How Does A Soul Unfold?Exploring Growth and Transformation through Sculptural Forms

An Artist Refuge Retreat sponsored by Rolling Ridge Meditative ArtsLed by Linda DeGraf
March 17-19
Friday Evening - Sunday Afternoon
Retreat House
Body:

"Faith is a gift of spirit that allows the soul to remain attached to its own unfolding." Thomas Moore-Care of the Soul

How does transformation happen?

Is it a matter of getting rid of, paring away, simplifying, declaring what is essential? Or is it about building up, doing more, gathering in? Is it spurred by friction, by being interwoven with others? Is it about seeking a teacher or spiritual guide? Fasting and letting go? Embracing our inner child? Playing, wondering, being fools?

Come away to the woods and take time to explore these questions with your hands, with silent reflection and mealtime discussions, and with the good company of others. Soap carving, clay work, and felting will become metaphors for reflecting on who we are and how we change and grow in our relationship to God.

We will enjoy the rhythms of working with our hands and then take time in silence and with music to reflect on our experiences with each medium. Our meditation is in the process of creating and engaging with the materials. Even if you have never worked with these mediums before, they are accessible and relatively "friendly" to everyone!

Participants are welcome to arrive at the retreat house between 5 and 7 pm on Friday. Dinner will be served at 7:00. The retreat will end with lunch on Sunday.

Cost for the weekend is $100 (which includes materials, lodging, and meals). Space is limited. Please send a $25 deposit (or the entire amount) to reserve your space. For questions, please call Keith at 304-725-4301. Checks should be made out to RRSRC, and mailed to RRSRC, c/o March 06 Med Arts, 186 Tupelo Lane, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425. Registrations should include any dietary needs.

Linda DeGraf is a teacher and an artist who works with quilting and felting as well as other mediums. She was active in Sojourners Community in Washington DC for many years and has been a member of Circle Community Church in Mt. Rainier, MD where she lives.

Make your plans now to attend these other Artist Refuge Retreats sponsored by Meditative Arts in 2006 and 2007:

  • Mysteries of Creation: Patterns in Nature with Artist-in-Residence Trish Stefanik (October 6-8, 2006)
  • PeaceGrooves Festival: The Art of Peace (July 1, 2006)
  • The Illuminated Word: A Writing Retreat (March 16-18, 2007)
  • Working through Grief with Art (October 5-7, 2007)

A Day Away

For Pastors and Church Leaders
Monday, March 13, 2006
10:00 am - 1:00 pm or 4:00 pm
Retreat House
Body:

Throughout his ministry, Jesus regularly took time to withdraw to a quiet place, to reflect and pray.

Retreat and rest is vital, and yet busy schedules often prevent us from setting aside the time we need.

We invite you to join us on the second Monday of each month for "A Day Away," a Sabbath day especially set aside for pastors and church leaders at Rolling Ridge Study Retreat Community.

 

Rhythm of the Day

We will gather at the Retreat House at 10:00 a.m. for brief input, followed by your own time for prayer and reflection. Lunch will be served at noon. Retreatants may choose to leave at 1:00, or stay until 4:00 to hike the trails, sit quietly in the Meditation Shelter, get creative in the Art Cottage, or settle into a room to journal, rest or pray.

Second Mondays

"A Day Away" for pastors and church leaders will take place the second Monday of each month. The day is offered at no cost to attendees. Donations are accepted. Join us as often as you wish!

RSVP

Please let us know you will be attending by calling 304-724-6653 or emailing us at community@rollingridge.net. But if you forget to let us know in advance, come anyway!

About Rolling Ridge

Rolling Ridge Study Retreat Community is a non-profit, ecumenical retreat center, begun in 1986. It is located on 1400 acres of wilderness land in the Blue Ridge mountains. Facilities include a Retreat House, Meditation Shelter, and an Art Cottage.

Private Retreats

In addition, the Retreat House is frequently available during the week for private retreats. Please call the staff community at 304-724-6653 to schedule a time.

Directions

From Charles Town or Martinsburg: Go east on Route 9. After crossing the Shenandoah River, go one mile and then turn right on Mission Road. Go 6.3 miles, and turn left at the Rolling Ridge sign onto the gravel road (still called Mission Road). Go one mile and turn right at the intersection, following Mission Road. Go .3 miles and turn left at Christ Church Road, following the signs for Retreat House.

Meeting Circle Work Retreat Day

February 20, 2006<br>Monday, President's Day
10 am - 4 pm
Retreat House
Body:

You are invited to a work project on Monday, February 20, the President’s Day Holiday, to help build the Meeting Circle. As you may already know this project, The Meeting Circle: in Memory of Friends and Family, is in response to the passing of Nelson Good. The goal is to build an outdoor meeting space from Rolling Ridge stone and wood which can be used during Rolling Ridge retreats. The location is a short distance from the Meditation Shelter and in the space of the future Memorial Garden. It will consist of three semi circle benches with three stone supports each, a tenth entrance stone and three boulders in the center.

