Holiday Candlelight Labyrinth
2019-12-14 16:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
Labyrinths date back 4,000 years or more and are found worldwide. Most labyrinths are circular and the center can symbolize many things, such as healing, truth, and divinity. The winding path can represent our journeys towards that center, allowing us to free our minds to receive insight and guidance. Come to The Retreat House on Saturday, December 14 and enjoy a cup of hot cider as you learn how to draw a labyrinth and find out more about its history and traditions. At dusk, we will walk the candlelit labyrinth, and pray for peace in our world.
A suggested donation of $20 will be gratefully accepted (just a guideline – all are welcome regardless of finances.) Please wear warm clothing and shoes appropriate for walking on a grassy surface.
Please register online or send an email to info@retreathousehillsboro.org.

Gathering Greens and Wreath Making
2019-12-15 13:30 - 15:30 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
Come share in the fun and holiday spirit and gather pine, magnolia, redwood, boxwood and holly greens to decorate your home. Enjoy HOT CIDER, HOLIDAY TREATS AND a CRACKLING FIRE!
CREATE YOUR OWN SWAG, WREATH OR OTHER DECORATION!
Ribbons, bows, wire, clippers and gloves provided. A free will offering will be gratefully accepted to cover supplies.

The Longest Night Prayer Service
2019-12-18 17:45 - 18:15 | St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Centerville, 301 S Liberty Street, Centreville, MD, 21617, United States
Join us in St. Paul’s Church, located next to The Retreat House, for a time of focused prayer.
The Longest Night
This worship service, also known as “Blue Christmas” marks the season of the longest night of the year, creating a sacred place for people living through dark times.

Seasonal Quiet Days ~ Winter
2020-01-09 09:30 - 14:00 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
Winter is a time of bareness, yet also a time of strange beauty. During this Quiet Day, we will explore the “low tides” of our lives, as we look at the past year as well as the new one.
Join us for this peaceful retreat day and enjoy quiet time, prayer and thoughtful conversation. Using scripture, poetry and music, we will take time to consider our experiences and intentions, waiting for God’s presence to inspire us.
The beautiful Retreat House grounds invite peaceful, contemplative walking. Please bring a journal and a camera or smartphone. If weather permits, we will spend some time outdoors discovering the beauty of bare branches and brown earth.
A light breakfast and lunch will be served and a suggested donation of $40 per person will be gratefully accepted. This amount is just a guideline — please don’t let finances keep you from attending!
PLEASE REGISTER at https://conta.cc/36Rv5Nn or send an email to info@retreathousehillsboro.org. All are welcome!

ABOUT THE RETREAT LEADER: Julia Morris-Myers loves discovering the sacred in relaxed conversation and everyday life. She is a musician, teacher and spiritual director on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where she lives with her husband and assorted pets. Julia is the Director of Music at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Centreville and has certificates in leading groups and in spiritual direction from the Shalem Institute in Washington, DC, and Bon Secours Retreat Center in Marriottsville MD.

Wisdom Circle - Courageous Inquiry
2020-01-21 10:00 - 11:30 | Third Haven Friends Meeting, 405 South Washington St, Easton, MD, 21601, United States
Wisdom Circles
Our ancestors gathered in circles around the fire to tell stories,
solve problems, seek the common good and celebrate the joys of life.

The Practice of Courageous Inquiry
6 Tuesdays 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
January 21 – February 25, 2020
Third Haven Friends Meeting
405 South Washington St., Easton MD 2160

“Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves
as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Live the questions now.
Perhaps then, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.” ~ Rainer Maria Rilke

In this Wisdom Circle we will practice courageous inquiry, a process for using questions to live with purpose and courage. At each gathering we will choose a question to consider through quiet reflection, prayer and group discussion. Questions will focus on an aspect of spirituality, such as “Who is God for me?” and “How is Spirit calling me to engage with life?” We will use poetry, scripture and other inspirational material to guide us in examination of the questions chosen each week.
In between each session we will practice courageous inquiry with contemplative and journaling exercises that deepen the conversations begun together each week. Participants will leave the Wisdom Circle experience with a way to form questions big enough to live in and practices that enhance the ability to listen for answers.
$75.00 per person – Pre-registration is required. Please register by Tuesday, January 14.
Online: http://bit.ly/wisdomcirc2 Email: info@retreathousehillsboro.org
Mail: The Retreat House, P. O. Box 3, Hillsboro MD 21641 – please indicate “Easton”

Linda Mastro, a Roman Catholic lay woman, lives on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Linda is a skilled retreat leader, spiritual director, life coach, and writer. She is co-author of the book Petite Retreats: Renewing Body, Mind, and Spirit without Leaving Home.

