Emmaus Retreat 2024

Event Phone: 317-821-7527

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+  2024 Emmaus Retreat  +

Saturday, October 12, 2024 | 8:30am – 3:30pm

     Keynote Speaker: Fr. Mikel Hill

Emmaus Retreat 2024

 

Saint John’s Camp Programs invites you to attend Emmaus Retreat 2024 – our annual, all-ages, all-parish fall retreat. We are excited to be joined by Father Mikel Hill, Managing Editor of St. Tikhon’s Monastery Press and author of Freedom & Obedience in the Vision of Saint Sophrony, as this year’s featured speaker. Join us for speaking sessions, fellowship time, and afternoon recreation. Lunch and child care are provided during the speaking sessions for children 2 – 12. Emmaus Retreat 2024 is hosted at Camp Belzer, a Boy Scouts of America facility with acres of rolling wooded hills, numerous hiking trails, and playgrounds. Do not miss it for the world! 

The early bird rate is $20 and runs through September 15, 2024. Standard registration is $25, and ends October 8, 2024. Children 2 and under are free. Note: registrations after October 8 are not guaranteed lunch.

If you cannot pay the full registration fee when you register, please deliver full payment by October 9. If you are in need of financial assistance, please speak to your local parish. Scholarships are also available through St. John’s Camp Program’s Scholarship Fund. Please do not let finances be the reason you do not join us – register today!

Begin your Emmaus Retreat registration by selecting a ticket below!

The Theme & Speaker

 

Theme: “Freedom & Obedience” 

Recent events have underscored the tension between freedom and authority, manifest in competing concerns over personal autonomy and communal wealth fare, warring political ideologies, and an increasing confusion over the meaning of personhood. This essay is founded by the conviction that Saint Sophrony (1896–1993) offers to our own generation a unique answer to these dilemmas.

The author begins with an examination of the meaning of personhood in the context of autonomous technologies, informed by such authors as Matthew Crawford, Shoshana Zuboff, Ivan Illich, and Fyodor Dostoevsky. The essay continues with a study of personhood as expressed by saints Silouan (1866–1938) and Sophrony. Based on a definition of personhood in which the freedom of the other is tantamount, the paradox existing between freedom and obedience is examined, the failure of current political systems to bring a balance to this tension, and the unique answer presented by Saint Sophrony is then presented. Following is a survey of how this solution is carried out in the practical realms of religious life: in the sacrament of confession and in the relationship between a bishop, his priests, and his flock.

Prompted by concrete realities which—in the wake of covid-19—forced abstract questions on the nature of personal freedom and obedience to authority into pressing, practical concerns, Freedom & Obedience is an essay which struggles to make out the narrow way between conflicting ideas and loyalties. In doing so, it asks difficult questions of both individuals and institutions and, at the same time, invites further discussion.

ABOUT Fr. Mikel Hill

Father Mikel Hill is a priest of the Orthodox Church and the managing editor of St. Tikhon’s Monastery Press. He has performed professionally as a tenor in a wide range of ensembles. He also enjoys playing piano, violin, cello, viol da gamba, and mandolin. Fr. Mikel is active as a composer of chamber music and recently completed a song cycle for soprano, baritone, piano, cello, and flute. An avid historian of the late Victorian period, Fr. Mikel is completing a monograph on the life and work of the Russian-born, American choral conductor, Ivan Gorokhov. He is a member of the American Musicology Society and the Society of Christian Scholarship in Music, for which he has presented several papers. Fr Mikel also enjoys fine woodworking, 19th-century literature, traveling to England any chance that comes his way, and a good cup of coffee. Fr. Mikel, his wife Rachel, and their five children have lived at St. Tikhon’s Monastery since 2018.

The Venue

 

We are excited to host our retreat at the One America Room at Camp Belzer (6102 Boy Scout Road, Indianapolis, IN 46226). Camp Belzer is home to the Boys Scouts of America and the Nature School of Central Indiana, and is located on the east side of Indianapolis. The grounds offer acres of woods, hiking trails, playgrounds, and shelters. Check out Camp Belzer on Google Maps, as well as the Camp Belzer website.

Registrations placed after Oct 8th are not guaranteed lunch as orders are made in advance 

Contact us if you have any questions. We hope to see you at Emmaus Retreat 2024! With much love for you all, and remembering you in our prayers,

The Emmaus Retreat 2024 Planning Committee

 

 

Visit our homepage for access to pictures, videos, and teachings from previous camps and retreats on our Facebook, YouTube, and SoundCloud pages.

 

 

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Venue:  

Address:
6102 Boy Scout Road, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46226, United States

Description:

Camp Belzer on Google Maps, 

  • Emmaus Retreat 2023
     October 14, 2023
     12:30 pm - 8:30 pm
  • Emmaus Retreat 2024
     October 12, 2024
     12:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Our Patron

St. John the Forerunner 

Troparion — Tone 2: The memory of the righteous is celebrated with hymns of praise, but the Lord’s testimony is sufficient for you, O Forerunner. You were shown in truth to be the most honorable of the prophets, for you were deemed worthy to baptize in the streams of the Jordan Him whom they foretold. Therefore, having suffered for the truth with joy, you proclaimed to those in hell God who appeared in the flesh, who takes away the sin of the world, and grants us great mercy.

Kontakion — Tone 6: The river Jordan trembled and was driven back filled with fear at Your coming in the flesh, while John drew back in awe as he fulfilled the ministry of a prophet. The ranks of angels stood amazed, when they beheld You in the flesh being baptized in the streams. And we, who were in darkness, are filled with light as we praise You, who have appeared to enlighten all.

