Fun with a Purpose at High School Retreat!

In September of each year, our high school students spend a day at an off-site location for our high school retreat. This fall, we spent our time at The Barn, a restful retreat center located at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Simsbury.

The primary goals of the retreat are to strengthen relationships with each other and with God. We strengthen relationships with each other by spending time together in a different and less-structured environment. Students enjoy plenty of free time, which is spent playing sports, painting, exploring nature, and just having fun together. Students also participate in team-building activities and discussion groups.

The most anticipated team-building activity each year is our Best of CCS competition! Students compete as classes by performing surprising talents, dramatically reading children’s books, recreating famous movie scenes, and completing other challenges. This year’s score was very close; but at the last minute, the Class of 2026 jumped ahead, winning by one point!

This year’s guest speaker was Pastor Robin of New River Church. Pastor Robin shared two messages related to our God-designed identity, including the identity crisis that results when we step away from God’s design. Once we acknowledge God to be in His rightful place and step into our place as His image-bearers, we can live in the abundance of His love for us.

Exploring these two topics provided a great foundation for continued exploration of this year’s theme, Together Before the Throne. When we are living out of our identity crisis, trying to take on the role of God in our lives, we cannot function “together” as God intended. It is only when we come before His throne, worshipping Him and acknowledging Him to be in His rightful place, that we can begin to truly live together and taste a bit of His Kingdom here on earth.