May 15 - 17

The Holy Spirit has the power to make us more like Christ. When the Holy Spirit comes upon us, it signifies receiving divine power for service, witnessing, and spiritual transformations. It empowers believers to boldly share the gospel, provides spiritual gifts for ministry, and enables them to live according to God's will. Join us as we explore our theme this year: "The Spirit of the Lord is Upon Me."

Goals for the Weekend

We will build cross-cultural relationships: strengthening relationships and making new connections.

We will be reminded all of who we are and what we do comes from God who created us and redeemed us.

We will have a stronger sense of what it means to have the Spirit of the Lord within us.

Eastminster Presbyterian Church's All Church Retreat is located at Laurelville Retreat Center. The camp is fully accessible. We will stay in hotel style rooms: no need to bring linens, towels or sleeping bags.

Meals: We do not serve dinner on Friday night. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is provided on Saturday. Breakfast provided on Sunday. To learn more visit: https://laurelville.org.

Transportation to Camp

There is no need to come to church first, please go directly to Laurelville Retreat Center. All those who have requested a ride at registration have been matched up with families to give them a ride. If your transportation needs have changed and you foresee needing a ride, please contact the church by Tuesday May 12th.

Check in at the Dining Hall: When you arrive at the retreat center, drive straight until you see a large building with a front porch (don’t go to the buildings to your left or right. The Dining Hall is straight ahead). At check-in you will get your room assignment for the Solarhouse or Guesthouse. You can also make payments, pick up your welcome envelope, and sign up for the talent show and electives at the check-in table. After check-in you can go to your room and get settled in. Check in begins at 6:30 p.m. on Friday evening and the devotions and greetings start at 8:00pm. If you arrive after 8:00pm come directly to the Meetinghouse. We’ll leave the light on!

Map of Grounds

What to Pack:

This retreat will be kind of like going to stay at a Holiday Inn in the woods-- surrounded by nature with all the comforts of home (and someone else to cook for you!) Our rooms come with towels and bedding, so you don’t have to bring those. Dress is casual for all sessions, worship, meals, games and free time. Please be prepared for multiple types of weather. We suggest jackets or sweatshirts in case it gets chilly at night, footwear you don't mind getting wet or dirty (covered toed shoes/sneakers would be best), and sunblock. Spring weather can be pretty tricky, so be prepared for any case scenario, as weather predictions do often change!

In addition, we suggest you bring:

A Bible & pad or notebook
Some INDIVIDUALLY wrapped snacks for the snack station in your building (We kindly ask that you please be generous and bring snacks to share.)
Games or projects to share (board games, puzzles, crafts, art supplies)
A flashlight for evening strolling outside

Schedule

Friday

May 15

6:30pm - 7:45pm (There is NO dinner served on Friday evening.) Check in at the Dining Hall (Receive room assignments and gather general information for the weekend & sign-up for the talent show and electives)

8:00pm - 8:20pm Parents drop off their elementary aged children in the gym, adults gather in the Meeting House

8:30 - 9:00pm Adults and older youth gather in the Meeting House for evening greetings and devotions. Band has line check in the Gathering Space

9:00pm Parents pick up their children from the gym

9:15pm Free Time

10:30pm Quiet hours until 7am, as a courtesy, please try to keep noise level to a minimum

Saturday

May 16

8:00am Morning Prayers at the waterfall with Rev. Aaron Teter

8:30am Breakfast at the Dining Hall (Sign-ups for talent show “acts” due by 9:30am)

9:15am Parents drop off elementary aged children at the gym

9:30am - 10:30am Adults and older youth go to 1st gathering with the first speaker, Ryan Ramsey, in the Meeting House

Adult Praise Team rehearsal in the Gathering Space

10:30am Parents pick up their children in the gym

11am - 12:00pm Worship in the Gathering Space

12:30pm Lunch at the Dining Hall

1:30pm - 2:45pm Free Time or you can join Jeff Smith for a Geode exploration activity