Feeling Right at Home at Camp

Dear Mr. Beecham and Scholarship donors,

I am writing to thank you and the people who donated toward the cause of scholarships for St. John’s camp; for generously gifting me one. I am very grateful for the opportunity to attend camp, as it was one of the best times of my life. Thank you so much!

I think my favorite part of camp was the feeling of freedom that came with going to camp. All my councillors in the Junior High boy’s cabin were extremely friendly and understanding when it came to me being homesick on my first day there, and all they wanted to do was help in any way they could. On my second day, I felt right at home. From that point on, everything went smoothly, and I never wanted camp to end. If possible, I plan to enroll and attend next year, as it is now one of the highlights of the year for me.

I also want to thank the staff, because they were very cheerful and helpful, and they too did anything they could do to help. When we had pizza for dinner, (and I couldn’t eat it because I am gluten-free), I told them my problem, and they specially made me a burger on a gluten-free bun. I will never forget how understanding and friendly they were to me. This is why I am grateful for camp.

Again; thank you so much!

Sincerely,

More Then Just a Summer Camp

When my mother first announced that my brother and I would be packing up and heading off to summer camp, we were initially far from eager. But St. Johns’ wasn’t just any camp; it was a church camp. And that meant praying. Lots of praying. And that also meant no technology. Not exactly our idea of a “fun” summer, although after giving it a try we were soon proven wrong.Despite our reluctance, we felt right at home within St. Johns’. I was one of 90 sweaty campers, all of whom were looking to strengthen their faith and to have a good time. From late night swim parties to joyously singing during praise time, it was a week full of dedication, friends, valuable teachings and fun experiences.Our mornings would start at 6:00 for those of us whom were restless enough to go out running. For the rest, it was morning exercises at 7:00. Afterwards, we went to Third Hour prayers and breakfast. First Teaching, counseling groups and Second Teaching were next, followed by a long-awaited lunch. Free time for things such as canoeing, swimming and zip-lining happened before dinner, and the day was then completed with Small Compline and praise time. When the moment came to leave, I probably wasn’t the only one who felt a change. It’s when you find yourself gawking at the sky – just the sheer, beautifulblueness of it – that you know something has changed. A change that allows you to appreciate the little things, to stay awake and to be grateful. And as we stood together in the last few minutes of camp, we sang our final song of praise together; tears rolled down cheeks and farewells were exchanged. But this wasn’t to be the end, of course. Next year we will be reunited with friends both new and old, and in the meanwhile we will take what we have gained in knowledge, and use it to grow closer to God.

Saint John's History

The roots of St. John’s Camp date back to the 1970’s with a growing community of young adults who held frequent retreats together. These retreats focused on community building, studying the early Church fathers, fellowship, prayer, teachings, singing, and games, as they desired to cultivate their life in Christ.

As this community of young believers grew, along with their interest in the ancient Church and liturgy, they eventually became members of the “Evangelical Orthodox Church (EOC)”. They began raising families of their own, and soon – as “being fruitful and multiplying” will do – there was a growing number of young children. With an eye towards this next generation, they wanted their children to have the same experience of life in Christ through community and koinonia, thus the camp and retreat tradition continued. Summer camp was held annually in various locations before settling in 1992 at Camp Rivervale in Mitchell, Indiana (where it remains to this day). The summer camp and seasonal retreats drew youth from across the United States as well as Canada. 

In 2002, Holy Trinity EOC parish was brought into the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) under Archbishop Job of blessed memory, in the Diocese of the Midwest. That summer was the first summer as “Saint John’s Camp”. With the same energy and desire to share the experience of community and fellowship in the Kingdom of God, Saint John’s Camp has continued to hold an annual summer youth camp, a fall family retreat, and a winter high school and young adult retreat, still drawing youth from across the United States.

In the words of one of the camp’s original founders, Fr. Joseph Gibson of blessed memory, “One of the main purposes of these gatherings is [and always has been] to bring together people that represent the diversity of the Christian experience, focusing on the lived experience of our young people in the Church in order to create an intensive, Spirit-filled, Life-giving, life-changing community of love, acceptance, non-judgmentalism, and safety.”

By the Grace of God, these camps and retreats have continued for over 40 years, maintaining the same Christ-centered focus on community and fellowship, and nurturing the development of lifelong friendships so that our participants may grow in the fullness of the Orthodox Christian faith and discover the depth of God’s love.

Glory to God for all things!

Winter Retreat

Saint John’s Winter Retreat takes place over students’ winter break. The retreat typically is a long weekend that falls over the New Year’s holiday. Students who are high school and college age may attend to retreat from the stresses they may be facing at the end of the semester and recharge before starting their spring semesters at school. The retreat includes fellowship, prayer, teachings, singing, games, karaoke, and some good old fashioned pick-up football.

Register Now

Emmaus Retreat

Saint John’s Emmaus Retreat is a one day all-ages, all-parish family & adult retreat. A guest speaker is brought in to speak on the theme for the year. A meal and recreation time are shared together throughout the day as well. Free childcare is available to parents during the teaching sessions.

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Summer Camp

Saint John’s Summer Camp is a weeklong camp for students going into 7th grade through those who just graduated from high school. These age groups are divided up among the campground with special programming geared toward developmentally appropriate themes for each age. The week includes fellowship, daily prayer, Divine Liturgy, teachings, singing, games, a climbing wall and zip-line, refreshing pool and water slide, and a talent/no-talent show – all in beautiful Southern Indiana!

Register Now
Register for Emmaus Retreat 2026
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