The Weekly Message
"Time Away"
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It’s a time away from the “office” this week at the Roslyn Conference and Retreat Center in Richmond. The window in my room looks out on rolling hills that were a place of wonderful sledding during snow times when I was young. Snow times are times when work routines often take time off – work traffic slows down as nature blankets the world and makes us slow down our usual pace. As if nature wants to remind us to stop, hunker down and hibernate at least for a spell.
I’m not sure whether kids come to these Roslyn hills any more to take advantage of the snow. But Roslyn has become a place designed for relaxation, refreshment, restoration for grown-ups. A place as could be said, to catch up with one’s spirit. Isn’t that what a retreat is all about? A place with a lot of space, giving the one on retreat time and place to take a break from all the usual busy work. Also, a time and a place to relax a busy mind and open inner spaces where imagination can roam a bit more freely, where dreams take shape and ideas can play with us. Where soul and spirit can entice us to pull up a chair and sit by the fire a bit.
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Even though it wasn’t snowing when I arrived, and the temperature had hit close to sixty degrees a blazing warm welcoming fire greeted those of us upon arrival in the big dining hall yesterday evening. A fire that didn’t roar, despite its size, but deeply purred, inviting one closer.
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This time each year Roslyn offers clergy of the Diocese a “free time” (no charge) to come and be apart for a little while. In this space of time between the Advent through Christmas season and the Lent through Easter season which is looming on the horizon. Seasons that are so busy in the church. This offer of time apart is a regular part of Roslyn’s calendar. And I wonder why it hasn’t been a regular part of mine to be here for it before. This is the first year I’ve indulged in this treat. What has amazed me is how few others have appeared to take Roslyn up on this gift. Like me, in years past, I wonder if they just said to themselves – “I don’t have the time to do this, not now.”
It is a challenging time to be part of “Church” in the world today for everyone, not just clergy. Maybe it has been always. The “world” too often calls all of us away, away from our soul space and time. Soul: that core place within us that tethers us to what I often call “the Bigger Than” – that which deeply and divinely yearns goodness, wellness and joy for us in the “being” place of us. The “world” too often calls us away from our spirit, dampens or even tries to overwhelm that remarkable energy that I call spirit, originating from the great Spirit that wants to flow through us, invite our being into the “doing” part of us that we call life.
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And so I am here for a “treat” time, to walk these hills, sit around a fire, have meals appear three times a day without my doing, take naps as needed, write a little, ponder a few ideas that may arise (or not), sleep deeply, contemplate the old trees that guard the landscape, have conversations, light or deep with folks I don’t often see, read a little, but all in all simply rest and refresh.
Now, the year is renewing itself. How special to carve out a little quiet time to let myself go with the flow of turning towards a new yet to come and let myself begin again, anew.
May it be so for all of us.
Torrence
lichen background, Roslyn Fireplace.
and tree photo were taken by Torrence. Other pictures from Roslyn web-site
.or pinterest. No copyright infringement intended.
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The Episcopal Churchwomen of
the Diocese of Virginia
are offering a Lenten Quiet Day
Thursday February 27
th
9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
led by the Rt. Rev. David C. Jones, Bishop Suffragan, retired
and the Very Rev.Kim Coleman with music directed by Mrs. Ellen Johnston.
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While not yet listed on their
web-site
, there is usually an Easter brunch held at Roslyn.
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Thanks to all you wonderful Farnham and St. John's parishioners who have signed up to participate in the Mission Meal Packing event at Richmond Co. High School on
Saturday, Jan. 18
. Please arrive by
9:45
a.m. so we get everyone registered and organized in our teams.
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ANNUAL
CONGREGATIONAL MEETINGS
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At
Farnham's Annual Congregational Meeting last Sunday, Jan. 12, Susan Crowley and Becky Marks were elected for a three year term on the vestry of N. Farnham Church.
In a meeting of the new Vestry following the Congregational Meeting, the Vestry elected the following: Senior Warden, Michael Sisson; Junior Warden, Ed Elliott; Register, Kim Calvert; Treasurers, Jim Crowley
(disbursements) and Junius Berger
(receipts and pledges).
Congratulations!
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St. John's
Annual Congregational Meeting will be this Sunday, January 19 (including a Potluck lunch) in Wellford Hall immediately following the 11 a.m. service. Agenda matters will include: 1) election of two new vestry members (nominees include Paula Milsted and Priscilla Wellford); 2) congregational approval of Paul Milsted as a court appointed Trustee of St. John's to replace Bill King and to serve with current Trustees Ben Cox and Anne Neuman; 3) approval of a 2020 ; Budget; and 4) Annual Reports.
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The Rappahannock Concert Association
through a special grant, provides "strings" instruction for interested students in our local counties. St. John's (Warsaw) is one of the locations for this instruction. An instructors' and students' recital concert will be held on
Sunday
afternoon,
Feb. 2nd
at
2:00 p.m.
at our own North
Farnham
Episcopal Church. The concert which is open to the community will last approximately one hour fifteen minutes to include music by instructors in the first half and music by the students in the second half. Among the instructors you will hear the familiar playing of Mei Li Beane (of Spencer and Beane Celtic music popularity). Farnham will provide a light reception following the concert.
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Sunday January 19
th
2
nd
Sunday after the Epiphany
Holy Eucharist
9:00 a.m. at Farnham
11:00 a.m. at St. John's
followed by Potluck lunch and Annual Meeting
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Sunday January 26
th
3
rd
Sunday after the Epiphany
Morning Prayer
9:00 a.m. at Farnham
11:00 a.m. at St. John's
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Sunday February 2
nd
4
th
Sunday after the Epiphany
Holy Eucharist
9:00
a.m.
at Farnham
11:00
a.m.
at St. John's
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Sunday February 9
th
5
th
Sunday after the Epiphany
9:00
a.m.
Morning Prayer
at Farnham
11:00
a.m.
Holy Eucharist
at St. John's
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Come Worship With Us
Sunday Service this week
9:00 a.m. at Farnham Church
11:00 a.m. St. John's Church
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