Women's Retreat

Amber Henrikson will be speaking at our upcoming Women's Retreat, sharing a powerful message about the beauty and certainty of God's promises. This weekend is an invitation to step away from the noise of everyday life and enter into a space of rest, connection, and meaningful worship, where hearts can be renewed in God's presence.

Through Amber's message, women will be encouraged to see how God's promises are not distant or abstract, but vibrant and alive in our daily lives. It's a time to be reminded that we are deeply loved by our Creator, our Heavenly Father, and to rediscover the peace and purpose that comes from resting in His truth. Join us for a weekend designed to refresh your spirit and draw you closer to the unwavering love and faithfulness of God.

Speaker: Amber Henrikson.

Proclaimer Appreciation Weekend & Hymn Celebration

A weekend of thanks for Mount Carmel's Proclaimers — the members of Mount Carmel Ministries. Proclaimers are individuals and couples who are active participants in the mission of Mount Carmel and support it with an annual gift of $300 or more. If that's you, this weekend is for you, and we'd love to see you here. Anyone who was registered for Hymn Fest is also invited free of charge.

This year the weekend includes a full hymn celebration: Gracia Grindal — scholar, poet, and hymn writer — leads hymn sings and teaching sessions Friday and Saturday evenings and Saturday morning, joined by guest musician Tim Peterson. The weekend also features Daily Texts, Mount Carmel trivia, and Saturday afternoon activities at the beach including pumpkin launching, s'mores, and hayrides, closing with Sunday worship and a simple brunch.

Speaker: Gracia Grindal. Guest Musician: Tim Peterson.

Youngish Adult Retreat: A Quarter Maybe Third Life Retreat

Definitely not a crisis. For young adults who have probably graduated something, might be married, and probably still have student loans. Whether you're navigating a new job, marriage, city, or just a new season of life, this weekend is for you. Your $50 covers two nights, five lodge meals, and all programming.

Guest Teacher: Gretchen Ronnevik — author of Ragged and The Story of Katie Luther, co-host of the Freely Given podcast.

Preaching Intensive with Dr. Paul Cross

A one-week, in-person homiletics intensive at Mount Carmel, taught by Dr. Paul Cross, retired pastor with a doctorate in the teaching of preaching. Open to active seminary students from any seminary. Housing, facilities, and lunches are provided at no charge, thanks to a generous gift. Students stay in Mount Carmel's new cabins with private rooms.

For Institute of Lutheran Theology students, the intensive carries full course credit as Homiletics III (PT 523) and meets the course requirements. ILT students pay ILT's normal tuition and fees for the course; there is no additional charge for the Mount Carmel elements.

Families are welcome to come along and are housed together in deluxe cabins with kitchens.

Professor: Dr. Paul Cross.

Young Adult Retreat

A retreat designed for young adults to connect with each other and deepen their faith.

Speakers: Chris and Emily Adamow.

Ice Fishing Retreat

Bundle up and head out on frozen Lake Carlos for a weekend of ice fishing, fellowship, and fun. A unique Mount Carmel winter experience.

Family Camp Recharge

Miss summer? Family Camp Recharge brings back the Mount Carmel family camp experience over President's Day weekend. A great way to enjoy camp in a winter setting. Pastor Timothy Koch leads the teaching this year.

Pastor Timothy Koch was born and raised in East Bethel, MN to Ken and Karen Koch (both Lutheran grade school teachers). He was baptized, confirmed, and married at Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Francis, MN. He graduated from Concordia University Nebraska in 2006 with a BA in Communications: Writing and Rhetoric. He then received his Master of Divinity from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis in 2010, and a Master of Sacred Theology from Concordia Seminary in 2013.

Pastor Koch served Concordia & Immanuel Lutheran Churches in Cresbard & Wecota, SD from 2011–2018, and Emanuel Lutheran Church in Milbank, SD from 2018–2022. He currently serves Zion Lutheran Church in Linn, KS.

