2025 Men’s Retreat

 7pm Friday, Feb 21 – 10am Sunday, Feb 23, 2025

Come for a weekend of fun, fellowship, meaningful conversation, and worship. The Men’s Retreat is a highlight for many each year at Covenant Point. Invite your friends for the excellent food, good times, and life-giving worship and message. Recreational opportunities include a broomball tournament, afternoon jam session (bring your own instrument), snowshoeing, cross-country skiing on our groomed trails, sauna and polar bear dip, or games and conversation in the dining hall.

Check-in begins at 7:00 PM on Friday, with our first gathering at 8:00 PM.

2025 Men’s Retreat Pricing: 

  • Full Retreat:
    • $175 ($160 Early Bird)
    • $125 Pastor Rate
  • Saturday Evening Departure:
    • $155 ($140 Early Bird)
    • $115 Pastor Rate
  • Saturday Only (no lodging): $125 ($110 Early Bird)
  • Full Retreat, Commuter (no lodging): $135 ($120 Early Bird)

*Early Bird Discount applies if registered or postmarked by February 7, 2025.

A $25 processing fee will be kept in the case of any cancellation one week (7 days) or more from the start of the retreat. In the case of a cancellation less than one week from the start of the retreat, no payments will be refunded. Any cancellations related to COVID-19 will be refunded in full.

Retreat Theme – A Journey through the Psalms: Authenticity, Lament, Courage, and Gratitude

Session 1: The Psalms as a Guide to Authentic Worship

Ps 34 “Praise in Hardship,” Ps 100 “Worship and Joy.

Session 2: Psalms of Lament—Expressing Sorrow and Seeking God’s Help

Ps 13 “A Cry for Help,” Ps 51 “David’s Repentance.”

Session 3: Psalms of Trust—Renewing Strength and Courage

Ps 23, “God My Shepherd,” Ps 46 “God My Refuge.”

Session 4: Psalms of Praise—Living in Gratitude

Ps 96 “Sing to the Lord a New Song,” Ps 150 “Final Praise”

Speaker: Nathan Clayton

The Rev. Dr. J. Nathan Clayton is Associate Professor of Old Testament at North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL. He holds a Ph.D. in Theological Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Dr. Clayton teaches various Old Testament and Biblical Hebrew courses, is involved in faculty governance as the chair of the Bible field, helps lead the planning of the seminary’s biennial Symposium on the Theological Interpretation of Scripture, and edits the symposium’s journal, Ex Auditu.

Dr. Clayton’s current research interests include Chronicles, Psalms, worship theology, and Old Testament music and song. He has presented at numerous conferences and published a monograph on Old Testament worship theology entitled Symbol, Service, and Song: The Levites of 1 Chronicles in Rhetorical, Historical, and Theological Perspectives. Raised in France in a missionary family, he is fluent in French and proficient in several other languages.

Ordained to the Christian ministry, he also ministers as an elder at Christ Church, a thriving multi-site evangelical church in Lake County, IL. He has been the senior pastor of a local church in New York City, and currently teaches and preaches in various churches on a regular basis. Dr. Clayton’s dedication to both academic scholarship and pastoral ministry exemplifies his commitment to serving the church and advancing theological education. He and his wife live in the northern Chicago suburbs, and they are blessed with four adult children.

Worship Leader: Eric Pearson

Long-time listener, first-time caller Eric Pearson has been leading worship in various capacities for nearly 15 years. Bookending a BA in MusicComposition from North Park University,  Eric’s musical journey has taken him from his home church in Portland, Maine, to Covenant churches in Chicago, Hinsdale and Mount Prospect, Illinois, as well as Iron Mountain, Michigan. A multi-instrumentalist, Eric’s musical style is as varied as the churches in which he has served, blending together elements from contemporary Christian music, hymns, classical music, and more.
Eric currently resides in Iron River, Michigan with his wife, Cortney, and dog, Hank. If he’s not writing music, Eric can often be found cycling somewhere along M-73, cooking the spiciest food he can manage, or playing video games at home.

Packing List:

  • Bedding, towel, and toiletries
  • Clothing for all weather
  • Walking shoes, Boots, Snow Gear
  • Swimsuit for sauna (if interested)
  • Musical instruments for jam session (if interested)
  • Bible, notebook and pen
  • Flashlight

Registration:

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