Sisterhood of St. John the Divine
Summer 2019
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We have many amazing weekend retreats, quiet Saturdays and special opportunities coming up!
Click on any of the poster images below to download the poster
to share with your church, family and friends!
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Saturday July 13, August 10, September 14
Inspired by the Quiet Garden Trust in England, these are days to relax, renew, and rest in the beauty of God’s outdoors, as well as to enjoy the Sisters’ chapel and library.
In case of rain, there is plenty of space indoors to wander, sit, dream, and pray.
We begin with a brief time of prayer; then a Sister will offer suggestions on how to use the day. The rest of the morning is yours.
The Eucharist is celebrated at noon, followed by dinner, and the afternoon is again free, with a brief gathering at 3:30 pm when you will have the option of sharing the fruits of the day followed by a closing time of prayer.
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Alternate Tuesdays
starting Tuesday, Sept 10
Come for gentle Chair Yoga at 10:30 am, with:
- Noon Eucharist in the Chapel
- A silent meditative lunch
- An opportunity to walk the Convent’s beautiful outdoor labyrinth.
- Spend the rest of the day enjoying the Convent gardens, library, and chapel at no extra charge (except $22 additional for those who would like a private room for the day – please book one week in advance.)
Led by
Barb Rosen
, a certified Kripalu (Compassionate) Yoga teacher.
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Individual Silent Retreat
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Tuesday-Thursday
September 10 - 12
Our God of love so desires to meet with you in the quiet of your heart. Carve out time to come aside and be still, to let your soul settle into the quiet of our Guest House, to be intimately present to yourself and to God.
A trained spiritual guide will meet with you twice during the silence and solitude of your retreat to help you listen for the movement of God in your prayer and life journey.
Your spiritual guide can introduce you to ways of prayer and suggest scriptural or other prayer content, and you are welcome to bring your contemplative crafts and journal.
We will meet as a group at 6:45 pm on Tuesday evening to open the retreat and again at 3:30 pm on Thursday for a short closing prayer service.
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Two Retreats with
Margaret Silf
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Born to Fly
September 20 - 22
The story of the caterpillar’s metamorphosis into the butterfly is a remarkable model of how an all-consuming garden pest transforms into a creature that brings life to the plants it pollinates and joy to all who encounter it.
If this can take place in the humble caterpillar, how much more so for the human family, engaged on a journey of spiritual evolution towards the best that we can become.
During this retreat we will explore something of this ‘great work’, especially in the context of our own troubled and turbulent times, and how we too are in process of transformation, birthing an inner butterfly, and invited to be co-creators of a different kind of future for humanity.
Led by
Margaret Silf
, author, speaker and retreat leader. She has written
over 40 books
for contemporary pilgrims searching for a spiritual way in a confusing and turbulent world. Margaret travels extensively, and describes herself as a ‘boundary dweller’, discovering deep spirituality in those both within and beyond the traditional “church”. She is passionate about making Christian spirituality accessible and attractive to modern pilgrims and relevant to everyday life in the 21st century.
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Sacred in the City
Tuesday-Thursday
September 24 - 26
It’s easy to think of our spiritual lives as belonging to special places and special times.
For many people it comes as a surprise to find that the “holy” is all around us. Jesus lived out a great deal of his ministry among ordinary situations and with ordinary people, and taught them – and us – that that is where the Kingdom of God is to be found.
Where do we discover this treasure in our busy 21st century lives?
This retreat offers the opportunity to look with fresh eyes at our everyday, urban and suburban life, and to find God’s transforming presence precisely there: in our homes, at our places of work, on the move, in the market-place, and in all the places where we gather.
Led by
Margaret Silf
, author, speaker and retreat leader. She has written
over 40 books
for contemporary pilgrims searching for a spiritual way in a confusing and turbulent world. Margaret travels extensively, and describes herself as a ‘boundary dweller’, discovering deep spirituality in those both within and beyond the traditional “church”. She is passionate about making Christian spirituality accessible and attractive to modern pilgrims and relevant to everyday life in the 21st century.
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The Soil of Your Soul
Saturday, October 26
Anyone who has ever turned a shovel, planted a flower or vegetable, weeded a garden, or watered a wilting house plant knows that growing anything is part hard work, part nature, and a lot of hope and mystery.
During this quiet day you are invited to explore the soil of your soul. Where in your life are there rocky patches? Where are thorns threatening to overgrow what is good in your life? Where is your fallow ground, your quiet place? Do you believe that you are indeed good soil?
Explore these and other themes in this parable as we consider how God generously sows in our lives and our openness to receiving - or not – all that is offered.
Led by
The Rev. Samantha Caravan
, incumbent of All Saints Anglican Church, Peterborough
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The Book of Esther
November 1 - 3
The book of Esther is a beautifully written story named after Esther, the young Jewish Queen who risked her life to save Jews from the decree of death orchesrated by the Hitler-like, anti-Semite Haman.
In spite of the book’s lack of religious language, it speaks powerfully into our modern context. We recognize similarities between our broken world and Esther’s world that is ruled by an impulsive,
egocentric tyrant, where God seems hidden, and God’s people are sidelined.
We will read this dramatic and inspiring book
together and explore its historical background, consider how our Christian forebears found food for the soul in Esther, and unpack its life-giving meaning for our lives as individuals and as the church today.
Led by
Professor Marion Taylor
, a Professor of Old Testament at Wycliffe College. She has published the award-winning Handbook of Women Biblical Interpreters and a number of other books that feature the writings of forgotten women interpreters of Scripture.
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Individual Directed Retreat
Quiet Saturday: Great Women of the New Testament
Saturday, November 16, 2019 (
Margaret Silf
)
see here »
Advent Quiet Day
Saturday, December 7, 2019 (
The Rev. Sister Constance Joanna Gefvert
)
see here »
Christmas Retreat
Click here
to see all scheduled upcoming opportunities!
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Read the latest edition of the
EAGLE
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