Living the Tension - Holding Opposites Together in Love
2025-02-26 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | ZOOM
Living the Tension – Holding Opposites Together in Love
February 26 on Zoom
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. EST

We navigate our external lives around multiple opposites; for example, early/late, inside/outside, fast/slow. In our inner life we tend to hold opposites within a space that considers their significance or impact on our lives; for example, freedom/constraint, silence/sound, enigma/answer.
The tension inherent in opposites can be creative or destructive. Hence, inside tension there is innate power. Only a non-dual mind can reconcile the tension creatively. Race, politics, culture and religion are breeding grounds for opposition to become explosive.Therefore, within the context of our polarized country, we will ponder these questions:

How are we to hold the innate power of tension?
What are the consequences if we choose to hold the tension in love?
How might we be agents for transforming polarization into reconciliation?
Join us as we rest and wonder in the presence of Spirit and spiritual guide Phil Cover. This 2-hour retreat will offer time to listen to Phil’ wisdom, be lead by his questions and share in silence and conversation with others.
A Zoom link will be sent to all registrants before the start of the retreat.
This event has been funded by a generous donor. Registration is required for planning purposes. Register HERE.

Mary Magdalene
2025-02-26 17:00 - 18:30 | ZOOM
Mary Magdalene –
telling her story,
telling our story
plumbing the depths of the Christianity we haven’t tried yet
Wednesday Evenings
February 26 – April 16
5:00 – 6:30 p.m. on Zoom

Join for the first time, or continue our exploration from the fall and/or winter circle. With the help of the Gospel of Mary, and Meggan Watterson’s book Mary Magdalene Revealed: The First Apostle, Her Feminist Gospel, & the Christianity We Haven’t Tried Yet, we will dive into the depths of the earliest days of Christianity, known as “The Way.” Gather for contemplative listening and conversation and discover with us in community: What would it look like if we truly followed the way of Jesus without hierarchy and power? How would our engagement with the Holy be different? How would prayer be different?
All of our offerings are supported solely by individual donations. This circle has been sponsored in part by a friend of our community. This allows us to invite you to offer a donation that feels right to you, and that may be used to help others participate in offerings like this. Thank you for being part of a community that doesn’t let finances get in the way.
Register HERE.
If you don’t have the book, please order Mary Magdalene Revealed: The First Apostle, Her Feminist Gospel, & the Christianity We Haven’t Tried Yet by Meggan Watterson. It can be purchased from our Retreat House Bookshop (link below) or your favorite bookseller. We will send the Zoom link, which will arrive before our first gathering.
The Retreat House Bookshop – Every book purchased from our bookshop provides both a discount to you, and a stipend for The Retreat House.It can be found on the front page of our website or here:
https://bookshop.org/p/books/mary-magdalene-revealed-the-first-apostle-her-feminist-gospel-the-christianity-we-haven-t-tried-yet-meggan-watterson/15458953?aid=19040&ean=9781401954284&listref=community-favorites&

Icon artwork by Laura Neal.

Day's End Meditation
2025-02-28 17:15 - 17:45 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
Wherever you are, listen, breathe, and be still.

Move peacefully into your evening each evening.
Weekdays 5:15 – 5:45 p.m. EST

Feel free to log in to hear a beautiful prayer or poem followed by just the right amount of quiet meditation time.
Come a few minutes early and say hello.

“It has been a way to honor the shift in the demands of the day,
breathing in God’s Love,
breathing out gratitude for the Divine Mystery…”

Join online: https://zoom.us/j/212677840
Password: [REDACTED]
Call in/Audio only: +1 301 715 8592

Prayer Gathering for Resilience in Community - on Zoom
2025-03-10 11:00 - 12:00 | ZOOM
Please join us
Monday, January 20
for a
PRAYER GATHERING FOR RESILIENCE IN COMMUNITY
with
short readings and poetry
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon EST on Zoom
With our world in such a time of change, we invite you to spend an hour among like-hearted people of prayer. We will gather on Zoom for a time of community and silent meditation. Join us to be together, holding our hearts open to the Great Love of the Divine and listening deeply in the quiet for the guidance, encouragement and love that we can all lean into as we start walking the long road into the unknown. We invite you to spend an hour among like-hearted people of prayer.
Come when you can, leave when you must.
We will be together from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon EST.
The gift of your presence in the circle
will mean so much to all who gather.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88042304235?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 880 4230 4235 Passcode: [REDACTED]
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Wisdom Café welcomes Debra Donnelly- Barton!
2025-03-31 12:00 - 13:00 | ZOOM
Wisdom Café welcomes Debra Donnelly- Barton!
Debra is a seminary-trained Spiritual Director with 20 years of experience and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry in Public Theology and Creative Writing, based on what Rowan Williams calls “an essential restlessness in the enterprise of Christian utterance. This degree explores how to write and speak about theology that expands the realities of God’s active loving presence. The public sphere, especially now, obscures the generosity of divine love; public theology endeavors to reveal what is already here.

