The 24th annual Mens’ Retreat is almost upon us! The retreat will be held on the weekend of February 20 through Sunday February 22, 2026. For the past 23 years (except for the pandemic year), the men of PUMC and our community have gathered at the Black Rock Retreat Center to get away from the daily distractions and to focus on our walks as disciples. Black Rock offers series of “pre-programmed” retreats, but we’ve always arranged our own themes and speakers. This year, the sessions will be led by Pastor Mike Chapman (PUMC’s Sr. Pastor).
Here are the details for this year’s retreat (2026):
WHO: Any man (16 years and older)
WHERE: Black Rock Retreat Center (Quarreyville, PA) (directions)
WHEN: Friday, 2/20/26 (6 PM’ish) through Sunday 2/22/26 (noon’ish)
HOW MUCH: $235 (but don’t let that stop you if you can’t afford it! Scholarships are available. The cost includes lodging and five meals (Saturday breakfast , lunch, and dinner. Sunday breakfast and lunch). All meals are buffets.
WHAT: A weekend away to grow closer to each other and to God.
Details vary from year to year, but here’s what we usually do:
- Friday afternoon / evening: travel to Black Rock (carpools will be arranged), and check in at the front desk. Most of us get dinner at the Quarryville Family Restaurant, which is a short drive away from Black Rock. This optional dinner is not included in the Black Rock price.
- Friday Evening: After getting settled in, meet in our conference room for the First Session.
- Saturday Morning: Breakfast will be provided by Black Rock (always really good stuff!). Somewhere around 9AM, we’ll gather in our Conference Room for the Second session.
- Saturday Afternoon: Free time! Enjoy Black Rock’s many amenities. Sit by the lodge’s large fireplace, take a walk through the property’s hiking trails, explore the nature museum, play basketball or frisbee tag (or chess!), or maybe even take a nap.
- Saturday Evening: Gather for the provided dinner. Afterwards, meet in our conference room for the Third Session.
- Sunday Morning: Breakfast. Afterwards, we’ll gather in our conference room for the Fourth Session, and wrap up with a short communion worship service.
- Sunday Noon: Lunch will be provided (but many of us opt to head home right after the final session). Depending on how long you stick around (and on traffic), you’ll be home by 2-3PM.
For those who are familiar with Black Rock, we have booked rooms in the Maranatha Lodge (3 per room). We have requested the Dogwood Conference Room (the same room we had last year; it’s one of the few that is big enough for our group). Meals will probably be provided in the Maranatha Lodge, but we’ll find out for sure after we arrive.
Here’s a taste of last year’s retreat (February 2025)…
(Click on the “Previous” and “Next” buttons to view the photos)
Retreat Leader…
Last year’s retreat was a “tag team” with Pastor Shane Ross (of the Pitman Church of the Nazarene) and Pastor Mike Chapman (PUMC) alternating sessions. Pastor Shane is no 
longer serving in the Pitman church, so Pastor Mike will “fly solo” this year (of course the Holy Spirit never leaves us alone!).
Pastor Mike has prepared our sessions around the theme of “The Armor of God”.
The Armor of God
These retreats are a lot of fun; we eat (too much…), spend some relaxing time in front of the fireplace, take walks, play games. We meet other Christian men and make friends.
But church is all about growing closer to Christ. So the goal of the retreat (in addition to the food and fun) is to take away something that improves our walk with God.
Last year (2025) we looked at the hostility that’s in the world and then learned how to deal with it in a harmonious way that brings us closer together instead of in a divisive way that splits us apart.
This year, we’ll look at how Satan and other worldly forces are working to pull us apart from God. Then we’ll study the tools that the Holy Spirit gives us that will help us combat those evil forces.
The theme of this year’s retreat is the “Armor of God,” and we’ll focus on Ephesians 6:10-20. Paul’s advice to the church in Ephesus might be a familiar metaphor to “seasoned Christians,” but during the retreat we’ll take a closer look at it and work together to see how we can apply it in our own lives.
To stand firm, here’s the wardrobe that Paul recommends:
(Click on each tab to consider each part of our “armor”)
The word “Retreat” sounds counter to our call to wear God’s armor and forge ahead. But taking a weekend away from our daily routines and surroundings can lead us to a place where we refocus on God and learn from each other. Together we can learn how to “extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
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For more about the Men’s Group at PUMC, click the below button:
Men’s Fellowship
