From Friday, February 29th to Sunday, March 2nd Daniel and I attended a couple's retreat with our church, Lake Park Luterhan at St. Joseph Retreat Center in Bailey's Bay, Wisconsin in Door County. There were 26 participants (13 couples) that attended the event, from the soon-to-be-married to the married-for-several-decades. It was a nice relaxing weekend away from the busy-ness of daily life and in the great (although cold) outdoors of northeastern Wisconsin. IMG_6095* A beautiful winter sunset driving up north along I-43. IMG_6097* Pastor David stokes the fire to welcome retreatants IMG_6099 A warm fire helps make a trip up north in late February/early March seem less crazy IMG_6101 Yes...a Lutheran retreat in a Catholic retreat center... IMG_6107 The most famous feature of the retreat center is the Silo of Prayer (built in the 1970's when I think the whole nuclear missile silo of war thing was on people's minds more often) IMG_6109 A nice space for contemplation, but moreso in the summer since it isn't heated in the winter IMG_6111 There were many more heated spaces with nice lake or nature views around the facility. The retreat center was created from a gift of land of the O'Brien's (Mr. O'Brien was president of the Chicago Board of Trade I think in the 1940s) IMG_6112* Erica, Dave, and Jennifer help clean dishes after lunch (a group helped with each meal's cleanup) IMG_6118 Plenty of quiet spaces and vistas for contemplation IMG_6124* The brave took walks...the even more brave took walks on the frozen lake (ok...it was really frozen so probably safe, but still they were more brave if only by a small amount) IMG_6126* A statue of St. Francis stands next to Jessie as she ponders with her sparkle-stick (poor St. Francis only had some rocks) IMG_6134 The fire from the night before has burned down IMG_6135 The seal I assume of the Priests of the Sacred Heart who manage the retreat center IMG_6149 Pastor David at morning worship in the main chapel which was fairly new and a very open space with wonderful timbers IMG_6151 Laurie, Jordan, Heather, Todd, Jessica, and George listen intently at morning worship IMG_6153 A fancy electric organ in the main chapel IMG_6155* Jeniifer tells the story of how she and Pastor David met IMG_6161 A gargoyle guards the silo of prayer...even in winter IMG_6167 Nice windows at the top of the tabernacle area of the main chapel IMG_6169 Although I'm sure it was two-legged, I imagine the turkey that made the prints on the left hopping on one foot... IMG_6174 Eric brandishes an icicle at Erica...work out those issues! IMG_6177 This would be a nice place to sit if it wasn't so cold! IMG_6178 You can see the breath of all the cross-country skiers IMG_6179 Walking the long lonely path on the lake... IMG_6187 While passing an area of the lake with a small wall of snow we placed some messages in the sheltered snow field on the lake IMG_6188 Good to have shelter from the snowmobiles that go zooming by IMG_6191* What a fitting symbol for the weekend...both that it was a couples retreat and at the Priests of the Sacred Heart retreat center IMG_6195 Jessica walks by some of her creations IMG_6198 Erica goads the group forward to our goal of "THE ISLAND" off to the right...we never made it, but we got pretty far IMG_6202 Competing paths... IMG_6203 Here come those cross-country skiers...they took a while to get started but made up for it in speed IMG_6206 Eric decided to lay down on the lake in the snow...luckily none of the snowmobiles ran over him! IMG_6208* So close to the island...but so far away IMG_6209 Eric didn't get hit by skiers either IMG_6211 Lisa and Andy plot their course IMG_6215 Heather, Andy, and Todd IMG_6219 A bunny house! IMG_6223 Jessie and Dave embrace in the harsh winter sun IMG_6227 A snowmobile whizzes by IMG_6231 I don't know if the retreat center used it, but this old White Crown Gasoline pump was there by the garage of the St. Joseph Retreat Center IMG_6234 I wish I had one of these since it only goes up to $9.99 Return to Features