The Retreat House at Hillsboro

Retreat House at Hillsboro 7th Anniversary Celebration and Open House
2021-06-27 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
All are welcome to join in our celebration on the beautiful grounds of the Retreat House! There will be music and laughter and gratitude as we share time celebrating our seven-year journey together.

Wisdom Circle: Seeing the Word Sacred Ordinary Days
2021-07-19 19:00 - 20:00 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
Four Monday Evenings
July 19 – August 9
7:00 – 8:00 p.m. via Zoom
We are pleased to offer this unique experience!

Seeing the Word: Sacred Ordinary Days is a contemplative prayer practice based on 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.
As we journey through this season of “Ordinary Time,” we will explore stories of origin, cultivation, abundance and faith through guided reflection. As we listen with “the ears of our heart” (lectio divina) and look through “the eyes of our heart” (visio divina), the illuminations from the Saint John’s Bible draw us further into contemplative prayer.
From previous participants – “I gained more of a personal relationship to the words of the readings through the art (ie: illuminations) than I would have by just viewing the art by itself.” “The illuminations provide beautiful material to ponder and discuss in community.”
Please register online by July 13th: https://tinyurl.com/RHtheWord, or by email to info@retreathousehillsboro.org

Heather Hall is a 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@discoverwithheather.com

Sacred Ground: A Film-based Dialogue on Race and Faith
2021-09-14 16:00 - 18:00 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
6 Tuesdays – September 14 and 28 – October 12 and 26 – November 9 and 23
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Via Zoom
The Retreat House, in collaboration with Holy Trinity Oxford, invites you to join us in Sacred Ground, a curriculum that is part of the Episcopal Church’s long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation, and justice in our personal lives, our ministries, and our society. The core of this series is the vision of beloved community – where all people are honored and protected and nurtured as beloved children of God.

This opportunity invites us to read, watch and learn about the history of race and racism in America, while grounded in our call to faith, hope, and love. We will explore together this online curriculum, a sensitive, prayerful resource that creates space for respectful and transformative dialogue. Our focus will be on Indigenous, Black, Latino and Asian/Pacific American peoples as their histories’ intersect with European American history, and the impact of all of it on our world today.

We will watch documentaries and read articles to help inform us before gathering for conversation on six Tuesday afternoons via Zoom. Learning together can help us peel away the layers that have contributed to the challenges and divides of the present day and reveal the origins of the inequities that are deeply embedded in our communities today.

The Episcopal Church and Katrina Browne (the director of the documentary Traces of the Trade) have developed this rich series as part of The Episcopal Church’s Becoming Beloved Community which is its long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation and justice.

A suggested donation of $75 is requested but all are welcome regardless of payment amount. Register here.

Why Sacred Ground? This National Church anti-racism program is sacred ground because we walk into painful history, our society’s and our own, accompanied by God and by each other. It is more than reading the books or watching the documentaries that are its “course material,” life-changing though those may be. This is spiritual formation. We do the exploring work rooted in our spiritual life and expect to be changed in the work.

Once you register, we will send you the Zoom meeting link.

Creative Spirit
2021-09-18 10:00 - 15:00 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
Saturday, Sept 18th, 10 am to 3 pm
With Heather Hall
Onsite at the Retreat House at Hillsboro Our souls speak many languages: words, sights, sounds, textures, rhythms and movement, to name just a few. While writers, composers, artists and performers may speak these languages more eloquently, we all have Creative Spirit. Learn to access your Creative Spirit and discover the message God is sharing with you! Let’s release expectations, play and be curious for a day. This retreat is a safe space to come together to discover and embrace the Creative Spirit within each of us. During this retreat, we’ll explore: storytelling, visual arts, lyrics & poetry, music & voice, and the body in motion. No experience necessary. Creative Spirit will take place inside the Retreat House and on the beautiful grounds at Hillsboro (weather depending), following COVID-safe procedures. A light lunch, coffee, tea and water will be provided. A suggested donation of $40 will be gratefully accepted; however, please don’t let finances keep you from attending. Please register online by Wednesday, Sept 15th. Or, by email to retreathousehillsboro.org. Register at https://tinyurl.com/RHfallCS

Retreat Leader: 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 leadership coach, spiritual director and storyteller through arts & crafts. Email: heather@discoverwithheather.com

