“It is Advent and we are a people, pregnant. Pregnant and waiting. We long for the God/Man to be born, and this waiting is hard. Our whole life is spent, one way or another, in waiting.”
–Gertrud Mueller Nelson, To Dance With God
This Advent retreat consider two questions: What is waiting to be born in me?, and What is waiting to be born in the world?
We will have periods of input, of silence with the options of journal-writing or art-making or woods-walking, and of group conversation.
Cost for the day retreat only is $50. You are also welcome to reserve a guest room for either Friday night prior or for the entire weekend. Contact The Hermitage make your reservation.
“It is Advent and we are a people, pregnant. Pregnant and waiting. We long for the God/Man to be born, and this waiting is hard. Our whole life is spent, one way or another, in waiting.”
–Gertrud Mueller Nelson, To Dance With God
This Advent retreat consider two questions: What is waiting to be born in me?, and What is waiting to be born in the world?
We will have periods of input, of silence with the options of journal-writing or art-making or woods-walking, and of group conversation.
Cost for the day retreat only is $50. You are also welcome to reserve a guest room for either Friday night prior or for the entire weekend. Contact The Hermitage make your reservation.
A handful of people came together in Gathering Room on April 15, Holy Saturday, to create pysanky eggs, in the ancient Ukranian tradition of decorating Easter eggs.
The day began with the reading of Chicken Sunday, a children’s storybook written and illustrated by Patricia Polacco. In the story three neighborhood friends decorate and sell pysanky eggs to earn money so that they can buy an Easter hat for a beloved grandma.
Applying the wax
Next, David gave instructions on the process of decorating eggs using a kitska, a writing tool which dispenses warmed bees wax onto the egg. Then eggs were dyed starting with the lightest color dye, adding wax after each dying, and ending with the darkest dye. Participants chose their designs from the many examples available or created their own. We all worked at our own pace; some decorating several eggs throughout the morning and afternoon.
Using a kitska
The most exciting part of the process happens when the design is complete and the final dye is dry. The wax on the egg is slowly melted and wiped off revealing the glorious pattern of colors that have been preserved by the wax relief process.
Removing the wax
The eggs used for decorating had all been blown out so we ate a hearty egg casserole for lunch.
Join us next year
We hope to offer this event again next year. Look for an announcement on the Hermitage calendar sometime in February.
In this retreat, we look at the practice of spiritual direction, remembering its venerable tradition in Christian practice and noticing how the practice has changed in the contemporary context. We will practice group spiritual direction and active listening as ways of modeling the experience of spiritual direction. We will share our stories of direction with one another emphasizing the value of direction in our own formation.
Leaders: David Wenger and Mary Asmonga Knapp
This retreat is for Keepers of the Hermitage Way and those interested in more information about keeping The Way. Way keepers are encouraged to register before May 15. Registration opens to other interested persons after that date.
The Feast of the Transfiguration retreat on Saturday, August 5, from 9 am to 4 pm, will be led by David and Naomi Wenger on the theme, “Until the day dawns,” exploring the possibility of spying God in the everyday. We will have time for prayer, walking, quiet, and communion around the Lord’s Table. There will also be a covenanting ritual for those choosing to be part of The Hermitage Way, for the coming year.
Join us for this retreat, counting our extra- ordinary, daily blessings. A midday meal will be provided for retreat guests.
There is no cost to participants of the retreat. Donations are accepted for overnight stays before or after the day. Let us know you are coming or reserve a room: call (269-244-8696) or email (contact@hermitagecommunity.org) to let us know your intention.
Retreat: 9-4
Hermitage Way Covenanting: 3:00 pm
If you would like to stay overnight before or after this retreat, please make a separate room reservation.
Morning Prayer at 8:00. Retreat begins at 9:00 and ends at 3:00
The retreat will be led by Naomi Wenger on the topic: “Light for the Blind.” Using the text of John 9 as the backdrop for our meditations, we will probe the condition of “blindness” – spiritual, social, and emotional. Various types of blindness are treated in this story of the healing of the man born blind. There will be significant time for journaling your discoveries, so bring yours along.
Suggested donation for the day retreat with lunch: $50.
