Hello Friends!
 

Welcome to the Transforming Community experience! This email will provide logistical details as you plan and pack for your first retreat. There is a great deal of information here, so please take some time to go through it before starting on your journey.

We look forward to what God has in store for each of us as we journey together for the next two years. If there is anything that has not been covered, don't hesitate to reply to this email!
 
Grace and Peace,
Dalene Strieff for the TC17 Team
Director of Transforming Communities

IMPORTANT!

We have decided to mail all retreat folders with handouts and prayers to everyone in TC17 ahead of the retreat. With the changes in Covid-19 restrictions and the possibility that some of you might decide to not come, we want everyone to be able to join in fully with all materials.

Before reading any further in this email, please reply today and give us your exact mailing address where you would like to receive the packet. We have some addresses for you but they might not be correct for this situation.

Arrival and Lodging

You will be staying in a private room at USML (University of St. Mary of the Lake). You can check in between 3:30pm and 5pm CST on Sunday, November 1, 2020. The 1st session is at 5pm in room 201 of the conference center meeting hall (bldg D on the map).  

When you arrive at USML, 1000 E. Maple Ave, Mundelein, IL, you will follow the signs to the purple parking lot. Walk down the ramp to the building on your right, the conference lodging and registration building (Bldg E if you click on the map link). For more travel information from the USML website, click here. For a map of the campus, click here. Please do not come to our Wheaton Office!

In the lodging building several from our team will be there to welcome you, and help you find your room. For self check-in to your room, there will be a sign with your assigned room number and the key will be in your room.

The TC check-in table will not be ready prior to 3:30pm.  USML will make every effort to accommodate you if you arrive early, but we are not able to guarantee early check-in. The grounds of USML are lovely and you can enjoy the environment while you wait.

We will have two cameras in the room to capture both Ruth while she’s teaching and retreatants during sharing times, so that fellow community members attending virtually will be able to “be in the room with us.” Please let the TC know ahead of time if you do not want to be shown on the screen and also sit in the areas marked for no filming. 

As a community we will introduce ourselves to each other the first night which is the one time you will be on the screen as you greet your new community members.

All meals will be grab and go so if you have special dietary restrictions, please let us know as soon as possible.  There are also refreshments provided between meals in the morning and afternoon. The snack areas are closed after 5pm so feel free to bring along your favorite snacks and beverages.

Things to bring

that might be helpful

  • Your Bible
  • Retreat folder we are sending to you
  • A journal so that you have plenty of writing space to process your times with God and in teaching sessions
  • Any spiritual reading God is using in your life right now
  • Anything that adds to your comfort: slippers, your own pillow if you’d like, a meaningful religious symbol or artifact, a favorite snack, etc.
  • Casual, comfortable clothing and walking shoes
  • Invitation to a Journey by M. Robert Mulholland and Thirsty for God: A Brief History of Christian Spirituality by Bradley Holt, which Ruth has asked you to read in preparation for this first retreat
  • Basic toiletries

We encourage you to leave behind

  • Work or study materials. The purpose of the retreat is to attend to your relationship with God in simplicity and quiet.
  • Your computer. When we enter into retreat as a way of creating space for God’s activity in our lives, it is best to “unplug” – literally – by turning off cell phones and by not having a computer available. (No laptops or electronic pads and tablets allowed in teaching sessions.)  Ruth will talk about this more fully when we are together. We will also ask you to turn off your cell phones for a good portion of the retreat.  It would be helpful if you could alert family members and work associates ahead of time that you will be unavailable during much of the retreat. We know this is a challenging request; however, we have learned from experience that you will be able to more fully make space for God when you trust God to take care of these relationships and responsiblities while you're away. 
  • If there is an emergency during the retreat, those at home may call 630-644-7681 to reach the onsite TC contact and they will find you. Please give this number to your family members and associates before you leave. If there are changes to your plans on the day of the retreat, please call the same number so the team will know your situation and be able to assist if possible. 

Safety for Everyone

Attached are the guidelines that USML has carefully put into place during this Covid-19 season. We will be taking temperatures as people enter a room once each day. Masks must be worn at all times except when eating or in your private rooms.

Retreat Fee

Your first monthly payment is due. If you've already started payments, thank you!  If you  have not begun your payments, please reply to this email to get set up.
  • Mailed checks (made out to Transforming Center) or automatic payments from your bank should be mailed to:
    400 W. Roosevelt Rd.-Ste 100, Wheaton, IL 60187
    (please make your payment on a consistent date each month).
  • Recurring payments via credit card or online banking system. If you paid the registration fee online with a credit card and answered “yes” that you want to use this card to begin your monthly payments, we will begin those payments on the date you indicated. You will receive an emailed receipt when your first payment goes through. 

Communications

You will receive email communications from the Transforming Center throughout the two years. It will be important to have some way of saving these to refer to, both for the facts they contain and also the spiritual guidance they will provide.   
 
If you have not already provided us with a passport-like photo (selfie is fine), please email that as soon as possible.  The leadership and serving community is praying for you!

Travel

American Taxi offers flat rates to/from the airport if you book in advance. Be sure to ask for a flat rate from the airport to USML located at 1000 E. Maple Ave, Mundelein, IL.  If you are looking for another transportation service outside of Uber, Lyft or car rental, West Suburban Limousine has consistently positive reviews and offers scheduled rides to anywhere in Chicagoland. We will also allow time on retreat for you to connect with others who are flying for the opportunity to work out ride-sharing. 

Extending Your Stay

To extend your retreat, either for more solitude or to simply make your travel easier, is a wonderful idea (based on availability)! The Transforming Center does not handle any reservations for this personal time at USML.  Contact the Front Desk to make your individual reservation at (847) 970-4908. 

Departure on Tuesday

and Schedule

As you make travel plans, please schedule your departure (including travel time to the airports) so that you will be on retreat all the way to 1:00pm on Tuesday.  The Leaving Service is a very important part of the retreat as it contains one of the teaching sessions. A complete retreat schedule is attached.

Transforming Resources Table

We will have a resource table at each retreat with required titles and a few other items available for purchase.  We are assuming you will have read Invitation to a Journey by M. Robert Mulholland and Thirsty for God: A Brief History of Christian Spirituality by Bradley Holt ahead of our first retreat. If not, we will have them available at the table. 

Name Badges

If you have a name you would like on your name badge other than the greeting on this email, please let us know by October 27th.
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