Autumn Quiet Day: Release, Rest, Renewal
2021-09-30 09:30 - 14:00 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
Thursday, September 30, 9:30 am to 2:00 pm
With Julia Morris-Myers
Take in the early fall beauty unfolding around us on the grounds of the Retreat House. We’ll enjoy the freedom of open space and the opportunity to explore and experience Sabbath as we invite release, rest, and renewal. Our Autumn Quiet Day will offer time for journaling, silence, time outdoors, and gentle conversation. As we settle into the peace of nature in our midst, we’ll explore scripture readings and poetry as inspirations for our own lives and as discernment for what the Spirit might be calling us to notice. What am I called to release in order to make space for rest and to receive the renewal that awaits? How is Sabbath invited this autumn day?
IN-PERSON QUIET DAY – Register at https://tinyurl.com/RHQDfall, or by contacting us at info@retreathousehillsboro.org. This gathering will take place inside the Retreat House and on the beautiful grounds, practicing COVID safe protocols. A light breakfast and lunch will be served. A suggested donation of $40 per person will be gratefully accepted and a portion of the proceeds is used for program scholarships. Please don’t let finances keep you from attending!

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.

Time Among the Trees
2021-10-02 13:00 - 16:00 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
“It’s not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men’s hearts,
as for that subtle something, that quality of air,
that emanation for old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit”
Robert Lewis Stevenson
This early fall retreat on the grounds of the Retreat House invites an afternoon of quiet
reflection and healing.
On a day to day basis we may walk among trees and never really sense their energy and
how we are nourished and supported by them. Trees are more than sticks in the ground and our ability to connect with them in a quiet reflective way can add much to our life.
Join with Mary Anne La Torre and others for an afternoon of meditation and reflection among the beautiful, mature trees at the Retreat House. We will explore simple meditative
practices and have an opportunity to touch into the energy of the earth, the dynamic life beneath us, as well as sit mindfully among the trees and be nourished by them. There will be opportunities for breathing and awareness exercises and conversation.
While the suggested donation is $40 per person, please don’t let finances keep you from attending.
Register online here, https://tinyurl.com/RHTrees, or send an email to info@retreathouseshillsboro.org

Retreat Leader: Mary Anne La Torre is an R.N. with a M.A. in psychiatric nursing and training in acupressure, reiki, homeopathy, flower essences and essential oils. For 30 years, Mary Anne has had a private counseling practice, consolidating these approaches with various wellness and stress management techniques, including meditative and breathing techniques for use in nature.

Re-imagining Prayer: Women’s Weekend Retreat 2021
2021-10-08 18:30 - 2021-10-10 13:00 | Foehliage Retreat Center, 31450 Sassafras River Ave, Galena, MD, 21635
Friday, October 8 – Sunday, October 10
The Retreat House at Hillsboro is pleased to host this weekend retreat led by Linda Mastro at The Foehliage in Galena, Maryland.

“These are some of the things that prayer is. Prayer is rhythm. Prayer is comfort. Prayer is disappointment. Prayer is words and shape and art around desperation, and delight and disappointment and desire. Prayer can be the art that helps you name your desire.”
~ Padraig O Tuama
Sink into the beauty of fall as we explore prayer practices that invite us to a new relationship with God, with ourselves, and with the people in our lives. During our time together we will find renewal in the lodging and meals provided as we enjoy an environment inviting deep listening and heartfelt response. We will have opportunities for conversation, silence, movement, and contemplation. Explore at your own pace – body prayer, journaling, lectio divina, walking meditation, and other experiences that bring our bodies, minds, and spirits into the act of authentic prayer.

Please register by September 25th. For more about the retreat, with information about how to reserve your space and to register – https://tinyurl.com/RHretreat. Or, contact us at info@retreathousehillsboro.org.

MORE ABOUT THE RETREAT
We will gather at The Foehliage Retreat Center in Galena, Maryland, on Friday afternoon. Dinner will be at 6:30 pm, followed by a brief gathering to set the tone for the weekend. Participants will be encouraged to spend the evening in silence. On Saturday, the program will flow in and out of silence, with plenty of time for journaling, walking on the beautiful grounds, quiet reflection, and conversation. The retreat will close on Sunday morning with a prayer service and brunch.
ABOUT THE VENUE
The Foehliage, located in Kent County, Maryland, is an intimate retreat center where guests can enjoy the beauty of nature, the flow of the Sassafras river, and glorious autumn sunrises and sunsets. Our hosts Gene and Suzanne Foehl exemplify hospitality with delicious homemade meals, comfortable sleeping rooms, and an assortment of inside and outside spaces in which to rest, reflect and explore the retreat themes. To see photos of the facility and more information about The Foehliage, please visit their website.

Note on Covid protocols: The Foehliage Retreat Center asks that all guests be fully vaccinated. Mask wearing on-site is optional. Please be mindful of community by participating without any signs of illness.

