The unprecedented storms were no match for the 30 participants in the recent Young Adult Winter Retreat offered by the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries from January 13 – 16, 2023. Though an additional 20 registrants had to cancel due to the extreme weather and travel delays, the retreat was still a wonderful opportunity to explore the topic “The Glory of God is a Human Being Fully Alive”, with guest speaker Dr. Bethany Geleris, DNP. Rev. Father Nicholas Metrakos also actively participated in the retreat and led the group in Divine Services throughout the weekend.

The retreat was held at the Galilee Camp and Conference Center in South Lake Tahoe. With the area experiencing 250% of their annual projected snowfall, the setting was beautiful with fresh white snow covering the entire area and provided a picturesque background for a weekend filled with opportunities for spiritual enrichment, prayer, fellowship and fun in the snow!

During the discussion sessions, participants were led on an exploration of what God’s glory means from a Scriptural and theological context. They also gained an understanding of the important of our Orthodox Christian anthropology, reflecting on the implications of our composite nature (body and soul) and how it relates to our role as the mediators between the physical and spiritual worlds. The final session connected the first two and helped participants understand how God’s glory transforms our humanity.

The worship services included the Blessing of the Waters, Paraklesis, the Akathist of Thanksgiving, and culminated with Divine Liturgy. This prayerful atmosphere was further enhanced by the engaging discussions and fellowship. There was also time for outdoor activities including snowball fights, sledding, snowshoeing, s’mores, board games and more.

For more information on upcoming Young Adult events, please visit: gosfyouth.org.