July 27-30, 2026: Pastor’s Retreat
Pastors, come spend time in the heart of the Black Hills. Enjoy a refreshing and relaxing weekend with your colleagues. This camp provides opportunities for fellowship, relaxation and worship.
Theme: Beginning in Advent the Revised Common Lectionary will take us on a year-long trip through the gospel of Mark. Mark is an odd little story with all sorts of twists and turns. In our explorations during this retreat we will scout the path ahead of us, taking time to follow trails, side-trails, and sometimes even rabbit trails, just in case there is something that might help us preach in the year to come. We will devote special attention to the texts from busy times so you will come home with a headstart that will help you navigate Advent, Lent, and Easter. And we will simply enjoy Mark’s very old, very odd story together.
Leader: Richard W. Swanson
Richard Swanson is Professor of Religion (Emeritus) at Augustana University who studies stories, biblical and otherwise. He has written several books (all of which have the phrase “provoking the gospel” in the title), and several plays, including Real as Air (the story of his sister’s life with ALS) and When the World Was Wild and Waste (an exploration of Origin Stories). His most recent project was the creation of a play (with Grace Ahles and Hanna Beshai). The title of the play is This Is My Body, a phrase that shows up in sacramental theology and in many #MeToo stories.
Costs (cover lodging, food and programming):
- $200 per person
- The Pastor’s Retreat is open to all clergy and CREs