ACCOMMODATIONS AND COSTS
Single rooms – $395 per person Shared rooms – $345 per person. Rates include the retreat program, 2 dinners, 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 brunch, snacks, beverages, linens, and turn-down service. A limited number of single rooms are available on a 1st come, 1st served basis.
TO REGISTER
To reserve your space, please send a $100 deposit by August 15, 2021. Final payment for holding a space must be received by September 10. Register (here), or mail your check to – The Retreat House, P.O. Box 3, Hillsboro MD 21641.
ABOUT THE RETREAT LEADER LINDA MASTRO
is a graduate and on the faculty of the Bon Secours Spiritual Direction Institute in Marriottsville, MD. Linda serves in liturgical ministry at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Easton and is a spiritual guide for individuals and groups. Linda is a graduate of the University of Delaware and the Maryland University of Integrative Health. A life coach, retreat leader and professional writer, Linda is co-author of the book Petite Retreats: Renewing Body, Mind, and Spirit without Leaving Home. Linda lives in Easton, Maryland. Learn more about Linda at livingpilgrimage.com.

For more information, please contact us:
Retreat Program Linda Mastro at (410) 829-4309. Lodging, logistics, and scholarship availability – Heather Strang at (443) 995-3820

A Poetry Reading with Steve Garnaas-Holmes
2021-11-18 19:00 | Trinity Cathedral, 315 Goldsborough St, Easton, MD, 21601, United States
In-person and via Zoom held at Trinity Cathedral in Easton, Maryland.
Steve shares about his work, his prayer, and his poetry brought to us as Unfolding Light – “Unfolding Light is a daily reflection rooted in a contemplative, Creation-centered spirituality, often inspired by my daily walk in the woods. In poems, parables, psalms, thoughts and the odd weather report I hope to invite readers into a spirit of presence, compassion, justice and delight. Though these writings are rooted in the Christian story you’ll hear in them melodies of many traditions. Unfolding Light is for anyone who wants to be a part of God’s healing of the world.”
Enjoy Steve’s “Love Poem to God” (here).
This gathering is a Retreat House fundraiser. We are deeply grateful for your donations. More below*.
A note on Covid protocols for this event can be found (here).
Register for in-person here.
Register for Zoom here.
*A note on this Retreat House fundraiser – Being the Retreat House is made whole by welcoming each of us into every gathering that we offer, no matter what our financial situation at the time. This event is no different. We are deeply grateful for your donation and your participation in supporting our operations. Community donations such as these are the only source of our funding. Your presence is always a gift to this community. For more information, please contact heather@retreathousehillsboro.org

A Weekend Retreat with Steve Garnaas-Holmes
2021-11-19 08:00 - 2021-11-21 17:00 | Foehliage Retreat Center, 31450 Sassafras River Ave, Galena, MD, 21635
Writing as a Spiritual Discipline
Friday, November 19th – Sunday, November 21th
At The Foehliage Retreat Center in Galena, Maryland

The Foehliage is pleased to offer this in-person weekend retreat with Steve Garnaas-Holmes whose transformative prayer and poetry infuses his readers with gentle inspiration. Steve’s site Unfolding Light shares daily reflections with individuals and communities near and far. A grace-filled weekend of listening, exploring, quiet, and beauty awaits at The Foehliage on the shore of the Sassafras River in Galena, Maryland, approximately 50 miles from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.
Join Steve as he guides us this weekend – “Writing can be a spiritual discipline, if we let go of trying to write something “good” (especially when we label it “poetry!”). I often say poetry is 90% paying attention and 10% taking really good notes. Writing as a spiritual discipline is about the paying attention part. It’s not really about writing; it’s a form of prayer; it’s praying with a pencil. No one needs to hear it except ourselves. But sometimes we don’t even hear ourselves until we say it, or write it. In this retreat we’ll experience several different modes of writing as forms of listening, including journaling, poetry, “found prayers,” and biblical fan fiction.”
The Foehliage offers this retreat with limited attendance providing spaciousness for Covid-safe practices, mindfulness toward social distancing, and generous opportunities for being outside, weather permitting. The cost of the retreat is $325 and includes accommodations and all meals. Ample private rooms are available.
Note on Covid protocols: The Foehliage Retreat Center asks that all guests be fully vaccinated; mask wearing on-site is optional. Exceptional hospitality is the objective of the Foehliage. The health and safety of all guests is at the center of that intention. In these unprecedented times, we encourage all to consider their health and the wellbeing of others by participating without any signs of illness. We will happily refund a good faith registration fee to anyone who becomes ill and decides not to attend the retreat so as not to be a risk to others.
This event has filled quickly. We encourage you to join the waiting list below in the event of cancellations. For more information, please contact heather@retreathousehillsboro.org or to join the waitlist click here.

