Retreating has been in our church’s DNA since the beginning, so it was only a matter of time before our online Tuesday church gatherings decided to start retreating in person once a year in the winter. This year marked our third winter retreat together. Thirteen of us journeyed from four different states to a large house at Lake Eildon in the cold Victorian High Country.
Each one of us brought our own unique stories, experiences, and perspectives. Within a few short minutes of being together, the heart of who we are as a church began to come to life.
We only had one full day together, and with no time to waste, we spent that one day talking, meditating, learning, creating, exploring, singing songs and worshipping.
There was a moment during the retreat, in between planned activities, when I found myself sitting in the midst of multiple conversations. I listened intently, absorbing the richness of each conversation and the genuine connections being deepened, and in that moment of just listening, I could hear and recognise the spirit's movement amongst it all.
That night, we participated in a Taizé Communion. The group circled the emblems, lit up by candlelight, and we sang hymns from our hymnal.
When the final hymn was sung, I paused, allowing myself to be serenaded by the group. As I listened to the blend of voices and the warmth of the fellowship, I had a flashback of myself five years ago praying a prayer. It was a prayer of yearning for spiritual friendships, a place to feel safe from all the uncertainty, and a place to belong and to be each other's church; again, at that moment, I was reminded of the profoundness of what I have in my life; a prayer that had been answered.
The entire experience felt like returning home to a place I had never been.
As we left Lake Eildon, I carried with me a renewed sense of peace, purpose, and gratitude for this community that has become such an important part of my life. Until next winter, when we gather once again, I hold these memories close, knowing that our journey together is far from over.
Emma Ghazarian
