Tending To Our Spiritual Roots and Branches An Introductory Circle of Trust Retreat for Faith Leaders based on the work of Parker J. Palmer 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct 23 – Noon Saturday, Oct 25 Lubrecht Experimental Forest Conference Center 38689 Highway 200, Greenough, MT 59823 Around me the trees stir in their leaves And call out, “Stay awhile.” The light flows from their branches. And they call again, “It’s simple, “they say, “and you too have come Into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled with light, and to shine.” Excerpt from “When I Am Among the Trees” by Mary Oliver Circles of Trust retreats for Faith Leaders are designed to renew the spiritual lives of those in service to others. In this retreat being offered within Lubrecht Experimental Forest in Greenough, MT, we will draw upon the imagery of trees to tend to the roots and branches of our own spirituality, and, in doing so, to deepen our inner resources as faith leaders. The retreat will also provide the opportunity to engage deeply with vocational peers – and with true self. Many faith leaders have said that Circle of Trust retreat participation has been transformational to both their personal and professional lives. Leaders from all faith traditions are welcome. In A Hidden Wholeness, Dr. Palmer describes the importance of creating “circles of trust,” trustworthy spaces in which honest sharing and deep learning can occur: In this culture, we know how to create spaces that invite the intellect to show up, to argue its case, to make its point. We know how to create spaces that invite the emotions to show up, to express anger or joy. We know how to create spaces that invite the will to show up, to consolidate effort and energy around a common task. And we surely know how to create spaces that invite the ego to show up, preening itself and claiming its turf! But we seem to know very little about creating spaces that invite the soul to show up, the core of ourselves, our selfhood. In this introductory Circle of Trust retreat, a cohort of up to 28 clergy will engage in solitary reflection as well as in small and large groups to explore the roots and branches of our spirituality through personal story telling, journaling and exploring poetry and teaching tales from various wisdom traditions. Guided
Transcript
Tending To Our Spiritual Roots and Branches
An Introductory Circle of Trust Retreat for Faith Leaders based on the work of Parker J. Palmer
3 p.m. Thursday, Oct 23 – Noon Saturday, Oct 25 Lubrecht Experimental Forest Conference Center
38689 Highway 200, Greenough, MT 59823
Around me the trees stir in their leaves And call out, “Stay awhile.”
The light flows from their branches.
And they call again, “It’s simple, “they say, “and you too have come
Into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled with light, and to shine.”
Excerpt from “When I Am Among the Trees” by Mary Oliver
Circles of Trust retreats for Faith Leaders are designed to renew the spiritual lives of those in service to others. In this retreat being offered within Lubrecht Experimental Forest in Greenough, MT, we will draw upon the imagery of trees to tend to the roots and branches of our own spirituality, and, in doing so, to deepen our inner resources as faith leaders. The retreat will also provide the opportunity to engage deeply with vocational peers – and with true self. Many faith leaders have said that Circle of Trust retreat participation has been transformational to both their personal and professional lives. Leaders from all faith traditions are welcome.
In A Hidden Wholeness, Dr. Palmer describes the importance of creating “circles of trust,” trustworthy spaces in which honest sharing and deep learning can occur:
In this culture, we know how to create spaces that invite the intellect to show up, to argue its case, to make its point. We know how to create spaces that invite the emotions to show up, to express anger or joy. We know how to create spaces that invite the will to show up, to consolidate effort and energy around a common task. And we surely know how to create spaces that invite the ego to show up, preening itself and claiming its turf! But we seem to know very little about creating spaces that invite the soul to show up, the core of ourselves, our selfhood.
In this introductory Circle of Trust retreat, a cohort of up to 28 clergy will engage in solitary reflection as well as in small and large groups to explore the roots and branches of our spirituality through personal story telling, journaling and exploring poetry and teaching tales from various wisdom traditions. Guided
by skilled facilitators, participants will be invited to speak honestly, to the degree they wish, about our lives and work and to listen and respond to each other - and to self - with encouragement and compassion in a uniquely safe and confidential space. This retreat includes a clearness committee.
