Timeline

Now:  Begin thinking about traveling in October, taking time off from work, saving money you will need, etc.


Early Spring:  Sign-ups & Suggestions -- By signing up, you are in no way obligated to attend.  This is simply to begin gauging how many attendees we will have, and collecting ideas/suggestions.


Spring:  First Retreat Meeting


Late Summer:  Finalizing The Agenda/Itinerary for the Retreat Weekend


After Labor Day:  Another Retreat Meeting


October:  Last Retreat Meeting 


SBH 2025

October 16-18

Toms River / Seaside Heights, NJ


We will be in the awesome oceanside communities of Toms River and Seaside Heights.  The venue is about 10 miles inland, and the motel is just across the bridge in Seaside Heights, just blocks from the ocean.


We will be in another beautiful church hall, with a big commercial kitchen. 


The motel is amazing.  It's one of the highest-rated hotels/motels in Seaside, and we got an incredible rate! Just $69 per night!  For this family-owned, all-suite motel, the price couldn't be any better.


Venue:  

Christ Episcopal Church

Toms River, NJ


Dates:  Thursday - Saturday, Oct. 16-18, 2025


Motel: The Sunrise - Seaside Heights, NJ

https://www.thesunriseseaside.com


The motel is $69 PER NIGHT (plus taxes). Every night is the same price -- no difference between weeknight and weekends.  


You HAVE TO CALL and make reservations on the phone. This is the only way to get the rate.  We can't use the website to make reservations and we can't use third party sites like Expedia, Booking.com or Hotels.com.  AND -- when booking we do have to pay a $69 first night deposit to hold the reservations.  That $69 is refundable within two weeks of the Retreat, if anyone has to cancel. When calling, tell them you're with "SBH" and give them the dates.  Don't say "Serenity Begins Here", they don't know what that is.


We will have plenty of planning and information sessions in the coming months, but for now, check out the area, motel and think about travel plans.  The nearest airports would be Philly, Newark and Atlantic City (which only seems to have Florida flights?).  


Oh, and there will be NO EVENT FEE again this year!  The food, drinks, shirts, and all the other stuff are FREE.  Your only costs are getting to NJ and motel costs (plus a few bucks for anything you want to buy in NJ and $ for lunch -- which isn't provided -- if you eat lunch).