MORE ABOUT STEVE GARNAAS-HOLMES – “I’m a retired United Methodist pastor. My wife Beth and I live in Maine. We have three grown sons whom I love dearly. I served churches for 40 years in Montana and New England. I’ve also lived in South Dakota, California, Washington and Minnesota. I often lead retreats on prayer, poetry and renewing our language about God. I used to write and perform with the Montana Logging & Ballet Company, a quartet that did music and comedy around the country, but people laughed us off the stage so after 37 years we quit. I write a lot of church music. I am trying to be here now.”

Simple Silence by the River
2021-12-03 08:00 - 2021-12-05 17:00 | Foehliage Retreat Center, 31450 Sassafras River Ave, Galena, MD, 21635
A Weekend Retreat with Francie Thayer at The Foehliage Retreat Center Galena, Maryland
This Advent, we invite you to step out of the world for a moment and invite a time of stillness. Come spend some time remembering that God is not far off. Indeed, come spend open-hearted time noticing just how near God is.
Our invitation this weekend is to step out of the world’s stories and notice God’s stories
that enfold us each day—in the ground beneath our feet, the canopy of limbs over our
head, the chair offered to us, the unspoken kindness of the person serving us tea.
Sometimes being in silence can remind us of a sacredness of life that we don’t fully see
with the sound turned up. Like other silent retreats, we will begin by sharing dinner and
conversation. Our retreat leader will offer inspiration and guidance before we go off to
bed, beginning our silent weekend in community. Saturday will be a day of silence and
rest—no organized programming, just space and time to be and let be. As we gather for
brunch on Sunday, we will once again share conversation and any gifts that may have
risen during the weekend. Come, and for a time, turn down the sound of the world. Bring
a friend! This retreat invites both men and women.
REGISTER AT – https://tinyurl.com/RHdec3-5, or by contacting us at info@retreathousehillsboro.org. This gathering will take place at The Foehliage Retreat Center, in Galena, Maryland. Read (here) about the Covid-safe protocols for this retreat. The cost for this retreat is $299 and includes lodging and meals.

FRANCIE THAYER is the Director of the Retreat House at Hillsboro and received her training in spiritual guidance at The Shalem Institute in Washington DC. A life-long Episcopalian, she received a Masters Degree from Virginia Theological Seminary in 2014. She lives in Galena, MD with her husband where their three adult children love to visit.

Gathering of the Greens
2021-12-05 13:00 - 16:00 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
Join us for a festive day enjoying the outdoors while creating a lovely hand-made wreath or swag from Retreat House greenery, including American Redwood, Magnolia, Holly, Boxwood, and White Pine. We’ll stay warm with a cup of hot cider and a wood fire. During your time, enjoy browsing our Sacristy Bookshop in St. Paul’s Church. We hope to see you there!

Blue Christmas: A Service of Prayer and Praise
2021-12-14 18:30 - 19:30 | St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Centerville, 301 S Liberty Street, Centreville, MD, 21617, United States
While December is filled with delight for many, it can be a difficult time for some of us, especially this year as Covid-tide stretches on and on. Please come and join us for a time of prayer and comfort as we gather to remember. With the lighting of candles, we will remember those whom we love who have died. With listening and prayer, we will hold space for naming both struggles and gratitudes. With the strength and comfort of community, we will share in opening our hearts to receive the Great Love of the Holy One, practicing together receiving from God.
This service of prayer and praise will take place in the church, St. Paul’s in Hillsboro. We hope you can be with us for remembering, receiving and comfort.

Illumination
2021-12-18 16:30 - 21:00 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
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.

Women's Christmas
2022-01-08 09:30 - 14:30 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
The Feast of the Epiphany is also celebrated as Women’s Christmas – a day of rest for women after weeks of preparing for the holidays. Inspired by Jan Richardson’s annual Women’s Christmas Retreat, we have created a celebration just for you.
A retreat day like this is good for your soul! We invite you to please make time for yourself to refresh your spirit, and rest in the company of other women. Feel free to bring your needlework, sketchbook, journal, or any simple project that makes you happy. There will be poetry, prayer, and quiet walks on the grounds to inspire a sense of peace and comfort. Together we will explore ways to nurture and honor ourselves more often, to create “Sabbath moments” in our daily lives.
The retreat will be led by Suzanne Foehl and Meg Gallagher. A simple breakfast and lunch will be included. (We are particularly excited about lunch–it’s a special surprise.) This gathering will take place inside the Retreat House and on the grounds, practicing Covid-safe protocols. For this event, we ask that participants be fully vaccinated. Masks are optional. A suggested donation of $40 would be gratefully accepted, but please don’t let finances keep you from attending. All are welcome! Register online at https://tinyurl.com/WomenThisDay or send an email to info@retreathousehillsboro.org.