This retreat is funded in part by the Center for Courage and Renewal (www.couragerenewal.org) through a generous gift from the Lilly Endowment. Additional support for Montana faith leader retreats has been provided by the Montana-Northern Wyoming Conference, United Church of Christ; Montana Region, Disciples of Christ in Montana; and United Methodist Church in Montana.
RETREAT LEADERSHIP
John A. Fenner prepared for formation facilitation with Parker Palmer and the Center for Courage and Renewal (CCR) in 2003. He is currently program director for the CCR’s Courage to Lead for Clergy and Congregational Leaders. He is a nonprofit consultant whose work includes mediation, dialogue facilitation, anti-racism training, organizational and community change processes, and leadership formation facilitation.
As a Senior Associate with the Everyday Democracy since 1999, he has organized community wide dialogue projects using the Study Circle model around topics such as Education, Growth and Development, Racism, Rural Poverty and Youth Issues. John works with Everyday Democracy around the country to train dialogue facilitators. Between 1989 and 2006, John served as Executive Director of the Center for Dialogue, a community-based nonprofit dedicated to the promotion of peaceful communities and positive change in individuals and organizations.
John is married to Claire and father to 19-year-old Colin and lives in Brevard, NC.
Chris Love has been a Courage and Renewal facilitator since 2006. She has designed and facilitated Circle of Trust Retreats for faith leaders, educators, health care and non-profit professionals.
Working through appreciative inquiry and other positive methodologies, Chris has also offered organization development consulting to non-profits for more than 15 years. She has also led congregational retreats. Adjunct faculty for the Bitterroot College of the University of Montana, Chris is also a Humanities Montana Reflect facilitator. A graduate of the College of William and Mary, Chris holds an M.A. in Humanities from University of Richmond and an M.S. in Organization Development from American University. She lives in Corvallis, MT with her husband Ron and has two adult children, Oliver and Megan.
Location:
Lubrecht Conference Center is located within a 28,000-acre University of Montana Experimental Forest 40 minutes northeast of Missoula, MT on Route 200 in Greenough, MT. The Center’s lodging and conference facilities are situated amidst lovely woods and meadowlands. For more information about this venue, see http://www.cfc.umt.edu/Lubrecht/Facilities/Conference.php.
COURAGE TO LEAD MAIL REGISTRATION FORM (See below for Online Reservation instructions.)
Tending (Nourishing/Nurturing) our Spiritual Roots and Branches An Introductory Retreat for Faith Leaders Space is limited to 28 participants. To assure fullest consideration, please register early. Detailed retreat information will be sent after receipt of registration and upon acceptance into the program. I I wish to attend the October 23 – 25, 2014 Faith Leader Retreat at Lubrecht Experimental Forest and Conference Center, Greenough, MT
Name __________________________________________________________________________
Special Dietary Needs (if any) _______________________________________________________
Vegetarian options will be available. Participants with unusual dietary needs should plan to bring any required food with them. Personal statement: On a separate page, please explain why you are interested in attending this retreat program and how you hope to benefit. Briefly describe the setting in which you do your work and a vocational question you may be holding. Program Costs: ❑ $300 includes program fee, shared double room and board, facilitation and materials. ❑$400 includes program fee, single room and board, facilitation and materials. Limited single rooms will be available on first-‐come first-‐served basis. We will advise you if your single room request cannot be filled. Registration: ONLINE: To register online, go to the Partnership Ministries Website www.docucc.org, click on the link at left entitled “MNWC Events,” scroll down the chronological list of events to “Tending Our Spiritual Roots and Branches.” Click on that link for more information or on “Single Registration” to register. This site accepts MasterCard, Visa and PayPal. MAIL: Please send this completed form, your personal statement and a check for $300 or $400
(depending on single or double room preference)payable to MT-‐WY UCC Courage to Lead Fund to:
Lee Ann Budeski Montana-‐Northern Wyoming Partnership 1019 Central Ave, Great Falls, MT 59401