Wisdom Circles: The Sounds of Silence
2020-01-21 10:00 - 11:30
Wisdom Circles
Our ancestors gathered in circles around the fire to tell stories,
solve problems, seek the common good and celebrate the joys of life.

The Sounds of Silence: An Exploration in Contemplative Prayer
6 Tuesdays 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
January 21 – February 25, 2020
Private home in Centreville

In this wisdom circle we will explore the many ways to pray silently and deeply. Each week we will experience and practice forms of contemplative prayer such as praying with the body, the written word, centering prayer, music, and nature.
This circle is for you if you find your prayer life is superficial, if you need a quiet break from a hectic schedule or if you want to experience silent prayer in a group setting. Those new to these practices are welcome, as well as those experienced in contemplative prayer. The wisdom circle is not specifically Christian-all who seek a deeper spiritual life are invited to attend.
$75.00 per person – Pre-registration is required. Please register by Tuesday, January 14.
Online: http://bit.ly/wisdomcirc2 Email: info@retreathousehillsboro.org
Mail: The Retreat House, P. O. Box 3, Hillsboro MD 21641 – please indicate “Centreville”

Julia Morris-Myers loves discovering the sacred in everyday life. She is a musician, teacher and spiritual director on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where she lives with her husband and assorted pets. Julia is the Director of Music at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Centreville and has
certificates in leading groups and in spiritual direction from the Shalem Institute in Washington, DC, and Bon Secours Retreat Center in Marriottsville MD.

Wisdom Circles: Cultivating Peace in Small Community
2020-01-23 18:30 - 20:00 | St. Anne’s Church Parish Hall, 199 Duke of Gloucester St., Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
Wisdom Circles
Our ancestors gathered in circles around the fire to tell stories,
solve problems, seek the common good and celebrate the joys of life.

Cultivating Peace in Small Community
5 Thursdays 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
January 23 – February 20, 2020
St. Anne’s Church Parish Hall
199 Duke of Gloucester St., Annapolis MD 21401

“The measure of our compassion lies not in our service of those on the margins
but only in our willingness to see ourselves in kinship with them.”
~Fr. Greg Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries, Los Angeles

In our world, it can be hard to find the space and time to connect and reflect with others. In this weekly gathering, we will explore the age-old spiritual practice of small-group discussion about the cultivation of peace and kinship in the world. We call it a ‘wisdom circle’ because it’s only together that we can discover our greatest wisdom, expand our awareness and embrace the needs of our world and community around us.
Each week, we will read and reflect on spiritual writings including: Watchman Nee, Proverbs, Thich Naht Hahn, Gordon Cosby, Jesus, Julian of Norwich, various poets, and David Steindl-Rast and take away a daily gratitude practice to explore in the week to come. We will share a bowl of soup at the start of our gathering.
$75.00 per person – Pre-registration is required. Please register by Thursday, January 16.
Online: http://bit.ly/wisdomcirc2 Email: info@retreathousehillsboro.org
Mail: The Retreat House, P. O. Box 3, Hillsboro MD 21641 – please indicate “Annapolis”

Heather Strang is a graduate of the Shalem Institute, a spiritual retreat leader and an active companion in the prayer ministries of St. Anne’s Church. As a professional chef, Heather merges her love for teaching with her life-long love of cooking in her private culinary classes taught for both children and adults. She lives with her husband in Annapolis, Maryland.

Mandala Morning
2020-01-25 10:00 - 12:00 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
Mandala Morning
Put some color in
your winter!
Saturday, January 25
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Offered through a partnership between
The Retreat House and Rob’s Hope
Come to The Retreat House on Saturday morning, January 25th to center yourself in the New Year. Shake off the winter doldrums as we color and create beautiful mandalas. Enjoy a simple guided meditation to inspire your creativity and reflection. Then, choose from a selection of mandala templates, or learn how to design your own. Art supplies, beverages and snacks will be provided.
A suggested donation of $20 will be gratefully accepted (just a guideline–all are welcome regardless of finances.)
REGISTER ONLINE at http://bit.ly/rhmandala or send an email to info@retreathousehillsboro.org.
Retreat Leader Krista Carter-Smith is founder of Rob’s Hope, a public charity with a mission of art and healing and a belief that art of all kinds helps us heal through release, renewal, and self-expression. Rob’s Hope offers programs and activities designed for the non-artist, encouraging people to develop a creative
practice of their own – regardless of artistic talent or economic circumstances. Workshops take place in a calming environment and are designed for adults and young adults, ages 16 and older.