All are welcome to join in this Retreat House gathering – the Wisdom Café, held each Monday from 12:00-1:00 p.m. on Zoom.

We usually begin with an inspirational reading, enjoy a bit of quiet time. Then we take turns sharing what bubbles up and listen to each other’s reflections. It’s an hour of friendly companionship–no commitment, no charge.

Come and go as you please!

If you would like to receive an email reminder on Monday mornings (which will include the zoom link) please sign up here.

Otherwise please add the date to your calendar for the Wisdom Café on Mondays at 12 Noon.
Here’s the Zoom link.

PRAYER GATHERING OF RESILIENCE IN COMMUNITY
2025-04-14 11:00 - 12:00 | ZOOM
Monday, April 14
Please join us for a
PRAYER GATHERING OF RESILIENCE IN COMMUNITY
with
short readings and poetry
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon EST
on Zoom
The gift of your presence in the circle will mean so much to all who gather.
With our world in such a time of change, we invite you to spend an hour among like-hearted people of prayer. We will gather on Zoom for a time of community and silent meditation. Join us to be together, holding our hearts open to the Great Love of the Divine and listening deeply in the quiet for the guidance, encouragement and love that we can all lean into as we start walking the long road into the unknown.
Come when you can, leave when you must. We will be together from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon EST.
Find the Zoom link HERE.
Photo by Shane Rounce. Unsplash.com.

Poetry Open Mic - HOPE
2025-04-24 18:00 - 20:00 | Talbot County Free Library, Easton, 100 West Dover Street, Easton, MD, United States

PRAYER GATHERING OF RESILIENCE IN COMMUNITY
2025-05-12 11:00 - 12:00 | ZOOM
Monday, May 12
Please join us for a
PRAYER GATHERING OF RESILIENCE IN COMMUNITY
with
short readings and poetry
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon EST
on Zoom
The gift of your presence in the circle will mean so much to all who gather.

With our world in such a time of change, we invite you to spend an hour among like-hearted people of prayer. We will gather on Zoom for a time of community and silent meditation. Join us to be together, holding our hearts open to the Great Love of the Divine and listening deeply in the quiet for the guidance, encouragement and love that we can all lean into as we start walking the long road into the unknown.
Come when you can, leave when you must. We will be together from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon EST.
Find the Zoom link HERE.
Photo by Shane Rounce. Unsplash.com.

Prayer Gathering of Resilience in Community
2025-06-09 11:00 - 12:00 | ZOOM
Monday, June 9
Please join us for a
PRAYER GATHERING OF RESILIENCE IN COMMUNITY
with
short readings and poetry
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon EST
on Zoom
The gift of your presence in the circle will mean so much to all who gather.

With our world in such a time of change, we invite you to spend an hour among like-hearted people of prayer. We will gather on Zoom for a time of community and silent meditation. Join us to be together, holding our hearts open to the Great Love of the Divine and listening deeply in the quiet for the guidance, encouragement and love that we can all lean into as we start walking the long road into the unknown.
Come when you can, leave when you must. We will be together from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon EST.
Find the Zoom link HERE.
Photo by Shane Rounce. Unsplash.com.

Summer Book Circle - The Gospel of Mary Magdalene, by Jean-Yves Leloup
2025-06-11 15:00 - 2025-07-23 16:30 | ZOOM
Summer Book Circle
The Gospel of Mary Magdalene, by Jean-Yves Leloup
on Zoom
Wednesdays, June 11 and 25; July 9 and 23
3:00 – 4:30 p.m. EST

Gather together as we explore and reflect upon ‘The Gospel of Mary Magdalene’ explained and guided by Jean-Yves Leloup–theologian, writer, and translator of Greek and Coptic language texts. We will meet on Zoom on four Wednesdays from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. EST: June 11 and 25; July 9 and 23.
A reading schedule and link will be sent to registrants. Or, see the reading schedule below. Please order the book at our online Retreat House Book Shop, or your favorite bookstore. There are links below. We look forward to seeing you!

