I was in Prison, and You Visited Me

Transcription

1 St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church Presents a Lenten Retreat: I was in Prison, and You Visited Me with Father Stephen Powley Executive Director Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry Thursday, March 12 Saturday, March 14, East Horsehaven Avenue Post Falls, Idaho

2 Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ~ Christ is in our midst! Welcome to St. John the Baptist parish's Prison Ministry Lenten Retreat! We pray that you will find this retreat to be spiritually enriching and beneficial. We are pleased to welcome Fr. Stephen Powley, Executive Director of the Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry, as our special guest and presenter. I am certain his presentations about bringing the liberating Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to those in prison will be an inspiration and a challenge to all of us to go forth from this retreat to reach out on behalf of the least of our [Lord's] brethren. If there is anything we can do to make your experience of this retreat more meaningful, or to provide for a need you may experience while here with us these few days, please do not hesitate to let us know. God bless you! Love in Christ, +Fr. Basil Caldaroni, Pastor A PRAYER FOR THOSE IN PRISON OR JAIL Almighty God, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, come to the aid of (Name) and grant (him or her) Your peace in the midst of this difficult time in (his or her) life. I believe Lord, that all of the trials of life are under Your care and that all things work for the good of those who love You. Take away from (Name) all fear, anxiety and distress. Help (him or her) to face and endure (his or her) incarceration with faith, courage and wisdom. Grant that this trial may bring (him or her) closer to You for You are our rock and our refuge, our comfort and our hope, our delight and our joy. I trust in Your love and compassion. Blessed is Your name: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, both now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

3 THURSDAY, MARCH 12, :30pm Check in at Registration Desk 7pm SESSION I FR. STEPHEN POWLEY KEYNOTE ADDRESS + PRESENTATION Q + A PERIOD 9pm Refreshments + Fellowship 3pm Retreat Schedule FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015 SESSION II FR. STEPHEN POWLEY CLERGY/LAITY TRAINING SESSION 5pm Dinner at St. John 5:45pm Little Compline with Akathist 7pm SESSION III FR. STEPHEN POWLEY PRESENTATION AND Q+A PERIOD SATURDAY, MARCH 14, :15am Orthros Service in Church/Temple 9am Continental Breakfast 9:30am SESSION IV FR. STEPHEN POWLEY CLOSING PRESNTATION Q+A PERIOD 11:30am Closing Prayer I was in prison and you came to Me....Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, Lord, when...did we see You in prison, and come to You? And the King will answer and say to them, Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it unto Me. Matthew 25:36 40

4 Father Stephen Powley served as a Prison Chaplain for almost 26 years before retiring in August of He has ministered in every security level from minimum to the most maximum secure of prisons (where he served for many years). He had the great privilege of witnessing many incredible God transforming events in these prisons, some of which he looks forward to sharing with you during this retreat. Fr. Stephen is now working with Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry (OCPM) as the Executive Director. OCPM assists men and women in prison with their spiritual journeys by providing Study Bibles, correspondence studies, devotional books, prayer books, and Icons. The Correspondence Ministry of OCPM sends out hundreds of personal letters and cards each week. OCPM is also helping to establish Orthodox Prison Ministry teams throughout North America that go into the prisons to provide Orthodox visits and services in person. Before entering into ministry, Fr. Stephen worked for the Forest Service as a smokejumper, parachuting into wilderness areas in Idaho, Montana, and Alaska to fight forest fires. He also worked for the National Park Service at the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Yellowstone. Fr. Stephen is ordained through the Antiochian Archdiocese and loves being the priest at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Pueblo, CO under Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver. He resides in Colorado with his loving wife Ashley of 37 plus years. They have four wonderful children and two wonderful sons in law. In his free time, Fr. Stephen loves trail running, hiking, backpacking, and mountain climbing, including backpacking 95 miles of the Continental Divide Trail in Colorado last summer.

5 Registration: $25 for couple $15 single Price covers cost of all three days (whether you come for one session or all four). To Register: Please register ONLINE at: You may pay using any credit card via PayPal OR you may register online and send in payment via mail. More info available online. Lodging: We have negotiated an exclusive rate with: Red Lion Templin s Hotel on the Spokane River 414 E First Ave Post Falls, Idaho (208) Cost is $79/night For exclusive rate, indicate you are with the: St. John Prison Ministry Retreat Clergy: If you are a member of the Clergy and are interested in lodging in a parishioner s home, or need more information, please contact Jenny Dancy at: (208) We are only able to offer this option to clergy. Thank you for your understanding. Questions? Please feel free to contact us with any issues: Jenny Dancy St. John Lenten Retreat Chairperson jenincda@gmail.com (208)

6 Directions to St. John FROM THE EAST: Take I 90 through Coeur d'alene to Exit 7; at the traffic light at end of the exit ramp, turn left onto Highway 41 North...stay on Hwy 41 for about one mile...turn right at ProBuild Lumber Company (this is E. Horsehaven Ave.)...the church is on the right hand side at the end of the road. FROM THE WEST: Take I 90 from Spokane through Post Falls to Exit 7...stay in the left exit lane and turn left at the traffic light at the end of the exit ramp...immediately get into the left lane again and turn left at the next traffic light onto Highway 41 North...stay on Hwy 41 for about one mile...turn right at ProBuild Lumber Company (this is E. Horsehaven Ave.)...the church is on the right hand side at the end of the road. St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church 4718 East Horsehaven Ave Post Falls, ID