Wisdom Circles: Tending the Holy in the Fallow Season
2020-01-29 18:00 - 19:30 | J. L. Stam House, 114 Washington Avenue, Chestertown, MD, 21620, United States
Wisdom Circles
Our ancestors gathered in circles around the fire to tell stories,
solve problems, seek the common good and celebrate the joys of life.

Winter Wisdom: Tending the Holy in a Fallow Season
5 Wednesdays 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
January 29 – February 26, 2020
The Stam House
114 Washington Ave., Chestertown MD 21620

Winter is the season where all around us fields lay fallow. The spiritual life does well to emulate nature’s wisdom. We need stillness. We need rest. There is a time for going deeper that has nothing to do with productivity. We have been trained to ignore the rhythms of nature, to stay busy and efficient at all times. So it will take a new kind of attentiveness to sink into our own fallow season.
Our Wisdom Circle will explore ways to attend to the holy within each of us through guided meditation and contemplative practice. Each session will focus on a particular topic, learn practices to use in the week ahead and spend some time together in quiet.
Winter’s stillness and quiet will support our quiet practices. We’ll learn waiting with the fields as we allow ourselves to rest in the Spirit of the season.
$75.00 per person – Pre-registration is required. Please register by Wednesday, January 22.
Online: http://bit.ly/wisdomcirc2 Email: info@retreathousehillsboro.org
Mail: The Retreat House, P. O. Box 3, Hillsboro MD 21641 – please indicate “Chestertown”

Debra Donnelly-Barton is a graduate of The Stillpoint School for Spiritual Direction and the General Theological Seminary in New York. She has an MA in theology from St. Mary’s Seminary and University. Debra has studied the Ignatian spiritual exercises as well as an intensive training in centering prayer with Thomas Keating.

Wisdom Circle: Praying with Imagination
2020-01-30 18:30 - 20:00 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
Wisdom Circles
Our ancestors gathered in circles around the fire to tell stories,
solve problems, seek the common good and celebrate the joys of life.

SEEING THE WORD: Praying with Imagination
4 Thursdays 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
January 30 – February 20, 2020
The Retreat House at Hillsboro
22005 Church Street, Hillsboro MD 21641

We are pleased to offer this unique experience! Praying with Imagination is a contemplative prayer practice using art, music, imagery and color to help us encounter the Holy Spirit in personal and creative ways. Participants will be encouraged to play and create however they choose — journaling, drawing, collage, or just doodling!
Each week we will explore a beautiful passage of scripture accompanied by music or a simple art activity to enrich the theme. The passages include magnificent images from the famous Saint John’s Bible, inspiring us to open the “eyes of our heart” and contemplate what the spirit is calling us to do in the world today.
The Saint John’s Bible is the first of its kind in 500 years. Commissioned by the Benedictine monks at St. John’s, as a tribute to the new millennium, it has over 160 illuminations–or images reflecting the scripture–to bring the Word of God to life today. By praying with the illuminations, we may search deeper into the meaning for our lives.
$75.00 per person – Pre-registration is required. Please register by Thursday, January 23.
Online: http://bit.ly/wisdomcirc2 Email: info@retreathousehillsboro.org
Mail: The Retreat House, P. O. Box 3, Hillsboro MD 21641 – please indicate “Hillsboro”

Heather Hall is graduate of Hesychia School of Spiritual Direction. She is a lifelong learner and seeker who graduated from Education for Ministry and JustFaith. Heather was active with St Mary’s Episcopal Church in Anchorage, Alaska, where she led Adult Education classes, workshops, retreats and Outreach programs. Born and raised in Maryland, Heather recently returned to the Eastern Shore to establish her encore career as a life coach, spiritual director and storyteller through arts & crafts.

The W.H.O. and H.O.W. of Spiritual Recovery
2020-02-08 10:00 - 14:00 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
Living into our spiritual recovery means first figuring out WHO leads the way – the power greater than us that serves as our spiritual anchor. From this foundation, we can live into and out of the HOW of recovering from alcoholism and addiction while living spiritually. This retreat day will be shaped by brief times of teaching, looking at the elements of WHO and HOW. Guided by the wisdom of the 12 Steps and other spiritual leaders, we will consider how we sustain the practices of prayer, meditation and service in community.
There will be generous time for personal reflection, silent meditation, journaling with words or art and sharing with each other.
Register online for this retreat at http://bit.ly/SpiritRecovery or send an email to info@retreathousehillsboro.org.
Light lunch included. A suggested free will offering of $25 per person will be gratefully accepted to cover expenses.

