The Law will not save us, we know that. But is there Gospel under the demands of the Law? Is there an intention in the law to paint a picture of a loving God? To point us down a road of less hurt? To guide us in the way of peace? Yes! This happens when we see Jesus at the center of the law, and not ourselves. The curb, mirror, and guide of the law all point us to God’s intention (Jesus) to rescue us from our sin and death that comes from sin and our old evil foe. Join us as we walk through the Ten Commandments and what they mean for our lives, and look deeper to see the intent and the wonderful Gospel that supports each commandment and forgives you.

Pastor Randy Sturzenbecher serves the saints at Divine Shepherd Lutheran Church and School in Black Hawk, South Dakota.  He serves as the first Vice President of the South Dakota District and as the President of Higher Things.

This retreat costs $45 per person and covers Friday supper, Saturday breakfast, lunch, and snacks. This retreat is intended for 7th-12th grade students. It will begin at 6 pm on Friday and end at 3 pm on Saturday. Please RSVP by October 28th, 2024.

Since there are no on-site showering facilities, attendees should bring toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.), a sleeping bag, a pillow, and a change of clothing. 

Deac. Sarah Longmire
920-634-5464
deaconess@gracefaithlove.org

Tana McKenna
Higher Things Retreat Coordinator
888-482-6630 x. 4
retreats@higherthings.org

Grab your materials!

What do you do when people you know announce they identify as part of the LGBT community? What do you do when you start questioning who God has created you to be? We live in a world of darkness and confusion that needs the light of Christ. But how do we faithfully bring the light of Christ? This retreat will dig into how we ended up here culturally, what Scripture has to say about these topics, and how to live in Christ despite the confusion and suffering that surrounds us.

Pastor Merritt Demski graduated from Concordia Chicago with a bachelor’s degree in literature in 2008 before graduating from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis with his M-Div. in 2016. He is the pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Hanover (rural Alta), IA. Pastor Demski enjoys spending time with people and studying church history to understand why we do what we do. He also enjoys spending time with his family, walking, and discussing film and literature.

This retreat costs $40  per person and covers Sunday supper, Monday breakfast, lunch, and snacks. This retreat is intended for Highe School and College students. It will begin at 6 pm on Sunday and end at 3 pm on Monday. Please RSVP by January 10, 2025.

Attendees should bring toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.), a sleeping bag, a pillow, and a change of clothing. 

Rev. Matt Wurm
pastorwurm@gmail.com

Tana McKenna
Higher Things Retreat Coordinator
888-482-6630 x. 4
retreats@higherthings.org

Download your materials here!

We are more connected today than ever before, and yet loneliness, isolation, and division define everything around us. The devil, the world, and our own sinful nature all work to separate us from God and from each other. How does Christ draw us back together when everything is splitting into a million pieces? Through the Scriptures and the story of Christ’s Church, Dr. Peperkorn will lead us to understand who we are as the people of God, and why we are one loaf, not just a bunch of cracked kernels.

Dr. Todd A. Peperkorn is an Assistant Professor of Ministry and Missions at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Prior to that, he served parishes in California and Wisconsin. He is one of the founding pastors of Higher Things. He and his wife, Kathryn, have four Higher Things going children. Their daughter, Renata, is the Kantor at Trinity.

This retreat costs $50 per person and covers all meals, T-shirt, and all activites (including YMCA on Saturday night). Trinity Lutheran Church will open for housing and pre-retreat festivities at 6 pm on Friday, February 14, for those who are traveling, at no extra cost. The Higher Things retreat will begin with registration check-in at 7 am Saturday and run through Sunday’s Divine Service and Bible study concluding at 10:30 am. This retreat is intended for Junior and Senior High students. Please RSVP by January 31st, 2025.

Since there are no on-site showering facilities, attendees should bring a Bible and Small Catechism, toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.), a sleeping bag, a pillow, and a change of clothing. 

Rev. John Berg
920-458-8246
berg@trinitysheboygan.org

Tana McKenna
Higher Things Retreat Coordinator
888-482-6630 x. 4
retreats@higherthings.org

Download your materials now!

“Just breathe”, is what we are told to do when life overwhelms in this world, because focusing on taking deep regular breaths calms you down.  Looking at who the Spirit of God is and what He does for God’s children, we will ponder how the worldly advice to “Just breathe” takes on a whole new meaning in our life of faith in the Spirit, who calls us by the Gospel, enlightens us with His gifts, sanctifies and keeps us in the true faith.

Not God’s best behaved kid, but His baptized child all the same, husband and father of 4 Pastor Reinhardt has been preaching Christ Crucified at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kurtzville, Ontario, Canada since AD 1999. Besides shepherding the sheep of Christ in his country parish, he keeps chickens and bees. He is a poet and hymn writer (LSB 616) who has spoken at the Corpus Christi Youth Conferences in Sweden, Finland and the Czech Republic.

This retreat costs $50 per person and covers Friday supper, Saturday breakfast, lunch, and snacks. This retreat is intended for Junior and Senior High School students. It will begin at 5 pm on Friday and end at 5 pm on Saturday after Closing Divine Service. Registratns are limited to 50, so please RSVP by January 31st, 2025.

Attendees should bring a Bible and Small Catechism, toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.), a sleeping bag, a pillow, and a change of clothing. 

Erin Seifferlein
920-918-9222
eseifferlein@gmail.com

Tana McKenna
Higher Things Retreat Coordinator
888-482-6630 x. 4
retreats@higherthings.org

Download your materials here!

More atheists seem to have a problem with Christians than with Christ. It’s a common refrain. All you Christians are hypocrites.They don’t even know how dark it gets. I’m way worse than they think. When you’re this sinful, loving yourself, let alone exemplifying the love of Christ seems far out of reach. But the answer to each is the same. It isn’t about you. It’s about what was paid for you.

Chief of sinners. Child of God. Pastor Harrison Goodman preaches Christ crucified as a light that shines in darkness and a hope for the hopeless. As HT’s Content Executive, he helps to make these same gifts known online by employing the many voices and talents of our brothers and sisters in Christ. 

This retreat costs $50  per person and covers Friday supper, Saturday breakfast, lunch, and snacks. This retreat is intended for Junior High School. It will begin at 5 pm on Friday and end at 5 pm on Saturday. Please RSVP by February 14, 2025.

Attendees should bring toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.), a sleeping bag, a pillow, a change of clothing, a Bible, and a Small Catechism.

Rev. Matt Wurm
pastorwurm@gmail.com

Tana McKenna
Higher Things Retreat Coordinator
888-482-6630 x. 4
retreats@higherthings.org

Download your materials here!

God heals us. He protects us. He provides food for us. But how? The Lord God does this through His various masks. In other words, through doctors, the Lord heals. Through police, He protects. Through farmers, He feeds.
Join us for this retreat as we focus on the Small Catechism’s Table of Duties through the plenary sessions and services, as the doctrine of ‘vocation’ is examined.

This retreat costs $50  per person and covers Friday supper and Saturday breakfast, lunch, snacks, and drinks. This retreat is intended for 6th grade to College-age students. It will begin at 6 pm on Firday and end at 3 pm on Saturday. Please RSVP by March 14, 2025.

Attendees should bring toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.), a sleeping bag, a pillow, an air mattress, a change of clothing, and a Bible.

Rev. Matt Richard
701-389-0418
stpaulsrev@srt.com

or

Diane Pierson
dipierson1989@gmail.com

Tana McKenna
Higher Things Retreat Coordinator
888-482-6630 x. 4
retreats@higherthings.org

Materials coming soon!