Winter With Us
2022-01-12 14:00 - 17:00 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
In-person and Online
What is winter inviting you to this year?

Winter With Us at the Retreat House as we take time to receive the gifts of the heart following the abundance of the holiday season. Each Wednesday for six weeks, we will listen to writings and poetry and prayers shared by our friends and teachers, and then we will enjoy a free and gentle silence. There will be simple questions to ponder and an opportunity to reflect in community, but this time will be yours to enjoy as you wish.
Come for one or all of these days and join in any way that feels welcoming to you — in person or live online. You will also have the option to find another time to savor the readings using a link to the offering.
More about this complimentary event will be sent by email after registering below. For a sample reading, enjoy this poem by Macrina Wiederkehr inviting us all into winter. “Listening to Winter”
Learn more and sign up for this invitation here.

Winter Quiet Day: Reflect & Renew
2022-01-13 09:30 - 14:00 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
During this quiet day, we’ll settle into the peace of winter in our midst
and reflect on scripture readings and poetry as inspirations for the year ahead. We will take some time to think about the past year and what we might want to keep or let go of in the year to come. We’ll enjoy the opportunity to make a craft from twigs and yarn to remind us of our intent for the new year. Throughout the day, there will be substantial time for quiet and journaling, or another activity such as reading,
knitting, or walking.
IN-PERSON QUIET DAY – Register at https://tinyurl.com/RHWinterQD or
info@retreathousehillsboro.org. This gathering will take place inside the Retreat House with outdoor time on the beautiful grounds, weather permitting. We will practice covid safe protocols and ask that participants be fully vaccinated; masks are optional. A light breakfast and lunch will be served. A suggested donation of $40 per person will be gratefully accepted and a
portion of the proceeds is used for program scholarships. Please don’t let
finances keep you from attending!

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.

Soul Searching: Stories of Faith with Porter Taylor
2022-01-31 13:00 - 2022-02-21 14:30 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
Four Tuesdays
January 31 – February 21
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
on Zoom
When people asked Jesus hard questions, he told them a story. Stories are a principal way we can grasp the parts of our lives that are mystery. The writer John Shea wrote— “We turn our pain into narrative so we can bear it. We turn our ecstasy into narrative so we can prolong it. We tell our stories to live.”
The objective of this course is to see what story has to tell us about our own journey of faith. We will use a text of autobiographical narratives: Searching for Your Soul: Writers of Many Faiths
Share Their Personal Stories of Spiritual Discovery, edited by Katherine Kurs. I like the wide range of religious backgrounds and orientations in this book because the variety enables us to see our own story more clearly. The primary task is to let the stories and poems sink into your mind and heart so that they can enable you to rediscover the depths of your own story. The poems for each week and an outline will be emailed. Thank you for being part of this.
REGISTER HERE: https://tinyurl.com/SoulSearchingStoriesofFaith. A suggested donation of $75 will be gratefully accepted. Please don’t let finances keep you from attending! Searching for Your Soul is encouraged for this series and can be purchased here. For more information, please email heather@retreathousehillsboro.org

Lenten Retreat Day - Seeking and Finding Hope in the Midst of Uncertainty
2022-03-04 09:00 - 15:00 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
Seeking and Finding Hope in the Midst of Uncertainty

Friday, March 4, 2022
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
in-person with Fr. Phil Cover

The pandemic has turned our lives and everything we knew and trusted upside down and inside out. Yet, in the season of Lent, we are invited to engage hope and promise by pondering the undercurrents that have so disrupted the flow of life — and therein encounter new life as we discover the spiritual power hidden in the turmoil. Join us as we together bring to light what God seeks to teach us about who God is in all of our experiences.
“My soul waits for the Lord.” – “So now, Lord, for what do I wait?”
Psalm 33:20 – Psalm 39:7
On this retreat day, we will form spiritual community, pray, reflect, and share together what we long for, what we are waiting for. Together we will reopen the importance of community as a sacred place for holding the uncertainty and suffering long enough to be profoundly transformed by it. REGISTER HERE: LentenHope. A suggested donation of $55 will be gratefully accepted. Please don’t let finances keep you from attending! This gathering will take place inside the spacious St. Paul’s Church practicing Covid-aware protocols. We ask that participants be fully vaccinated and wear masks. A light breakfast and lunch will be served, with vegan and gluten-free options available. Please bring a personal water bottle, and appropriate attire for outdoors, weather permitting. For more information, please email heather@retreathousehillsboro.org About the Retreat Leader: Fr. Phil Cover is a spiritual director, retreat leader, educator, pilgrim guide, and author. His spiritual roots are in the Christian contemplative tradition.

