You are invited

~ to a Quiet Day retreat;

~ to welcome holy darkness;

~ to wait in stillness

~ to listen within silence

Register via Email to coneiowa@gmail.com on or before December 8

Fee: $10, payable on the day of event

Noon Meal: bring your own lunch

Light Refreshments provided

In the season when glitter displaces light, when expectation (of gifts) replaces preparation (of ourselves to receive the Gift and gift ourselves to others) and sentimentality about the past supplants hope for the future(1), might we look deeper?

For this Quiet Day, there will be opportunities among the following:

Stillness in the Presence (Centering)
Listening to Sacred Writings (Lectio Divina)
Sung Prayer
Noon Meal
Gentle Tai Chi
Time for reflection, journaling, private prayer
"Hands on" activity with supplies from nature led a guide

More info will be shared with those who register

Might we also learn to say with Paul Simon, "Hello darkness, my old friend" and wait in stillness for the God of Silence? How might we live when this mystery(2) is ours, "My only friend is darkness"?

Trinity Episcopal Parish is at 4535 Kimball Ave, Waterloo, IA 50701. For directions follow this link

(1) The contrast of light and glitter, expectation and preparation, sentimentality and hope is not original with us, but from an Advent-Christmas lecture by Robert Bela Wilhelm, ThD.

(2) Psalm 88:18 (CEB)

FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Will there be food provided?

A: Yes, there will be fruit, drinks (coffee, tea and water) and other snacks available throughout the event. However, for this event we ask you to bring your own lunch.

Q2: Will silence be a part of the event?

A: Yes, much of the retreat will include internal and external silence. However, there will some time for conversation with other retreatants.

Q3: Can I attend only part of the retreat?

A: Yes. We encourage people to attend the whole event; however, if you can only come for the morning, you are welcome to do so.

Q4: Will I be expected to share many details of my life?

A: No. There will be time for introductions with other group members, but not extensive sharing. If extended sharing is desired, there will be opportunities to meet one-on-one with one of the leaders.

Q5: Is Trinity Episcopal is handicap accessible?

A: Yes. Trinity has all facilities on one level, and restrooms are accessible.

Night Image by Joe from Pixabay

Beauty - A Fall Retreat

Sponsored by Contemplative Outreach Northeast Iowa Chapter

Beauty is everywhere

In the petals of a flower and the vista over fall foliage at a distance;
In the dance of a honey bee and the sway of an African elephant;
In waves on the seashore and the ripples on a brook;
In the face of a friend and the muscle of an Olympic athlete;
In a view through a microscope or a telescope;
All around and within us.

The "Beauty" retreat is an opportunity to spend time away in the company of other pilgrims. This event, October 24-26 (Friday, 4:30 pm through Sunday 11:30 am) will include structured opportunities for

* Quiet prayer in the Presence;

* Sacred Reading of Scripture;

* Communal Sung Prayer;

* Communal meals; plus

There will be ample free time for

~ Yoga,

~ a Nature walk on the Prairiewood trails,

~ walking an outdoor labyrinth,

~ hand massage,

~ journaling; and more

Registration: To register online, visit our Eventbrite listing for this event (link here); OR send a Message through this page or an email to coneiowa@gmail.com with your intent, and we will send you a form to return with a check for the registration fee.

Fees:

Full Retreat with shared room: $175

Full Retreat with individual room: $215

Commuter: $145 (meals, no overnight room);

One day only (Saturday) $75 (with no overnight)

Half day on Saturday (morning through lunch, or lunch through afternoon) $45

Prairiewoods is at 120 Boyson Rd, Hiawatha, IA.

FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Will there be food provided?

A: Yes, there will be fruit, drinks (coffee, tea and water) and other snacks available throughout the event. Meals will be served by Prairiewoods staff, with the option to accommodate people with special dietary needs.

Q2: Will silence be a part of the event?

A: Yes, much of the retreat will include internal and external silence. However, there will some time for conversation with other retreatants.

Q3: Can I attend only part of the retreat?

A: Yes. We encourage people to attend the whole event; however, if you can only come for one day, you are welcome to do so. The related costs are listed above

Q4: Will I be expected to share many details of my life?

A: No. There will be time for introductions with other group members, but not extensive sharing. If extended sharing is desired, there will be opportunities to meet one-on-one with one of the leaders.

Q5: Is Prairiewoods handicap accessible?

A: Yes. The Center has all facilities on one level. While there are two levels withing the building for sleeping rooms, you may request a room on the floor level. Retreatants will need to assess whether the outdoor grounds are safe for them.

Q6: Is there anything else I might want to know about Prairiewoods?

A: Yes. Indoors, there is an onsite bookstore, an area for meals and snacks, a quiet prayer room, our meeting room, etc. Outdoors, the wooded grounds provide a space to commune in nature; with an outdoor labyrinth available.

Q7: If I cannot attend this event, can my registration be refunded?