RETREAT LEADER Reverend Paul W. Gennett Jr. is a retired Episcopal priest and now leads retreats on spiritual living and the 12 Steps for both recovering and non-recovering communities. He enjoys his calling to walk with others in his own recovering spiritual journey. Paul and his wife live in Newark, Delaware.

Lenten Quiet Day
2020-03-04 10:00 - 14:00 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
LENTEN QUIET DAY
Not All Who Wander Are Lost
Wednesday, March 4
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Lent is a time to reflect on the ebb and flow of your spiritual journey.
This quiet day is an invitation to wander – and wonder – into your relationship with God.
Inspired by scripture, discussion, quiet time, and prayer you will have time and space to sense God’s presence to guide you on your spiritual path. You may wander the grounds of The Retreat House, including a walk in the labyrinth, which can be a symbol of the twists and turns of your spiritual journey.
Register by Wednesday, February 26 at http://bit.ly/lentenquiet or send an email to info@retreathousehillsboro.org.
Breakfast and lunch are included. A suggested donation of $40 per person will be gratefully accepted but all are welcome regardless of finances.

About the retreat leader: Linda Mastro is a spiritual pilgrim, life coach and spiritual director trained through the Bon Secours Retreat and Conference Center in Marriottsville, Maryland. A parishioner of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Easton, Linda serves in liturgical ministry. A writer and workshop leader, Linda is co-author of the book Petite Retreats: Renewing Body, Mind, and Spirit without Leaving Home. Linda lives in Easton, Maryland.

A String and A Prayer
2020-03-07 10:00 - 12:00 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
A String and A Prayer
Making and using prayer beads
Saturday, March 7, 2020
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Offered through a partnership between
The Retreat House and Rob’s Hope
Come to The Retreat House and immerse yourself in the world of prayer beads…
In this fascinating and fun workshop based on the book, A String & A Prayer by Eleanor Wiley, you will learn about the cultural and religious uses of prayer beads, look at their various designs and symbols, and understand stringing techniques.
Then, you’ll get to choose a design, set an intention and make a set of your own. All materials will be supplied, but feel free to bring any of your own that hold particular meaning for you personally.
A suggested donation of $20 will be gratefully accepted (just a guideline – all are welcome regardless of finances.)
REGISTER ONLINE at http://bit.ly/RHbeads by Wednesday, March 4 or send an email to info@retreathousehillsboro.org.
Retreat Leader Krista Carter-Smith is founder of Rob’s Hope a public charity with a mission of art and healing and a belief that art of all kinds helps us heal through release, renewal, and self-expression. Rob’s Hope offers programs and activities designed for the non-artist, encouraging people to develop a creative practice of their own – regardless of artistic talent or economic circumstances. Workshops take place in a calming environment and are designed for adults and young adults, ages 16 and older.

CANCELLED! Make Music With Us!
2020-03-15 13:00 - 15:30 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19. STAY TUNED FOR NEW DATE. WE PRAY FOR EVERYONE’S SAFETY AND GOOD HEALTH!

Afternoon Jam Session
Sunday, March 15
1:00 – 3:30 PM
Historic St. Paul’s Church
Music speaks what cannot be expressed
Soothes the mind and gives it rest
Heals the heart and makes it whole
flows from heaven to the soul.
~Anonymous
The Retreat House at Hillsboro invites you to enjoy the wonderful acoustic sounds of your favorite music played in our little church.
PLEASE REGISTER AT http://bit.ly/rhpmmusic
Bring your guitar, drums, keyboard, voice, harmonica or other instrument and experience the sound as it reaches the rafters of the church. Play and sing along or just sit back and listen to the music…
Snacks and beverages will be available, or bring your own. Donations gratefully accepted to support Retreat House programs and scholarships. For more information, contact Pat Gallagher at (443) 223-1836.

Weekend of Quiet Retreat-CANCELLED
2020-03-20 - 2020-03-22 | Foehliage Retreat Center, 31450 Sassafras River Ave, Galena, MD, 21635
Due to COVID-19 this event has been cancelled.

Weekend of Quiet Retreat
Fri., March 20 to Sun., March 22
Rest, read, sleep, walk, pray, be still…
Come away in the middle of Lent for a quiet weekend on the beautiful Sassafras River to experience the holiness of nature with likeminded seekers.
This retreat is designed to provide you with time for silence and spaciousness. Retreat House director Francie Thayer will lead a simple and informal program with prompts for your quiet time and art activities to enhance and deepen your prayer. Spiritual direction will be available throughout the weekend. This is a small retreat with capacity for 10-15 people.