Lenten Storytelling with Porter Taylor
2022-03-06 18:00 - 19:30 | ZOOM
Lenten Storytelling
with Bishop Porter Taylor

Sunday Evenings
March 6 – April 3, 2022
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
via Zoom

Lent is less a season to observe and more a walk to walk. As the days get longer and the light more accessible, so are we invited to cast aside all that gets between us and resurrection. One theologian commented, “Everything that happens to Christ happens to us.” In that sense, the Bible is a road map for us to follow, indicating the terrain of our journey with Christ and in Christ and to Christ.

These five sessions are intended to help us discover how we can consciously walk the way of Lent. Each week we will focus on a di erent theme and engage in one of the readings from the Lenten lectionary for the upcoming Sunday. Rather than a Bible study, we are invited to discover how to live this Lenten journey in our own lives. This is a community sharing how they have walked and are walking the Lenten pilgrimage. REGISTER HERE: https://tinyurl.com/RHLent. A suggested donation of $50 for early registration (until February 6th) will be gratefully accepted. Please don’t let finances keep you from attending! Lent by Evelyn Underhill is encouraged for this series and can be purchased here. For more information, please emailheather@retreathousehillsboro.org Bishop Taylor joined the Diocese of Virginia as Assisting Bishop on July 1, 2020 after retiring as Bishop of the Diocese of Western North Carolina in 2016. In retirement, he also joined the faculty of Wake Forest University Divinity School. Bishop Taylor holds a Master of Divinity, a Ph.D. in Theology and Literature, and a B.A. and M. A. in English. He and his wife Jo, an artist, are based in both Arlington, VA, and Asheville, NC.

Sacred Ground
2022-03-10 16:00 - 18:00 | ZOOM
Sacred Ground

Six Thursdays, March 10 and 24 – April 7 and 21 – May 5 and 19
via Zoom

The Retreat House invites you to participate in Sacred Ground, a curriculum that is part of the Episcopal Church’s long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation, and justice in our personal lives, our ministries, and our society. The core of this series is the vision of beloved community – where all people are honored and protected and nurtured as beloved children of God.

This opportunity invites us to read, watch and learn about the history of race and racism in America, while grounded in our call to faith, hope, and love. We will explore together this online curriculum, a sensitive, prayerful resource that creates space for respectful and transformative dialogue. Our focus will be on Indigenous, Black, Latino and Asian/Pacific American peoples as their histories’ intersect with European American history, and the impact of all of it on our world today.

We will watch documentaries and read articles to help inform us before gathering for conversation on six Thursday afternoons via Zoom. Learning together can help us peel away the layers that have contributed to the challenges and divides of the present day and reveal the origins of the inequities that are deeply embedded in our communities today.

The Episcopal Church and Katrina Browne (the director of the documentary Traces of the Trade) have developed this rich series as part of The Episcopal Church’s Becoming Beloved Community which is its long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation and justice.

A suggested donation of $75 is requested but all are welcome regardless of payment amount. Register here.

Women's Day of Rest
2022-03-26 09:30 - 14:00 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
Saturday, March 26 9 30am – 2 00pm We have transformed the timeless Celtic tradition of Women’s Christmas into Women’s Day of Rest. Please take this day for yourself — to refresh your spirit and rest in the company of other women–to enjoy a long, deep, loving breath before being drawn into the season ahead. A retreat day is good for your soul! There will be poetry, prayer, and quiet space. Refresh yourself with time for walks, journaling, anything that inspires a sense of peace and comfort. You can bring your needlework, sketchbook, or any simple project that makes you happy. Together we will explore ways to nurture and honor ourselves more often, to create “Sabbath moments” in our daily lives.

The retreat will be led by Suzanne Foehl and Meg Gallagher. A simple breakfast and lunch will be included. This gathering will take place inside the Retreat House and on the grounds, practicing Covid-safe protocols. For this event, we ask that participants be fully vaccinated. Masks are optional. A suggested donation of $40 would be gratefully accepted, but please don’t let finances keep you from attending. All are welcome!

