Wisconsin Retreat

Come then and simply be with God. Attend to the divine stirrings of the soul, opening to grace.

During this retreat, participants will experience the distinctly Quaker manner of knowing contemplation in community. There will be individual silent time for prayer, reflection, rest, and walks. Some of our meals will be taken in silence, and we’ll also engage in “active silence,” where we will gather comfortably to read, journal, do handwork or artwork, or engage in some similar quiet activity.

Sinking down into the silence, we are likely to want to give voice to what we’re encountering there, so we’ll have times for worship sharing in small groups as well as an invitation to meet one-on-one with a retreat leader for anyone who wishes to do so.

Because we have heard from many Friends that, in the wake of COVID, they are eager for more communion with other seekers, we will offer, for those who wish to participate in them, some spiritual exercises that have not been offered in previous years. We hope that they will enrich our sharing with one another and enhance our awareness of being gathered in blessed community.

Retreat Leaders

We are so happy to be able to offer once again this retreat at the Siena Center!

Catherine Cox (Goose Creek, Baltimore Yearly Meeting) is a graduate of the School of the Spirit Ministry’s program On Being a Spiritual Nurturer and also of the Shalem Institute’s program Transforming Community: Leading Contemplative Spiritual Groups and Retreats. She has facilitated contemplative retreats under the care of the School of the Spirit for the past ten years.

Thais Carr (Nashville, Southern Appalachian Yearly Meeting) is a graduate of The School of the Spirit program On Being a Spiritual Nurturer as well as the Heart Longings program through Shalem. She is a crafter and gardener in addition to sharing her life with rescued dogs and cats.

Elizabeth Evans (Milwaukee, Northern Yearly Meeting) joins us as a mentee through our retreat leadership mentoring program. She is a graduate of the Siena Center’s Spiritual Guidance Training Program and has been part of a monthly letter-writing spiritual nurture group for more than two decades. 

Accommodations

Siena Retreat Center has 67 private bedrooms with private bath facilities. There is elevator access to all floors and the center is accessible to people with moderate physical limitations. Retreatants have access to the retreat chapel, outdoor labyrinth, Siena Center library, washing machine and dryer on each floor, and Creativity Room with a variety of arts supplies. Please indicate any mobility concerns on the Registration Form. A gallery of photos is available on the Siena Center website.

Schedule

First day:
3:30-5 pm Arrival and settling in

Final day:
12 noon Lunch followed by departure

Times are approximate. A detailed schedule will be sent in advance by the retreat leaders.

Flexible Fees

Full Cost* / Minimum
Single $436 / $240

* This is the cost per person of the event to SotS.

Discernment questions regarding what to pay:

• Is the ‘Full Cost’ of this event within your means?
• If yes, can you pay a little more to support another?
• If the ‘Full Cost’ is not within your means, what can you pay?
• Have you considered asking your meeting or church for financial assistance?

If the ‘Minimum’ is still too much, please contact us at info@schoolofthespirit.org or call (410) 705-5129.

Registration

Registration is in TWO steps.

STEP 1: Click here to register. The form will ask for your personal information, your room and dietary preferences, and what you can pay.

STEP 2: Instructions as to how to pay will appear on your Confirmation Page. Paying online will take you to PayPal where you can pay via credit card. You do NOT need a PayPal account to do this.

Alternatively you can send a check made out to the School of the Spirit Ministry, for the amount in the table. Mail your check to: The School of the Spirit Ministry, c/o 4 Long Shoals Rd. Ste. B484 Arden, NC 28704.

Cancellation Policy
30 days or more prior to the event, full refund less $20 processing fee. 14-29 days prior to the event, 50% refund. Less than 14 days, no refund.