Retreat Archive

A leader will open the retreat with a short meditation leading into the silence, and conclude with a time of sharing.
10 a.m.- 2 p.m. There is no charge, although donations are welcome.
No reservations are needed. Bring your own lunch and come to the Lodge of the Carpenter.

This Saturday Day Retreat, 10-4, will offer a gentle rhythm of community prayers, guided meditations, and spaces for solitude--all wrapped in the summer air of silence.  Whether this is a familiar part of your spiritual practice or your first experience of silent retreat you are warmly welcomed to this simple day of quiet refreshment.  Carol Wilkinson-Martin, a long-time retreat leader and former director of Dayspring Retreat Center, will lead.

A leader will open the retreat with a short meditation leading into the silence, and conclude with a time of sharing.
10 a.m.- 2 p.m. There is no charge, although donations are welcome.
No reservations are needed. Bring your own lunch and come to the Lodge of the Carpenter.

Theme: EXPLORING THE JESUS PRAYER. In this silent retreat we will explore and practice one of Eastern Christianity's most revered paths of contemplative prayer-the Prayer of the Name. Learning to center ourselves on the living presence of Jesus through the simple, repeated invocation of his name, we will seek to experience the rich potential of this ancient practice for deepening our sense of union with Christ in all circumstances and places. No previous experience necessary.

Leader: Martin Smith is an Episcopal Priest well known for his books on spirituality and his workshops and retreats. He serves as Sr. Associate Rector at St Columba's, Washington. He studied the spirituality of the Jesus Prayer at Oxford under the celebrated Orthodox scholar, Bishop Kallistos Ware.

Open Retreat

A leader will open the retreat with a short meditation leading into the silence, and conclude with a time of sharing.
10 a.m.- 2 p.m. There is no charge, although donations are welcome.
No reservations are needed. Bring your own lunch and come to the Lodge of the Carpenter.

Theme: The Four Immeasurables. If we were to cultivate our mind as if it were a garden, how would we assure a good crop? We would nurture what we planted and pull weeds by the root. If we were to treat our mind in this same way, we could cultivate qualities that would make our world a better place and our own life more satisfying. The Four Immeasurables refer to loving kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity. We will learn and practice simple techniques that will help us to train our minds to create the causes not only for our own happiness, but also for the happiness of those with whom we have connection.

Leader: Ani Rinchen Khandro is a life ordained Buddhist nun who recently completed a three and a half year retreat. She is also an experienced practitioner of Tai Chi /Qigong, which she has taught since 1988.

On this Memorial Day weekend we will remember who we are in
the beauty of song and silence in the midst of the natural beauty of
Dayspring. This retreat will be a blend of singing/chanting,
stories, and mindful silence. Stefan has recently returned to the US after two
years in Ireland
where he wrote new music based on Celtic melodies, incorporating Celtic
spirituality and Indian Raga chanting style. He will share new songs and
chants as well as music from his album "Blessed are the
Peacemakers."

Stefan Andre Waligur,
contemplative, musician/composer and retreat leader has served as Liturgical
Musician for the Church of the Saviour, Chaplain at American University, Artist
in Residence at Memphis Theological Seminary, and Chant Teacher in Plum Village,
a Buddhist Community in France. For a sample of Stefan's music go to www.songsofpeace.net.

Reviving the ancient Christian tradition of quarterly Ember Days, these day retreats offer time, silence, beauty and Sabbath rest for the weary. Each Ember Day retreat will center around a theme suggested by the season of the Earth, and the season of the church-Advent, Lent, Pentecost and Ordinary Time. Through guided reflections on our theme, as well as time for walking, journaling, art and prayer, a spaciousness of heart can begin to heal the pressed and hurried character of our days. So come away for a time, and to a place set apart, and let the fire of the Divine Love within you be rekindled and renewed. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. No reservations, no charge. Donations welcome. Bring lunch and come to the Lodge.
Leader: Cheryl Hellner, poet and teacher, member of the Earth Ministry mission group of Dayspring Church.

