Well, I lost the data from the Franciscan Retreat poll. It was my fault. I didn't understand how the poll results mechanism holds its data. You can still vote and if you vote you can see the original results. But the details about people who cast votes originally are gone.

So this is important:

Yesterday I sent out about 50 emails to people, letting them know that details and sign-up procedures are online for our 3 summer Franciscan retreats. I sent these emails to people who left comments indicating interest at various things I've written about these retreats.

BUT, the ones who took the poll were some of those most serious about coming. So I had wanted to send everyone who took the poll a personal email to alert them that people are signing up. There is only room for 20 people per retreat. The first retreat was half full a few days ago, and I think 5 people sent emails yesterday.

So if you are interested in joining us, better do so soon. Click here for dates and information.

rlp

I have created a page with the dates and details for the upcoming Franciscan retreats at our church this summer. Originally we had a date in July, but we had to change it to the last weekend of June. Paul Soupiset was not able to be there in July. He's our musician/artist and pretty much indispensable.

We can only take 20 people at each retreat. There were a lot more than 60 who expressed interest. Of course, expressing interest and actually buying a plane ticket are two different things. Still, if you really want to come, you might consider signing up pretty quickly.

But don't worry. If this is well received, I'm sure we'll do it again.

rlp

RLP Franciscan Retreats 2008

Dates  |   Details   |   Cost   |   What to Bring   |   Sign Up   |   Schedule

This retreat will expose pilgrims and seekers to a Franciscan-style contemplative spirituality, and will guide them into creating a Rule of Life patterned after the Third Order Rule of St. Francis.

What you can do at this Retreat:

• Learn about St. Francis and his spiritual tradition.
• Create a Rule for Life that will reflect your values and goals.
• Participate in a monastic experience that will enrich the body, soul, and mind.

Retreat Dates:

• June 6-8
• June 27-29
• August 8-10 (Clergy Retreat)

Retreat Details:

We have room for 20 people at each retreat. If the retreats go well, we'll probably do this again. So if you can't make it this first time, don't worry.

We will have a Franciscan retreat based on a model we've been creating at our church. We will learn about the life of St. Francis, pray and worship together, and work on developing a personal rule for living. There will be free time for conversations, chances to do some artistic work, or walk about in the woods. We may have a work project going, if someone wants to be involved with that.

You are simply invited to join us. Those of other religious traditions or of no religious tradition will be welcome to participate in whatever way is meaningful. And we would very much enjoy hearing about your view of the world and the way you understand the meaning of life. An open exchange of ideas in peace is what we are hoping for.

Note: Paul Soupiset has some pictures online from one of our retreats.

Pilgrims will need to arrive in San Antonio on Friday afternoon. You'll coordinate your arrival with Amy Soupiset, our retreat coordinator. Someone will pick you up at the airport and bring you to the church. We'll sleep at the church. There are showers available. We'll have a snack supper Friday night, a South Texas breakfast on Saturday morning, and lunch on Saturday. Note: If you have special needs of some kind and wish to stay in a hotel, there is one nearby. Amy Soupiset will help you with that.

Some may choose to fly out Saturday afternoon or evening. If you wish to stay Saturday night, you'll have to make your own hotel arrangement, but Amy can help you with that. Saturday night, those who are still here will go to the Riverwalk in downtown San Antonio for Mexican food and more conversation. You'll have to arrange your own transportation back to the airport.

If anyone wishes to attend Covenant Baptist Church on Sunday morning, bring your suitcase with you. Someone from the church will get you back to the airport after our services.

Cost:

We only need to cover the cost of food and pehaps some gasoline for picking people up at the airport. We've decided to fund the retreat on a donation basis. If money is tight, and getting your plane ticket is already a financial stretch, please be our guest. Feel free to pay nothing. No one will know or care. If you want to help cover the cost of your food, etc. we suggest a donation of $30 to $50. There will be a box or something at the retreat where you can drop off a donation if you wish to make one.

