JPDWR - Dissolved in 2011
"Our mission, as women in community, is to explore our authentic selves, and to promote gender equity in our lives, our congregations, and in society."
The Joseph Priestley District Women and Religion group was strong and active until 2011. They didn't hold any official retreats after that.
These pages represent some of their archived materials. If you happen to have or know of any others, please consider contributing them to the UUW&R Archive Project. Contact info@uuwr.org.
2011 Schedule
Subject to Minor Change
Friday p.m., September 30
4:30 – 5:15 Arrival// Silent Auction Set Up (all)
6:15—7:00 Dinner (Up the hill in the Dining Hall)
7:00—7:15 Welcome and introduction by Laura of the JPD W&R circle and Retreat Center rep;
7:15—8:00 Opening Ritual by Heather w/ altar contributions by participants
8:00—9:00 Workshop #1 by Heather - Why Women Need the Goddess
9:00 — 10:00 Social Time
Saturday, October 1
7:15—7:45 Silent Zen Walk with Alix; Gentle Yoga stretching exercises with Laura
7:45—8:30 Breakfast (Dining Hall)
9:00—9:15 Background of Women & Religion by Anne
9:15—12:00 Workshop #2 by Anne and Sherri – Introduction to the World’s Goddesses;
Putting Your Goddess into Words w/ one break
12:00—1:00 Lunch (Dining Hall)
1:00 —3:00 Free Time
3:00—5:00 Workshop #3 by Sherri: Meditation: Inner Guide/Wise Self/Spirit Guide Imagery; and
Alix – Making Your Goddess in Clay w/ one break
5:30—6:30 Dinner (Dining Hall)
6:30—8:00 Workshop #4 by Laura – Body Prayer and Introducing Your Goddess (participants)
8:00—10pm Drumming Circle, Social time with Serpent Cake, Goddess songs led by Laura Paligo and others, perhaps by YOU!!!
9:30 pm Silent Auction Closes
Sunday, October 2
7:15—7:45 Gentle Yoga stretching exercises with Laura
7:45—8:30 Breakfast (Dining Hall) and paying for silent auction items in Dining Hall with Alix
8:30—9:15 Packing
9:30—10:45 Closing Workshop by Heather Circle in a Circle and Blessing of the Goddesses
10:45—11 Break
11—12 Worship service by TBA In the Old Chapel (tba)
12:15 Lunch and farewell (Dining Hall and Meeting Rooms)
A Taste of Cakes: RETREAT CANCELLED
Joseph Priestley District
Women & Religion
JPD W & R REGRET TO ANNOUNCE
WE HAVE HAD TO CANCEL
DUE TO INSUFFICIENT REGISTRATION

Revisiting Cakes for the Queen of Heaven
Friday Dinner through Sunday Lunch:
Total Cost: $204
$50 Discount for commuters
Women 16 and older welcome
10% discount for those under 25
------> REGISTER NOW !!!! <------
Join a group of interesting women to learn or refresh your
acquaintance with Cakes for the Queen of Heaven,
the curriculum which has changed so many women's lives!
read more at www.cakesforthequeenofheaven.org
We will be meeting at the Bishop Claggett Center
in Buckeystown, MD,
a comfortable retreat center near Frederick, MD.
Great food, good beds, wonderful country site.
For directions and to see more go to
www.claggettcenter.org
Download Flyer and Registration Form
Drumming in Harrisburg
Drum out the Doldrums! Beat away the Blahs!
The Facilitators’ Circle of the Joseph Priestley District Women and Religion
and the Unitarian Church of Harrisburg, PA
invite you and the women of your congregation to
A Drumming Circle for Women
On Saturday, March 19, 2011
Join Tammi Hessen of Bumbuda
10 am to 2 pm on
Saturday, March 19, 2011,
at the Unitarian Church of Harrisburg
1280 Clover Lane Harrisburg, PA
Bring your sister, daughter or granddaughter over 10 years, a friend or neighbor to join you in learning the rhythms and sounds of the African traditions of drumming and whole-body involvement as a way to shake out unhappiness and suck in the unbridled joy of celebrating life!
Pack a brown bag lunch (drinks and snacks will be provided), wear loose clothes and comfortable shoes and bring your own hand-held rhythm or percussion instrument. If you don’t own one, Tammi will provide instruments for you to use. Enjoy hours of drumming, dancing, and movement designed to imbue you with a happy, healthy spirit.
Advance registration and payment (mail by March 4th)
$20 per person, $15 for your guest under 16 years;
At the door, $25 for adults, $20 for 16 and under
Space limits us to 50 participants: sign up and pay now to be sure of your place!
Babysitting will be available for pre-registrants only!!!
Please advise, with your registration, the number of children you are bringing and their ages.
Send your check made out to The JPD of the UUA to
Mary Ann Rhoads ... Harrisburg PA 17110
Directions See www.Harrisburg uu.org OR see below
From Philadelphia
76 Turnpike West, Take exit 247 to merge onto I-283 N toward PA-283/Harrisburg/Hershey, Take exit 2 for PA-441 N, Turn left at PA-441 N/Lindle Rd , Take the 1st right onto Eisenhower Blvd, Take the 1st left onto Clover Ln/Meadow Ln
From Lancaster
PA-283 W (signs for Harrisburg), Take the exit onto I-283 N toward I-81/I-83/Harrisburg Take exit 2 for PA-441 N, Turn left at PA-441 N/Lindle Rd, Take the 1st right onto Eisenhower Blvd, Take the 1st left onto Clover Ln/Meadow Ln
From Baltimore
I-83 N Entering Pennsylvania, Take exit 46A to merge onto I-283 S toward I-76/Airport/Lancaster, Take exit 2 for PA-441 toward Swatara, Keep right at the fork, follow signs for WI-441 N, Turn right at PA-441 N/Lindle Rd, Take the 1st right onto Eisenhower Blvd, Take the 1st left onto Clover Ln/Meadow Ln
Drumming Circle March 19th: SAVE THE DATE!