Accommodations & Costs
Single rooms- $375 pp* | Double room – $350 pp | Triple/Quad room – $325 pp
*Single rooms are limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Rates include: lodging, linens, turndown service, program sessions and materials, 5 meals: 2 dinners, 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch, snacks and beverages
To reserve your space, please send an email to meg@retreathousehillsboro.org with your name, phone number and room type and send a minimum deposit of $100 by Feb. 28 to The Retreat House, P.O. Box 3, Hillsboro, MD 21641. Final payments must be received by March 16.
Pay by credit card on your mobile phone using VENMO app to @MaryB-Gallagher or on our website http://retreathousehillsboro.org/donate/ (click on the “Donate” button)
Pay by check – Send checks payable to “The Retreat House” to The Retreat House, P.O. Box 3, Hillsboro MD 21641. For more information, please contact us at info@retreathousehillsboro.org.

About the venue: The Foehliage Retreat Center is a private residence located in Galena, Maryland offering a comfortable and peaceful setting for retreatants to enjoy. Hosts Gene and Suzi Foehl lovingly provide warm hospitality and delicious food. To see photos of the facility and more information, please visit their website at foehliageretreatcenter.org.

A Cup of Tea
2020-04-07 14:00 - 15:00 | ZOOM Retreat House Event
Drinking tea and sharing our hearts has long been a regular thing at The Retreat House. Please join us in this during the month of April, “virtually” coming together for conversation, reflection and a little prayer over a cup of tea.

It could be just the thing if you are seeking some heart connection during this time of quarantine and social distancing. Come, even if this is your first time to a Retreat House gathering! It will do us a world of good to hear each other’s voices, laugh, share a prayer and be ourselves.
Our Cup of Tea host will be Heather Hall, a woman of compassion and good humor who is also trained in spiritual guidance. There is no charge for attending; however, donations are welcome. And there is no need to register, though if you want to stay in contact with us, please use the link at the bottom of the page.

So…next Tuesday at 2 o’clock, make yourself a nice cup of tea and sign in to Zoom to relax and hang out! (If Zoom is new to you, we will be there 15 minutes early in case you need any technical support.)

Join the Zoom meeting. – Zoom Meeting ID: 214 917 940
on your computer, tablet or mobile phone.

Call in/Audio only:
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 214 917 940

Join the Cup of Tea contact list

WISDOM CIRCLE: Practicing Together the 23rd Psalm
2020-04-22 19:30 - 20:30 | Zoom Wisdom Circles – Meeting ID: 285 967 538
For century upon century people have leaned into this psalm of David in preparation for times of trial and during times of suffering. During WWII, school children in our country would memorize it and it surely has become an abiding balm for people of faith.
Join in our Wisdom Circle as we practice in community this beloved psalm through listening, devoting each week to one or two verses, letting them settle in with times of quiet, optional sharing, and prayer. Upon leaving, we are invited to discover and wonder about the times in our week where our verses can be seen.

Pre-registration required. Please register here.
JOIN ZOOM MEETING: https://zoom.us/j/285967538
CALL IN/AUDIO ONLY 301 715 8592 US

Retreat Leader: Heather Strang is a graduate of the Shalem Institute’s Spiritual Guidance Program and is a contemplative small group and retreat facilitator, spiritual director and culinary director. Heather is active in prayer ministries with St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in Annapolis, Maryland where she resides with her husband.

WISDOM CIRCLE: Gentle Wisdom for the Living of These Days
2020-04-23 17:30 - 19:00 | Zoom 2 – Meeting ID: 896 5826 9935
Gentleness is a gift we can give to others and ourselves as we journey together through uncertain times.
Living through these days challenges our well-worn pathways. We are invited to claim a different kind of wisdom, even a new direction. And, what may seem to be new is actually the wisdom and courage that is already yours.
In our online Wisdom Circle we will practice deepening the strength that is in us. We will use art expression, poetry, and prayer to come ever nearer to the Gentle Divine that longs to companion us and love us.

For now, I offer a blessing:
May you be blessed with God’s gentleness and serenity during this frightening time,
May you find the deep well of spiritual power that is your birthright,
May your life reach out toward the world bringing peace.

PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED: CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89658269935
Meeting ID: 896 5826 9935
CALL IN/AUDIO ONLY +1 301 715 8592

RETREAT LEADER: Debra Donnelly Barton – is a graduate of The Stillpoint School for Spiritual Direction and the General Theological Seminary in New York. She has an MA in theology from St. Mary’s Seminary and University. Debra has studied the Ignatian spiritual exercises as well as an intensive training in centering prayer with Thomas Keating. “As a director I tune my ears to gently recognize places within the soul that resonate with the freedom God is giving.“

Day's End Meditation & Prayers (weekdays)
2020-05-18 17:15 - 17:45 | ZOOM Eve. Prayer: 212 677 840
Listen, breathe, be still.
A peaceful way to move into your evening.
Weekdays 5:15 – 5:45 p.m.
Join online: https://zoom.us/j/212677840
Password: [REDACTED]
Call in/Audio only: +1 301 715 8592

Quiet Day: Discovering God at Home
2020-06-11 09:30 - 12:00 | Zoom-Quiet Day
During this Retreat House Quiet Day, we will look at our everyday activities in a whole new way. Guided by Gunilla Norris’ book, Being Home, we will take time to notice the Spirit in the simple things we do all the time. In 4-5 mini-sessions, we will use the activities themselves to examine their relationship to the Divine. What new thoughts or sensations could we have while walking or preparing a meal? How might our everyday activities serve as metaphors for bigger things in our lives?
The Zoom session will include time for introductions, readings and discussion. Each mini session will include instruction that is focused on a specific daily activity and everyone will step away from the screens for a period of time to complete the assignment. Upon returning, we will share our experiences. The last session will be focused on preparing our lunch!

Register online at https://bit.ly/QuietReg, or by email to info@retreathousehillsboro.org. Once you register, we will send you the Zoom meeting link. A suggested donation of $30 per person will be appreciated; payments can be made with online registration or by check. As always, everyone is welcome to attend, regardless of finances.
ABOUT THE RETREAT LEADER: Julia Morris-Myers loves discovering the sacred in everyday life. She is a musician, teacher and spiritual director on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where she lives with her husband and assorted pets. Julia is the Director of Music at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Centreville and has certificates in leading groups and in spiritual direction from the Shalem Institute in Washington, DC, and Bon Secours Retreat Center in Marriottsville MD.

Sacred Ground: July-Sept. series
2020-07-13 15:00 - 17:00 | ZOOM Retreat House Event
A film-based dialogue series on race and faith
The Retreat House invites you to participate in Sacred Ground, an experience of reading, watching and learning about the history of race and racism in America and the impact it has on our world today.
On six Monday afternoons, we will explore a rich online curriculum focused on Indigenous, Black, Latino and Asian Pacific American as their histories intersect with European American history. Each week, we will be given documentaries to watch and articles to read to help inform and enlighten us. We then gather on Zoom for conversation to help us peel away the layers that have contributed to the challenges and divides of the present day—all while grounded in our call to faith, hope and love.
Learning about the origins of the inequities and injustices so deeply embedded in our lives today will provide valuable insight into the deep anger that fuels the protests happening across the country.
This amazing series, developed by The Episcopal Church and Katrina Browne, director of the documentary Traces of the Trade, has been especially designed to help white people engage in conversation about the history of race in America. The series is part of The Episcopal Church’s Becoming Beloved Community which is the church’s long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation and justice.
Registration is required at https://bit.ly/SacredReg, or by email to info@retreathousehillsboro.org. A suggested donation of $50 per person is requested. All are welcome to attend regardless of finances.

Making Peace with Money
2020-08-03 19:00 - 20:00 | ZOOM Retreat House Event
Making Peace with Money
4 sessions: Monday evenings, August 3 – 24
7:00 – 8:00 p.m. via Zoom

Imagine having conversations about money that are encouraging instead of frustrating. In this Wisdom Circle, we will consider how spiritual practices can help us shift our attitudes and thoughts about money. A spiritual perspective has the potential to help us feel more peaceful and less stressful about how we live with money.
In this online group, we will inspire and support each other as we look within for a better understanding of money as a God-given tool. Sessions will include themed readings and reflection, asking questions, and space for sensing God’s presence and guidance. Each week, we will take home a new practice to try and then have an opportunity to share our experience with the group.
Registration is required at https://bit.ly/RHmoney or by sending an email to info@retreathousehillsboro.com, or calling (410) 364-7069. A suggested donation of $75.00 per person is requested, however all are welcome regardless of finances. Upon registration, you will receive the Zoom link.
ABOUT THE RETREAT LEADER: Meg Gallagher is a life coach, retreat leader and writer. Meg has enjoyed her transition from a corporate career to the gentler non-profit world. She is also delighted to serve as manager of The Retreat House at Hillsboro where she is learning the contemplative way of life. She and her husband, Pat, live in Hillsboro.