Register here: https://tinyurl.com/LeloupMM

Here are the pages that we will read before each gathering:
June 11 – the introduction and preface – through page 59
June 25 – Pages 60 – 105
July 9 – Pages 106 – 157
July 23 – 158 – 176

https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-gospel-of-mary-magdalene-jean-yves-leloup/9092236?aid=19040&ean=9780892819119&listref=community-favorites
https://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Mary-Magdalene-Jean-Yves-Leloup/dp/0892819111/ref=asc_df_0892819111?mcid=8645abd7cecd399bb91b1a7672e12175&hvocijid=46915159769583499-0892819111-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=46915159769583499&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9051691&hvtargid=pla-2281435178818&psc=1

Prayer Gathering of Resilience in Community
2025-07-14 11:00 - 12:00 | ZOOM
Monday, July 14
Please join us for a
PRAYER GATHERING OF RESILIENCE IN COMMUNITY
with
short readings and poetry
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon EST
on Zoom
The gift of your presence in the circle will mean so much to all who gather.

With our world in such a time of change, we invite you to spend an hour among like-hearted people of prayer. We will gather on Zoom for a time of community and silent meditation. Join us to be together, holding our hearts open to the Great Love of the Divine and listening deeply in the quiet for the guidance, encouragement and love that we can all lean into as we start walking the long road into the unknown.
Come when you can, leave when you must. We will be together from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon EST.
Find the Zoom link HERE.
Photo by Shane Rounce. Unsplash.com.

Prayer Gathering for Resilience in Community
2025-07-22 08:00 - 17:00 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
Please join us
Monday, September 8
for a
PRAYER GATHERING FOR RESILIENCE IN COMMUNITY
with
short readings and poetry
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon EST on Zoom

With our world in such a time of change, we invite you to spend an hour among like-hearted people of prayer. We will gather on Zoom for a time of community and silent meditation. Join us to be together, holding our hearts open to the Great Love of the Divine and listening deeply in the quiet for the guidance, encouragement and love that we can all lean into as we start walking the long road into the unknown. We invite you to spend an hour among like-hearted people of prayer.
Come when you can, leave when you must.
We will be together from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon EST.
The gift of your presence in the circle
will mean so much to all who gather.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88042304235?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 880 4230 4235 Passcode: [REDACTED]
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Meeting ID: 880 4230 4235
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Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kouQUcrCs

Prayer Gathering for Resilience in Community
2025-08-11 11:00 - 12:00 | ZOOM
Please join us
Monday, August 11
for a
PRAYER GATHERING FOR RESILIENCE IN COMMUNITY
with
short readings and poetry
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon EST on Zoom

With our world in such a time of change, we invite you to spend an hour among like-hearted people of prayer. We will gather on Zoom for a time of community and silent meditation. Join us to be together, holding our hearts open to the Great Love of the Divine and listening deeply in the quiet for the guidance, encouragement and love that we can all lean into as we start walking the long road into the unknown. We invite you to spend an hour among like-hearted people of prayer.
Come when you can, leave when you must.
We will be together from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon EST.
The gift of your presence in the circle
will mean so much to all who gather.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88042304235?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 880 4230 4235 Passcode: [REDACTED]
—
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,88042304235#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US (Washington DC) +13052241968,,88042304235#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US
—
Dial by your location
• +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
• +1 305 224 1968 US
• +1 309 205 3325 US
• +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
• +1 646 931 3860 US
• +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
• +1 507 473 4847 US
• +1 564 217 2000 US
• +1 669 444 9171 US
• +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

• +1 689 278 1000 US
• +1 719 359 4580 US
• +1 253 205 0468 US
• +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) • +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) • +1 360 209 5623 US
• +1 386 347 5053 US
Meeting ID: 880 4230 4235
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kouQUcrCs

Prayer Gathering for Resilience in Community
2025-09-08 11:00 - 12:00 | ZOOM

Gospel of Thomas - the mystical sayings of Jesus
2025-09-09 15:00 - 16:30 | ZOOM
Gospel of Thomas

Tuesdays
September 9 – November 18 and December 2 – 16

3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
On Zoom

Gather together as we explore and listen to the Gospel of Thomas. Each week we will prayerfully listen to one of Jesus’ sayings from this ancient source and take time to reflect upon what rises for each of us.

We ask for a suggested donation of $85. All of our programs are supported by donations. Whether you pay less, or more to support another, we are grateful. Please never let finances keep you from gathering. A Zoom link will be emailed before the start this circle.
Please register HERE.