This retreat will be led by a member of the church.

For Friends of Jesus Church. Others welcome as space permits.

A member of Eighth Day will lead an introductory meditation on Friday night. There will be morning and evening prayers on Saturday, and a time of sharing and worship on Sunday morning.

For Eighth Day Faith Community. Others welcome as space permits.

A leader will open the retreat with a short meditation leading into the silence, and conclude with a time of sharing.
10 a.m.- 2 p.m. There is no charge, although donations are welcome.
No reservations are needed. Bring your own lunch and come to the Lodge of the Carpenter.

Theme: AMAZING GRACE. We will explore the stories and scriptures that inspired some favorite old hymns, letting them speak to our souls.

Leaders: Dot Cresswell, one of the founding members of the Church of the Saviour, is a member of Potters House Church. Carol Bullard-Bates is a psychologist, founder of a transitional housing program for homeless families, and a member of Jubilee Church.

For Jubilee Church. Others welcome as space permits.

Theme: EARTH IN PERIL: A MOMENT OF GRACE. At each critical turning point in the long evolutionary story of life in the Universe there is what Thomas Berry calls a moment of grace. Everything seems to hang in the balance. It is a time of great danger and immense possibility. In this retreat we will reflect on the nature of transformation-these moments of grace-using examples drawn from the Universe story, scripture, spiritual biography and the living world around us at Dayspring.

Leaders: Cheryl Hellner and Jim Hall live in a solar cottage they designed and helped to build as part of the Earth Ministry site at Dayspring. As teachers and retreat leaders their call is to help awaken the spiritual awareness and daily life practices that will enable humankind and the natural world to become a single sacred community.

Open Retreat

Theme: Hindus believe that we are born into the world with the mission of finding our way back to God from whom we came. God, whose greatest creation is a human being, has offered us many paths to seek him. An ancient holy text, the Bhagavad-Gita, offers instructions in three parts: knowledge (Jnana), action (Karma), and devotion (Bhakti). We will try to understand the spiritual aspirations and philosophical underpinnings of these paths.

Leader: Professor Emeritus at Uniform Services University for the Health Sciences, Prabir Chakraborty is also an ordained Brahmin priest. He is also a scholar of Hindu philosophy, which is unusual for a priest. This gives him deep insight into the rituals and ceremonies of his religion.

After an introductory meditation on Friday night the silence will not be broken until a time of sharing and worship on Sunday morning.

Leader: Billy Hart is a founding member of Lazarus Church.

For Lazarus Church. Others welcome as space permits.

A leader will open the retreat with a short meditation leading into the silence, and conclude with a time of sharing.
10 a.m.- 2 p.m. There is no charge, although donations are welcome.
No reservations are needed. Bring your own lunch and come to the Lodge of the Carpenter.

For information about the theme and leader visit www.seekerschurch.org.

For Seekers Church. Others welcome as space permits.

Theme: SOUND AND SILENCE: THE HARMONY OF HOPE. "Into your hands I commit my spirit." Calvary was a place of extreme brokenness in Jesus' life and in the world. Yet a new movement began there, through loving surrender, one which still resounds throughout the Universe. How shall we sing a new song of hope? In this awakening season of Spring, after Easter, we will reflect on the Hidden Beauty of broken chords in our own life movements. Singing and chanting and listening for Wisdom, we will explore the harmonies of sound and silence coming from our authentic depths, composed by Grace and offering new life.

Leaders: Ann Dean, spiritual director and teacher at the Servant Leadership School, is a member of the Retreat Mission Group and Program Director at the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation. Nae Pearson currently serves as Director of Music at Christ Congregational Church in Silver Spring, Maryland. He is a graduate of Shalem's Leading Contemplative Prayer Groups and Retreats Program.

Open Retreat

"Be known to us in breaking bread, But do not then depart; Savior abide with us, and spread Your table in our heart." During this first weekend after Easter we will focus on the Risen Christ's presence with us and on ways in which he meets us in our everyday lives.