Wisdom Circle: Prayerful Listening for Spiritual Guidance
2020-09-16 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom Wisdom Circles – Meeting ID: 285 967 538
REGISTRATION CLOSED
WISDOM CIRCLE: Prayerful Listening for Spiritual Guidance
Wednesdays, September 16, 23, 30 and October 7, 2020
7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
“… the Spirit of Truth is at work in the depths of our hearts –
helping, searching, knowing, and interceding.
[Prayerful listening] is an invitation to bend a prayerful, listening ear
toward that Spirit who is with us always.”
– L.A. Lindbloom, “Prayerful Listening: Cultivating Discernment in Community”

A Wisdom Circle is a group of 8-12 people who gather to learn, tell stories, listen and pray about a particular subject. Within the circle, we practice a way of being that connects us in spirit while drawing us within for a deeper experience.

“… the Spirit of Truth is at work in the depths of our hearts – helping, searching, knowing, and interceding. [Prayerful listening] is an invitation to bend a prayerful, listening ear toward that Spirit who is with us always.” – L.A. Lindbloom, “Prayerful Listening: Cultivating Discernment in Community”

The practice of spiritual guidance has many names: spiritual direction, prayerful listening, sacred listening, or spiritual companionship. In this Wisdom Circle we will learn how to seek and accept spiritual guidance by combining silence, prayerful listening and open-hearted response.
In social conversation, the usual pattern is a give-and-take of ideas and perspectives. In a prayerful listening group, there is an ebb and flow of words and silence. It is within the silence that the Holy Spirit whispers, inspiring us to respond for the sake of the one who has spoken.
During our sessions, we will practice the three essential parts of prayerful listening that take place when a group gathers for spiritual guidance:

Pray silently, and listen for how God speaks to us.
Listen attentively as others seek discernment for a specific situation.
Pray on behalf of another and respond prayerfully to that person.

In the last session we will bring together all three practices for the full experience of a prayerful listening group. We ask that you attend all four sessions. Come on your own, bring a partner, or join with a few friends. People of all faith traditions and spiritual experiences are welcome.
At the end of this program participants will have an opportunity to join a spiritual guidance group or to arrange for individual spiritual guidance from one of the Retreat House spiritual directors.*
REGISTER ONLINE at https://bit.ly/rhlistenreg , or by email to info@retreathousehillsboro.org. Once you register for the series of four sessions, you will receive the Zoom link. Payments can be made with online registration or by check mailed to the address below. As always, everyone is welcome to attend, regardless of finances.

About the Wisdom Circle leader: Linda Mastro will lead the main session of The Wisdom Circle, with smaller breakout groups facilitated by the spiritual directors* of The Retreat House. Linda is a spiritual pilgrim, life coach and spiritual director trained through the Bon Secours Retreat and Conference Center in Marriottsville, Maryland. Learn more about Linda and her practice at livingpilgrimage.com.
*A list of Retreat House spiritual directors can be found at retreathousehillsboro.org/meditation-and-reflection/

Autumn Quiet Days: Embracing Possibility (in person)
2020-10-03 09:30 - 14:00 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
In this time of pandemic we are challenged to make room in our lives
for the unexpected. During these Quiet Days, we will spend time
noticing the new ways we are living and the possibilities emerging.
Can we open our minds and hearts to embrace possibility? What can we
harvest from this upheaval? We will explore these questions and ideas
through prayer, readings, silence, journaling and sharing.
When nothing is sure, everything is possible
-Margaret Drabble
REGISTER FOR YOUR PREFERRED DATE:
In person, October 3: tinyurl.com/RHqdlive
Online, October 10: tinyurl.com/RHqdonline
A suggested donation of $40 per person is requested. This amount is
just a guideline—please don’t let finances keep you from attending!
For the in-person session, seating is limited to 8 participants; masks and social distancing will be
required. Please bring your own breakfast, lunch, and beverages. The Retreat House will provide
cold bottled water.
For the Zoom session, you will receive the log in link once you have registered.

ABOUT THE RETREAT LEADER: Julia Morris-Myers loves discovering the sacred in everyday life. She is a musician, teacher and spiritual director on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where she lives with her husband and assorted pets. Julia is the Director of Music at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Centreville and has certificates in leading groups and in spiritual direction from the Shalem Institute in Washington, DC, and Bon Secours Retreat Center in Marriottsville MD.

All Souls and All Saints Day: Candlelight Vigil
2020-10-31 18:00 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
Come by the Retreat House to walk through St. Paul’s Cemetery to say a prayer, pay respects, and see the beautiful candles on each grave.
All are welcome as we share in a time of quiet reflection and remembrance.