After food and expenses have been paid, anything left over will go into future retreats. We are hoping to purchase bedding and pillows so that in the future people can just come and not worry about what to bring.

What to Bring:

1. For these early retreats, we have fold out beds but no bedding. So bring a sleeping bag and pillow, or sheets and a light blanket.

2. Bring casual clothing. Shorts, sandals, tennis shoes, that sort of thing. If you plan to attend Sunday morning, we don't care how you dress. You'll find some people at Covenant dressed in slacks and casual shirts. Others will be in jeans or shorts. Wear whatever is comfortable to you. If you plan to stay Saturday night, bring clothing suitable for a night on the river walk. It will be hot here, so loose and cool clothing is what you want.

3. Bring with you a willingness to slow down and step out of the rhythm of our culture. There is no internet access, television, or radio at the church.

How to Sign Up:

Contact Amy Soupiset by email. Make sure there is space available for you on the weekend you choose. Amy will give you her mobile number by email. Buy your plane ticket. Call Amy or email her and tell her you've bought your ticket. Having purchased a plane ticket is what holds a place for you. You can also talk with Amy at that time about anything else you need to know about getting a hotel or whatever.

Amy@CovenantBaptist.org 

Schedule:

This is an approximate schedule. The clergy retreat will have some other elements.

Friday afternoon/evening:

6:30 - Greet and get settled
7:00 - Vespers Prayer Service
7:30 - St. Francis and his life before God
8:30 - Break
9:00 - Making a Rule of Life 1
10:00 - Compline Prayer Service

Saturday

5:00 - Lauds Prayer Service
5:30 - Time for rest, work or mediation
7:00 - Yoga / Labyrinth / Prayer Walk
8:00 - Breakfast
9:00 - Terce Prayer Service
9:30 - Making a Rule of Life 2
10:30 - Time for rest, work or mediation
12:00 - Sext Prayer Service
12:30 - Lunch
2:00 - Making a Rule of Life 3
3:00 - None Prayer and Communion Service

Note: Those staying for Saturday night can stay at the church until evening. We'll arrange transportation downtown.

Do you have more questions?

Contact me using the contact form in the left menu. Or contact Amy Soupiset - Amy@CovenantBaptist.org

My name is Gordon Atkinson, and I'm the pastor of
Covenant Baptist Church in San Antonio. I started Real Live Preacher as an anonymous blog back in December of 2002. My only goal was to write honestly and well.

I try to stay focused on those two simple goals, though I dropped the anonymity in 2004. I've written hundreds of essays since I began, but without a doubt, "The Preacher's Story" is the one thing that continues to get the biggest reaction. I'm a little embarrassed by that because I wrote it quickly, and I think it's a bit rough. I spun it out in four evenings back when I first started and before I was taking my writing as seriously as I do now.

But that's the one that people like. That and the raccoon stories, another collection I wrote with almost no effort. Go figure.

So who is Real Live Preacher? Well I am rlp, in a way. That is to say, I've tried to write honestly about myself. Still, when you choose what to reveal about yourself, you necessarily choose what not to reveal, so Real Live Preacher will never be more than a caricature of me.

Sometimes I think Real Live Preacher is who I would be if I was more courageous. Sometimes I think he is the person I am slowly becoming. Who knows?

In October of 2004, Eerdmans published a collection of my essays in a book called, appropriately, "RealLivePreacher.com." Having a book published was wonderful, a lot of work, and no big deal. Somehow it was all of those. Still, there it is, a record of my first 18 months writing in this forum.

My Book
I'm honored to write regularly for The Christian Century (Look for the rlp icon on their website), The High Calling, and occasionally for The Wittenburg Door, which is a thrill for me since I've been a fan of that magazine since the early 80s.

If you're new to this site, drop into the essay archives and poke around a bit. I hope you enjoy yourself here.

Inside the Worship Room at Covenant

Yes, that is a fireplace. Yes, that is a set of congas.