Retreat Details

About Retreat

Presentation Center is a peaceful 67-acre oasis tucked among the redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains just 20 minutes from Silicon Valley.

This retreat will provide

An intentional time away to experience the presence of God in a different way.
It is an opportunity to get some distance and see things in a different perspective.
Learn from the experiences of spiritually mature Christians and life experiences of fellow church goers.
Have lots of fun through games, various sessions and outdoor activities.
Nature walks.
Meditation
Opportunity to show your hidden talents.
Jeopardy / Bible quiz for all ages.
Sessions geared towards children & Youth.
It requires a pace that is unhurried and conducive to rest and relaxation in order to come back with a renewed sense of living as disciples of Christ.
A chance to encounter God, with our Church family, with creation, with issues, with self.
An intentional strategy to withdraw from everyday life. When we retreat, it is not for the purpose of just getting away and staying away. Everything involved in getting away, and all that is done while away, involves coming back with a renewed faith and sense of purpose in our spiritual life.

“We go to the mountains not to see mountains, but to see the valleys with a new perspective.”

Hopefully we will deepen our relationship with God by intentionally reflecting and meditating. Whether you do this alone walking down by the river or by talking and celebrating with others, it is needed in order to come back with a renewed sense of love. Jesus modeled this pattern of celebration and reflection, and it is instructive for people today as well.
Retreats deepen the fellowship of a community through shared experiences and can focus the energy of a group, whether your purpose is to plan, problem solve, build a team, tackle a topic of concern or just to have fun.
Retreats at Presentation Center are great, particularly for family and children ministries to allow fellowship outside of the church.
Wonderful memories that will last a lifetime!!
Amazing Indian and American food.

Retreat Leaders

Mrs. Preena Mathew

has been actively involved in the ministry of the church for the past thirteen years, serving in Kerala and in Mumbai. Currently, Kochamma is in Dallas, Texas, where she and her husband, Rev. Mathew Samuel (Assistant Vicar), minister at the Mar Thoma Church of Dallas, Farmers Branch. Preena Mathew is a young accomplished motivational speaker. She loves being a witness for Christ and has served as the principal of Navjyoti School, Mumbai. She is full of energy and can relate to young and old alike. People tend to be drawn to her infectious demeanor and she has lead several retreats and conferences, she develops events and programs with humor, worship and inspirational messages for various communities and churches. Preena inspires spiritual growth and encourages women, couples and church leaders with her conversational, down-home style. She is a favorite for women’s events, regional and national seminars and conferences, church leadership conferences.

Rev. Biju P. Simon

presently serves as the Vicar of Mar Thoma Church of San Francisco Bay Area, CA. Achen has a passion for cheering his parishioners on to love God's Word and showing them how to establish their daily steps in it. Whatever the event, he boldly speaks from the Word of God with sensitivity, humility and bits of humor, breaking it open with fresh insight and sharing real life stories designed for transformation. His heart is to see folks embrace the Word of God as a treasure, because he knows firsthand the power and life-changes it can produce! Devoted to Christ and the ministry given to him. Achen has led retreats, conferences, Bible studies and special events for people of all ages. Writing fresh messages for speaking and teaching is a joy, but he also has many existing messages that God has used in retreat and conference settings with great success.