Hello Friend!
And welcome to the Transforming Community experience! This email will provide logistical details as you plan and pack for your first retreat.
Arrival and Lodging:
You will be staying in a beautiful private room at Q Center. You can check in between 3:30pm and 5pm CST on July 22, 2018.
When you arrive at Q center, you will first pass the security checkpoint at the front gate. Tell them you are with the Transforming Center and they will give you a parking pass and direct you to the Welcome Center. If you are driving, park in the circle outside the Welcome Center; go inside to check in at their front desk (leave your luggage in the car) and pick up your retreat materials at the Transforming Community table. You will then drive to the parking area nearest your loading area. Those being dropped off at Q Center should check in at the welcome center and the Transforming Community team will assist you to your room. Please do not come to our Wheaton Office!
The TC check-in table will not be ready prior to 3:30pm. Q Center will make every effort to accommodate you if you arrive early, but we are not able to guarantee early check-in. The grounds of Q Center are lovely and you can enjoy the environment while you wait. It is situated on 95 beautiful acres along the Fox River in St. Charles, Il. There are miles of well-maintained trails for jogging, biking and even cross country skiing in winter, and a 24/7 fitness center. There is also a Bistro where you can grab a snack or a meal if you would like.
The 1st session is at 5pm in the St. Charles Amphitheater- D wing/L2 (below L1).
All meals will be in the dining area at Q, where you will enjoy healthy, delicious food. There are also refreshments provided between meals in the morning and afternoon.
Things to bring that might be helpful:
- Your Bible
- 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
- Refillable water bottle/travel mug
- 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, a hair dryer and alarm clock are provided in each room
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 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 630-730-2078 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.
Retreat Fee:
Your first monthly payment is due. If you've already started payments, thank you!
- Mailed checks (made out to Transforming Center) or automatic payments from your bank should be mailed to:
209 S Naperville Rd, Wheaton, IL 60187
(please make your payment on a consistent date each month). - Online payments: Please set up your payment today by clicking here.
After you fill out the payment form, your card will be charged within a couple days and continue every month for 24 months.
Also please make sure to fill out the payment form to help us keep record of your mode of payment.
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, please email that as soon as possible. The leadership and serving community is praying for you!
Travel
For those needing airport transportation you can arrange transport from O'Hare and Midway through A-1 Limousine which is contracted with Q Center. They will work to combine riders (with our group and also others staying at Q Center) to help with cost sharing. We will also allow time on retreat for you to connect with others who are flying for the opportunity to work out ride-sharing.
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 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 July 6th.
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!
Blessings,
The Transforming Community (TC15) Team
