Welcome
2025 Advent Retreat
"From Darkness to Light:
The Advent Journey"
Finding new beginnings in the candles of Advent
December 12-14, 2025
In person and on Zoom!
In-Person Registration Fee $50**
Zoom Registration Fee $25
**Lodging and Meals at High Pastures Retreat Center are free for this event.
Advent is a time of expectation and hope. The music, twinkling lights, traditions, all revolve around one thing: the birth of Jesus. His messages of hope, peace, true joy, and love permeate the weeks of Advent. Why? Why do we feel different during this season? Perhaps, just perhaps it is because we know His coming changes everything!
As we gather for our Advent retreat this year, we will focus on both the darkness around us, and the Light within us. With the Advent wreath as a background for learning and discovering, we will move from darkness to light, and how, with the lighting of the Christ candle, we will acknowledge we find ourselves living in-between the two greatest events the world has seen or will ever see.
It will be a time of both looking back and looking forward, while not forgetting where we are now in our faith and daily lives. Even in the Light, there is room for what has gone before that lies hidden in our hearts. To that we sing, “O come, O come, Emmanuel!”
Guest Speaker Janet K Johnson
Rev. Janet K. Johnson is a local author, speaker, workshop leader, pastor, and spiritual formation mentor who considers herself to be most blessed to live in, and spread, the love of God.
Special Presentation:
For in-person attendees
The Story of God Musical
With 4 Storytellers, 1 Guitar, and 1 hour, you can journey from Genesis to Revelation through live theater and storytelling that will paint the unforgettable picture of God’s enduring love for us and his invitation to come home.
It is with great blessing, joy, and excitement to announce Rev. John Rice's new book, "Called to Bless - Restoring God's Ministry of Blessing" available to purchase on Amazon.com here - complete with a special foreword by Russ Parker!
"Our group is LOVING John Rice's new book! And they are learning to pray Blessing Prayers!! Transformative. It is an anointed book."
Diane Herival
Seattle, WA
"Called to Bless is a gem in the realm of spiritual literature. This book is a treasure trove of wisdom, filled with poignant testimonies and real-life stories that resonate deeply..."
–The Reverend Josh Acton, former North American Director of The International Order of St. Luke the Physician
Welcome to The Blessing Place! We are so glad you're visiting our website - it is our joy to bless you . . .
In Jesus' Name, we bless you with love . . .
With the love of God to fill you, to seep into your spirits, to touch your heart, your soul and your mind, and to bring you deep contentment as you rest in Him.
In Jesus' Name, we bless you with light . . .
With the light of Christ to shine in your hearts and illuminate every part of you, to brighten your spirits and push back the darkness, to shine in you and through you.
In Jesus' Name, we bless you with joy . . .
With the joy of Jesus to bubble up from deep within you, to shine from your face as you sparkle for Him.
In Jesus' Name, we bless you with peace . . .
The peace of our Lord to calm any worries, and saturate your souls, to be like a mantle you wear every day.
In Jesus' Name, we bless you with the powerful Presence of the Holy Spirit . . .
For the Holy Spirit to anoint you and lead you, to fill your mind and guide your steps.
In Jesus' Name, we bless you to know that you are His beloved children, chosen and cherished, loved beyond measure, and we bless you to walk closely with Him each day. We bless you with the fullness of all the Father has planned for your life.
We invite you to journey with us . . . to come and see God working through blessing ministry.
OUR VISION
Restoring God's Ministry of Blessing
in Jesus' Name.
OUR MISSION
Providing Individuals, Churches and Groups
with Blessing Ministry Training.
Offering personal prayer ministry and prayer services.
A Spirit-Filled Beginning
The invitation was extended to the Rev. John Rice in the summer of 2018, “Come and help us restart our healing ministry at High Pastures.” John said yes and right away God sent help …. a few others interested in and passionate about Jesus’ healing ministry. This small group of faithful Christians would become our ministry leadership team.
We began to gather at High Pastures Retreat Center on Sunday evenings to “wait upon the Lord”….to discern God’s vision for this new healing ministry. Our waiting was a prayerful exercise rooted in listening for the leading of the Holy Spirit. For nearly six months, we gathered to pray, listen and share with one another.
By mid-winter of 2019, we began to sense a growing excitement amongst our group. Blessing ministry kept rising up in our praying, listening and conversations. There was a Spirit-given unity for this new vision. We were being called to restore God’s ministry of blessing in the church and in the world. Blessing prayers would be the focus of our new healing prayer ministry and our ministry would be called, The Blessing Place of Western North Carolina.
We are seeking to fulfill our vision through a variety of events offered locally and on-site at other churches. These offerings include monthly online prayer services; workshops on equipping and empowering God’s people for Blessing Ministry and other forms of healing prayer; as well as individual prayer appointments. As God’s ministry of blessing is being restored, we are seeing healing and transformation as individuals encounter the loving presence of Jesus through Spirit-filled blessing prayers. With all praise and glory to God!
Important Note:
In today's culture, there are many counterfeit philosophies and practices claiming to increase our power to bring healing. As Christians whose source of truth is the Bible, we are called to rely only on the power and authority given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. - 1 Peter 3:9
