St. Simons Community Church hosted Refuge SSI. Many thanks to them. All photos here courtesy Chris Moncus
Bobby and I had the privilege of retreating to St. Simon’s Island, Georgia recently and attending Refuge SSI, a retreat hosted by St. Simon’s Community Church for worship pastors, leaders and Christian creative and artists. The time away from our jobs and home and the change of pace were much needed and refreshing to both of us. We enjoyed everything about the trip including the beautiful 11 hour drive from and to our home through Eastern Kentucky into the Smokies of Tennessee and round the Blue Ridge of the Carolinas, all breathtakingly colored with gorgeous autumn trees.
Kayaking on Dolphin Creek. Bobby and I are in the front, on your left.
We enjoyed kayaking through the marshes on St. Simon’s Island as part of Refuge SSI, and cycling through maritime forests on its neighbor, Jekyll Island. I’m thankful for the times of recreation God provided throughout our time in St. Simon’s. It was invigorating to enjoy God in His marvelous creation.
Picnicking by the ocean with our worship leader friends from across the U.S. Delicious food catered by Barbara Jean's
I also have to mention that the food we shared was delicious—the best of the island. I praise God for this too.
Trent Smith, Russ Hutto & Mandy Thompson lead worship in our opening session
As for the retreat itself, we spent two and half days in community with about 30 other men and women of different ages and from various church backgrounds and experiences. But we all shared a common faith and calling as worship leaders, musicians, songwriters and creatives: we believe in and belong to Christ and seek to make much of Him in our worship gatherings.
Such a refreshing environment for worshiping and resting in God's goodness together. Thanks to Fred McKinnon & his team at St. Simons Community Church
We met for corporate worship each morning and then shared lunch together before parting ways for recreation and rest in the afternoon. We reconvened each evening for fellowship, breaking bread and corporate worship.
Shannon & Cyle Lewis of Saint Lewis became our instant friends, and invited Bobby & I to share an evening meal with them at their home
We learned quickly through our times of meeting and fellowship that we also shared a common heart song: a cry of lament as we yearn together with all creation for Shalom: harmony, completeness, wholeness and peace in our broken, troubled world.
Speaker Ian Cron. You should get his new memoir, "Jesus, My Father, The CIA & Me"
Much of the frustration and angst we experience as we persevere in the work we’re called to do stems from the reality of the broken world we’re temporarily traversing. In retreating together without pretense and ego, we were able to honestly discuss this “already-not yet” tension we all experience as we persevere in the work of the Gospel.
All week we enjoyed breaking bread and feasting on God's Word together.
We discovered this common lament in our hearts as one of our session leaders, Ian Cron, invited us to join him in singing a meditation of the word Shalom. He sang the first note and encouraged us to add harmonies, the first of which fell on a minor note which set the tone for our choral cry. We simply raised our voices in harmony crying out “Shalom,” singing this for several minutes before listening to a sacred choral music piece, followed by sitting in reflective silence for six minutes.
Trent, Fred McKinnon & Shannon. This retreat has been Fred's dream for years. We're grateful for him.
This was a very powerful, beautiful time of quieting and calming our souls before the Lord and receiving the comfort and encouragement of His Spirit.
It’s hard for me to describe this transcendent worship experience, but it had a profound effect on all of us who participated. It was encouraging to hear the common thread of what the Spirit of God was revealing to each of us. Ian also reminded us of the importance of practicing the discipline of silence and stillness before the Lord, and he exhorted us to regularly practice this form of worship.
Debby Berry of PraiseCharts
We also identified some other inhibitors to rest, including our lack of total belief in ALL of God’s Word. One of our speakers, Debby Berry, rightly challenged us to completely trust God’s Word and His character. We all often struggle to take Him at His every Word at all times in everything, and our unbelief produces restless anxiety within our hearts as we struggle to fight the good fight of faith independently of the Author and Perfecter of our faith.
I'm thankful for every conversation I had at Refuge SSI. God spoke to me in so many ways, through so many people.
Debbie greatly challenged me on this point as it reiterated some things God had been speaking to my heart in prior weeks, including at the women’s retreat I’d just led worship for, the day before we left for St. Simon’s. I kept hearing the questions:
“How big is your God? Is He greater than your circumstances?”
The answer, of course, is YES! But I struggle to believe—Lord, help my unbelief!
Enjoying Southern Soul BBQ with our new friend HL McConnell
Our final evening together brought us to Wesley United Methodist Church. John and Charles Wesley had first come to America as Anglican priests to the small flock on St. Simon’s Island in the late 1730’s.
Singing and praying together at the Wesley Memorial on St. Simons Island
We first gathered outside around a memorial cross and sang several choruses together beneath the stars before we moved into the small chapel of the church for a time of worship and communion.
Ian leads us in a Eucharist service inside Wesley Memorial
This time of singing, praying and breaking bread together in communion, remembering the body of Christ broken for us and the blood of Christ shed for the atonement of our sins, acknowledging our own brokenness and longing for wholeness produced in and from us a unified voice crying out over and over together “Come, Holy Spirit.” It was the culmination of all we’d shared together and all we long to share together in eternity where we’ll worship forever our glorious Savior and King.
God used this couple (Paul & Maggie) to share parenting wisdom with Bobby and me during Refuge SSI.
We were also blessed with a lovely rental home, owned by a sweet elderly Christian woman. It was a joy to repose in a home where Christ was welcome and His peace resided. Our house was also located within walking distance of the Village shops and restaurants near the Pier and Lighthouse, and the beach—we made the most of every opportunity to walk to these places as much as we could.
All that I experienced through the Refuge SSI retreat produced in my heart a greater desire to know God, to trust His Word, to obey, serve and love Him, and to worship Him at all times with a humble confidence that He who began His good work in me will be faithful to complete it. He will bring Shalom to His people and creation. He will make us whole in every way.
I long to serve God’s people well by reminding them of God’s never-failing Word, His steadfast love, His faithfulness to every generation and His most worthiness of ALL praise at ALL times. I desire to effectively lead others in lamenting and rejoicing and resting and waiting as we worship God together in this tension of the already-not yet.
All photos courtesy Chris Moncus of Chris Moncus Photography
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