join us for
The Devotional Creativity Retreat with
Jon and Valerie Guerra
Hey there, We are Jon & Valerie Guerra!
Join us for our inaugural Devotional Creativity Retreat,
October 6-9, 2024!
Escape to the beautiful Texas Hill Country where we'll spend time connecting with each other and with God.
We'll have quality time together hearing talks on
Aesthetic Theology, faith and art, and also discuss practical tips on
getting started, editing and finishing your art.
For the songwriters, Jon will be doing a live version of my Devotional Songwriting Masterclass and will be available to listen to songs, chat, offer personalized feedback, and even co-write.
Let’s fill up our creativity tanks together!
Sound like something you're interested in?
Find out more information below!
About the Venue.
- Wanderin' Star Farms
Located in Dripping Springs, hidden among 30 acres of Texas Hill Country oaks and cliffs, access to the farm includes nature trails, horses, giant swings, mini donkeys and gardens - Get ready to feast and be pampered!
Comfy cabins, amazing food, stunning views, time to write, rest, and connect.
About the Retreat.
A few years ago, I felt like quitting. I'd been working as a songwriter for many years, but I didn't love songwriting anymore, and I had trouble starting & finishing songs. The joy of creating was gone.
When I first started playing guitar as a kid, I didn’t have an end in mind. Music, songwriting, and any other art form were ends in themselves. I remember a sermon where the pastor used that classic Eric Liddel line from the movie Chariots of Fire,“When I run, I feel God’s pleasure,” as an example of human beings doing what they were created to do. That’s how I felt when I was being creative.
But that initial spark, that core purity of “feeling God’s pleasure,” started to fade as I grew up. Comparison crushed my spirit, and I felt overwhelmed by the industry built up around all the creativity. I would look at people who were better than me - more creative, more poetic, better songwriters, more successful - and think, “What’s the point?”
So, I took a step back. I remembered how, as a kid, I’d spend hours turning my attention toward God as I wrote my (not so great) songs, and I realized there was something there that I’d lost.
When I rediscovered that posture, what came out was Devotional Music - less Sunday morning worship music and more Monday morning prayer music. Quiet, creative, as honest as I could be. And it brought me so much joy.
The same applies to Devotional Art in general - whether it’s music, visual arts, writing, etc. It’s less Sunday morning structured art and more Monday morning prayer art. It’s God directed humanity. And it should bring you joy too.
God gave some of us a gift. The gift is, first and foremost, for us to enjoy and to “feel God’s pleasure” while we create, and then to multiply that joy by sharing it with others. God wants to watch our spirits bloom through being who he made us to be: people devoted to creating for the joy and pleasure of God.
If you’re a creator - or even if you’re someone who’s inspired by creativity - I want to invite you to something special I’ve been planning.
I'm so excited to announce my inaugural Devotional Creativity Retreat, just outside my hometown of Austin, Texas, at a beautiful spot in the Texas Hill Country.
Gathering with a small, intimate group October 6-9, 2024, we’ll be doing a deep dive on Aesthetic Theology, Faith and Art, and also discuss practical tips on getting started, editing and finishing art. For the songwriters, I’ll be doing a live version of my Devotional Songwriting Masterclass (which actually applies to other art forms as well!), and I’ll be available to listen to songs, chat, offer personalized feedback, and even co-write. I'll also be sharing some of my own songs I'm still working on, as well as performing a concert.
We’ll have morning and evening prayer together, and we'll read some of my favorite poems and writings that have inspired me. You'll get to connect with others whose creative spirits are being aimed toward God. There will also be plenty of open time to rest, read, hike, and recharge. Finally, we’ll have a Listening Night at the end of the retreat for anyone who wants to share something they’ve made with the group - a poem, a song, an essay, visual art, photos, etc.
Our output is directly connected to our input, and my ultimate aim with this retreat is to share many of my Devotional input sources with you, whether you’re actively creating in this season or not. And, hopefully, leave you even more inspired to continue directing your creative heart to the Lord.
Oh, and it’s going to be very tasty and comfortable too! Hosted by the incredible Wanderin’ Star Farms team, we’ll have gorgeous accommodations, eat amazing food, and enjoy the stunning beauty of the Texas Hill Country.
I hope you'll join me for this special time being together.
Jon Guerra
Investment
Package 1 - $3,500 married couple (comes with your own cabin)
Package 2- $1,500 one person - shared living space
The total investment covers lodging, food, devotional creativity sessions with Jon and friends, full access to Wanderin' Star Farms, and so many more wonderful activities curated with creativity and rest in mind. It's a weekend you will remember!