The retreats generally envision people of Christian backgrounds and seek to open them to an experience of how all we hold in common in Christ is much broader and deeper than what still divides us. In the retreat setting, people are away from their customary preoccupations, their hearts and minds are open, they rest and relax, and new possibilities emerge. It is through sharing such time, space, and experience that people change their perceptions of one another and form new relationships. Some of the retreat themes are sufficiently universal to include both Christians and members of other world religions in a shared retreat experience.

Retreat Themes

I We Were Made for Communion: The focus is on the biblical call to Christians to full communion with one another in the Body of Christ. Presentations include the "Why" and the "What" of Christian unity; "What Can I Do?"; "Qualities Needed by Ecumenically-Minded Christians;" and "Gifts to be Received from other World Religions."

II Toward Fullness of Life: Daily morning and afternoon conferences focus on components of a holistic spirituality: Exercise and Play; Time with Friends; Recovering a Weekly Sabbath; Prayerful Presence in Daily Living; Service; Work; Creation and Creativity; Time Alone and in Community; Ways of Praying; the Role of the Body in Prayer; and the use of spiritual life tools such as the Daily Examen of Consciousness.

III Prayer of Heart and Body: An introduction to meditative prayer in the Christian tradition and to the role of the body in prayer. A devotional approach to meditation and to yoga postures sequentially linked is taught as a way of anchoring one's practice in the soil of Christian faith and praying through the full expression of one's being.

IV Savoring Life by Facing Our Mortality: Awareness and acceptance of our personal end-time can bring a clarity and richness to the limited, precious moments of life, and foster a special care for relationships and priorities. This retreat provides opportunities through a variety of methods such as journaling and guided meditations to awaken on a deeper level to the gift of life that is ours to live now.

V Prayer Is A Hunger: Participants learn and practice fresh approaches to praying with the scriptures, with beads, with intercessions, with the daily examination of consciousness, and with the body. The broader the range of "tastes" we develop, the more we are able to respond to our hunger throughout the day in a variety of ways.

VI Contemplative Prayer in the Christian Tradition: Two daily presentations on the history, theology, and practice of Christian contemplative prayer, with a period of group lectio divina, and a morning and late-afternoon 25 minute period of Christian meditation/centering prayer.

VII Becoming Free: Based on archetypal themes in the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola, the daily program includes presentations on four steps to spiritual freedom as well as time for personal reflection and inner work. The focus is not just on freedom from but on freedom for commitment and the inner liberty it brings.

VIII Lessons from the Mystics: The treasure trove of Christian mystical writings testifies that the mystic is one who is consciously immersed in the experience of God's closeness and love in daily living. We will explore major themes in the tradition and cross-reference characteristics of the mystics lives with our own.

See Calendar page for information on Upcoming Retreats