More about The Gospel of Thomas:
The Gospel of Thomas is one of the 52 texts discovered at Nag Hamadi in 1945 and represents some of the earliest Christian teachings. Many of the Nag Hamadi codices were initially classified as Gnostic, a category that placed them outside of mainstream Christian thinking.
It is highly likely that The Gospel of Thomas was written before the four New Testament gospels. Stevan L. Davies, Ph.D. is an influential author of 18 scholarly books and Professor of Religious Studies. He argues that the apparent independence of the ordering of sayings in Thomas from that of their parallels in the first three Gospels shows that Thomas was not evidently reliant upon the canonical gospels and probably predated them.
The Gospel of Thomas is very different in tone and structure from the four canonical Gospels. Unlike the Gospels in our Bibles, it is not a narrative account of the life of Jesus; instead, it consists of 114 sayings attributed to Jesus.
Scholars regard the Gospel of Thomas as one of the most important texts in understanding early Christianity outside the New Testament. A central theme of the Gospel of Thomas is that salvation comes through a mystical understanding and experience of the words of Jesus rather than through doctrines to believe in or sacraments to do.

Book Circle - Wild Mercy, by Mirabai Starr
2025-09-10 15:00 - 16:30 | ZOOM
Wild Mercy
Living the Fierce and Tender Wisdom of the Women Mystics
by Mirabai Starr
A Zoom Book Circle
September 10 – November 19
and December 3 – 17
Wednesdays, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. EST

Join us for this online book circle, where we will explore and ponder the many gifts of the women mystics throughout both time and culture. We will read Wild Mercy slowly over many weeks, allowing for generous conversation and wondering. Wild Mercy is essential reading for anyone ready to learn more, to awaken the feminine mystic within, and birth her loving and creative essence into the world. The author’s voice has been known to be both humorous and down-to-earth. As part of our journey with the author, we will delve into the at-home spiritual practice of reflective journaling. To prepare us, for those who are drawn to this practice, we will be guided and inspired by Lisa Groen, friend of The Retreat House, contemplative writer, and author of soon to be released The Cassatt Sisters: a Novel of Love and Art.
Register HERE.

We will read one chapter a week, and come to the first gathering having read the book’s introduction. A Zoom link will be sent.
The book can be purchased by means of Amazon, The Retreat House Bookshop, or your favorite book seller:
RETREAT HOUSE BOOKSHOP:
https://bookshop.org/p/books/wild-mercy-living-the-fierce-and-tender-wisdom-of-the-women-mystics-mirabai-starr/16648245?aid=19040&ean=9781683641568&listref=community-favorites
AMAZON:
https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Mercy-Living-Fierce-Mystics/dp/1683641566/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Ar-ajtFMhcwfbw6el0GFklw2j4gfnhM-G9hZ99xmeoYggHKa2xZoxo_Vx5fHq9Xh7UhrvxJ4tiGijBSU0-n_Iadu37Il8CjS4nrIuYKrwcm8cuBo0MEiVMhpngxRhZAbBz-fSh486rArZRxseFdO6RhuymJB2Dw6TMsdF_nWfRg.OClcDxUOiYBKOlwC4GfFsGnws8pRFGZ977xKjKcmWNQ&dib_tag=se&hvadid=693905370856&hvdev=c&hvexpln=67&hvlocphy=9051691&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=12696072715795967962–&hvqmt=e&hvrand=12696072715795967962&hvtargid=kwd-754024912921&hydadcr=8264_13544396&keywords=mirabai+starr+wild+mercy&mcid=611b907d2315335eab08c2f5bf6385fa&qid=1752877932&sr=8-1

More about reflective journaling: Journaling as a spiritual practice can be akin to prayer, and a grounding way at home to deepen self-awareness and welcome clarity of the heart. Lisa Groen will inspire and guide us in this at-home practice, a practice unique to each of us and encouraged in Wild Mercy. She is author of The Mother’s Book of Well-Being: Caring for Yourself So You Can Care for Your Baby and the soon to be released, The Cassatt Sisters: A Novel of Love and Art.
More about Wild Mercy: We live in a world that has suffered from an unbalanced masculine rule for thousands of years—but the feminine is rising. “Seeds of feminine wisdom that have been quietly germinating underground are now breaking through the surface,” writes Mirabai Starr. “Women everywhere are rising to the collective call to step up and repair our broken Earth. And we are activating a paradigm shift such as the world has never seen.”

With Wild Mercy, Mirabai shares the subversive wisdom and fierce compassion of the feminine mystic across cultural boundaries and throughout history. From saints and sages, to goddesses and archetypal energies, to contemporary teachers and seekers—you’ll meet women who blazed a path that will illuminate your own.

Each chapter explores a different facet of feminine mysticism through a tapestry of teachings, reflections, and stories, along with a practice for integrating the chapter’s themes into your own life. As you journey through these pages, you’ll explore:

Taking refuge in contemplative practice with St. Teresa of Avila and the Shekinah
Longing, embodiment, and union as the heart of feminine spiritual practice with the Hindu poet Mirabai and Mary Magdalene
Your relationship with the Earth, motherhood in all its forms, and a loving call to action alongside Gaia and Ix Chel
Community and the web of life with Indra, the Beguines, and female prophets throughout history
Wild, playful, and compassionate mercy with Tara and Kuan Yin
Finding joy in creativity and the arts with Saraswati and Chiyo-ni
More inspiration from archetypal goddesses and amazing women past and present—Julian of Norwich, the Sufi saint Rabia, Pachamama, Sophia, Old Spider Woman, Hildegard of Bingen, Demeter, Kali, and more.