Register online at – https://tinyurl.com/RHWomenRest OR send an email to info@retreathousehillsboro.org.

Spring Quiet Day - Reflect and Renew
2022-04-28 09:30 - 14:00 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
Thursday, April 28, 9:30am – 2:00pm –
During this quiet day, we’ll take in spring’s new life around us. There will be time to reflect on the past winter, both seasonally and pandemic-wise, and to think about our desires for going forward into the season of new birth. Throughout the day, we’ll savor scripture, poetry, journaling, and conversation. Enjoy plenty of time for quiet and the opportunity to make a craft that reflects the invitations of the season.

IN-PERSON QUIET DAY – Register at https://tinyurl.com/RHSpring OR info@retreathousehillsboro.org. This gathering will take place inside the Retreat House with outdoor time on the beautiful grounds, weather permitting. We will practice covid safe protocols and ask that participants be fully vaccinated; masks are optional. A light breakfast and lunch will be served. A suggested donation of $40 per person will be gratefully accepted and a portion of the proceeds is used for program scholarships. Please don’t let finances keep you from attending!

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.

The Wisdom of Aging
2022-04-30 09:00 - 12:30 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
Join us for a lighthearted forum for women and men to discuss the interesting, and often surprising, experience of aging. At this gathering, we will take time to reflect on the many aspects of our “elderhood”— the privileges, the setbacks, the questions and the joys.

Inspired by readings, storytelling and fun exercises, together we will seek comfort, laughter and perhaps a new understanding of this sensitive and precious time in our lives. Please bring an open mind, a tender heart, and sense of humor for the day’s journey.
A light breakfast will be provided. Registrants are encouraged to bring a bag lunch to enjoy together at the close of the retreat. A suggested donation of $40 per person is appreciated. All are welcome, so please don’t let finances keep you from attending. Please register online by Wednesday, April 27, here https://tinyurl.com/RHAging OR by email to info@retreathousehillsboro.org.
ABOUT THE FACILITATORS: LINDA MASTRO is a graduate and on the faculty of the Bon Secours Spiritual Direction Institute in Marriottsville, MD and a liturgical minister at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Easton. Linda is a spiritual companion for individuals and groups and a women’s retreat facilitator. She is co-author of the book Petite Retreats: Renewing Body, Mind, and Spirit without Leaving Home.
MEG GALLAGHER is a writer, retreat leader, and life coach. She also enjoys her work as Innkeeper at the Retreat House at Hillsboro where she is learning the contemplative way of life. She and her husband, Pat, live in Hillsboro.

Wednesdays in May
2022-05-04 10:00 - 15:00 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
We’re looking forward to Wednesdays in May and the opportunity to “hang out” with friends, wander the grounds, enjoy conversation, and take in the beauty of May. We hope you’ll stop by!
Come for a leisurely visit any time throughout the day – enjoy a morning sweet treat and coffee; a cup of afternoon tea; or, if you like, bring a bag lunch. We look forward to savoring the day and gathering between 10am and 3pm. While you’re here, check out the labyrinth or the new additions to the Sacristy Bookshop. And, feel free to bring a friend. We look forward to seeing you!

Spring Wisdom Circle - Gentle Invitations from the Spirit
2022-05-18 17:30 - 19:00 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
Join us with Debra Donnelly-Barton for four Wednesday evenings this spring, May 18, 25 and June 1, 8, from 5:30pm – 7:00pm. We will gather in-person at The Retreat House at Hillsboro.
To move upon the earth as Beloved. . .
Stand at the crossroads, and look; ask for the ancient paths,
where the good way lies, and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. Jeremiah 6:16
A spirituality of gentleness is about finding balance, nurturing a tenderness that supports ‘the good way,’ and loving curiosity enough to come close to the Spirit. Our four evenings together will be ‘wondering’ time. We’ll let questions serve as portals to the ancient ways of walking and praying. We’ll pay attention to what Spirit gives us between meetings, then share with each other what we are discovering. Our prayer forms will explore poetry, art, and photography. Gentleness is more posture than practice, but practice will help us stand tall as we walk upon the dear earth.
A blessing from Debra for your journey:
May the Spirit of Gentleness be with you, caressing you with sunlight and rain and wind;
may Spirit’s tenderness shine through you to warm all who are hurt and lonely;
may the blessing of gentleness be on you.
Let us begin today to stand and look—to attend and to see—I hope you will join us.