On February 20 we will be using a truck and tractor to move the largest stones and trees that are needed for the project -- so we are looking for able bodied volunteers, but will have jobs for those of us not blessed with strong backs! We will have a short worship time together in the Stone Meditation shelter before lunch, and then share together a delicious home-cooked meal. You are welcome to arrive on Sunday night. We will be organizing additional work parties later in the year if this date is not available for you.

Please let us know if you will be participating by calling Bob Sabath at 304.724.6653 or emailing us at community@rollingridge.net

A Day Away

For Pastors and Church Leaders
Monday, February 13, 2006
10:00 am - 1:00 pm or 4:00 pm
Retreat House
Body:

Throughout his ministry, Jesus regularly took time to withdraw to a quiet place, to reflect and pray.

Retreat and rest is vital, and yet busy schedules often prevent us from setting aside the time we need.

We invite you to join us on the second Monday of each month for "A Day Away," a Sabbath day especially set aside for pastors and church leaders at Rolling Ridge Study Retreat Community.

 

Rhythm of the Day

We will gather at the Retreat House at 10:00 a.m. for brief input, followed by your own time for prayer and reflection. Lunch will be served at noon. Retreatants may choose to leave at 1:00, or stay until 4:00 to hike the trails, sit quietly in the Meditation Shelter, get creative in the Art Cottage, or settle into a room to journal, rest or pray.

Second Mondays

"A Day Away" for pastors and church leaders will take place the second Monday of each month. The day is offered at no cost to attendees. Donations are accepted. Join us as often as you wish!

RSVP

Please let us know you will be attending by calling 304-724-6653 or emailing us at community@rollingridge.net. But if you forget to let us know in advance, come anyway!

About Rolling Ridge

Rolling Ridge Study Retreat Community is a non-profit, ecumenical retreat center, begun in 1986. It is located on 1400 acres of wilderness land in the Blue Ridge mountains. Facilities include a Retreat House, Meditation Shelter, and an Art Cottage.

Private Retreats

In addition, the Retreat House is frequently available during the week for private retreats. Please call the staff community at 304-724-6653 to schedule a time.

Directions

From Charles Town or Martinsburg: Go east on Route 9. After crossing the Shenandoah River, go one mile and then turn right on Mission Road. Go 6.3 miles, and turn left at the Rolling Ridge sign onto the gravel road (still called Mission Road). Go one mile and turn right at the intersection, following Mission Road. Go .3 miles and turn left at Christ Church Road, following the signs for Retreat House.

Wind and Whisper

On the Mountain with Elijah
February 3-4, 2006
7 pm Friday Night - 7 pm Saturday Night
Retreat house
Body:

Writer's RefugeForced to flee for his life, the prophet Elijah had an unforgettable wilderness experience. In a mountain cave, he encountered God in sheer stillness.

Join us at Rolling Ridge as we journey with Elijah. We will enter into the narrator’s telling of this story—dramatically on Friday evening, and contemplatively on Saturday morning. Then we will enter a long and spacious silence—a time for rest, reflection, prayer, writing, walking the mountain trails. The silence will conclude with a ritual of sending and blessing before supper.

The 24-hour retreat will begin Friday, Feb. 3 at 7:00 pm with supper and conclude Saturday, Feb. 4 at 7:00 pm. Or, participants may choose to attend on Saturday only, from 9:30 am-7:00 pm.

To register for the retreat, please send your name and contact information to 186 Tupelo Lane, Harpers Ferry, WV, 25425. Specify whether you will be attending Friday evening, or Saturday only, and mention special dietary needs. Include a $20 deposit (payable to RRSRC). Cost for the retreat is $50 for full 24-hour retreat, $30 for Saturday only. For more information, contact Rachelle Lyndaker Schlabach at 304-725-4301 or rachelleas@juno.com.

A Day Away

For Pastors and Church Leaders
Monday, January 9, 2006
10:00 am - 1:00 pm or 4:00 pm
Retreat House
Body:

Throughout his ministry, Jesus regularly took time to withdraw to a quiet place, to reflect and pray.

Retreat and rest is vital, and yet busy schedules often prevent us from setting aside the time we need.

We invite you to join us on the second Monday of each month for "A Day Away," a Sabbath day especially set aside for pastors and church leaders at Rolling Ridge Study Retreat Community.

 

Rhythm of the Day

We will gather at the Retreat House at 10:00 a.m. for brief input, followed by your own time for prayer and reflection. Lunch will be served at noon. Retreatants may choose to leave at 1:00, or stay until 4:00 to hike the trails, sit quietly in the Meditation Shelter, get creative in the Art Cottage, or settle into a room to journal, rest or pray.

Second Mondays

"A Day Away" for pastors and church leaders will take place the second Monday of each month. The day is offered at no cost to attendees. Donations are accepted. Join us as often as you wish!

