Facilitators' Circle
Laura Paligo, co-convenor, librarian, UU Fellowship of Harford County, Churchville, MD
Randa Todd, co-convenor, Unitarian Church of Harrisburg, PA
Margaret Bakker, UU Congregation of Wyoming Valley, Wilkes-Barre, PA
Alix Berenzy, UU Church of Germantown, Philadelphia, PA
Nuala Carpenter, Main Line Unitarian Church, Devon, PA
Heather Gehron-Rice, MDiv, UU Church of Lancaster, PA
Chris Higgins, UU Fellowship of Lower Bucks, Fairless Hills, PA
Anne Mason, UU Church of Lancaster, Lancaster, PA
Lois Morrigan, UU Church of Delaware County, Media, PA
Sherri Philpott, UU Cong. of Frederick, MD, and the UU Cong. of Loudoun, Leesburg, VA.
Anne Slater, news & newsletter, 1st Unitarian Church of Philadelphia, PA
Retreat Center
If you know of a retreat center that would serve our purposes at a modest to moderate cost, please inform Randa Todd, wrrt1946@yahoo.com with as much information as you have.
2008 Fall Retreat
October 17-19, 2008 Fall Retreat
Join us!
Here's the PDF FLYER with more info.
This year’s retreat will be held at Murray Grove in Lanoka Harbor, New Jersey. For information on the retreat center go to: http://www.murraygrove.org. Accommodations are double occupancy rooms. This is a rustic setting, newly renovated.
REGISTRATION FEE AND OTHER COSTS
Retreat fee (bed and board) is $205 for a double room (per person) with meals Commuter fee is $155 and includes all meals. This amount includes the $50.00 registration fee. Registration deadline is October 10. Please make check payable to "JPD Women & Religion". It is our custom to invite you to add a small amount to your check, to help pay the cost for a sister who cannot afford the full fee. Partial scholarships may be available. If you are one who finds the cost of the retreat is more than you can afford, please let the registrar know. We attempt to be inclusive of all women who are interested in our work.Registration:
Name:___________________________________________________________ (please PRINT)Barbara Caballero, ... Waldorf, MD 20601
2007 Fall Retreat Report
From supper time on Friday October 12 thru lunch on Sunday October 14, 32 women from all over the Joseph Priestly District met at the St Raphaela (Retreat) Center in Haverford, PA. The theme was “A Weekend to Change Your Life”, based on the book of the same name by Joan Anderson. On Sunday morning, all agreed that this was the best retreat ever.
The basic question at the bottom of each exercise and work session was “How can I bring balance to my life?” The work sessions included song, meditations, analysis of the various aspects of a human life, considering out what specific qualities or behaviors prevent us from attaining a healthy, balanced life, and what qualities or behaviors help us attain our goals. Sessions worked by means of discussion, meditation, presentation of women in our lives who had inspired us, a silent meditative walk around the heavily wooded grounds of the retreat center, a drumming circle with some ad hoc dancing.
There was much sharing of experiences and “life lessons” among the women who ranged in age from about 30 to 80.
Throughout the weekend a silent auction was held for the benefit of the Continental UU Women & Religion. We raised $335 from the sale of items brought by the participants.
We also “raised” a lot of new friendships across JPD congregational lines, or remembered at which JPD conference or workshop some of us had met one another previously.
Saturday evening brought a serious drumming and chanting and dancing party, the fancily (and fancifully) garbed participants enjoying snacks and wine and a fabulous cake celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of the Women and Religion movement within the UUA.
Sunday morning’s work session was closed with a worship service led by Heather Gehron-Rice, newly graduated with a Master's of Divinity, of Lancaster.
Next year’s retreat, “The Goddess and/in Nature”, will be led by Sarah Campbell, herbalist and Wiccan (www.herbsfromthelabyrinth.com), at Murray Grove Retreat Center (Lanoka Harbor, NJ) on October 17-19, 2008.
If you are interested in learning more about the JPD Women & Religion group or about the retreat, please communicate with Anne Slater or Randa Todd.
2008 Retreat - Tell me more!
Seeking the Goddess in Nature… Finding the Divine Within
What do we mean when we say The Goddess? Who is She? How do we find Her?
“The Goddess is first of all earth, the dark, nurturing mother who brings forth all life. She is the power of fertility and generation; the womb, and also the receptive tomb, the power of death. All proceeds from Her, all returns to Her. As earth, She is also plant life, trees, the herbs and grains that sustain life. She is the body, and the body is sacred.”
-- Starhawk, the Spiral Dance
During this experiential weekend, we will seek to know Her, deep in our bodies, to understand our parts in the divine dance that is the creative universe. Connecting through the elements of life (Earth, Air, Fire, Water & Spirit) we will work, play, sing and dance in sacred space, opening ourselves to an awareness of the interconnectedness of the web of life.
Beginning with a Waters of the World ceremony on Friday night, and culminating with a ritual walking of the labyrinth on Sunday morning, we will come together as a community of women, sisters on a journey.
2008 Retreat Leader - Sarah Campbell
Sarah Campbell embodies the earth mother in her garden, and celebrates her spirituality in the Wiccan manner.Sarah is a community herbalist in Lancaster County, PA. She loves a wild garden best, though she keeps trying to tend a labyrinth herb garden. You can visit Sarah's garden and shop at herbsfromthelabyrinth.com
She finds that plants have a lot to teach humans about being in community, about healing, and about devotion.
A life-long pagan, Sarah was reared part-time in the wilds of Northern Canada by her parents, both cultural anthropologists. Sarah has been a practicing and teaching Wiccan for more than 15 years, and is an initiate in the Reclaiming Tradition, studying for many years with Starhawk and others.
Sarah lives with her husband, Will, and 2 cats, Sushine and Moonbeam. She is mother to one daughter, Kara, and is filled with delight and gratitude for her granddaughter, Ember.
Newsletter
These are in PDF or MSWord format. You will need the appropriate program to view them.
January 2008
June 2007
January 2007
July 2006
