Formed By What We Cannot Master:
Formed By What We Cannot Master: Catching the Fire of Christ
We’re back at the beautiful Christ the King Retreat Center for our annual fall retreat!
Mark your calendars for October 9-10 as we welcome very special guest Dr. Jim Hart.
Overview:
Have you ever noticed that however much we might want God to explain Himself and what He’s doing (or intending to do) in our lives, He rarely does? We love to control what is going to happen to us, and how, and when, and what the outcome will be. But, God wants us to embrace and inhabit His mystery, especially as He works to form us according to His purposes and more and more into the image of Christ.
This is the theme our speaker, Jim Hart, will explore through a series of “musings on Formation in the Great Tradition.” The Great Tradition is the shared consensus of classical Christian belief, theology, and spiritual practices passed down from the early, undivided church. It serves as a foundational guide for shaping a believer’s mind, character, and faith.
The ancient church believed, practiced, and taught that this kind of Formation is something we receive as well as something we pursue; it begins when we realize and accept that we cannot control the story or the process He’s working in us; it involves being willing to undertake a pilgrimage we don’t yet understand; it involves sacrificial living; and it involves contemplating and deeply thinking about what God declares is beautiful, good, and true— and how He uses those things in our lives.
As Jim says, “Mystery is not a problem to solve…. It is the condition in which formation becomes possible. If I could completely comprehend what God was doing in me, I could turn formation into a project I manage. But because God remains God— and grace remains grace— I have to relinquish mastery.”
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Schedule: There will be a single session on Friday night (gathering beginning at 6:30, then from 7-9 PM), a session on Saturday morning (9 AM), lunch together at the Center, then an afternoon session (concluding at about 4 PM). Dr Hart will also teach at Epiclesis on Sunday morning following the retreat. Find a handy map to the Retreat Center here. For a map of the grounds/buildings, including where we will meet, click here.
Cost? Registration, which includes lunch on Saturday, is $65. There are three ways to secure your spot:
1) The Epiclesis Online Giving Tool (be sure to write “Retreat” in the notes); 2) Mail a Check (payable to Epiclesis and marked “Retreat”) to our PO Box (11230 Gold Express Drive, #310-214; Gold River, CA 95670-4484); 3) Bring a Check (payable to Epiclesis and marked “Retreat”) on Sunday mornings.
The deadline is Monday, October 5.
Also keep this in mind: This retreat (not an overnight event) is open to the Sacramento Christian community– not just Epiclesis members– so it’s a perfect opportunity to invite friends and co-workers. (Some people may want to explore enhancing/extending their retreat by a day or so and stay on site. Rooms are available subject to the Center’s schedule and will require an additional fee arrangement with the Center. Please email Pastor Chris about this possibility).
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About our guest speaker:
James R. Hart, DWS, CFRE, (above right) is a worship leader, musician, theologian, educator, and advancement/governance consultant. He has been involved in worship leadership and music ministry in various contexts around the globe for over 45 years and has taught worship, theology, and music in conferences, colleges, and seminaries. He served as President of the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies (IWS) from 2007 to 2024. He is a published composer/arranger, songwriter, author, and professional trumpeter. He and his wife Carol have three daughters and five grandchildren.
Learn more about Jim here in his blog (https://substack.com/@jimhart609668) and on his website (jameshartcfre.com).