RSVP

Please let us know you will be attending by calling 304-724-6653 or emailing us at community@rollingridge.net. But if you forget to let us know in advance, come anyway!

About Rolling Ridge

Rolling Ridge Study Retreat Community is a non-profit, ecumenical retreat center, begun in 1986. It is located on 1400 acres of wilderness land in the Blue Ridge mountains. Facilities include a Retreat House, Meditation Shelter, and an Art Cottage.

Private Retreats

In addition, the Retreat House is frequently available during the week for private retreats. Please call the staff community at 304-724-6653 to schedule a time.

Directions

From Charles Town or Martinsburg: Go east on Route 9. After crossing the Shenandoah River, go one mile and then turn right on Mission Road. Go 6.3 miles, and turn left at the Rolling Ridge sign onto the gravel road (still called Mission Road). Go one mile and turn right at the intersection, following Mission Road. Go .3 miles and turn left at Christ Church Road, following the signs for Retreat House.

Reflections Hike

At the Friends Wilderness Center
December 28, 2005
Arrive between 11-11:45 am, have lunch, hike 1-4:00 pm
Friends Wilderness Center
Body:

This is great way to reflect on the past year and prepare for the new year!

Come join us for a three hour hike through deep forest up to Raven Rocks, a gorgeous valley overlook. Come before noon and enjoy the cabin and fire and good folks. Join in a home cooked lunch ($5) at noon followed by a hike ($10 donation please) starting at 1:00pm. One half hour of hike will be in silence for reflecting on your past year, new year. Open to hikers 12 and older. Event will be cancelled in event of bad weather. No rain date.

The Friends Wilderness Center is a Quaker retreat center within a remarkable private wilderness preserve. Two hours west of downtown DC, outside Charles Town, West Virginia.

See www.friendwilderness.org for details, especially the "Essential Info" section. Call Sheila at 304-728-4820 to register in advance as group is limited to 12 hikers. Staying overnight in cabin or yurt is an option.

Prepare Yeast the Way

An Intergeneration Advent Bread-Baking Retreat
December 2-3, 2005
Friday, 6pm - Saturday, 6 pm
Retreat House
Body:

The smell of bread baking. A warm fire. Children. The woods in winter. Stories. A bit of yeast. Waiting.

If this tempts your soul, come away to this bread-baking retreat at the beginning of the Advent season. Together we will mix up the bread dough, let it rise, shape it into loaves and bake it. (Beginners and experienced bread-bakers alike are welcome.) Throughout we will hear special stories for all ages, and reflect on the season of waiting. There will also be free time for resting, meditating, and walks in the early winter woods. We hope you can join us!

The retreat will last 24 hours, beginning Friday evening, Dec. 2 at 6:30 pm and concluding Saturday evening, Dec. 3 at 6:30 pm. This retreat is inter-generational -- children ages seven and up are welcome, as are any adults, with or without children.

For more information, please e-mail or call Rachelle at the contact information listed below. To register, please contact us at the address listed below. Let us know who is coming, your contact information (address, phone, email), and any special dietary needs.

The registration fee is $50 for adults, $30 for children and youth ages 7-18. Checks may be made payable to: Rolling Ridge Study Retreat Community or RRSRC. Fee covers all (4) meals, lodging and bread-baking materials.

Water in the Bible

Sacred Waters at Rolling Ridge
Saturday, November 19, 2005
9:30 am - 1 pm
Niles Cabin
Body:

Beth Norcross will lead this event, staring with a one-hour presentation on Water in the Bible, complete with group reflection, scriptural references, and so on. Then she will lead the group on a walk to nearby water spots for spiritual connection. After sharing lunch (be it bagged or otherwise) participants will be given maps of Rolling Ridge for the purpose of making optional personal pilgrimages to one or more water places on the property. Possibilities are: several waterfalls and streams; the meditation bench at the natural spring just beyond the treehouse on Friends Trail; the Shenandoah River; and Devil's Racecourse (stream running below boulders) up the Ridge to River Trail, and on the Appalachian Trail.

Beth worked for many years for American Rivers, before she branched out from straight environmentalism and got a seminary degree at Wesley. There, she concentrated her studies on eco-theology. In conjunction with her thesis, she developed a 5-week adult study course on "Sacred Waters," which is being published by the National Council of Churches as a Religious Ed. curriculum. While she was writing it, she also developed a quadri-seasonal series for Foundary United Methodist Church, on God's revelation of Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter in the Bible. She presented the last one for us at Friends Wilderness and was so well-received that we have been trying to get her back ever since.

We are jointly sponsoring this event with the Friends Wilderness Center. To sign up for the event, or for more information, contact Chuck Kleymeyer at 703-533-7379.

Rolling Ridge 2005 Annual Meeting

Saturday, November 12, 2005
Retreat House

Pages