the Willsons, as they cannot attend)


Why does the retreat cost more this year?

Due to the increased costs at Camp Calvary, the planning committee set the costs according to lodging arrangements. First the fixed costs (food and Multipurpose building rental) were determined then the cost of either a campsite or duplex were added to that cost. For the last retreat, the cost was set too low and we ended up needing sponsors to help us meet the balance due (and depleting the class fund). Incidentally, the cost for 2004's retreat was $70.


What does the cost cover?

The cost of the retreat includes rental costs of the camp as well as three meals on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday.

Speakers: Pastor Jim and Arline Parris

Jim and Arline Parris will be joining us from Tulsa, Oklahoma to share with us about Fighting Fair: Communication in Marriage. Jim is currently the Associate Pastor at Fellowship Bible Church in Tulsa. Arline works with Parents as Teachers in homes with families. They spent 20 years as missionaries in South Africa. The couple is bringing to the retreat 80 years of marriage experience combined. Jim and Arline enjoy spending their free time with friends and family, particularly their grandsons, all of which live out of state or country. They also enjoy gardening and traveling.

Previous Promotional Videos

For a walk down memory lane with lots of laughs, watch the following clips:

2002: Marriage A to Z


2003: Survivor: Making Your Marriage Last


2004: The Ghost of Retreat Future


2005: The Amazing Race

History of the Retreat

The first class retreat was held in April, 2002. The speakers were Pastor Jim and Marge Emery. The theme was Marriage A-Z. Most of our class did not know them too well, but formed a bond by the end of the weekend that motivated the class to approach Jim to be our class teacher more than a year later.

The second retreat featured speakers Pastor Scott and Heidi Bixby. The theme was Survivor - Making your Marriage Outlast. We did survivor-type activities to drive the point home.

The next retreat was led by Tom and June Hammond. We took a look through Ephesians at some foundational principles of the Christian life.

The fourth retreat's theme was "The Amazing Race." The speakers were Pastor Jeff and Robin Halsted. That's where this group picture was taken.



The following pics show our Amazing Race activity involving canoes, blindfolds, bananas and Berends.

How do I get there?

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