Wild Mercy provides a much-needed alternative to the models of religion and spirituality that have dominated history, an alternative suited for both men and for women. Here, Mirabai invites you to welcome the wisdom of women back into the collective field where it may transform the human family, heal the ravaged Earth, and awaken the divine love in our hearts.

Wisdom Cafe Welcomes - Lisa Groen
2025-09-15 12:00 - 13:00 | ZOOM

Mary Magdalene and the Mystics
2025-09-22 15:00 - 16:30 | ZOOM
Mary Magdalene and the Mystics
Mondays, 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. ET on Zoom
September 22, 2025 – May 4 2026
or, for a shorter session
September 22 – November 17, 2025

Gather with us as we explore the life of Mary Magdalene through the lens of Cynthia Bourgeault and several women mystics devoted to Mary. Whether this is your first time learning about the journey of Mary Magdalene, or you are continuing on from previous circles, we will explore new learnings and invitations. What is there to learn about the life of Mary Magdalene? Why did certain mystics resonate with Mary Magdalene and how is that expressed in their spiritual life and writing? Is there more to learn from the mystics about Mary Magdalene and ourselves?
Our central reading throughout the weeks will be The Meaning of Mary Magdalene: Discovering the Woman at the Heart of Christianity, by Cynthia Bourgeault, modern-day mystic, Episcopal priest, and writer. In addition, select readings by these and other mystics who were deeply influenced by Mary Magdalene will be considered and shared by email: Teresa of Avila, Thérèse of Lisieux, and Catherine of Siena. Like other contemplative book circles, we will read our book and the select readings slowly with ample time together for wondering out loud, experiencing the invitations offered, and listening to one another.
September 22 – November 17, including holiday breaks — 9 session – $90 (This is a good selection if you are only able to sign up for a portion of the circle. Simply let us know if you change your mind and we can adjust your registration!)
September 2025 – May 4 2026, including holiday breaks — 27 sessions – $250
Please register (HERE).
Find the book at your favorite bookseller or support us by purchasing it at The Retreat House Bookshop:
https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-meaning-of-mary-magdalene-discovering-the-woman-at-the-heart-of-christianity-cynthia-bourgeault/9663152?aid=19040&ean=9781590304952&listref=mystics-and-mysticism
Find the book at Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Meaning-Mary-Magdalene-Discovering-Christianity/dp/1590304950/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Ywfry9qcHT78hCf6LlUPoTIJax2eH5RJVCsxvsr2Q3e1QiIX5sPtD1HXg0TIXI7tAT5-N78WqkJzzX3-cUvKHSHtSttDc1rQr8wlcfRrN-cW9EGwfBmmLriQsbE3bacjccbYU_Tk5wyaxO0TU04sE4YYXF6AXM15lkABnB-M617dhoivFKBHKk8eS0BJMvFKwVqsa3WNLvbwz1DVyQ_G6Kwyuyu-ZaaEYFLtovi79Pg.7ZwQqmKw92OFZDOHIyE_ooXmNQPAiWjcgkk4tsKvMcM&dib_tag=se&hvadid=713526083658&hvdev=c&hvexpln=67&hvlocphy=9051691&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=9322657857537107084–&hvqmt=e&hvrand=9322657857537107084&hvtargid=kwd-323962432274&hydadcr=22569_13730725&keywords=the+meaning+of+mary+magdalene&mcid=f34d849e64173bec8549399800f1873f&qid=1755705064&sr=8-1

Prayer Gathering for Resilience in Community
2025-10-13 11:00 - 12:00 | ZOOM
Please join us
Monday, October 13
for a
PRAYER GATHERING FOR RESILIENCE IN COMMUNITY
with
short readings and poetry
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon EST on Zoom

With our world in such a time of change, we invite you to spend an hour among like-hearted people of prayer. We will gather on Zoom for a time of community and silent meditation. Join us to be together, holding our hearts open to the Great Love of the Divine and listening deeply in the quiet for the guidance, encouragement and love that we can all lean into as we start walking the long road into the unknown. We invite you to spend an hour among like-hearted people of prayer.
Come when you can, leave when you must.
We will be together from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon EST.
The gift of your presence in the circle
will mean so much to all who gather.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88042304235?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 880 4230 4235 Passcode: [REDACTED]
—
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,88042304235#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US (Washington DC) +13052241968,,88042304235#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US
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Dial by your location
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Meeting ID: 880 4230 4235
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Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kouQUcrCs

