“Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.
Bishop Satterlee invites you to join him for a preaching retreat centered on his new book, My Burden is Light: Making Room for Jesus in Preaching. This retreat is an opportunity to discuss the book and to intentionally reflect on both our preaching and our relationship with Jesus. Participants are expected to read the book in advance of the retreat and fully participate in group sessions. Participants will not be expected to preach. There will be no sermon evaluation. The Rev. Daniel G Beauduin, Bishop of the Northwestern Ohio Synod ELCA, will serve as chaplain for the retreat.
Like the book, the retreat’s primary audience is pastors and deacons and will therefore include conversation about ordination. With this understanding, lay preachers and listeners who care about preaching are welcome to attend. Bishops are also warmly invited.
This retreat is in-person and will not be live-streamed or recorded. Bishop Satterlee intends to provide other opportunities for conversation via Zoom.
Retreat Logistics and Registration
Monday, October 16 – Wednesday, October 18, 2023
Bethany House, St. Francis Retreat Center., Dewitt, Michigan
$180 – Fee covers food and lodging
Financial assistance is available for seminarians, pastors and deacons of the North/West Lower Michigan Synod. Because of limited funds, priority will be given to pastors and deacons under call and seminarians who have completed a preaching class. If you would like to request financial assistance, please email communications@mittensynod.org.
The retreat is possible because of a generous gift from Ms. Christine Allen, former secretary of the North/West Lower Michigan Synod.
Click Here to Register
Tentative Schedule
Monday, October 16, 2023
| 12:00 PM | Lunch |
| 1:30 PM | Devotion: “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light” Ordained ministers, please bring a red stole. Invitation to identify a preaching partner. |
| 2:00 PM | Preface: What is your question about preaching? |
| 3:15 PM | Break |
| 3:45 PM | Chapter 1: Where is Jesus when you preach? |
| 5:00 PM | Reception |
| 6:00 PM | Dinner |
| 7:15 PM | Chapter 2: How do you welcome the Holy Spirit into your preaching? |
| 8:30 PM | Night Prayer |
| 9:00 PM | Koinonia |
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
| 8:00 AM | Breakfast |
| 8:45 AM | Prayer |
| 9:00 AM | Chapter 3: What is the goal of your preaching? What stumbling block, if any, keeps you from preaching Jesus? |
| 10:15 AM | Break |
| 10:45 AM | Chapter 4: what is the good news? In 50 words, what is the gospel? How does Jesus save? What do we need to be saved from? |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch |
| 1:00 PM | Personal Reflection/Gospel Statement/Siesta |
| 2:00 PM | Gospel Statements in Triads |
| 2:45 PM | Break |
| 3:00 PM | Chapter 5: Is Scripture about Jesus? What method of study would you like to try to bring you closer to Jesus? |
| 4:15 PM | Break |
| 4:30 PM | Chapter 6: What part of your method do you cling to? What part of your method might you want to let go of? |
| 6:00 PM | Dinner |
| 7:15 PM | Chapter 7: Draw a line between Jesus and your favorite social issue |
| 8:30 PM | Eucharist |
| 9:15 PM | Koinonia |
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
| 8:00 AM | Breakfast |
| 8:45 AM | Prayer |
| 9:00 AM | Chapter 8: Why should we witness to Jesus? |
| 10:15 AM | Break |
| 10:45 AM | Chapter 9: How closely are you yoked to Jesus? How do you maintain your relationship with Jesus? How can you grow your relationship with Jesus? |
| 11:45 AM | Goal Setting (Optional) Concluding Prayer |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch |