Meet the Chicago Guides!
A few more personal stories and reflections...
For the Houston retreat last month, in addition to official bios for the guides, I (Aaron) shared a few personal reflections about each of them. For Chicago, I’m excited to do the same. Hope this helps you to get to know this incredible team a bit before June.
Julian Davis Reed
I first met Julian as part of a Transforming Community and found him to be wise, brave, crazy smart, and full of life. And then I heard him play the piano. MIND BLOWING! He is a monumental talent who uses his gifts to create holy rest for the rest of us.
Julian founded Notes of Rest to invite us into the rest of God practiced in the scriptures and in black music. He brings together spiritual formation, theology, the history of black music and black art, and contemplative practices…all carried by his brilliant, multi-genre piano playing. I’ve never experienced anything quite like Julian’s ministry, and we can’t wait for him to guide in Chicago!
One of Julian’s central insights is that these notes of rest (Sabbath, Sleep, Sanctuary, etc) equip us “to solo over the chord changes of our lives, harmonize our journeys with one another, and resolve to practice rest and music that unifies us with God, neighbor, and self.” In his own words…
Fr Michael Sparough, SJ
Fr Michael is a Jesuit priest, retreat master, playwright, spiritual direction, author, actor, and humble man of God. It’s hard to overestimate the influence he has had in my life over the last 10+ years. While I worked at an Evangelical megachurch, Fr Michael was gracious enough to be my spiritual director and walk with me through some really complicated and heartbreaking seasons. He also taught me The Examen, opened my heart to the gifts of Ignatian Spirituality, and above all, kept calling me back to the way of Jesus Christ.
Way back in 2016, Fr Michael and I sat down for a conversation about spiritual direction, the gifts of Evangelical/Catholic partnership, and so much more. If you can graciously forgive my terrible haircut, I think you’ll get a ton out of this conversation…
If you’ve been on retreat with Fr Michael (in either of our last two Chicago retreats), you know that he helps us embody our faith in a thoughtful yet winsome way. He’s brilliant and he won’t let us settle for mere intellectual belief…we must flesh it out into our bodies, relationships, prayers, neighborhoods, and world. Prepare to stretch! And get ready to engage the Spirit of God in fresh, surprising, joy-soaked, and transformative ways.
Becky Ykema
Can I also mention our worship leader, Becky Ykema? Becky is one of the best singers on the planet, an incredible worship leader, and a wise mentor to many creatives in the church. She and I first began serving together at Willow Creek, and it’s pure joy to keep tag teaming on retreat. Becky’s soaring voice has carried our songs at all eight retreats over the last three years! What a gift!
If you want to hear more of her music, Becky is collaborating with some killer musicians to create Hymns of the People — modern settings of classic hymns. These arrangements are so, so good.
And if you are a female church leader (worship, creative arts, pastor, elder, etc), don’t miss Becky’s upcoming Cohort. You don’t have to do this alone! All the details are below…
Nina and Jonathan!
We’re delighted that Nina Barnes and Jonathan Merritt will be back with us in Chicago. I still believe what I shared last month as we prepared for Houston! Please read about these amazing humans here…
Are you feeling drawn to join us in Chicago? Bellarmine Retreat House on June 9-11, 2025. There is still room for you! Please check out the details below and let us know if you have any questions.
Grace and peace to you,
Aaron and the PP&G Retreat Team