Lament and Hope - a six-week gathering online
2025-10-16 19:00 - 20:00 | ZOOM
Register for this free offering here: https://building-communities-lament-hope.eventbrite.com/

Unearthing the Gifts of Autumn: A Women's Weekend Retreat
2025-10-24 16:00 - 2025-10-26 13:00 | The Foehliage Retreat Center, 31450 Sassafras River Ave, Galena, 21635, United States
Unearthing the Gifts of Autumn: A Women’s Weekend Retreat
Friday, October 24 – Sunday, October 26, 2025
Hosted by the Retreat House at the Foehliage Retreat Center in Galena, Maryland
Facilitated by Linda Mastro
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” ~ Matthew 6:21

Autumn is a season of transformation. Trees display a kaleidoscope of color before releasing their spent leaves to nourish the earth. Gardens give up their harvest and the soil rests until planting season comes again. Nature mirrors how we can honor what is awe-inspiring in our lives and how to let go of what has run its course.
In this weekend we will explore how autumn can show us how to honor our gifts and cultivate new perspectives. Retreat activities will be shaped by prayerful listening in community and silent personal reflection, accompanied by music, movement, and creative play. Guests will experience the hospitality of the Foehliage Retreat Center, which offers comfortable lodging, home-prepared meals, and the freedom to explore the ground of this riverfront treasure. The retreat begins with dinner on Friday evening and ends with a prayer service and brunch on Sunday.
The cost of the retreat includes five nutritious meals, lodging, and all materials.
Single rooms: $395 Shared room: $345
Register here:
https://tinyurl.com/RHfall2025

Prayer Gathering for Resilience in Community
2025-11-10 11:00 - 12:00 | ZOOM
Please join us
Monday, November 10
for a
PRAYER GATHERING FOR RESILIENCE IN COMMUNITY
with
short readings and poetry
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon EST on Zoom

With our world in such a time of change, we invite you to spend an hour among like-hearted people of prayer. We will gather on Zoom for a time of community and silent meditation. Join us to be together, holding our hearts open to the Great Love of the Divine and listening deeply in the quiet for the guidance, encouragement and love that we can all lean into as we start walking the long road into the unknown. We invite you to spend an hour among like-hearted people of prayer.
Come when you can, leave when you must.
We will be together from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon EST.
The gift of your presence in the circle
will mean so much to all who gather.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88042304235?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 880 4230 4235 Passcode: [REDACTED]
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One tap mobile
+13017158592,,88042304235#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US (Washington DC) +13052241968,,88042304235#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US
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Meeting ID: 880 4230 4235
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Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kouQUcrCs

Prayer Gathering for Resilience in Community
2025-12-08 11:00 - 12:00 | ZOOM
Please join us
Monday, December 8
for a
PRAYER GATHERING FOR RESILIENCE IN COMMUNITY
with
short readings and poetry
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon EST on Zoom

With our world in such a time of change, we invite you to spend an hour among like-hearted people of prayer. We will gather on Zoom for a time of community and silent meditation. Join us to be together, holding our hearts open to the Great Love of the Divine and listening deeply in the quiet for the guidance, encouragement and love that we can all lean into as we start walking the long road into the unknown. We invite you to spend an hour among like-hearted people of prayer.
Come when you can, leave when you must.
We will be together from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon EST.
The gift of your presence in the circle
will mean so much to all who gather.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88042304235?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 880 4230 4235 Passcode: [REDACTED]
—
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,88042304235#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US (Washington DC) +13052241968,,88042304235#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US
—
Dial by your location
• +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
• +1 305 224 1968 US
• +1 309 205 3325 US
• +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
• +1 646 931 3860 US
• +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
• +1 507 473 4847 US
• +1 564 217 2000 US
• +1 669 444 9171 US
• +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

• +1 689 278 1000 US
• +1 719 359 4580 US
• +1 253 205 0468 US
• +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) • +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) • +1 360 209 5623 US
• +1 386 347 5053 US
Meeting ID: 880 4230 4235
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kouQUcrCs

Women's Christmas
2026-01-03 09:30 - 15:00 | The Foehliage Retreat Center, 31450 Sassafras River Ave, Galena, 21635, United States
Women’s Christmas
January 3, 2025
9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
held at
The Foehliage, Galena, Maryland

