Pastoral Renewal

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"Come away and rest a while..."   Mark 6:30-31

Offering resources & guides for your time of Sabbath & Retreat

In the midst of the busy-ness and demands of pastoral ministry, are you feeling the desire for “a time apart”? For time and space set aside for renewal and refreshment? Or perhaps you’re searching for just the right place for you and your spouse to retreat for a long-awaited Sabbatical?

Whether it’s for a week or several months, you’ll find a welcoming, hospitable place for personal retreat or sabbatical at SFTS. Located just 15 minutes north of San Francisco in the quiet hills of Marin County, SFTS offers a beautiful setting for reflection, renewal, study and rest.

• Seek out spiritual renewal or guidance at the Seminary’s Lloyd Center Pastoral Counseling Service, offering spiritual direction, pastoral counseling and psychotherapy to individuals and couples. Click here to see our sample retreat options.



 Visit - Lloyd Center Spiritual Directors


• Savor time in prayer and contemplation while walking our outdoor labyrinth with spectacular mountain views



• Stimulate your mind with a course from an inspiring Seminary professor… (CEUs available for a minimum of 20 hours of directed study or retreat.)
  
  
• Join in worship with a vibrant Seminary community of students, faculty and staff…



• Restore your soul with quiet walks in the redwoods and tranquil hills of Marin … Phoenix Lake with its hiking and biking trails, and Bald Hill, with sweeping views of San Francisco and the Bay Bridge, are both within walking distance of your doorstep…



• Refresh your spirit with cappuccinos and fresh bagels over a good book at the Seminary coffee house, or in the quaint downtown neighborhood of San Anselmo, just a short walk from campus…



• Receive the gift of time and contemplation, and remember whose you are…

So come away, for a little time apart …

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Comfortable, furnished campus apartments available for short or long-term rentals starting at $450 per week or $1600 per month. Dorm-style housing also available for groups at $70 per night. Spouses and groups welcome.

Seminary accessible by public transportation. Grocery store and other amenities located within a mile of campus. Nearby ferry and bus access to San Francisco.

Clergy Renewal Grants

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In the National Clergy Renewal Program, the Lilly Endowment annually provides as many as 120 grants of up to $45,000 each directly to Christian congregations for the support of a renewal program for their pastor. The master of divinity degree is the basic minimum educational requirement to apply for a grant. Deadlines for proposals are generally in May, with announcements of recipients generally made by October.

Click here for more information:
http://www.lillyendowment.org/religion_ncr.html

Sample Retreats
(Choose from one of our retreat "formats" or let us help you design your own.)

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Renewal Retreat
Experience the gift of Sabbath as you come away for a week of rest, reflection and renewal. Begin your retreat time by meeting with a seasoned spiritual director* who will help you plan your Sabbath “schedule,” followed by two more reflection sessions during the week. Your renewal week may include extended periods of silence and prayer, spiritual reading, recreation and worship. $300 plus housing

Discernment Retreat
Seek clarity through prayer and spiritual direction for a personal and/or vocational issue you are facing in your life. This package includes a pre-retreat phone consultation with a spiritual director and three on-site sessions. A brief essay on your topic for discernment will be requested prior to your retreat. $300 plus housing

Pastor Self-Care
Come away for a week to gain clarity and counsel on a specific area of personal crisis or challenge in your life. You’ll meet daily with an experienced pastoral counselor* to help you work through a specific issue. Package includes a confidential pre-retreat phone consultation with the Director of the Lloyd Center for Pastoral Counseling. $500 plus housing

Sabbatical
An extended time of rest, study and spiritual renewal. Enjoy the vast resources that SFTS and the Bay Area offer to enhance your sabbatical experience. Consider classes or workshops at the Graduate Theological Union; spiritual direction sessions to reflect on the Spirit’s movement during your sabbatical experience; peer consultation groups to share ministerial challenges; worship experiences; exciting cultural events; study at the world-renowned GTU library; and soul-stirring recreation/nature experiences. (Inquire for rates.)

Contact Us

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For additional information, please contact Deborah Arca Mooney at (415) 451-2838 or email dasd@sfts.edu for more information or with any questions about pastor renewal opportunities.