IN-PERSON EVENT: Register at https://tinyurl.com/GENTLESPIRIT, or by contacting us at heather@retreathousehillsboro.org. A light evening snack will be provided. Each participant is invited to bring a contribution to share in the community. A suggested donation of $75 per person for this series will be gratefully accepted; please don’t let finances stand in the way. We will practice Covid-aware protocols and ask that participants be fully vaccinated; masks are optional. DEBRA DONNELLY-BARTON is a graduate of the Stillpoint School for Spiritual Direction and the General 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 engaged in an intensive training in centering prayer with Thomas Keating.

Prayer Paddle
2022-05-21 09:00 - 11:00 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
Join us on Saturday, May 21 from 9am – 11am as we gather on the river, with time in silence, conversation, and guided prayer practice. Please bring your own kayak, canoe, or stand up paddle board and gather at the Hillsboro Town Dock. We are happy to connect you with a kayak rental, if needed. This is a complimentary community gathering and we ask for prior registration. Register here: https://tinyurl.com/PrayerPaddle

Second Saturdays - Summer with Us
2022-06-11 09:00 - 16:00 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
Second Saturdays – Summer with Us – Come as you are. Join us for this family-friendly easy day. Come for a short time or the entire day: sink into the peaceful grounds; sip a cup of coffee; visit the Sacristy Bookshop; enjoy a picnic; take a labyrinth walk; and, otherwise wander and relax amid the stately, mature trees and beautiful flowers that grace our grounds.
We’ll enjoy conversation starting at 10:00 a.m., with coffee from our friends at Rise Up Coffee and other treats. At 11:00 a.m., we’ll gather at the Sacristy Bookshop, peruse our collection, and share conversations with authors and friends from our community in a time called Meet the Author. Throughout the day, all are welcome to bring a picnic and to spread out a blanket. We’ll close the day with a Celtic Prayer Gathering starting at 3:00 p.m. Check out these other offerings by visiting our calendar.
We’re looking forward to seeing you!
For more information contact heather@retreathousehillsboro.org

The Sacristy Bookshop - Meet Anne Tazewell
2022-06-11 11:00 - 12:00 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
On June 11, at 11:00 a.m., all are invited to The Retreat House as we welcome Anne Tazewell, author of A Good Spy Leaves No Trace: Big Oil, CIA Secrets, and A Spy Daughter’s Reckoning. Join us for a leisurely conversation about Anne’s book and her work. We’ll explore how this story about “a spy daughter’s reckoning” touches on some big topics: the spirituality of writing, the environment, fractured family relations, and our planet’s future. Anne will share stories from her book with musical interludes by Richard Tazewell.
This conversation is offered as part of our community day called Second Saturdays – Summer With Us. We welcome you for the entire day, or for any part of the day!

The Retreat House 8th Anniversary Celebration
2022-06-11 13:00 - 15:00 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
All are welcome to join in our celebration on the beautiful grounds of the Retreat House! As part of Second Saturdays – Summer With Us on June 11, we will celebrate the entire Retreat House community, each, and every person. Your presence, support, and encouragement have helped to grow this place and love it into being. There will be music, laughter, and refreshments as we share time celebrating our eight-year journey together. Join us!

The Wisdom of Aging - "To Thine Own Self Be True"
2022-06-14 14:00 - 16:00 | The Retreat House, 22005 Church Street, Hillsboro, MD, 21641, United States
Come to the Retreat House for an enjoyable conversation about this special
time in our lives. Using Shakespeare’s words as a guide, we will consider what
is essential as we walk this path. What do we hold dear?

Inspired by readings, storytelling, and fun exercises, together we will find
comfort, laughter, and perhaps a new perspective on this tender process.

This is an in-person gathering. Snacks and beverages will be provided. A
suggested donation of $20 per person will be appreciated. All are welcome, so
please don’t let finances keep you from attending. Seating is limited; please
register online by Thursday, June 9 – here WISDOM OF AGING
or by email to
heather@retreathousehillsboro.org.

ABOUT THE FACILITATORS: LINDA MASTRO is a graduate and on the faculty of the Bon Secours Spiritual Direction Institute in Marriottsville, MD. She is a liturgical minister at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Easton. Linda is a spiritual companion for individuals and groups and a women’s retreat facilitator. She is coauthor of the book Petite Retreats: Renewing Body, Mind, and Spirit without Leaving Home. MEG GALLAGHER is a writer, retreat leader, and life coach. She also enjoys her work as Innkeeper at the Retreat House at Hillsboro where she is learning about the contemplative way of life. She and her husband, Pat, live in Hillsboro. Photo by Siora Photography. unsplash.com.
