An Easter Retreat

An Easter Retreat

At Rolling Ridge
Study Retreat Community ,
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

5:30 pm April 2, 2010 - 6:00 pm April 3, 2010

Over time, by spending time with thoughtful theologians, we have come to recognize that central meanings of both the birth of Jesus and of Easter are enunciations of deep yearning for a world where love and justice are passionately embraced. As practiced in the cultures of empire from the first century until now, love and justice often have not been the focus of how the Jesus birth story or the Easter story are told .
 
"The story of Holy Week as Mark and the gospels tell it enables us to hear the passion of Jesus---what he was passionate about---that led to his execution. His passion was the kingdom of God, what life would be like on earth if God were king and the rulers, domination systems, and empires of this world were not. It is the world that prophets dreamed of---a world of distributive justice in which everybody has enough and systems are fair. And it is not simply a political dream. It is God's dream, a dream that can only be realized by being grounded ever more deeply in the reality of God, whose heart is justice. Jesus' passion got him killed. But God has vindicated Jesus. This is the political meaning of Good Friday and Easter." (The Last Week, Borg and Crossan)
 
In this Easter retreat at Rolling Ridge we will reflect on the Jesus who is passionate about love of God and love of neighbor, and our own call to be transformed into holding such a dream, and not to be conformed to the practice of Easter by the empire in which we live.
 
This 24-hour retreat interval is designed to enable a preparation for Easter, and to allow anyone who wishes to do so to experience Easter Sunday in their church congregation.  Selected brief passages from three sources will be mailed in advance of retreat to each registered retreat participant.  Prior to retreat, we suggest that you use a journal for recording what you learn through study and reflection on these passages. Then bring the journal to retreat and continue recording insights during this 24 hour period.
 
The 24 hours of retreat will begin at 5:30 on Good Friday with introductions of all who are gathered, orientation to the elements of this retreat, distribution of aids for reflection, and a Lenten meal of bread and soup. This is followed by a walking meditation, the Stations of the Cross, through the forest and sacred spaces of Rolling Ridge. This version of the "Via Dolorosa" looks at the passion of Jesus defined not as his suffering, but rather as parabolic explication of what he was passionate about. Experience and understand the Stations in a new way amid the beauty and peace of wilderness. Quiet for reflection, prayer and rest follows until breakfast Saturday morning, after which we begin a time of conversation and meditation, guided by the schedule below.
 
Saturday
 
8:00  -- Breakfast (in silence), listening to a parabolic story read during the meal
 
9:30  -- Gather for sharing insights from the study sources mailed in advance to participants, and from the Stations experience

10:30 - Personal reflection in solitude or with one another (refreshments)
 
12:00 - Lunch and conversation on personal insights
 
1:30 - Options for personal reflection in solitude, sharing in a small group, or  hiking on forest trails
 
4:00 - Gather for sharing insights from the retreat
 
5:00 - Simple supper, and closing of retreat
 
6:00 - Return to home or remain at the retreat house until Sunday noon  if you desire personal retreat
 
The Friday evening segment of this retreat is guided by Lindsay McLaughlin, who has led an alternate version of Stations of the Cross for 11 years. Vivian and Verle Headings will guide the Saturday segment of the retreat. All three are residential members of Study Retreat Community.
 
For questions and registering for retreat, contact Verle or Vivian at e-mail: VvatRR@juno.com or phone: 304-725-2312. Please let us know if you need directions to the Retreat House.
 
Specify your interest for the entire 24-hour retreat, Friday evening only, Saturday only, or continuing until Sunday noon for personal retreat. Retreat fee (meals, refreshments, study materials, and lodgeing ) will be $50 per person. For extended stay add $10. Please recall that for overnight events at the Retreat House you bring your own bedroll and towel. 
 
Finally, please give us your mailing address so that we can mail study materials to you.