“All Day God, Everyday” Retreat @ 7 Fountains, Chiangmai
29 Oct – 8 Nov 2012
S$680 per person (airfare not included)

Who are the Facilitators?

Ms Sheila Pritchard – Author of The Lost Art of Meditation, Sheila was our lecturer at Bible College of New Zealand who taught us a whole year on Spiritual Formation. She is currently self-employed as Retreat Facilitator and Spiritual Director of her own ministry called The Lighthouse in Auckland, New Zealand. Sheila comes with many years of experience and insights and it is our privilege and honor to be in partnership with our “sze-fu” (master-teacher in Chinese) for this retreat.

Ms Teo Soo Hoong – Director of Spiritual Formation at Paya Lebar Methodist Church, Soo Hoong is a graduate of Bible College of New Zealand. She runs prayer retreats and courses on prayer, provides pastoral care and gives spiritual direction. As a trained SD with both NZ and Singapore, Soo Hoong has been doing retreat works for 16 years.

Mr Alfred Quah – Pastoral Team Member (PTM) of Wesley Methodist Church, Alfred graduated from Trinity Theological College, Singapore in 1995 and Asbury Theological Seminary, Kentucky, USA in 2007 and has been in retreat and spiritual direction works since 2000. He is married to Helen and has two daughters. Alfred enjoys reading and nature.

Rev Simon Tan & Rinda Teo – details on this Website.

Focus of Retreat

At this retreat we want to practise mindfulness and cultivate awareness of God everywhere, everyday and in everything. We pray that God will help us to consciously practise “living and breathing God” in our daily life, in the ordinary time and not just become alive to Him during sacred events of the Church calendar. Together we can savor and relish the “All Day God, Everyday” and not just during prayer times, spiritual gatherings and weekends. There will be ample time for creative journaling, quite contemplation, biblical meditation, walks, involvement in daily chores like sweeping, washing, ironing besides one-to-one spiritual direction on days of silence.

There are only limited spaces, please register early with your respective facilitators.

Additional Information

1. Retreat Fee: This fee covers Registration, Full board at 7 Fountains during retreat phase and Retreat Fee for your Spiritual Director/Facilitator. Any extra night before 29 Oct and after 7 Nov will bear additional cost of S$33 per person per night.

2. Air Ticket: You will need to book your own ticket. Please book to arrive at 7 Fountains on 29 Oct as retreat begins after breakfast on 30 Oct. Air Asia has daily direct flight to Chiangmai (CNX). Silk Air flies Tue, Wed, Fri and Sun only. Thai Airways transit through Bangkok with daily flights. Please confirm your dates with your respective Co-ordinator before booking tickets.

3. Registration: All duly completed Registration Form must be accompanied with a non-refundable Registration Fee of S$50/- with the respective Co-ordinators : Ms Teo Soo Hoong from Paya Lebar Methodist Church and Mr Alfred Quah from Wesley Methodist Church. Others please register with Listening Inn.

4. Closing Date for Registration: 31 August 2012 5. Payment : All cheques payable to LISTENING INN by 15 Sep 2012

Why a retreat house and not a resort?

A retreat house is designed for prayer. Most retreat houses are situated in tranquil and lush environment conducive for prayer and reflection. Retreat houses also come with Chapels which are again designed for reflective prayer and quiet contemplation. While resorts may have all the perks of swimming pool, TV, internet access and amenities, they are also filled with many distractions and attractions that take one’s attention away from the Lord. Not all who come into a resort is looking to meet with God.

Why can’t I bring books or Christian materials during a silent retreat?

We encourage retreatants not to bring books, unfinished work, MP3, laptop or anything that can distract from the agenda of God at the retreat. During the days of silence when waiting for God to speak is hard to come, one may be most tempted to veer to one’s books, works and music or recorded teaching or messages if these are readily available. What’s needed is the Bible and a journey and anything else the Retreat Facilitator will make provision on site.

What must I do to prepare for the retreat in order to get the most out of it?

Often we ask people to come rested. A well rested person is more alert to God as listening and attending to God requires all our body and senses. Should there be the need to read some pre-retreat material, this will be highlighted via email to the retreatant.  Finally, come to the retreat with open heart and open mind in God the Good Shepherd trusting that He will lead us the meeting place with Him.

Can I fast during retreat?

We encourage fasting of a different kind, eg fasting from talking, from relating with God in old familiar ways, from fast-reading the Bible etc so that one can become more open to God in fresh and new ways.  Should one really need to fast, then discuss the matter with the Retreat Facilitator or Spiritual Director. But generally we encourage proper eating and resting so one can become alert to attend to self and to God.