A: Refunds are possible until 9 am October 10 for paid registrations that have been received. However, thereafter we cannot provide refunds because of our contract with Prairiewoods. With this contract we guarantee the number of participants and associated fees. Refunds will be the full amount minus the Eventbrite processing fee if payment is made online.

Q8: Can I register for a half day on Saturday?

A: Yes. This is an option with the mail-in registration that you can request via Email to coneiowa@gmail.com. The fee for morning or afternoon, both including lunch, is $45

Q9: What if my personal finances are tight?

A: Scholarships are available upon request. To learn more, contact coneiowa@gmail.com

You are invited...

to Rest...to Pause...

into Stillness...into Quiet

Please note: Due to circumstances beyond our control on March 8, this event has been rescheduled for Saturday, March 15, 2025. Thank you for understanding. All of our presenters can be with us for the rescheduled event except for "Planting a Garden" which will be included in a future event.
Would you like to “Bloom” -

In love, joy and peace?
In patience, kindness and generosity in relationships?
In gentleness, faithfulness and even self-control?
In compassion with justice for others?

You may deepen your Grounding in Divine Presence in order to Bloom via

Quiet Stillness;
Herbs for overall health;
Walking with a Labyrinth or in the sanctuary;
Yoga and/or Tai Chi;
Conversing with another about your journey;
Reading of Scripture quietly while Listening to the Spirit;
Sung Prayer.

Note: Register by email to coneiowa@gmail.com. Include name and phone, on or before Monday, March 10.

A Registration fee of $25 will be received on March 15.

Westminster Presbyterian Church is at 1301 Kimball Ave, Waterloo, IA. For directions follow this link.

Initial Image by Steffen Wachsmuth from Pixabay

We are happy too encourage you to think about attending our March 15 event, Grounding to Bloom. For your consideration, we offer the video below with one of our presenters, Rev. Christine Kaplunas. She will lead sessions during our Free Time about herbs and more. We might say that "Christine will bring us close up to herbs, plants, foraging to give us healthier lifestyles and a lot of information to NOTICE in God's amazing world."

FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Will there be food provided?

A: Yes, there will be light snacks and drinks (coffee and tea) available all day. You may wish to bring any other preferred beverage and/or water bottle. A noon lunch will be served, with the option to accommodate people with special dietary needs.

Q2: Will silence be a part of the day?

A: Yes, part of the day will be embraced by internal and external silence. However, there will also be ample time for conversation with other retreatants.

Q3: Can I attend only part of the day?

A: Yes. We encourage people to attend the whole event; however, if you can only come for the morning or afternoon, you are welcome to do so.

Q4: Will I be expected to share many details of my life?

A: No. There will be time for introductions with other group members, but not extensive sharing. If extended sharing is desired, there will be opportunities to meet one-on-one with one of the leaders.

Q5: Is Westminster handicap accessible?

A: Yes. While there are several levels withing the building, each can be accessed by an elevator in addition to the stairs. However, most of our activities will be on the main level.

Q6: Is there anything else I might want to know about Westminster?

A: Yes. Indoors, stained glass surrounds the sanctuary, and could provide a quiet time of reflection on the beauty of its art. Outdoors, the tree-lined grounds surround a space to commune in nature...weather permitting.

A Retreat

for the Season leading into Christmas

Prairiewoods images from their website . You may want to browse that site to learn more about the location and their facilities.

FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Will there be food provided?

A: Yes, there will be fruit, drinks (coffee, tea and water) and other snacks available throughout the event. Meals will be served by Prairiewoods staff, with the option to accommodate people with special dietary needs.

Q2: Will silence be a part of the event?

A: Yes, much of the retreat will include internal and external silence. However, there will some time for conversation with other retreatants.

Q3: Can I attend only part of the retreat?

A: Yes. We encourage people to attend the whole event; however, if you can only come for one day, you are welcome to do so. The related costs are listed above

Q4: Will I be expected to share many details of my life?

A: No. There will be time for introductions with other group members, but not extensive sharing. If extended sharing is desired, there will be opportunities to meet one-on-one with one of the leaders.

Q5: Is Prairiewoods handicap accessible?

A: Yes. The Center has all facilities on one level. While there are two levels withing the building for sleeping rooms, you may request a room on the floor level. Retreatants will need to assess whether the outdoor grounds are safe for them.

Q6: Is there anything else I might want to know about Prairiewoods?

A: Yes. Indoors, there is an onsite bookstore, an area for meals and snacks, a quiet prayer room, our meeting room, etc. Outdoors, the wooded grounds provide a space to commune in nature; with an outdoor labyrinth available.

Q7 If I cannot attend this event, can my registration be refunded?

Refunds are possible until 9 am November 4. However, thereafter we cannot provide refunds because of our contract with Prairiewoods. With this we guarantee the number of participants and associated fees. Refunds will be the full amount minus the Eventbrite processing fee if payment is made online.

Further invitation. Thanks to all who completed the survey about Spiritual and Mindfulness Practices. We invite you - whether you competed the survey or not - to contribute more deeply. We are hosting a virtual Focus Group and would love your feedback. To join us, send a reply email and we will send you the Zoom link.