Retreat 2026: what to expect

Every year, at the end of November, Vida Lisboa pauses its routine for a whole day. It is not a conference in disguise: it is a retreat, a deliberate time to stop. This year it is on Saturday 28 November, at the church premises in Albarraque, and the theme is “Resting in God”.

If you have never been, or went long ago and do not remember well, this article answers the questions we are asked most before someone signs up.

What the day is like

We arrive at 9:30 am, with a welcome coffee, and finish around 6:00 pm. In practice that is a morning and an afternoon, with a shared lunch in between. There is worship, two messages and prayer in small groups. But what people usually remember afterwards is not the programme: it is the conversations over lunch, the break outdoors, the half hour of silence nobody wanted to end.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

We deliberately left some free time. Whoever wants can read, walk or simply sit in silence. Rest is the main part of the programme, not a break between activities.

Who can go

The retreat is for everyone: families, singles, couples, young people from 16 and people who have only recently joined the church. Children have their own programme with the Vida Kids team, so parents can truly rest. Registration costs €10 per person and includes lunch. If the price is an obstacle, talk to one of the leaders: we want nobody to be left out for financial reasons.

What to bring

• Comfortable clothes and a jacket, because November can be cool.
• A water bottle.
• Your Bible, a notebook and a pen.
• Willingness to switch off your phone during the time of silence.

Why it is worth stopping

The Gospels say Jesus often withdrew to quiet places to pray. If He needed to stop, so do we. A day of retreat does not fix everything, but it changes the rhythm: it reminds us that our identity is not measured by our diary or our performance.

Many of us return from the retreat with a small, concrete decision: to forgive someone, to set aside one morning a week to pray, to ask for help, to start serving. You do not have to go back and change the world on Monday. It is enough to return a little lighter, and a little closer to God and to one another.

If you wonder whether the retreat is for you, remember that nobody is being assessed. Come as you are, sit wherever you like and take part in whatever does you good. Those who have been usually come back, and many bring a friend the first time.

How to register

Registration closes on 20 November. Fill in the form on the retreat page (one registration per household is enough) and pay by bank transfer, sending the proof to financas@vidalisboa.pt. It will be a simple day, with people you like and Someone who wants us rested. We look forward to seeing you.