Hello Friend,

We are so glad you have chosen to join Transforming Community® 17 gathering at The Conference Center at University of St. Mary of the Lake in the Chicagoland area. A wonderful group of pastors, leaders, and influencers is coming together to form this community, and we are deep into our preparations for your arrival.

After much discernment, discussion and prayer, and taking your important input into account, we have decided the best option for Transforming Community #17 is to move forward with holding our first retreat in person, November 1-3, and offer those who are not comfortable traveling the opportunity to participate virtually. In order to follow the CDC national and state guidelines, we need to cap our in-person gathering at 50 people (which includes participants and a handful of ministry team members).

Below is helpful information we have compiled to assist you in preparing to participate. Please keep this information handy so you can refer to it as we get closer. Also, if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to reply to this email or reach out to Haley Page, Transforming Community Assimilator, by emailing her at hpage@transformingcenter.org.

Peace to you,
The TC17 Team

Pre-Reading


In preparation for the start of this community, we are asking you to obtain two books and read them before the first retreat: Invitation to a Journey by M. Robert Mulholland, Jr. (InterVarsity Press), and Thirsty for God: A Brief History of Christian Spirituality by Bradley Holt (Augsbury Fortress). Check Amazon, Christianbooks.com or the publishers' websites to purchase. If you have previously read either of these books, please re-read them in preparation for this new commitment.

Investment


With your payment of the registration fee, you and the Transforming Center are beginning a financial arrangement for a little over two years. The cost for the Transforming Community experience is $7,774 (26 monthly installments of $299). Everything is included in the program cost except the registration fee, books, and travel.

If this is a financial challenge for you, consider asking your church or ministry organization for help, as participation in a Transforming Community can be considered a continuing education expense. Another alternative would be to seek assistance from your relational networks through personal fundraising, which TC members have used successfully in the past to help pay for their community experience. See below for details.

You are responsible to make 26 monthly payments of $299. The first payment is due by September 15, 2020 (you may begin earlier if you'd like), and subsequent payments are due each month thereafter. We offer the following payment options:

  • Recurring credit card or ACH (preferred) payments. If you paid the registration fee online and answered “yes” that you want to continue using the same payment method, we will begin monthly payments on the date you indicated. You will receive an emailed receipt when your first payment goes through.
  • Pay by check mailed to Transforming Center, PO Box 4917, Wheaton, IL 60189, on a monthly basis. Quarterly or annual payments are also accepted as long as payments are made in advance. Please communicate which option you choose so we know when to expect your check.
  • Fundraise using our suggested method to raise the full or partial cost of the two-year experience before the start of the Transforming Community (November 2020). If you raise less than half of the full cost, please plan to set up monthly payements before the start of the first retreat. To find out more about fundraising, please click here to access our fundraising microsite and donation platform. Let us know if you intend to use the fundraising site to finance your community costs.

Live Stream Retreat 


Those attending virtually will be participating by interactive live stream and will have the opportunity to engage with the group as if you were sitting in the room. You will participate in fixed-hour prayer with the in-person group and even experience solitude and silence the afternoon of the second day. We will have more details to come about logistics but for now please plan to be present during the entirety of these dates. 

We suggest you start thinking through a way to create a set-apart space either in your own home, a retreat center or hotel near you to be as free from distractions as possible. It could also be that you have friends or family whose home is quieter than your own and who would support your spiritual journey by allowing you to be in their home for these days.

We will send you the materials in the mail, including all handouts and prayer liturgies that we'll use together.

You will receive a partial refund if you attend virtually. This amount will take into account both that the virtual experience does incur some additional cost 
and that we will not have the cost of your room and board.

Travel Arrangements


Many of you are flying in from different places in the country. O'Hare (ORD) is the most convenient airport—about 25 miles from University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Illinois where retreats are hosted. Milwaukee Mitchell (MKE) is your next best option, followed by Midway airport (MDW), both around 55 miles from the USML Conference Center. More travel information can be found here and scrolling to the "Travel" section.

Plan to arrive on Sunday, November 1, between 3:30 and 4pm to give yourself time to check-in and settle into your room before the first session at 5pm. The retreat will end on Tuesday, November 3, at 1pm.

Retreat Dates 


Retreat 1: November 1–3, 2020
Retreat 2: February 7-9, 2021*
Retreat 3: April 25–27, 2021
Retreat 4: July 11–13, 2021
Retreat 5: November 14–16, 2021
Retreat 6: January 23–25, 2022
Retreat 7: April 3–5, 2022
Retreat 8: July 10–12, 2022
Retreat 9: November 13-15 2022

*Please change your calendars from the February 14-16 date and enjoy having the Valentine's Day weekend open to be with the people you love.

November 3rd-Election Day  


We want to remind all of you that election day will be the last day of our retreat together. Please plan accordingly so that you make sure you can either make it to the polls, vote early or mail in your ballot. 

Prayer


We are praying earnestly for you as you make preparations to come—that God will help you to press through any obstacles that come your way and bring you safely to retreat, prepared to receive what God has for you. May it be so!
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