October 25–26
In-Town at Christ Church of Austin
PARISH RETREAT 2024
This year, we will consider God's beauty, an attribute through which his truth and goodness is revealed. As a parish family, we'll encounter this truth through seminars, curated breakout sessions, and fellowship with one another.
We will be joined by Dr. Joe Kickasola, professor of film and digital media, and director of the Baylor in New York program. Dr. Kickasola will use the medium of film to lead us in an exploration of the ways that beauty can form and shape each of us in our unique callings, equip us to better love our neighbors, and enlarge our hearts in the deep knowledge and love of God.
About our Speaker
Professor Kickasola is a professor of Film & Digital Media and the director of the Baylor in New York program. He is the author of The Films of Krzysztof Kieslowski: The Liminal Image (Continuum, 2004). Select publications include articles in Quarterly Review of Film and Video, Journal of Moving Image Studies, and several forthcoming anthologies focused on the cinema as it intersects with epistemology, religion, and metaphysics.
In addition to his academic publishing, Dr. Kickasola has directed and/or produced film and video projects for distribution and/or broadcast around the world. He lives in New York City, where he runs the Baylor in New York program, a unique internship experience aimed at giving students the skills and experience to compete in the world's top communication companies. He returns to Baylor for meetings, recruitment, and teaching several times a year.
Breakout Sessions
The following breakout sessions will be offered on Saturday afternoon. In the registration process, you'll be given the opportunity to select two sessions. Childcare is not available for breakout sessions, but there are two sessions for children and adults.
Art Journaling
Finding inspiration in the everyday
with Natalie Coulter
Art journaling is a practice of slowing down and discovering beauty in the ordinary. Through cataloging your experiences with watercolor and ink, you create an artifact that helps you see the world differently and remember more richly. In this class, you will receive the tools, techniques, and process you need in order to keep your own art journal. Complete beginners welcome!
Holy Yoga
with Sara Schultz
Join us for a gentle practice of embodied prayer: Holy Yoga. Just as we raise our arms in praise, or kneel for prayer, we employ various postures to worship God in Holy Yoga. We meditate on Scripture through breath prayer. This practice can help us more fully inhabit our bodies as it teaches us to slow down, intentionally attuning ourselves to God. We are able to notice and attend to what God is doing in us.
Painting with Watercolor
For Children and Adults
with Cheryl and Eric Kaufman
Bring your children and create a watercolor painting with patterns added in ink. God created you to be creative - you have all the skills necessary. Just come have fun.
Finding Your Voice
A Writing Workshop
with Billy Hollis
In this workshop, we will write based on various prompts with minimal guidance and time. By optionally sharing freshly written work, you will uncover new aspects of your natural voice. Open to anyone, from those that only write emails, to those who are published authors – everyone will enjoy and benefit richly from this time together.
Beauty in Film
Going Deeper with Joe
with Joe Kickasola
If you are excited about learning about God’s beauty through film with Joe Kicksola, this is your opportunity to go deeper. In this session, Joe will continue to lead us in an exploration of the beauty of God, and how and why it matters to us today.
The Beauty of God for the Life of the Poor
The Christian Innovation
with Michael & Tate Distefano
The early Christian movement was nothing short of a world revolution. One of the most remarkable contributions of early Christianity is the redefinition of the word "beauty" to include the poor, the lame, the powerless, and the infirm. In this breakout session, you will visit the second century Roman Empire and experience the improbable drama of this redefinition. Tate will pull this conversation into the present with stories from the field, and her work at International Justice Mission.
Play Guitar with Wes
with Wes Crawford
An interactive workshop and guitar-playing session with worship pastor Wes Crawford. Bring your guitar and a capo, Wes will bring song sheets from our Christ Church repertoire, and we'll play a bunch of songs together. If you know more than 6 or 7 chords, you should be fine; you may even come away with a few new guitar skills under your belt! Note: Older children who can play guitar and don’t need parental supervision are welcome.
Art for Healing
Create Emotional Resilience after Hardship
with Samantha Lesan
Using gentle art prompts and questions for thought, we will create oil pastel sketches that represent current emotions, then introduce the possibility for change. A rich time of debriefing is included afterwards. (No previous visual art experience is necessary.) Samantha is a professional artist with a background in psychology who brings art into her work with trauma survivors.
Art-Making for Children & Adults
with Caleigh Taylor
Ready to get creative with your children? In this session, local art teacher Caleigh Taylor will lead you in a simple and fun art lesson together. No art experience needed!
Weekend Schedule
Friday Evening
(No Childcare)
6:00pm – Doors Open
6:30pm – Welcome, Dinner, and Music
8:15pm – Joe Kickasola, Introduction to the weekend
Saturday Morning
(Childcare: 0-5 yrs, 8:15–12:30pm; K-5th, 8:30am–12:30pm)
8:00am – Doors open, Breakfast
8:15am – Childcare (0-5 years) opens
8:30am – Childcare (K-5th) opens
8:30am – Session I
9:45am – Session II
11:00am – Session III
12:30pm – All Childcare Closes
Saturday Afternoon
(Childcare 0-5 yrs, 4:30–6:15pm)
12:00pm – Lunch (sack lunch provided with registration)
1:30pm – Advent Art Project, Breakout Session I
2:45pm – Break
3:00pm – Breakout Session II
4:45pm – Interactive Session (K-5th included!)(sanctuary)
Saturday Evening
(No Childcare)
6:30pm – Dinner
7:30pm – Parish-wide Fun and Games
9:00pm – Compline (sanctuary)