A Prayer and Fasting Youth Retreat
“Pneuma” [pronounce noo-muh] is the Greek word for Spirit. This November 13-14, Emmanuel Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Delaware will be hosting an overnight youth retreat focusing on developing the Spiritual disciplines of prayer and fasting to help you grow as a Christian.
Details
Who: Any young person grades 7-12 who would like to get serious about developing the Spiritual disciplines of fasting and prayer.
When: 7 PM Friday, November 13 to 3:30 PM Saturday, November 14
Where: Emmanuel Presbyterian Church
1006 Wilson Road,
Wilmington, DE 19803
Cost: $15 (this includes a $7 donation to Samaritan’s Purse to cover the cost of sending your
Operation Christmas Child shoebox).
Registration
You Must Pre-Register for this event at eopc.org/Pneuma-registration
And also, please fill out the release form below and have a parent/guardian sign it.
What to Expect and What Not to Expect
Pneuma will be different from previous youth events we have hosted so we want to make sure you know what to expect and what not to expect. Instead of focusing on games, food, and a speaker; the focus will be on developing the Spiritual disciplines of prayer and fasting. We will not just be talking about these Spiritual disciplines, we will be practicing them.
Fasting
Fasting is an important but often neglected Spiritual discipline. We will be having a talk on the proper place fasting should take in your life as a disciple of Christ. At Pneuma we will not be serving dinner or breakfast or providing any snacks. We are asking everyone who attends this retreat to consider skipping lunch on Friday as well. We will break our fast together with a feast on Saturday afternoon.
Prayer
Do you find it hard to know what to say when you pray? Do you find it difficult to pray for more than a few minutes without your mind wandering? Our goal is to help you learn how the words of the Bible can shape your prayer life and to help you practice turning any passage of scripture into a prayer to God. You will spend a significant amount of time in Bible reading and prayer both on your own and in small groups.
Service
True Biblical fasting and prayer should motivate us to serve others. This year we will be packing boxes for Operation Christmas Child which sends shoeboxes filled with gifts and the Gospel to children around the world. After you register, we will send you a list telling you what items to bring to the retreat to pack in the boxes.
What to Bring
– Operation Christmas Child gifts (see above under “service”)
– Medical Release Form
– Sleeping bag
– Pillow
– Toiletries
– Bible
– Notebook
– NO ELECTRONICS!
Retreat FAQ
Is Fasting Safe?
Yes! Fasting is safe for most people. World Vision, which puts on hundreds of youth fasting programs every year, says:
The average person can do it, no problem.
Most people can go without food for 30 hours without any side effects. Exceptions include, but are not limited to:
• Children younger than 12 and the elderly
• Pregnant or nursing women
• People with specific medical conditions or eating disorders
If students or parents have any concerns, have them check with a doctor before participating.
Will there be juice available?
Yes. We will have a variety of juices available in addition to water.
Can kids who may not be able to fast for medical reasons still attend?
Yes! Please let us know if you are planning on coming and unable to fast. We will be sure to provide sandwich fixings and snacks for you.
Will there be a nurse present?
We are working on having a nurse present during the retreat.
Contact Information
If you have any questions, please e-mail Pastor Landow ([email protected]) or call the church at (302) 478-7776