JPD Women and Religion and the women of the Unitarian Church of Harrisburg present
Tammi Hessen
http://www.tammihessen.com
will be our Drum out the Doldrums facilitator on
March 19th (10 am to 2 pm) at the
Unitarian Church of Harrisburg.
further information HERE as it becomes available
Friday Oct 15 Sacred Dance/Sacred Drumming
Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
3424 Ridge Pike
Collegeville, PA
Sacred Dance at 7:15 pm
Short Break (bring a snack to share if you can)
Sacred Drumming at 8:45 pm
Bring something that reminds you of autumn for the centerpiece
October 2010 Retreat a Rousing Success!
The Theme Within: Remarks
Despite (or because of?) a much smaller than anticipated enrollment, JPD W & R facilitators Randa, Laura, Alix and Margaret, two presenters and 14 other women took part in one of the most fulfilling, engaging, bonding retreats in current memory.
From Helen Popenoe, Germantown, MD
My expectation was to find enough healing to be able to face [a] problem when I returned home. I ended up coming home with much more positive energy and healing than I could’ve dreamed would be possible. The after-glowing I feel is blessing me with new lightheartedness and peace in a continuing undercurrent for my daily life, now.
The emotional climate, easy schedule and the content were exactly what I needed. A highpoint was Heather’s “just-right” service she gave us Sunday morning (especially the story about the shards of glass.) I’ve heard that story before and never quite got it until Heather put it into words.
From Alexa Fraser, Rockville, MD
I had a wonderful time. I felt welcomed by a new group of women – I only knew 2 before arriving. I think I know all now. … the sisters and cook were wonderful, the tofu was the best I EVER ate, and I loved the facility. I enjoyed learning about the women in religion movement. I really got a lot out of the workshop. I think I will use Soul Collage through the rest of my life as a tool to access those often hidden emotions!
From Pamela Mann, Pottstown, PA
The women's Retreat was an absolute, positive experience for me. The "belonging to the community" started even before we got there. My friend and I were running late because we got lost and we received a warm phone call of concern and were asked if we still wanted dinner - that some would be saved for us. I connected with every person in the group through Soul Collage and personal experiences. There was an excellent balance between structured "learning" and free time. I can honestly say that I would return in the future searching for the women I met on this special weekend and in hopes of finding new women to meet and connect through the UU faith! Thank you for a wonderful experience!
From Dana Wiley, Ardmore, PA
What a great weekend -- so glad to meet you all and share in the whole juicy, intense, and gratifying Soul Collage experience!
From Cindy Neff, Churchville, MD
I had a wonderful time and am so glad I made the effort to attend. At first I was a little nervous about fitting in, but by the end of the weekend I felt right at home! I loved the Soul Collage theme and look forward to continuing to participate in our local area. The opportunity to be in the company of such wonderful strong women...truly a sisterhood that is so valuable for making this journey through life...and such a source of encouragement and strength!
Thank you so much for the opportunity! I really look forward to the next one at the Claggett Center
The Theme Within: Remarks
Despite (or because of?) a much smaller than
anticipated enrolment,JPD W & R facilitators Randa,
Laura, Alix and Margaret, two presenters and 14
other women took part in one of the most fulfilling,
engaging, bonding retreats in current memory.
From Helen Popenoe, Germantown, MD
My expectation was to find enough healing to be able
to face [a] problem when I returned home. I ended
up coming home with much more positive energy and
healing than I could’ve dreamed would be possible.
The after-glowing I feel is blessing me with new
lightheartedness and peace in a continuing
undercurrent for my daily life, now.
The emotional climate, easy schedule and the content
were exactly what I needed. A highpoint was
Heather’s “just-right” service she gave us Sunday
morning (especially the story about the shards of
glass.) I’ve heard that story before and never
quite got it until Heather put it into words.
From Alexa Fraser, Rockville, MD
I had a wonderful time. I felt welcomed by a new
group of women – I only knew 2 before arriving. I
think I know all now. … the sisters and cook were
wonderful, the tofu was the best I EVER ate, and I
loved the facility.
I enjoyed learning about the women in religion
movement. I really got a lot out of the workshop.
I think I will use Soul Collage through the rest of
my life as a tool to access those often hidden
emotions!
From Pamela Mann, Pottstown, PA
The womens' Retreat was an absolute, positive
experience for me. The "belonging to the community"
started even before we got there. My friend and I
were running late because we got lost and we
received a warm phone call of concern and were asked
if we still wanted dinner - that some would be saved
for us. I connected with every person in the group
through Soul Collage and personal experiences.
There was an excellent balance between structured
"learning" and free time. I can honestly say that I
would return in the future searching for the women I
met on this special weekend and in hopes of finding
new women to meet and connect through the UU faith!
Thank you for a wonderful experience!
From Dana Wiley, Ardmore, PA
What a great weekend -- so glad to meet you all and
share in the whole juicy, intense, and gratifying
Soul Collage experience!
From Cindy Neff, Churchville, MD
I had a wonderful time and am so glad I made the
effort to attend. At first I was a little nervous
about fitting in, but by the end of the weekend I
felt right at home! I loved the Soul Collage theme
and look forward to continuing to participate in our
local area. The opportunity to be in the company of
such wonderful strong women...truly a sisterhood
that is so valuable for making this journey through
life...and such a source of encouragement and
strength!
Thank you so much for the opportunity! I really
look forward to the next one at the Claggett Center