EUU Spring Retreat 17-19 April 2026

Captain of My Soul: Orienteering a Faithful Life

What inner compass guides your choices? How do you navigate the freedom of being fully and authentically yourself while building a life of meaning and integrity? Over this weekend retreat, we will explore how to chart journeys shaped by Unitarian Universalist values, grounded in our deepest ethical principles, and fueled by our boldest dreams.  

Our Theme Speaker

The Rev. Joanna Fontaine Crawford

Joanna has been the lead minister of Live Oak, TX, since August 2014, after serving at the multi-site First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston. A born-and-raised Unitarian Universalist, Rev. Joanna grew up in Spring, TX, attending the University of Texas at Austin and having a career in marketing before getting “the call” and attending seminary.

As part of the requirements for becoming an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister, she earned a Master of Divinity degree, summa cum laude, from Houston Graduate School of Theology; did a dual internship with Northwoods UU Church in The Woodlands and the Church of the Larger Fellowship, an international online UU church; and completed hospital chaplaincy training at the Methodist Hospital of Houston.

Rev. Joanna is married to Tom Crawford, and they have four children: Jackson, Kaziah, Lily, and Marenna.

The Retreat 

We welcome all for a weekend of learning, playing, discussion, creation, worship, contemplation, sharing, singing, socializing, and friendship for all ages!

You will find information further down on this page about site accessibility and how to apply for a retreat grant. Additionally, EUU has a Safe Community Statement expressing our communal commitment to respectful interactions when we gather together. Any questions about the retreat can be directed to the retreat organizing committee 

The Weekend

EUU retreats are not weekends of silent contemplation, though people who seek some quiet manage to find that, too. We ensure there is a quiet room available throughout the retreat for those who wish or need to step away from the crowd.

People begin to gather from Friday afternoon,  meet new people as they arrive, eat an evening meal together, and reconnect with some familiar faces. We formally open the retreat around 7 pm, with an in-gathering ceremony and a get-to-know-you activity. Following these opening events, people may retire early, or stay up late and make music, or relax at the bar with new friends and old. If you are a musician, bring your instrument for the informal jam sessions: professionals and amateurs are welcome!

On Saturday morning we listen to our invited speaker – and interact with the ideas in a variety of ways. While adults are busy throughout Saturday, children are engaged in age-appropriate and fun Religious Exploration (RE), guided by creative and thoughtful adults. On Saturday afternoon, EUU community members provide a variety of workshops for fellow retreat participants – creating spaces for all sorts of experiences: physical engagement, spiritual and intellectual exploration, creativity, discussion, etc; choir practice attracts a crowd; and various committees find each other to discuss EUU business. Following dinner, our Saturday night program includes a presentation from the children about their adventures of the day; a presentation by our Social Action Committee; then Open Stage, with talent and fun provided by anyone who wishes to take the stage (all ages). Note that this last is not called a “talent” show, as we want anyone who wishes to share their bit of poetry, theater, music, humor, pathos, inspiration, laughter or joy. After, there are plenty of different spaces on-site where people continue to visit, make music together, or simply go rest after a busy day.

On Sunday morning, we gather for a more formal worship service led by our theme speaker, followed by the closing of the retreat, eating lunch together, and then saying goodbyes (until the next time…).

Share Your Talents at the Retreat

 

How can the EUU offer so much at a low cost? We are 100% powered by volunteers! We invite you – one and all! – to consider what talent or simple effort you might bring, to help create this community weekend. Maybe you would like to organize a workshop, or help with the children’s RE program?  You might bring some entertainment to the Open Stage, or sing in the choir, play or sing along at an evening jam session. Maybe you’ll help rearrange the chairs for the Sunday morning service, or help another volunteer with a task. Plan to pitch in wherever you can – doing so is a great way to develop more bonds with the community. When you register – you will find places to indicate how you would like to contribute to the creation of this retreat.

Children, Teens and Young Adults

This retreat is especially affordable for both families with children and for young adults. Please take advantage of this opportunity to “retreat” from the usual, and come on a pilgrimage to a different world, for this weekend in the spring. 

The youngest people (ages 5-17) will have their own parallel retreat program of Religious Exploration.

 

The Religious Exploration program at this Spring 2025 retreat will be led by Cappy Schupp, experienced educator and thoughtful creator and guide of meaningful experiences for young people. Teens will have opportunities to engage with parts of the adult’s theme talk, but will also spend time apart with Cappy and her team. Younger children will enjoy age-appropriate activities throughout the day on Saturday, and during the Sunday service.

