Making Space for Connection
A Retreat Rooted in Community
Submitted by: Pastor Deborah Staniszewski, Trinity Lutheran Church, Bangor
One of the priorities for the faith community at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bangor is deep community connection. Our congregation serves through a food pantry, a clothing closet, and a joyful passion for outreach. The first line of our mission statement says, “Our mission is to be a blessing to our community…”
This summer, I had the opportunity to live out that mission in a creative and powerful way by partnering with the congregation and wider community to facilitate a spiritual formation retreat.
On August 22–23, we held the Conscious Connection 11th Step retreat for women in a 12‑step recovery program. This retreat was a meaningful opportunity for me to explore ministry with people from our wider community, and, as is so often true in the life of the Church, it was a Spirit-filled, and beautiful joint effort.
This retreat was offered as a training event for the St. Francis Retreat Center under its new management. I was invited to lead this pilot retreat by Carol Anderson, Executive Director of Bloom for Women, and Cary St. Pierre of the St. Francis Retreat Center. They generously provided the retreat space, lodging, and wonderful meals at no cost to participants.
I am also deeply grateful to the congregation at Trinity Lutheran Church, Bangor, for making time available for me to offer this ministry in our community. The Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod supported the retreat through a New Ministries microgrant, with the support of the Rev. Jennifer Hope Tringali, director for new ministries. The grant covered art materials, office supplies, and other creative resources.
Throughout the weekend, participants engaged in spiritual practices designed to deepen conscious connection with God, self, and others, through body, mind, and heart. We created space to rest, breathe, pray, meditate, and be together in community. Much of our time was spent expressing and exploring our faith through prayer, meditation, holy conversation, and art.
As part of Trinity Bangor’s outreach, participants were invited to make a free‑will offering to Bloom for Women. Together, we contributed $260 to support their mission.
The retreat offered another way for Trinity to be a blessing to our community: by making space for women to rest, create, and connect with God and one another. I’m grateful for everyone who helped make that space possible.
Thank you, Pastor Deb, for allowing us to share your story
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