Growing in Love at Retreat Yourself 2025

Retreat Yourself 2025 took place one again at Chittick Lodge in Gerringong, from 31 January to 2 February 2025. This year's retreat followed the format of previous Retreat Yourself experiences; a leadership day hosted by the Moderator, with leaders leaning into this years theme of “grow in love", followed by two wonderful days of retreat, sun, study and community.

The leadership day focused on Growing in love through Community, Service, Scripture and Connection, led by the Moderator, Rev. Suzanne Stanton (Director of Mission, Uniting), Rev. Dr Sunny Chen (ARU) and Mikenzie Ling ( First Peoples Strategy and Engagement Consultant). There are just too many wonderful things to say here about each of these speakers and the gifts that they brought in wisdom. But I might just sneak in, that each spoke about genuine relationship with each other, with what they do and what they are called to do. Each of these leaders held space for story telling, with the Moderator opening the floor for engagement in stories of formation, the story of each of those in attendance. It was a great starting point to move us into the stories and call of Uniting, of Scripture and of Connection.

As we moved through the retreat, it was incredible to see our young adults taking time with each other. This included going for walks, beach swimming, enjoying a brewery visit, sharing in lots of bible study and reflection time, singing and worshipping together, and listening and learning from each other when sharing in the Gospel of John. We spent a lot of time asking hard questions about what we can learn from Jesus in John that we might grow in love.

I want to say a heartfelt thanks to each of the Retreaters who shared, held space, listened, facilitated, led and took part. The Gospel of John spoils us with metaphors and images that might help those who are creative and engage deeply in retreat. It was as we unwrapped ourselves from the vines and ladders of life to look over parts of our branches and leaves, that we, in community, were gathered up, pruned, watered, cared for and took time to give thanks to that great Gardener, who from the beginning garden, and the one in the resurrection story knows us by name and calls us into them.

This weekend spent together was a true gift from the Moderator and Church. This break for our Young Adults who mostly voluntarily led, cared, took this message and found ways of integrating it into their work, university and life, really is a celebration to be a part of.

While Retreat Yourself is over for another year, we warmly invite all of our young adults to join us on Thursday 25 February at St Stephen's for Gather, for a potluck dinner and a conversation with UnitingWorld about Making a difference preparing for Lent. More information can be found here.