Dear friends,

Grace and peace this beautiful November day. So much has changed since we last sent along a letter to invite your support of the work of the Retreat House. As you know, we are no longer on the property in Hillsboro. With no property to tend, we find ourselves meeting with new collaborative partners “on the road,” holding meetings and circles in a variety of spaces—coffee shops, homes, schools, churches, parks. As the work continues to emerge, it is always an adventure of trusting God and listening for the creative ways of the Holy Spirit.  

One thing has not changed. We continue to listen for guidance from the Spirit. And we continue to discern the subtle shifts in focus for this adventure and the continued work of the last 10 years. Ten years! Amazing. 

We are writing today to invite you to consider offering a gift of financial support to this work of holding space for all those who long to draw closer to God. Your Gift brings strength to this tender work.

In many ways, we are still engaging in ongoing, community-sustaining work: weekly Pause reflections and warm welcome and guidance for those exploring spiritual direction; online community offerings for reflection and conversation like Day's End Meditation and Wisdom Café; online weekly circles listening for Spirit in scripture and each other; local community offerings like Poetry Night and Sacred Saturday Mornings; and both weekend retreats and personal overnight retreats for those seeking quiet and rest, both held at The Foehliage in Galena, MD.

And we have received exciting new invitations and emergent initiatives, all supported by our engaged community of spiritual directors and staff: 

• Monthly facilitation of the Amen Circle, beginning its second year, a gathering for spiritual deepening, encouragement and prayer for those newly ordained in the Episcopal Diocese of Easton.
• Companioning as collaborative partners with parishes seeking to cultivate spiritual community.
• Offering spiritual direction to high school students and faculty at an Episcopal boarding school in Connecticut. And cultivating the practice of spiritual direction with high school students at a small church in Pennsylvania.
• Emergent online circles, growing communities of spiritual deepening. 

We invite you to be part of the new way that our donors are supporting this work. Several of our fall offerings have been sponsored, in part or in full, by generous donors. This allows us to offer these circles and groups for a donation rather than a registration fee to support our intention for equity for all who might want to participate. Finances should never get in the way of spiritual connection and deepening. And with the help of these sponsors, we are drawing closer to that reality.  Would you be drawn to be part of this movement? 

Along with sponsoring circles and programming, we do, of course, have our ongoing operational expenses of contractors, part-time salaries and tech platforms. While we operate with a small staff, these are real expenses that support the livelihood of our team. Any donation that you might feel led to share to support this work would be deeply appreciated.



We end this request with a quote from Steven Charleston:

"We were made to love, you and I,

Made so by the author of love

Made in the image of love to be the love we are."

Thank you always for your presence in the community of the Retreat House, your generosity of heart and for your prayers. We are forever grateful. 

Blessings to you, with so much gratitude, 

Francie, Heather, and Rodney