This adult retreat is housed at Higgins Lodge and offers opportunities for spiritual formation and personal growth in what is often regarded as a dormant season of the year. Participants will share fellowship, meals, and worship as a large group while breaking into three smaller program tracks. The retreat schedule is balanced between programmed and unprogrammed time.
Participants will choose one of the following tracks:
Forest Bathing led by Henry Fansler
Henry Fansler, Attends Unity Moravian. He has led Creek Crawls and bird netting in summer camp for many years. He is also a member of the Moravian Task force for environmental Stewardship.
Our time at Laurel Ridge allows us the opportunity to connect with Christ in an environment created by God. We will hike a suitable trail and allow the forest and the presence of the Creator to bathe away the cares and hurt we may have brought with us to the mountains. Here we have time to breathe the forest air, gently and calmly walk, touch and experience the texture of bark, listen to the wind and flowing water, look for God in all the details of creation, and heal. Look at things closely and just be in the moment with Christ.
Pastels and Creative Writing led by Rev. Bill Gramley
He continues to bless the Moravian Church in his active retirement from an inspired career as an ordained minister. Bill is a spiritual writer, a visual artist, and a participant in the national Senior Games.
This track is hands on. We’ll get our hands dirty for two sessions as we create colorful chalk pastel pictures. Then we’ll spend two sessions writing about what we’ve learned, remembered, and observed about ourselves and others on our earthly journey. Materials will be provided.
Be Present in the Presence Led by Rev Maggie Cantey
From the moment we wake up in the morning we face distractions. We are bombarded with emails, calls, texts, news alerts, and notifications before we even have time to put our feet on the floor. The simple task of hearing ourselves think can seem overwhelmingly impossible. When we struggle to hear our own voices, how could we ever hope to hear the voice of God speaking into our lives?
Be Present in the Presence is your opportunity to come up the mountain, above the noise and business of your day-to-day life, and spend the weekend being alone with God. It’s a chance to sit with the Lord for a while, to truly be present in that moment, and to let the Lord work in you without the distractions of the world. If you have never taken a solo retreat because you wouldn’t know where to start, this retreat is meant for you. We will provide the schedule, resources, and materials. All you have to do is show up. To assist in the fruitfulness of your time, there will be a number of focuses to choose from including decision making, worry/anxiety, dealing with change, grief, identity, deepening your faith, and rest. Our hope is that through time alone with God and time discussing your experience with others, this retreat will equip you to return home and hear the voice of God over the distractions in your daily life.
Registration includes your room, 6 meals and the program
single occupancy, per person $320
double occupancy, per person $220
You may also contact guests@nulllaurelridge.org or call 336-359-2951 ext 231 with any questions and for booking assistance.