“Thus says the Lord: Stand at the crossroads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.” – Jeremiah  6:16
The celebration of Celtic Women’s Christmas is an invitation to rest. Give yourself this special time to refresh your spirit and restore in the company of other women. We’ll sink into the day as a celebration of Celtic Women’s Christmas, an ancient and time-honored tradition of Celtic spirituality shared at the Feast of Epiphany. Gather with us and share in the tradition of a day set aside for women to gather, to be in community with each other, and to rest and refill after a busy holiday season.
Join us on Saturday January 3, 2026 for this time of rest in the Divine God. Through poetry, blessings, time outdoors (weather permitting) and quiet reflection we will refresh our spirits with inspiration from Jeremiah 6:16 as we look to the ‘ancient paths’ to better learn why the celebration was created and continues to this day. It will be a day for communing in nature, personal discovery, group interaction, rest, and renewal for those gathered.
We will enjoy a light breakfast, a wholesome lunch, and the opportunity to enjoy the riverside beauty in our midst and immerse ourselves in nature.

Register: HERE

Prayer Gathering for Resilience in Community
2026-01-12 11:00 - 12:00 | ZOOM
Please join us
Monday, January 12, 2026

for a
PRAYER GATHERING FOR RESILIENCE IN COMMUNITY
with
short readings and poetry
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon EST on Zoom

With our world in such a time of change, we invite you to spend an hour among like-hearted people of prayer. We will gather on Zoom for a time of community and silent meditation. Join us to be together, holding our hearts open to the Great Love of the Divine and listening deeply in the quiet for the guidance, encouragement and love that we can all lean into as we start walking the long road into the unknown. We invite you to spend an hour among like-hearted people of prayer.
Come when you can, leave when you must.
We will be together from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon EST.

The gift of your presence in the circle
will mean so much to all who gather.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88042304235?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 880 4230 4235 Passcode: [REDACTED]
—
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,88042304235#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US (Washington DC) +13052241968,,88042304235#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US
—
Dial by your location
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• +1 305 224 1968 US
• +1 309 205 3325 US
• +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
• +1 646 931 3860 US
• +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
• +1 507 473 4847 US
• +1 564 217 2000 US
• +1 669 444 9171 US
• +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

• +1 689 278 1000 US
• +1 719 359 4580 US
• +1 253 205 0468 US
• +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) • +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) • +1 360 209 5623 US
• +1 386 347 5053 US
Meeting ID: 880 4230 4235
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kouQUcrCs

Receive a Word
2026-01-12 18:30 - 19:45 | ZOOM
Receive a Word

Four Monday Evenings
January 12 – February 2, 2026
6:30 – 7:45 p.m.ET
on Zoom

Guided by Heather Hall, we will explore an alternative to “New Year’s Resolutions.” The modern practice of selecting a “Word of the Year” is based on the ancient wisdom of Desert Ammas and Abbas from early Christianity. The Ammas and Abbas, however, had cultivated a practice of Divine Listening and their wisdom sayings were meant to be pondered for weeks, months or years.
In her latest book – Give Me a Word: The Promise of an Ancient Practice to Guide Your Year – Christine Valters Paintner offers us guidance on slowing down and tuning in to what the Divine is offering you.
As you release the many pressures that surround you— from both within yourself and outside yourself— you’ll learn to listen for what shimmers and stirs within. As you receive your unique message, you’ll discover the invitation. Then you’ll explore the word and ways to carry it as you journey through the year ahead.
Though not required, it’s recommended that you get a copy of Christine Valters Painter’s Give Me a Word. You can purchase it through your favorite bookseller or online at The Retreat House’s Bookshop, here: Give Me a Word a book by Christine Valters Paintner – Bookshop.org US
Your leader for this journey is Heather Hall, who received her first word early in her career and has continued to listen for Divine wisdom.
Participation fee: $75
Register: HERE

Art, Spirit, and Creativity Circle
2026-02-04 18:30 - 19:30 | ZOOM
Calling all spiritually minded, art-loving Valentines…

Come as you are. Bring your longing, your questions, and your love.
Register now and step into this spacious, creative journey of the heart.

On Zoom

You are warmly invited to a six-week art journaling journey devoted to Love.
We’ll explore love in its many expressions—romantic and familial, communal and divine—through encounters with fine arts that open the heart, awaken the body, and guide your hand onto the page. Inspired by artists across time, you’ll be invited into reflection on your own life, beauty, and the presence of God revealed through creation and creative expression.
If you’ve been longing for a change of heart in our troubled world, come discover how the spiritual practices of art gazing and contemplation can open you to the great mystery of God’s love and calling through creativity—washing over you, renewing you, and strengthening your heart.
As St. Thérèse of Lisieux reminds us, “We become what we love, and who we love shapes what we become.” This course is an invitation to attend carefully to what—and whom—you love, and to let that love gently form you.