Parents are responsible for supervision of their own children during morning and afternoon coffee-breaks, at all meal times, and on Saturday evening following the RE Presentation.

Of course, most parents look forward to having their own time to be on retreat with the theme talks and afternoon workshops – knowing that their children are happily busy with their own program. But in support of our all-volunteer retreat, we hope that parents and other responsible adults will also also sign up (during registration) to spend an hour or two actively participating in their child’s/children’s RE experience by rotating in as volunteers for short shifts. This will enable us to keep faith with our EUU policy of having two adults present in RE at all times, and will provide greatly appreciated support to very busy RE teachers.

Calling All Workshops!

Are you ready to share something you find intriguing, important, refreshing or fabulous? You can indicate your workshop idea during registration, and you can also contact Janet MacNair directly at workshops@europeanuu.org

The deadline for suggesting a workshop is March 15.  The Workshop Coordinating Team will seek to balance the overall offerings at the retreat itself, with an eye to having a diverse variety of offerings, and to fit within the logistical limits of space that we have at the retreat site.

Retreat Site and Accommodation

Saarbrücken is an interesting town, very close to the French border and the Parc Régional des Vosges du Nord. It is well served by train lines running between Paris and Frankfurt/Mannheim. (I you might want to stay an extra day or two, you can find a very positive guide by David Angel – “Delve into Europe” – with suggestions of interesting places to visit within the city.)

The retreat itself will take place in a youth hostel that is walking distance (1.9 km) from the main train station. It can also be easily reached by a short bus ride, or by taxi.

The hostel is in a very green area, with a large city pond a few steps out the gate of the hostel, and a larger park very nearby.

Jugendherberge Saarbrücken
 Meerwiesertalweg 31, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
Tel. +049 681 33040
saarbruecken@diejugendherbergen.de

https://www.jugendherberge.de/en/youth-hostels/saarbruecken/

The accomodations

• Vegetarian, vegan and dairy-free meals are available.
• All floors and rooms that we will use are accessible by elevator.
• There are a number of “reduced-mobility” rooms with larger access bathrooms,
• There is a large dining room next to large windows overlooking a garden, and a separate, fairly large bar with numerous tables near the main reception area.
• Most of the rooms we have reserved are considered 2-person rooms, though they are comprised of a bunk bed (2 beds, one at floor level and one above). People who cannot climb up to a top bunk must indicate this in the registration form.
• We have a reasonable number of “single” rooms (1 person in a room with a bunk bed)
• There are a few rooms with 4 beds (2 bunk beds), good as “family rooms” or “teen rooms.”
• Apportioning the rooms will be a major project for the retreat committee. (If you enjoy solving logistical puzzles, “raise your hand” and offer to help with this – write to the retreatcommittee@europeanuu.org)

Note – Please consider sharing with one (or more) other people. The pricing structure reflects the relative lack of availability of single rooms. If you don’t have a roommate/roommates in mind, we can help match you with a person/people who share your preferences!

Prices

In-Person Retreat Attendance Pricing

Prices are per person for the entire cost of the retreat, including meals, from dinner Friday night through lunch on Sunday.

The hostel rooms all have bunk beds, so a “shared double” has a lower bunk and an upper bunk – please indicate in your registration if it is impossible for you to use an upper bunk.
There are limited “single” rooms, so please consider sharing with one (or more) other people. Bed sheets and towels are included, but not toiletries.

Infants to three years old accompany for no charge

Extra Nights at the Hostel

If you are considering staying at the hostel for an extra night before or after the retreat, please take note – there is limited availability, so reservations for extra nights must be made right away!

Contact the Europa-Jugendherberge at +49 681 33040 or saarbruecken@diejugendherbergen.de. Mention the European Unitarian Universalist event to be sure they make the connection. There is no guarantee that you will have the same room as during the retreat, but they will try.

Guests can book rooms directly with the hostel, outside of our retreat times. 

Retreat Grants

The EUU community is committed to ensuring that all interested people are able to participate in EUU retreats! Thus we have a grant fund to support EUU members and first time attendees for whom retreat fees present a challenge to their personal budget. Support for both retreat registration and transportation to the retreat site may be requested.

Transportation

Saarbrücken is as little as 2h34 from Frankfurt by train, 1h19 from Mannheim and 1h48 from Paris Est.

It is easily accessible by car from the Low Countries by the A2, from Paris on the A4 and from Basel via the A35 and A4.

More detailed local transportation tips will be provided to all retreat participants in pre-retreat communications.