set apart for rest and wonder

In a world shaped by urgency and constant demand, Sabbath begins as a gentle but transformative call—an invitation to stop, to rest, and to remember who we are in God. Across Water’s Edge Ministries, this invitation takes many forms, creating space for people to step away from the noise of daily life and into rhythms of renewal, worship, and community.

At Camp House, this invitation is embodied through the Ordinary Time program. Tucked off the beaten path, Camp House is often the least visited of our sites, yet it has become a powerful place of encounter for those who find their way there. Couples, individuals, families, and youth groups are discovering that Ordinary Time offers something both simple and profound: the gift of being present with God.

Karen, a participant this past summer from Minneapolis, MN captured it beautifully: “The gift of having time to just ‘be’—while my needs (and the needs of others) were so wonderfully taken care of—allowed me to feel, center, let go, and be awed by God.” In this peaceful setting, distance from daily routines becomes a doorway to creativity, rest, curiosity, learning, worship, and community—the steady, sustaining practices of faith.

This same invitation to Sabbath extends across all three Water’s Edge camp sites through retreats that meet people in different seasons of life and ministry.

At the heart of every retreat is a way of welcoming that is both intentional and deeply human. We do not rent space; we host people, attending to the small details and shared moments that help strangers become community.

Hospitality at Water’s Edge is not transactional but relational, shaped by a Christ-centered joy that says, “We’re glad you are here. We knew you were coming. And we can’t wait to share what we’ve prepared for you.” In these spaces, care is felt, belonging is practiced, and meaning is woven—often in quiet, ordinary ways—into gatherings that linger long after people return home.

Together, Ordinary Time and retreat ministry reflect a core truth of Water’s Edge Ministries: when people are given space to rest and be present, God meets them there. Again and again, we witness how Sabbath is not an escape from life, but a life-changing call back into it—restored, centered, and ready to return with renewed purpose.