A Weekend Retreat with Steve Garnaas-Holmes

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.”