A Personal Call to Holiness — St. Peter Christmas Lent Retreat, November 12, 2016

All of us are called to a life of holiness through a life of prayer, fasting, almsgiving and manual labor. And, for all of us, monastic life remains for us the touchstone for what it means to live life in Christ.

Asceticism and monasticism can help us live as disciples of Christ. The good will and the hunger for a deeper, more personal spiritual life is there. The challenge, for all of us, is making the connection between our heart's desire and the tradition so that we can draw close to Christ.

Fr. Gregory Jensen will teach us about (with plenty of time for questions):

The Monastic Life as a Model for Us

• Our Calling as Disciples
• What Christ has Called us For
• Follow Jesus Like the Disciples Followed Him

What’s Our Mandate?

• Maintenance Serves Mission
• Serving God and Church Life
• Called to Serve the Neighbor
• The Parish is for Making Disciples

Our Retreat Leader

Fr. Gregory Jensen is an Orthodox priest serving in Madison, Wisconsin. Fr. Gregory will look at holiness as a personal call to true freedom which comes through obedience to God’s will for our lives. Such obedience is only possible if we commit to live as disciples of Christ.

We will discuss two very different understandings of freedom: freedom of choice and freedom from sin. Our culture emphasizes the first, the tradition of the Church the second. The personal question we must ask is what kind of freedom do we desire?

Finally we will outline who holiness is lived out in the Church, and how the Church was established by Christ for discipleship. He will present the ascetical disciplines of prayer, fasting, almsgiving and manual labor as the practical means of Christian discipleship.

Retreat Details

• When? Saturday, November 12 from 9-3pm. Fr. Gregory gives the sermon on the following Sunday and will give a short presentation with time for questions during Social Hour following the Liturgy.
• Where? St. Peter Orthodox Church. Directions on the website.
• Who is invited? Everyone. Bring a friend.
• Cost? Free will donation.
• Will there be lunch? Yes, coffee and bagels in the morning, lunch at noon.
• Questions? Please contact us through the website.

If you would be willing to underwrite a portion of this retreat please see Fr. Hans.