Course format:

Wednesday, February 4 – 6:30 – 7:30 PM ET — Opening Circle (Zoom | 60 minutes):An introductory gathering to set intention, create community, and begin our shared journey
Wednesday, February 11 through Wednesday, March 4, 2026 — Four Weekly Email Sessions: Art prompts, reflections, and journaling practices delivered to you—one per week (20-30 minutes, or, as desired)
Wednesday, March 11 – 6:30 – 7:30 PM ET — Closing Circle (Zoom | 60 minutes):A reflective gathering to share insights, harvest meaning, and bless what has unfolded

No prior art experience is needed—only a willingness to be present, curious, and open of heart.
Pay $33 for the 6-week course. Scholarships available. Additional donations gratefully accepted.
This course is facilitated and written by Lisa Groen, in partnership with The Retreat House. All proceeds from the course will support The Retreat House, and their online sanctuary for contemplative practice and community.
REGISTER HERE: https://tinyurl.com/Art-Spirit-Creativity

About the circle facilitator:

LISA GROEN is the author of the historical novel The Cassatt Sisters and a collection of essays in The Mother’s Book of Well-Being. Her writing also appears in the textbook The Fourth Genre: Contemporary Writers of Creative Nonfiction.
A graduate of the University of Utah and the MFA program at The Naslund-Mann Graduate School of Writing, Lisa’s essays and short fiction have been published in Brevity, The New Southerner, and featured on Georgia Public Radio. Lisa stepped away from writing for more than a decade to pursue a corporate career and family life. In midlife she felt a pull to return, to tell stories that highlight the resilience and creativity of women across time.
Lisa is a spiritual guide and graduate of the Shalem Institute. Lisa lives in Utah and shares city and mountain homes with her husband and their dog, George Harrison. They have a blended family of five adult children and two grandchildren. Join Lisa on Facebook, Instagram, and Substack.

Prayer Gathering for Resilience in Community
2026-02-09 11:00 - 12:00 | ZOOM
Please join us
Monday, February 9, 2026

for a
PRAYER GATHERING FOR RESILIENCE IN COMMUNITY
with
short readings and poetry
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon EST on Zoom

With our world in such a time of change, we invite you to spend an hour among like-hearted people of prayer. We will gather on Zoom for a time of community and silent meditation. Join us to be together, holding our hearts open to the Great Love of the Divine and listening deeply in the quiet for the guidance, encouragement and love that we can all lean into as we start walking the long road into the unknown. We invite you to spend an hour among like-hearted people of prayer.
Come when you can, leave when you must.
We will be together from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon EST.

The gift of your presence in the circle
will mean so much to all who gather.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88042304235?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 880 4230 4235 Passcode: [REDACTED]
—
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,88042304235#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US (Washington DC) +13052241968,,88042304235#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US
—
Dial by your location
• +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
• +1 305 224 1968 US
• +1 309 205 3325 US
• +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
• +1 646 931 3860 US
• +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
• +1 507 473 4847 US
• +1 564 217 2000 US
• +1 669 444 9171 US
• +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

• +1 689 278 1000 US
• +1 719 359 4580 US
• +1 253 205 0468 US
• +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) • +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) • +1 360 209 5623 US
• +1 386 347 5053 US
Meeting ID: 880 4230 4235
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kouQUcrCs

Prayer Gathering for Resilience in Community
2026-03-09 11:00 - 12:00 | ZOOM
Please join us
Monday – March 9, 2026

for a
PRAYER GATHERING FOR RESILIENCE IN COMMUNITY
with
short readings and poetry
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon EST on Zoom

With our world in such a time of change, we invite you to spend an hour among like-hearted people of prayer. We will gather on Zoom for a time of community and silent meditation. Join us to be together, holding our hearts open to the Great Love of the Divine and listening deeply in the quiet for the guidance, encouragement and love that we can all lean into as we start walking the long road into the unknown. We invite you to spend an hour among like-hearted people of prayer.
Come when you can, leave when you must.
We will be together from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon EST.

The gift of your presence in the circle
will mean so much to all who gather.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88042304235?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 880 4230 4235 Passcode: [REDACTED]
—
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,88042304235#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US (Washington DC) +13052241968,,88042304235#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US
—
Dial by your location
• +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
• +1 305 224 1968 US
• +1 309 205 3325 US
• +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
• +1 646 931 3860 US
• +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
• +1 507 473 4847 US
• +1 564 217 2000 US
• +1 669 444 9171 US
• +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

• +1 689 278 1000 US
• +1 719 359 4580 US
• +1 253 205 0468 US
• +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) • +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) • +1 360 209 5623 US
• +1 386 347 5053 US
Meeting ID: 880 4230 4235
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kouQUcrCs
