Retreats

Women's Christian Retreat

WHOLEHEARTEDNESS: Cultivating your Whole Heart in Times of Change

Friday November 10 - Sunday November 12

Friday, November 10

4:00 PM – Welcome

5:30 PM – Dinner

7:00 – Wholehearted Session with Marijka Strong

8:30 PM – Wine and cheese by the fire

Saturday, November 11

7:00 AM – Sunrise Yoga with Angela Bryson

8:30 AM – Breakfast

10:00 AM – Wholehearted Session with Marijke Strong

12:30 PM – Lunch

1:30 PM – Farm walk with Farmer Gillian: Women in Agriculture

3:30 PM – Cooking Demonstration with Chef Foote

5:30 PM – Dinner

7:30 PM – Singer Suzy McNeil by the fire

Sunday, Sunday November 12

7:00 AM – Sunrise Yoga with Angela Bryson

8:30 AM – Breakfast

9:30 AM – Wholehearted Session with Marijke Strong

12:30 PM – Lunch

1:30 PM – Departure

In her book, The Gifts of Imperfection, Dr. Brené Brown says “wholehearted living is not a onetime choice. It is a process. In fact… it’s the journey of a lifetime.” 

In the past several years we have all weathered unprecedented change, pressure, grief, loss, anger, fear, and confusion. We have also experienced times of great love, joy, connection, celebration, new beginnings and personal growth.

As the end of this year draws near and a new year glimmers on the horizon, now is the time to reflect on your journey so far and to consider who you desire to be in the future that opens up before you.

In northern climates, the vibrant colours and cooler temperatures of Autumn are followed by closely by the “bleak midwinter,” a time of growing cold and darkness. The natural world seems to die, but under the surface, it is slowing down, turning inward, digging deep, and storing up energy for regrowth. The same can be true for us. Now is the time to tend to dig deep and to tend to our whole heart.

This retreat is an invitation to slow down, turn inward and cultivate our hearts toward the wholeness, healing and spaciousness we desire.

Together We Will:

  • Breathe deeply and ground ourselves in a connected community
  • Tell the story of our past year, naming both our joys and our griefs
  • Consider the ways we have lost our True Selves this year, and how and why
  • Discuss the practice of “befriending the darkness” and turning toward our discomfort
  • Consider the ways we have found our True Selves this year, and how and why
  • Grow in awareness and integration of our True Selves through exercises that help us see and accept every level of who we are, from our core being to our public persona
  • Discuss pressures that block our True Selves and triggers that knock us off-centre
  • Share the art, movies, songs, movements, poetry, books, prayers, playfulness and foods that bring us home to the True Self
  • Commit to life-giving practices that will support our Selves in the seasons ahead of us
  • Remember who we are​

Retreat Leader: Marijke Strong

Marijke is a pastor, community builder, facilitator, coach and spiritual director who supports individuals and facilitates groups toward spiritual growth, emotional health and adaptive change. As a consultant with Creedence and Co. in Waterloo she creates respectful and positive spaces for people to thrive and communities to flourish. Her leadership will anchor our weekend together.

Registration

Single Room: $490 per person includes private room and bath, six meals, snacks and all programs

Double Room: $450 per person per person includes shared bedroom (separate beds), six meals, snack and all programs.

If a financial barrier would prevent you from participating please email [email protected] and ask Kristine about our Wellness Fund.

Register here:  https://crieffhills.campbrainregistration.com/ 

Men's Christian Retreat Friday November 24 - Sunday November 26

Creating Relationships of Resonance in Mid-Life

The men are not all right. Take it from Washington Post columnist Christine Emba who claims, “Men are lost.” There are lots of symptoms, some more extreme than others. The men she surveyed “struggled to relate to women. They didn’t have enough friends. They lacked long-term goals…some guys…just quietly disappeared, subsumed into video games and porn or sucked into the alt-right and the web of misogynistic communities known as the manosphere.” Ouch. But she isn’t wrong. The population with the highest rate of suicide at the moment? Middle aged white males.

Pundits, including Emba, have “solutions.” Look at the popularity of Jordan Peterson among young white males. Some of these are more convincing and compelling than others. And some, like Peterson, might actually contribute to the problem.

This retreat gives men a chance to understand the nature of the problem with masculinity, to experience an alternative, and to learn some ways of improving relationships and meaning in their life.

We will do all of this as a small but temporary community. Key words: chill, not touchy feely. Come and enjoy a few drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic), as we figure out how we can live meaningful lives that are in deep relationship with people.

Registration

Single Room: $490 per person includes private room and bath, six meals, snacks and all programs

Double Room: $450 per person per person includes shared bedroom (separate beds), six meals, snack and all programs.

If a financial barrier would prevent you from participating please email [email protected] and ask Kristine about our Wellness Fund.

Register here:  https://crieffhills.campbrainregistration.com/

Retreat Leader: Rev. Dr. Blair Bertrand

Based in Ottawa, Blair is a minister with the Presbyterian Church in Canada and lecturer at Zomba Theological College in Malawi and Tyndale Seminary in Toronto. He recently published a new book, "When Church Stops Working: A Future for Your Congregation beyond More Money, Programs, and Innovation" with co-author Andy Root.

Bonus! We will be joined by Randell NeudorfHamilton based Artist, Musician & Punk Monk. Randell Neudorf is a Mennonite pastor who is part of a new monastic ministry called GOHOP (Greater Ontario House of Prayer) based in Hamilton and part of the world wide movement of 24-7 Prayer.