Wisdom Circle - Seeing the Word: Illuminating Advent
2020-11-30 18:30 - 19:30 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
Mondays, November 30th-December 21st at 6:30-7:30PM via Zoom.
Seeing the Word: Illuminating Advent is a contemplative prayer practice using illuminations from the St John’s Bible. These images bring to life passages from Scripture, helping us to engage with the Word, encounter the Divine, and enact the Message in our daily lives.
Advent honors the time of waiting for the arrival of the Christ child. We gather each week in hope, peace, joy and love to meet the Messiah who is – and is yet to come – through guided reflections. The illuminations from the Saint John’s Bible, which reflect scripture readings for the season, draw us further into contemplative prayer. As we open “the eyes of our heart” (visio divina) and “the ears of our heart” (lectio divina), we discover what the Word means to us and what the Holy Spirit is calling us to do in the world today.
The Saint John’s Bible is the first of its kind in 500 years. Commissioned by the Benedictine monks at St. John’s Abbey, as a tribute to the new millennium, this handwritten NRSV Bible has over 160 illuminations to bring the Word of God to life today. By praying with the illuminations, we may search deeper into the meaning for our lives.

Register online at tinyurl.com/RHWCAdvent by Monday, November 23rd.

HEATHER HALL is graduate of Hesychia School of Spiritual Direction, an ecumenical and multi-faith program. She is a lifelong learner and seeker who graduated from Education for Ministry and JustFaith. While living in Anchorage, Alaska, Heather was active with St Mary’s Episcopal Church, where she led Adult Education – developing and facilitating classes, workshops and retreats – and Outreach programs. Born and raised in Maryland, where she taught college and started her career in environmental science, Heather recently returned to the Shore to establish her encore career as a life coach, spiritual director and storyteller through arts & crafts. Email Heather at heather@discoverwithheather.com.

Advent Quiet Day: Blessed by The Wisdom of Mary
2020-12-02 09:30 - 14:00 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
“Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!”

LUKE 1:28

During this Advent Quiet Day, Mary’s wisdom will be our inspiration as we explore the expectation, preparation, and acceptance of the amazing faith that becomes incarnate on Christmas.
Our time together will be spent in prayer, reflection, journaling, and conversation. We will meet in the sanctuary of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at the Retreat House at Hillsboro. The church sanctuary is arranged for the safety of physical distancing and also allows for intimate sharing. Bring your own lunch and dress warmly for time outside, if you would like to spend time on the grounds or walk the labyrinth. Tea, coffee, and snacks will be provided.

Register at tinyurl.com/RHAdventLive

LINDA MASTRO is a member of the spiritual direction team at the Retreat House at Hillsboro, and is a facilitator of individual and group spiritual direction, women’s retreats, and other spiritual programs. Linda is a graduate of the spiritual direction program of the Bon Secours Retreat and Conference Center in Marriottsville, MD, and is co-author of the book Petite Retreats: Renewing Body, Mind, and Spirit without Leaving Home. She lives in Easton, Maryland. Learn more at livingpilgrimage.com.

Gathering of the Greens and Wreath Making
2020-12-13 13:00 - 15:00 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
Come and go as you like and enjoy creating a lovely hand-made wreath from fresh greens, along with a cup of hot cider and socially distanced cheer.

Illumination
2020-12-19 16:30 - 18:30 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
PLEASE NOTE TIME CHANGE for ILLUMINATION on Saturday, December 19 to 4:30 – 6:30 pm. Sunset is at 4:44!
Dress warmly for Hillsboro Luminaries Night! Stroll the neighborhood to see the hundreds of beautiful luminaries lining the streets. Then join us at the Retreat House for a guided candlelight labyrinth walk, a crackling fire and the warm spirit of Christmas!
Our gathering will be socially distanced. We ask that anyone who joins us wears a mask and maintains six feet of distance from anyone not in their household. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding as we seek to keep our community safe!

Women's Christmas
2021-01-06 14:00 - 16:30 | ZOOM Retreat House Event
Image: Wise Women Also Came © Jan Richardson

Wednesday, January 6
2:00 – 4:30 p.m.
On Zoom

The Feast of the Epiphany is also known as Women’s Christmas. Originating in Ireland, it is a day of rest for women after weeks of preparing for Christmas Day. Inspired by Jan Richardson’s annual Women’s Christmas Retreat, we created this celebration just for you.

Please join us for this special retreat and time of spiritual relaxation. We’ll read poetry (bring your favorites,) tell stories, do some journaling and meditate together.

This is time for YOU. Bring your needlework, coloring, or another project. Make a pot of tea, light a candle, and settle in for a delightful afternoon.

Register
