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The following
retreats are
offered in the
framework of
what is called
“spiritual
ecumenism”
wherein members
of different
churches and
faith traditions
discover and
receive valuable
spiritual gifts
from each
other's
heritages. These
retreats
therefore
presume that the
group of
participants is
of an ecumenical
and/or
interfaith
composition.
Most of the
themes envision
people of
different
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. It is
through spending
days together in
prayer and
faith-sharing
that people
change their
perceptions of
one another,
form new
relationships,
and engage
together in
mission and
service. A few
of the themes
also lend
themselves to an
interfaith
context.
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. Topics
include the
"Why" and the
"What" of
Christian unity;
"How Can I Make
a Difference?";
"Qualities
Needed by
Ecumenically-Minded
Christians;"
“What Gifts Do
the Churches
Have to Share
with One
Another?,
"Inspiration and
Challenge from
other World
Religions," and
A Spirituality
for the Long
Haul.”
II. Toward
Fullness of
Life: Daily
morning and
afternoon
conferences
focus on
components of a
holistic
spirituality:
Recovering a
Weekly Sabbath;
Prayerful
Presence in
Daily Living;
Service; Work;
Exercise and
Play; Time with
Friends;
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.
Yoga postures
are taught and
then linked in
flowing
sequences to
songprayers as a
way of praying
through the full
expression of
one's being and
anchoring one's
practice in the
soil of
Christian faith.
In addition to
meditation,
daily program
includes an
engaging way of
praying with the
Scriptures.
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:
Prayer expresses
our yearning for
deeper communion
with God. It's a
hunger that
sends us back
unceasingly to
the Source of
Life.
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 in a
variety of ways.
A multi-course
meal for the
soul.
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
praying with the
Scriptures (lectio
divina,) and a
morning and
late-afternoon
25 minute period
of Christian
meditation/centering
prayer. Personal
time for
reading,
walking,
resting, and
journaling.
VII. Becoming
Free: Based
on archetypal
themes in the
Spiritual
Exercises of
Ignatius of
Loyola, the
daily program
includes
presentations on
steps to
spiritual
freedom, such as
knowing who you
are; living your
calling to the
full; letting go
of results; and
daily
rededicating
your life to
God. 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 the
Upcoming Events
page for
information on
scheduled
retreats.
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