Leader: Janet Hudson is a member of Dayspring Church and has been part of the Wellspring Mission Group for eleven years.

For New Community Church. Others welcome as space permits.

A leader will open the retreat with a short meditation leading into the silence, and conclude with a time of sharing.
10 a.m.- 2 p.m. There is no charge, although donations are welcome.
No reservations are needed. Bring your own lunch and come to the Lodge of the Carpenter.

A leader will open the retreat with a short meditation leading into the silence, and conclude with a time of sharing.
10 a.m.- 2 p.m. There is no charge, although donations are welcome.
No reservations are needed. Bring your own lunch and come to the Lodge of the Carpenter.

This retreat will be guided informally during several gatherings of retreatants. The topics of the gatherings will invite reflection on one's own current spiritual practices and how well they are serving as well as reflection on other practices that might be life-giving. The main purpose, however, will be to experience communion in silence.

For Covenant Community. Others welcome as space permits.

Theme: LIVING THE UNDEFENDED LIFE. Jesus was willing to go all the way to death on a cross rather than respond in any way other than the way of love. How far are we willing to go in our communities and in our daily lives? We will reflect on ways we protect and defend ourselves that keep us from being free and loving people.

Leader: Mike Little, member of Lazarus Church and Co-Director of Ministry of Money.

For Dayspring Church. Others welcome as space permits.

A leader will open the retreat with a short meditation leading into the silence, and conclude with a time of sharing.
10 a.m.- 2 p.m. There is no charge, although donations are welcome.
No reservations are needed. Bring your own lunch and come to the Lodge of the Carpenter.

Theme to be announced.

Leader: Sr. Marcella Jordan, SND de Namur, pastoral assistant.

For residents of Christ House.

Reviving the ancient Christian tradition of quarterly Ember Days, these day retreats offer time, silence, beauty and Sabbath rest for the weary. Each Ember Day retreat will center around a theme suggested by the season of the Earth, and the season of the church-Advent, Lent, Pentecost and Ordinary Time. Through guided reflections on our theme, as well as time for walking, journaling, art and prayer, a spaciousness of heart can begin to heal the pressed and hurried character of our days. So come away for a time, and to a place set apart, and let the fire of the Divine Love within you be rekindled and renewed. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. No reservations, no charge. Donations welcome. Bring lunch and come to the Lodge.
Leader: Cheryl Hellner, poet and teacher, member of the Earth Ministry mission group of Dayspring Church.

A leader will open the retreat with a short meditation leading into the silence, and conclude with a time of sharing.
10 a.m.-2 p.m. There is no charge, although donations are welcome.
No reservations are needed. Bring your own lunch and come to the Lodge of the Carpenter.

Theme: Teaching the Dead Bird to Sing is the title of W. Paul Jones' book of journal entries chronicling his journey from being a social justice/peace activist college professor and theologian to the contemplative, solitary monastic life in a Missouri monastery located in the Ozark hills where he eventually became a hermit. In this retreat, we will reflect on both our and Paul Jones' inward/outward journey as we seek to open ourselves in and through the silence to the One, Jesus, who teaches that which is dead in us to sing a new song unto the Lord.

Leader: Jim Dickerson is pastor of New Community Church and chairman of Manna, Inc.

Open Retreat

Theme: Tu B'Shvat Meditation and Seder. Come experience the gifts of the Jewish New Year of the Trees. Using the framework of the Kabbalistic Tu B'Shvat Seder we will eat the fruits and nuts and drink the juices that are gateways to entering the four worlds: Assiya-work and action; Yetzirah-emotion and relationship; Briyah-values, thought, intellectual paradigms; and Atzilut-Mystery and d'vekut-cleaving with the Divine. We will work our way through the worlds through chant, guided meditation, paired dialogue, sitting and walking meditation.

Leader: Debra Kolodny is the Executive Director of ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal. She has been studying and teaching Torah for over a decade and is an experienced retreat leader. Now a rabbinic student, Debra is a lay leader at Fabrangen in Washington DC.