Where
Meet & pick up in Room 225 at the Church.2537 Lee Road
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
Driving Directions
Created by God
Created by God is a study of human sexuality with a Christian foundation. It will offer both you and your child an opportunity to learn, grow, and celebrate the fact that we have each been wonderfully created by God, and are called to responsible living as sexual beings. For grades 5 & 6. Cost is $20 - assistance is available.
This study involves a time commitment on the part of parents, young persons, and leaders, but the benefits are well worth the investments. In addition to gaining accurate information, learning proper terminology, and opening the lines of communication between youth and their parents regarding this topic, young persons who are involved will better understand how their sexuality fits into God’s plan for human relationships. Using a highly interactive approach to learning, Created by God is also a lot of fun for everyone involved (believe it or not!)
NOTE: Parent participation is required for this event. See the schedule below for details.
NOTE: Only ONE online registration form may be submitted per email address. It is possible, however, to register multiple participants using this form. (Select "Add" in the "Additional Participants" section.) If you need to make a change to your submitted registration form please contact Curt and he'll get you taken care of.
Does my son/daughter need to be there the entire time?
Yes - it's important for maintaining the continuity of the retreat.
Do I (a parent/ guardian) need to be there the entire time?
No - just for dinner and a session after. See the schedule below.
Is there child care for the younger siblings of the participants?
Yes - they can plate their food and will watch a movie in Room 050.
Where do we sleep?
In Sunday school rooms on carpeted floors. Boys and girls in separate rooms.
What about food?
Kristi Bergren is coordinating our meals. (Thank you, Kristi!)
- Be at church on Friday, April 21 at 6:00 pm for dinner.
- Parent is required: Friday 6:00 - 9:00 pm and Saturday, 5:30 - 9:00 pm.
- Dietary restrictions? Let Curt know ASAP.
- Child care needed for younger siblings? Email Curt with how many and ages.
- Phone numbers for emergencies:
216-903-9610 (Curt Campbell’s cell phone)
216-702-0043 (Kristi Bergren's cell phone)
- Casual, comfortable clothes for inside.
- Personal items – medications, toothbrush/paste, deodorant
- Pillow and sleeping bag or sheets & blanket (the camp has bunk beds)
- Sleeping pad/air mattress, if desired
- Your Bible (We've got one you can have if you don't own one)
- A plastic drinking cup or water bottle with your name on it to use for the weekend
- Snack or drink to share. We like fruit, veggies, granola bars, chips, etc.
- No cell phones, please! Adults will have cell phones for emergencies, but the youth will be RETREATING from the cloud and the outside world for 27 hours.
- No valuable that you’d be upset if it was lost or broken – that’s just not fun. Please leave your valuables at home.
This is the 8th time for this retreat, held every other year. The Youth Ministries Team believes that it is important to offer our young people a program that puts sexuality into a faith context, and challenges them to make their relationship with God a priority in their decision-making about sexuality now and in the long-term.
In case you are unfamiliar with the Created by God curriculum, it is written by Dr. James H. Ritchie, who is a United Methodist pastor, with a Masters in Divinity from United Theological Seminary in Dayton and a Doctorate in Religious Education from Vanderbilt University. This study is published by Abingdon Press, a Methodist press which recognizes that living faithfully in today’s world isn’t easy and helps Christians apply their faith to daily life.
As much fun as this experience promises to be, don’t expect your son or daughter to be overjoyed when you approach him or her about participating – some resistance is to be expected. However, explain that it is something needed by both parents and their growing children to improve understanding and increase dialogue.
We ask that if you choose for your youth to attend that he or she be present for the entire retreat. Also, due to the nature of the curriculum, parents (at least one parent, preferably both) are required both evenings at the times mentioned below. Curriculum materials will be available in the church office for you to peruse if you’d like. Please keep in mind that we may not cover all the material in the book, but that the lessons will always be brought back to the Bible and faith-based decision-making (some of the richest experiences from the previous retreats were often spirit-led discussions that changed the way youth viewed their bodies).
Friday, April 21
6:00 pm Parents and youth have dinner at church with the “Weekend Leaders”.
7:00 pm Youth join Jr. High Youth Group activities while Parents’ curriculum takes place.
9:00 pm Youth curriculum/overnight retreat begins after parents leave at 9 pm.
11:00 pm Lights out – boys and girls will sleep in separate locations.
Saturday, April 22
7:30 am Rise and shine and eat breakfast
8:00 am Youth curriculum (lunch and various breaks throughout).
5:30 pm Parents return for dinner with Youth and Leaders
6:30 pm Final curriculum – both Parents and Youth together
9:00 pm Retreat ends
In addition, we have planned a Parent Information Meeting for Thursday, April 6 at 6:30 pm in the Jr. High Youth Room (Room 097 – down the stairs at the Reinberger [carport] Entrance). Attendance is not required at this meeting for your youth to participate; it’s just an opportunity for you to ask questions pertaining to the event and/or curriculum.
This retreat has been overwhelmingly well-received by both parents and youth who have attended. If you’d like to speak with or have questions for one of these parents, please give Curt a call at the number below. Please register your youth by registering no later than Sunday, April 16. This will allow enough time to order materials for all the families involved and to make sure we’ve got enough food.
We hope you and your son or daughter will attend this retreat. While many parents tend to have open, honest conversations about sexuality with their youth, kids still talk to one another and can get misinformation. But more importantly, school does not teach the spiritual aspects of sexuality. Our greatest desire is for your sons and daughters to start building a group of peers and leaders who will help them make good decisions – decisions that will strengthen their relationship with God and others. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to call/email Curt Campbell (216) 903-9610 curt@chsaviour.org.
Start praying now for God to bless our weekend!