RESOURCES

Retreats, Cohort Experiences, and Other Resources

Set aside times of practice–whether they are in a retreat, our own time of prayer, or in a cohort community–are an important element of being formed by Jesus to be like Jesus for the sake of the world. Below are a few resources we have found incredibly helpful in our journeys.

Retreats

Sacred was born out of our conviction and God’s promptings that, while there is much to learn about God from seminars, sermons and classes, there is just no comparison to actually creating space in our lives to engage directly with Him. We are committed to creating spaces which are “set apart” for intentionally meeting with God.

The Springs welcomes Christian ministry staff and leaders for personal or small group encounters with God away from the distractions of daily life, offering a spacious place for soul care where Christian leaders can experience retreat: to Rest,  to walk, to listen, and receive spiritual direction.

Field Guides for the Way are spiritual practice kits. They offer the intentionality and practice of a contemplative retreat woven into your everyday life. Each beautifully curated kit contains invitations and supplies for a journey deeper into your relationship with God, your own heart, your life. Each kit contains materials for a creative, contemplative journey: reflection prompts, stories, poems, instructions and supplies for practices, and tangible reminders of God’s love for you.

The Perch helps exhausted people connect with God to rest, find peace, and experience transformation. Designed to be a resting place, we offer an environment to experience rest, renewal, reflection, and rejuvenation. 

Cohort Experiences 

The Renovaré Institute for Christian Spiritual Formation is a two-year online and in-person school designed to plunge you into the with God life. Over the course of two years, students are guided in daily online studies, practice a variety of spiritual disciplines, develop a spiritual community with a small group of co-learners, and experience four week-long learning residencies in a retreat setting.

The Ignatian Journey is a 32-week journey through the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola. We will be following the themes as they are presented in The Ignatian Adventure by Kevin O’Brien, SJ. Taking into account different learning styles and spiritual pathways, The Ignatian Journey offers additional weekly content. These elements are not required but have been curated specifically to enhance the experience of the Exercises.

The Transforming Center exists to create space for God to strengthen leaders and transform communities. We serve leaders and influencers of purposeful communities  churches, non-profits, and businesses – who long for new rhythms that allow them to flourish in their life and leadership.  If we’re honest, over time many Christian leaders experience a disconnect between their outer life and their inner life – the presence of God deep within. For this reason, we walk with pastors and leaders, helping them distinguish God’s voice beyond all the noise so they can lead from that place.

Spiritual Practice Guides

Listen to My Life is a unique visual tool that becomes an on-ramp to conversations with yourself, God, and trusted others in reviewing your past, assessing your present and continuing to joyfully and courageously walk with God into your future. The goal is to help you recognize and respond to God in the midst of your story.

A New Liturgy is a project from Aaron Niequist & friends designed to create a moveable, sonic sanctuary.  Each liturgy is a 25 minute journey of music, prayer, scripture, and space that helps open us to The Almighty in any location, season, community, or emotion.  

Pray As You Go is a daily prayer session in the style of Ignatian prayer. These daily prayers are 10-13 minutes and include music, scripture and some questions for reflection. They are designed to help us become more aware of God, listen to and reflect on God’s word, and grow in relationship with God.

Lectio 365 is a free daily devotional resource that helps you pray the Bible every day. It includes morning and evening prayers based on the spiritual practice of lectio divina.

Other Helpful Resources

Renovaré is a Christian nonprofit that models, resources, and advocates fullness of life with God experienced, by grace, through the spiritual practices of Jesus and of the historical Church. Christian in commitment, ecumenical in breadth, and international in scope, Renovaré helps people in becoming more like Jesus. 

The Bible Project produces free Bible videos, podcasts, blogs, classes, and educational Bible resources to help make the biblical story accessible to everyone, everywhere. It helps people experience the Bible in a way that is approachable, engaging, and transformative by showcasing the literary art of the Scriptures and tracing the themes found in them from beginning to end.

Arrabon cultivates Christian communities to pursue healing and reconciliation in a racially divided world. Reconciliation is a foundational Christian practice that helps grow our faith as we seek to repair broken relationships and injustice. Arrabon helps communities practice biblical reconciliation and Kingdom-building as a way to heal racial divisions – building reconciling communities that reflect the love of God in practice.

Join us most Sunday nights at 6pm in the Willow Creek Chapel, 67 E Algonquin Rd, South Barrington, IL 60010