Join Luke Edwards, Associate Director of Church Development, and Wayner Dickert, Pastor of Bryson City UMC and the River of Life, for a weekend retreat at the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) that will prepare you to start a fresh expression of church. Over the course of the weekend, we will build relationships while learning about the six steps of starting fresh expressions, a process called "The Fresh Expressions Journey." We'll participate in group activities including prayerful listening, a group hike on the Appalachian Trail, a Pub Theology conversation, and rafting down the Nantahala Gorge. You will receive a copy of Becoming Church: A Trail Guide for Starting Fresh Expressions and we ask that you read it ahead of the retreat and jot down any questions that come up as you read.
Details
May 17 · 5pm - May 19 · 1:30 pm

Location
Nantahala Outdoor Center
13077 U.S. 19 Bryson City, NC 28713

Cost - $499.00 includes meals and rough lodging.
Schedule
Friday, May 17th
5-6 pm - Arrival & Check-in
Icebreaker
Activity: Dinner and Listening to the Community at the NOC
Conversation: Listening to the Community and to Yourself8
8 pm - Campfire
Saturday, May 18th
Morning:
8 am - Breakfast onsite
9 am - Icebreaker games
Conversation: Loving People – relationship building
Hike
Mid-day:
12 pm - Lunch by the river
Conversation: Building Community (forming, storming, norming, performing)
Free Time
Evening:
5:30 pm - Dinner & Pub Theology as a group (NOC Pub)
Conversation: Exploring discipleship
Sunday, May 19th
8 am - Checkout of room & breakfast
8:30 am - Attend River of Life (bring rafting clothes to church)
9:30 am - same place Conversation: Church Taking Shape (paddling guide talk)
(Optional)
10:30 am - Rafters check in at group adventure center
1:30 pm - Return to cars and depart