2:30pm Youth Praise Band rehearsal in the Gathering Space

3:00pm - 3:30pm Children's Choir rehearsal in the Gathering Space (Parents are responsible for getting children to and from choir rehearsal)

3:00pm - 4:00pm Electives (Parents are responsible for children during electives time) Adult Praise Team will begin rehearsal at 3:30pm in the Gathering Space

4:15pm - 5:30pm Worship in the Gathering Space

5:30pm Dinner at the Dining Hall

6:15pm Parents drop off elementary aged children at the gym

6:30pm - 7:30pm Adults go to the 2nd gathering with the second speaker, Pastor Barbara Mann, in the Meeting House

7:30pm Parents pick up their children from the gym

8:00pm Talent Show

9:30pm S’mores and campfire at the fire ring

10:30pm Quiet hours until 7am, as a courtesy, please try to keep noise level to a minimum

Sunday

May 17

8:00am - 10:00am Clean, pack and check-out (Rooms must be cleaned out and packed up before worship)

8:30am Breakfast at the Dining Hall

10:00am Worship in the Gathering Space

12:00pm Clean up Meeting House and Depart

Meet our Speakers!

On Saturday morning and afternoon guest speakers will lead us with stories and teachings about the Holy Spirit, and we will share in the power of the Spirit at work in us as we listen to the testimonies of our brothers and sisters in Eastminster. Both will take place in the Meeting House.

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Ryan Ramsey - Saturday May 16

9:30am - 10:30am

Ryan Ramsey is a visiting Assistant Professor of History and World Christianity at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and a member of Eastminster Presbyterian Church. As a historian, Ramsey studies Pentecostal and Charismatic movements. Especially in Latin America and US-Mexican borderlands.

His forthcoming book, Teresa Urrea: A Religious Biography (Penn State University Press), explores the life of a Mexican folk saint and healer in the late 19th and early 20th century. His forthcoming edited volume, The Five Distinctives of World Christianity: A Framework for Understanding a Global Faith (co-edited with Anna Redhair Wells, Baylor University Press) sets in dialogue studies of Christianity across continental, national, linguistic, and denomination lines.

He and his wife Ellie Ramsey have two children, Penelope and Siena. He spends much of his time chasing Penelope around the church after service.

Pastor Barbara Mann - Saturday May 16

6:30pm - 7:30pm

Barbara J. Herron Mann is an anointed, gifted, and passionate servant of God and His church. She credits the late superintendent David Howard, her first pastor, along with her parents, Lethonia and Peter Herron with providing the foundation for her life and ministry.

For over 40 years Pastor Mann devotedly served in the ministry of Pentecostal Temple with her husband, the late Bishop Loran Edward Mann, founder and senior pastor of the church. She is the founder of the Word Alive Bible Ministry, a weekly bible study group. She was also the originator of the Council of Christian Women which focuses on resolving women's issues through biblical perspectives.

Known for her anointed singing, Pastor Mann delights in sharing spiritual songs that bring life and light to her audiences. Her children, Tiana and Loran II, bring a twinkle in her eye, as they share their ministry of music and the Word.

Geodes with Jeff!

A Virtual Field Trip to the World-Famous Las Choyas Geode Deposit

I am passionate about geology and especially geodes! God has given us an amazing creation to discover and explore. I am a retired geologist and for the past 52 years I have been collecting geodes.

For 27 years, I have been presenting this program, which focuses on a virtual field trip to the world-famous Las Choyas geode deposit in northern Chihuahua Mexico.

I will take participants from the front door of my home in Pittsburgh, to an active geode mine about 100 feet beneath the desert floor and then back to the Meeting House. At the conclusion of the program, everyone will have a chance to pick an unopened geode which I will crack open. You will be the first person to view part of God's creation that He has been saving just for you!

- Jeff Smith

Geode photo by Jeff Scovil