The Land Restoration Committee of the Hermitage Board has created a new Triple-spiral Labyrinth in the east meadow of The Hermitage. The labyrinth was blessed by 23 prayerful walkers during The Feast of the Transfiguration Retreat held on Saturday, August 8. Margie Pfeil led the group in reflections on the Triple-spiral form, linking it to the Trinity, the natural triple rhythms of our lives (past, present, future; birth, life, death), and to the naturally occurring spirals we encounter (our comet home, wave forms, water and air currents, shells, plant growth, etc.). Patty Hogan enumerated three gifts of the Triple-spiral labyrinth. It helps us to experience our lives as pilgrims (involved in our journeys) rather than as tourists (just passing through). The labyrinth helps us to slow down if we engage in seven pauses on the way (one before beginning and six as we pass through the centers of the labyrinth). It also teaches us that our lives are not lived in straight lines but are curved and continuously being revealed. Guests of The Hermitage are invited to use the Triple-spiral Labyrinth as an aid to prayer or just as a relaxing way to enter into retreat. The labyrinth slows ones walk through the meadow. Come and enjoy this new feature of the Hermitage landscape.
Eighteen workers participated in the Hermitage Jam workday on Friday, August 7. The blackberries are slow this year due to cool weather and there were relatively few picked (about 5 gallons). We made 13 pints of jam with the berries and will serve it at our meals until it runs out. The crew was also able to clear the second Prairie Prayer Garden and re-route a portion of the yellow trail to eliminate an eroding section.
Join us for a day of picking berries, making jam and doing what needs to get done.
Morning Prayer at 8:00 am
Workday begins at 9:00 am
Lunch provided
Work completed by 4:00 pm
Join us for a monthly sung Evening Prayer at 7:00 in the Chapel of the Transfiguration.
The spiritual practice of “sacred reading” (Lectio Divina) enables us to continually turn our minds to God, paying attention to God’s presence in our daily lives.
This retreat will explore, through teaching and practice, how we can turn our hearts and minds to God using our different faculties to “read” the world and our selves. We will practice Lectio Divina (Friday evening), Hearing Divina (Saturday morning), and Visio Divina (Saturday afternoon).
The retreat runs from 5 pm on June 19 through 4pm on June 20, 2015, and will be led by Kevin Driedger and June Mears Driedger.
Kevin Driedger and June Mears Driedger have been affiliated with the Hermitage Community since 1999 when they lived and served here in the fall. Since then they have volunteered, served, and retreated at the Hermitage. Kevin is a librarian at the Library of Michigan and June is editor of Leader magazine, published by MennoMedia. They graduated from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in 1996 and currently attend the Lansing Church of the Brethren.
Suggested Donation: $100.
Register by: June 1
Join us for a monthly sung Evening Prayer at 7:00 in the Chapel of the Transfiguration.
Join us for a day of pulling garlic mustard, an invasive plant in our woodland and on the margins of the clear areas. This plant eventually kills other native plants, including trees, and has no natural predators or competitors. Come for the whole day or part of the day. A simple lunch will be provided. Please wear long pants and long sleeves.
Let us know by June 20 if you are coming.
