Retreat & Workshop Facilitation
Is your group looking for a unique and refreshing take on spirituality? Choose from one of the following topics, and let's talk and make it work for your group! Any of these experiences can be condensed into a 3-4 hour workshop or into an extended weekend retreat. I can host workshops for groups of 10 people or less in my space in south Minneapolis. If the group is more than 10 people, we will find an alternative meeting place.
Testimonials
"Chelsea is a powerful facilitator, and a wise, compassionate presence. I loved watching her versatility in action all weekend. The ways she is so expressed and trusting as a facilitator and participant gave everyone permission to be playful, active, artistic, vulnerable and authentic. I am trying to remember the last time I was at a retreat where ONE person offered so many DIVERSE and EFFECTIVE forms of leadership in action. It is so healing to watch her be BOTH sincerely vulnerable/honest and confident/in her power."
~Lynn O.
"Chelsea Forbrook brings a joyous, purposeful presence to facilitation. Her organization, preparedness and intentionality allow for trust and make meaningful interactions easy. She really cares about people and her enthusiasm and is contagious."
~Benjamin L.
"Chelsea is a fierce and loving spirit. In the midst of a retreat that Chelsea co-hosted, she lead a movement/dance exercise that I was both nervous and excited for. Throughout that exercise and the whole weekend Chelsea created a safe, energized, and well structured environment that inspired me to show up as my authentic self, even if I felt raw or insecure. The result of the experience was a deepened connection with the whole group and more importantly a deeper connection and understanding of myself."
~Josh A.
~Lynn O.
"Chelsea Forbrook brings a joyous, purposeful presence to facilitation. Her organization, preparedness and intentionality allow for trust and make meaningful interactions easy. She really cares about people and her enthusiasm and is contagious."
~Benjamin L.
"Chelsea is a fierce and loving spirit. In the midst of a retreat that Chelsea co-hosted, she lead a movement/dance exercise that I was both nervous and excited for. Throughout that exercise and the whole weekend Chelsea created a safe, energized, and well structured environment that inspired me to show up as my authentic self, even if I felt raw or insecure. The result of the experience was a deepened connection with the whole group and more importantly a deeper connection and understanding of myself."
~Josh A.
Healing Images of GodIn this retreat we will explore our images of God given to us from family, media, and religion. Our “image of God” has more to do with how we feel and relate to God, much more than our intellectual concept of God. We will unpack the way these ingrained images might be interfering with a trusting relationship with a God of Love. God wants to love us without restraint, and to have us surrender our lives to this Love. But we often cannot accept this gift because our understanding of God has been distorted. (e.g. Many of us feel that God is wrathful, jealous, keeping a list of who is “naughty” and “nice,” even though our intellectual concept of God is loving and forgiving). In this retreat, we will use group discussion, contemplative and imaginative prayer, journaling, and art to find a new and healthy image of God that opens the way to deeper healing.
|
Contemplative or Alternative Prayer RetreatsIs your prayer life stagnant and lifeless? Is the way you used to pray just not working anymore? Then hear the good news! This is actually quite normal at several points along the spiritual journey, and signals a call from God to go deeper into your next stage of faith and relationship. Learn and practice different forms of prayer and meditation in an all-silent or semi-silent guided retreat. These prayer forms include Centering Prayer, Daily Examen, LovingKindness meditation, walking the labyrinth, body movement prayer, singing/chanting, visual art prayers, journaling, and more. Prayers will be facilitated for ease of experience. Let’s shake things up, try something new, and have some fun!
|
|
|
|
Unpacking Spirituality and SexualityThe words “sex” and “sexuality” are not often, if ever, heard within the walls of the church. It is often what is not said by church leaders and parents that form our ideas around sexuality. And it is almost impossible to not feel confused and ashamed about sexuality in this modern culture which is simultaneously hyper-sexualized in the media and “hush-hush” about sex in religion, schools, and family life! Much of my own spiritual journey has been related to learning to accept my whole self, all of who God created me to be. This includes my sexual and sensual self. This includes my body! Wow!
Psalm 139:13-14 says, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made! Your works are wonderful, I know that full well!” In this workshop, we will explore our early messages about bodies and sexuality through storytelling in small groups, journaling, and art. We will identify sources of shame and confusion, and begin to “re-wire” our reaction to and beliefs about our bodies, pleasure, and our sexuality. When we accept these things as the gifts they were meant to be, we open ourselves up to a fuller joy, a fuller life. Note: The vast majority of us are sexual human beings, whether we are sexually active or not. It is part of the core of our identity. This workshop will NOT require a certain stance on abstinence or sex before marriage. Everyone is free to explore their own values here, related to their own life experience. Due to the sensitive and vulnerable nature of this topic, we will carefully create ground rules around respect, communication, and self care throughout this experience. It will be my joy to make this a safe and liberating experience for people of all genders and sexual orientations. I would be happy to host this workshop and tailor it for a mixed gender group, a group of all women, a group of teenagers, or a LGBTQ group. |
Vocation Statement:
Encouraging and holding space for the opening of hearts, minds, bodies, and souls to healing and wholeness,
that we might move toward Peace.
Encouraging and holding space for the opening of hearts, minds, bodies, and souls to healing and wholeness,
that we might move toward Peace.
© 2016