Pastor Koch is the founder of Jesus Door-2-Door (JD2D), an organization that trains individuals in door-to-door evangelism. He is also the general editor of Seelsorger: A Journal for the Contemporary Cure of Souls. He has spoken on numerous occasions on the topics of rural ministry, New Testament biblical manuscripts, and evangelism. He is currently contracted with Baker Publishing to write a book, Gratitude: For the Care of Souls. Pastor Koch also leads weekly services in Spanish.

Pastor Koch is married to Emily (from Bethel, MN). Together, the Lord has blessed them with five children: Ezra, Evelyn, Levi, Annie, and Jael.

Teacher: Pastor Timothy Koch.

Family Camp 1: Ground Up Grace

Ground Up Grace returns for 2027. A 6-night family camp on the shores of Lake Carlos featuring preaching, teaching, age-level programming, and all the summer activities that make camp unforgettable.

Musicians: Milt & Andrew Scott. Teacher & Preacher: To be announced.

Family Camp 2

A 6-night family camp. Theme details coming soon.

Musicians: Milt & Andrew Scott. Teacher: Doug Morton. Preacher: To be announced.

Family Camp 3: Theology Week

Two Kingdoms and Two Churches: Luther on God's Earthly Rule. Contemporary Americans suffer much social and political polarization in today's world. We are ever tempted to believe that some formula of getting economics and education "right" could bring about utopia, heaven on earth. Christians too buy into these ideals to the point of either politicizing the gospel or making politics to be saving. Such a stance fails to honor the scriptural view, voiced by Luther, that God rules his world with "two hands," that is, God rules the church through the gospel and the world through the law. Unlike the "false church," where politicians want to use religion for their own gain or religious leaders want to use politics for theirs, the true church honors this distinction and urges people to be engaged citizens in the world by being true to their various callings.

Teacher: Mark Mattes.

Family Camp 4: Weekend Camp

A 2-night weekend option — perfect for families who can't commit to a full week. Same Mount Carmel warmth in a shorter format. Katie Koplin, editor of Encouragement for Motherhood: Devotional Writings on the Work of Christ, co-host of the Freely Given podcast, and a mental health counselor, leads the teaching for the weekend.

Katie holds a Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minnesota. Rooted in west central Minnesota, she finds joy in exploring the depths of grace through writing, counseling, and conversation alongside her husband Dallas and their four children.

Teacher: Katie Koplin.

Family Camp 5: Grace, Freedom & Discernment

How do we parent with grace and freedom rather than fear? And how do we engage with education and the news with discernment instead of anxiety? Teacher Kelsey Kramer McGinnis leads this 4-night camp.

Teacher: Kelsey Kramer McGinnis, Ph.D. — writer, musicologist, and contributor to Christianity Today.

Family Camp 6: Church History & the Questions of Our Time

Dan van Voorhis brings a historian's eye and a pastor's heart to the questions families are genuinely asking. He reads the present moment through the long story of the church — showing that today's hardest questions are rarely as new as they feel. Dan adapts his teaching in real time to what's alive in the room.

Teacher: Dan van Voorhis, Ph.D. — Scholar-in-Residence at 1517, host of The Christian History Almanac.

Family Camp 7: Intimacy & Order — An Invitation to Religious Spirituality

Perhaps you've heard someone describe themselves as "spiritual but not religious." The invitation of Scripture is for an intimate spirituality with God — but that relationship is not meant to be divorced from Christ's church. Join teacher Gabe Kasper as we explore what this looks like together.

Teacher: Gabe Kasper. Evening Preacher: Rev. Paul Muther.

The Joy of Discovery: An Inductive Bible Study Week

This year's Lakeside Bible Retreat is a week of inductive Bible study with Paul Cross, using Oletta Wald's The Joy of Discovery. Four nights of teaching, worship, music, and fellowship on the shores of Lake Carlos — open to adults of all ages, denominations, and backgrounds. Full schedule and details coming soon.

Teacher: Paul Cross.

Norwegian Christian Heritage Tour

A two-week journey through Norway's majestic fjords, historic cities, and the places where Christian faith took root in Scandinavia. Now planned for August 2027, with exact dates to be announced.