Saturday, December 23, 2017

Let's Do a Pilgrimage Retreat!

Pilgrimage Retreats with Rev. Dr. Brett Webb-Mitchell
Organizing Pastor, Community of Pilgrims Presbyterian Fellowship, Portland, OR

Have you and your church leaders had a hard time thinking about what you want your next Session retreat, men's or women's retreat, all church retreat, or youth group gathering to focus on, and are wanting something new, different, outside the box and experiential, and yet of the Church?  Consider a Pilgrimage Retreat, an ancient practice for current times.

For the last twenty-years I have been on and led pilgrimage around the world with small and large groups - providing workshops on living an everyday pilgrimage life, for all-church events, Session retreats, men's or women's groups gatherings, youth retreats, and mission trips shaped as pilgrimage.  I have worked with churches and other faith organizations in Oregon, around the country and abroad.  Along with leading workshops, retreats and actual pilgrimages, I've also published three books on pilgrimage that I use for these sessions, the latest being Practicing Pilgrimage (Wipf and Stock, 2016), and have many articles published on this theme in both popular and church-related publications.

Reverends Beth and Greg Neel of Westminster Presbyterian Church said of my leading their all-church retreat at Rockaway Camp Grounds: "Brett is a natural teacher and his winsome style is laid on a foundation of deep spiritual practice and wide-ranging study of pilgrimage.  Brett engaged a variety of ages in a variety of activities, so that all who participated came away feeling as though they really had been on a meaningful pilgrimage” (Beth); and “Brett is gifted at assisting persons at different places on their faith journey to be on pilgrimage together.  He connects faith to the present and provides language that allows for questions, growth, and even possibly an ‘Aha!’ moment" (Gregg). Rev. Del Burnett of First Presbyterian Church, Salem said this about our time together at Suttle Lake on the men's retreat, “The Everyday Pilgrim Retreat led by Brett was a wonderful blending of biblical insight, personal experience and interactive engagement for our men.  The content was rooted in scripture and enriched by a morning pilgrimage, in which we were able to experience the pilgrim spirit.  Brett was a marvelous guide for our weekend experience.” And Rev. Sharon Edwards of First Presbyterian Church, Corvallis said this of their church leader retreat on pilgrimage at Mt. Angel Abbey said: “Brett's passionate and energetic presence helped us use the lens of ‘pilgrimage’ to examine the past, present and future of our lives.”

So, as you are thinking about a creative and out of the "box" experience for your church's next retreat, please consider a pilgrimage-focused theme and explore what it means to follow Jesus on our everyday pilgrimage lives in this contemporary world.


Feel free to contact me, Brett Webb-Mitchell, brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com; or 919-444-9111. Fee scale is sliding, so let’s talk about you and your church, and go on a pilgrimage!

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Youtube Clip and Practicing Pilgrimage

Here it is folks!  The Youtube clip on pilgrimage

Please feel free to also order the book via Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Practicing-Pilgrimage-Becoming-Pilgrim-People/dp/1620329484/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483574390&sr=1-1&keywords=practicing+pilgrimage

Buen Camino!

Brett

Monday, November 28, 2016

New Pilgrimage Book! Practicing Pilgrimage

The new book is out!

Woohoo!

For those who follow me work and practice of pilgrimage, this is the most how-to book on being and becoming a pilgrim on a pilgrimage in the ordinary lives in which we live daily.

Here's the link for the book: http://wipfandstock.com/practicing-pilgrimage.html

Enjoy!

Buen Camino!

Brett

Thursday, July 28, 2016

I'm off, then





It is time to get ready for pilgrimage.

This year's pilgrimage takes me to India and Nepal.  While last year Dean and I spent a lot of time in the state of Rajistan, this year's pilgrimage is more of a plane affair, with Mumbai, and then a flight to Udaipur, Jaipur and Kanvera; then up to Varanasi, and finally to Kathmandu.

To say "I'm eager" to go is an understatement. I'm ready, personally, to get going to meditate, cogitate, and reflect upon the way my life seems to be going currently.

"I'm off, then..."

Buen Camino!  B

Friday, March 11, 2016

The Pilgrimage of Life @ Ghost Ranch



Join me at Ghost Ranch, June 12-16, 2016, for the Pilgrimage of Life!  Here's the blurb: 

Pilgrimage of Life is for us modern folks to re-discover the incredible benefits found in the ancient art and practice of Christian pilgrimage. We will start our time together sharing tales of our storied journey of life by creating time lines of significant milestones of life. Following this will be an exploration of the characteristics of life as a pilgrimage, focusing on the importance of hospitality, character, the land, importance of strangers, companionship, prayer and contemplation, music and art and the rituals of pilgrimage. - See more at: https://www.ghostranch.org/retreat/pilgrimage-of-life/#sthash.jbCBeDnP.dpuf

For more info, contact the following: 505.685.1000
Toll Free: 877.804.4678
Welcome Center Hours
7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. daily
Local time for Abiquiu, NM :
- See more at: https://www.ghostranch.org/retreat/pilgrimage-of-life/#sthash.jbCBeDnP.dpuf

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Franciscan Center and Pilgrimage of Everyday Life



Hoping to see folks interested in pilgrimage the Franciscan Center in Portland, OR, March 5, 2016.

Here's the blurb!

Lessons from a Pilgrim Life
Lessons from a Pilgrim Life is for “us” modern folks who want to re-discover the incredible benefits found in the ancient art and practice of Christian pilgrimage. We will start our time together sharing tales of our
storied journey of life by creating time lines of significant milestones of life. Following this will be an
exploration of the characteristics of life as a pilgrimage, focusing on the importance of hospitality, character, the land, importance of strangers, companionship, prayer and contemplation, music & art and the rituals of pilgrimage.
Date: Saturday March 5th
Time: 9:00am – 3:00pm
Cost: $60 per person
Facilitator: Brett Webb-Mitchell

Come one and all!

Franciscan Spiritual Center
2512 SE Monroe St
Milwaukie, OR 97222
Phone 503-794-8542
Fax 503-794-8556

Pax B

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

India!



I will soon start adding images and stories from my pilgrimage time in India!  Stay tuned!

Buen Camino!

Brett