A spiritual retreat for guided creative writing and reflection.
January 27-29, 2025 OR January 31- Feb 2, 2025
Join us for this deeply meaningful retreat centered on the practice of creative writing. Our retreat leader, the Rev. Dr. Debbie Bronkema, creates a safe and inviting space for participants to let their lives speak. As Debbie likes to say, “There are stories in us that are too hard to tell straight on,” and the guided writing prompts spark creativity and engage truths through the “side door.”
As Debbie has led these retreats she has found participants’ stories transform relationships with each other and with God. You don’t have to have had any writing experience at all to engage your faith in novel and profound ways through these practices.
Retreat Leadership
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Rev. Dr. Debra J. K. Bronkema has been Pastor of Pleasantville Presbyterian Church in Pleasantville, New York since Easter Sunday of 2007. She earned her Doctorate of Ministry from Columbia Theological Seminary in 2011, with an emphasis in Creative Writing as a Spiritual Practice, and leads programs and retreats on the topic throughout the country. In September of 2022, Debbie published Writing Toward Wholeness: Exploring Creativity and Spirituality.
Prior to her move to Pleasantville, Debbie and her husband John were Co-Executive Directors of Cedarkirk Camp & Conference Center. Debbie grew up in Michigan and was a CPA when she heard a call to ministry. Debbie and John have four children: Cali, Dylan, Logan, and Caleb. Debbie has published several books and has been Pastor for the new worshiping community connect.faith, an online ministry at the intersection of creativity, spirituality, and justice. |
DETAILS – Retreat #1 (Jan 27-29, 2025)
Arrival: Retreat check-in will take place between 10:00a and 11:00a on Jan. 27. [Lunch will follow check-in.]
Departure: Retreat concludes following lunch on Jan. 29 (about 1:30p).
Meals: Monday lunch and dinner; Tuesday breakfast, lunch, and dinner; Wednesday breakfast.
DETAILS – Retreat #2 (Jan 31-Feb 2, 2025)
Arrival: Retreat check-in will take place between 5:00p and 6:00p on Jan. 31. [Dinner will follow check-in.]
Departure: Retreat concludes following breakfast on Feb. 2 (about 10:30a).
Meals: Friday dinner; Saturday breakfast, lunch, and dinner; Sunday breakfast and lunch.
LODGING
Participants will be housed in Cedarkirk’s Retreat House or Pine Lodge with private bedroom and shared bath. Linens are provided. If you have special needs regarding your housing or accessibility, please reach out to Mark Orendorf after you register (mark@cedarkirk.org).
COST
Air-conditioned Lodging: $295 per person for program, lodging, and meals
TO REGISTER
Visit our ONLINE REGISTRATION portal to fill out details, provide any food allergies or dietary restrictions, and pay for the retreat. If you have not registered for a Cedarkirk event before, you will be asked to create an account prior to registering for the Writing Toward Wholeness event.