In the midst of Lent, when the rhythms of ministry often feel especially full, this spring clergy retreat invites us to consider a countercultural question: what if the most faithful thing we could do is pause and listen?
Listening for the Living Waters: Finding Stillness, Seeking What Is Next is a retreat for clergy across Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin, designed as a time of rest, reflection, and renewal. Held March 18–20, 2026, at Tower Hill Camp & Retreat Center, this gathering offers space to step out of the demands of daily ministry and into a slower, more attentive rhythm shaped by prayer, conversation, and shared life.
Rather than centering on packed schedules or heavy content, this retreat invites us to dwell together for a brief season. Through worship, unstructured time, and honest conversation, participants are encouraged to listen deeply—to God, to one another, and to their own weary and hopeful hearts. Lent reminds us that listening itself can be an act of trust, a way of making room for what God is already doing.
This year’s retreat will also include time with our new Regional Minister and President, Rev. Dr. William E. Crowder, Jr.. As the Living Waters Region continues to take shape, we will listen together for what may be emerging in our shared future, grounded in prayer and mutual discernment.
The retreat is intentionally structured around shared space and communally prepared meals. In the Christian tradition, formation often happens around tables and in the midst of ordinary, shared life. Cooking together, eating together, and inhabiting the same space creates room for connection that cannot be scheduled. Shared lodging helps keep the retreat accessible and affordable, while fostering the informal conversation and mutual support many clergy name as the most meaningful part of retreat experiences. Single rooms and a limited commuter option are available.
Come away. Find stillness. Listen for the waters that give life.
