Mysteries of Creation

Patterns in NatureAn Artist Refuge Retreat sponsored by Rolling Ridge Meditative Arts Led by Trish Stefanik
October 6-8
Friday Evening - Sunday Afternoon
Retreat House

"My book is the nature of created things; whenever I want to read the word of God, it is there before me." — Antony, early Christian desert father

What does the nature of creation tell us about the Creator? Can we experience God through the wonder, complexity, and mystery of the natural world? What might we human creations learn from the patterns in Nature – the infinite diversity, particular forms, universal rhythms? How are we inspired?

Come away to the beautiful mountain wilderness this fall to creatively explore these questions through contemplation and walking meditation, silence and shared reflection, and a variety of art mediums. Observing, listening, and interacting with our natural surroundings, we will work in the Art Cottage to create a collective collage of our inspirations. We’ll bring to the table our many expressions and build a marvelously cohesive whole – reflecting God’s created order. No art experience is necessary; just come with a willingness to learn from the wisdom of Nature and each other.

Participants are welcome to arrive at the Retreat House between 5 and 7 pm on Friday night. Dinner will be served at 7:00. The retreat will end with lunch on Sunday.

Cost for the weekend is $100 (which includes materials, lodging, and meals). Space is limited. Please send a $25 deposit (or the entire amount) to reserve your space. If you have questions, please call Keith at 304-725-4301. Checks should be made out to RRSRC and mailed to RRSRC, c/o Oct 06 Med Arts, 186 Tupelo Lane, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425. Registrations should include any dietary needs.

Trish Stefanik is contemplative artist-in-residence with Rolling Ridge Study Retreat Community. She was recently on staff at the Servant Leadership School in Washington, DC and is grounded in leading contemplative prayer groups and retreats through the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation.

Strawbale Workshop

Led by Sigi Koko
Sunday, September 17, 2006
8:30 am - 5:00 pm<br><em>Rain date October 9, 2006</em>
Cordwood House


STRAWBALE WORKSHOP
at Rolling Ridge

Led by Sigi Koko
With Scot and Linda DeGraf
Sunday, September 17, 2006
8:30 am - 5 pm
Rain date October 9, 2006

We will be stacking and tying straw bales around the doorframe on the north side of the cordwood cottage. Hopefully we’ll also make cob plaster and begin to finish the inside of the walls. Come see the progress that has been made and have a hand in raising the straw bale wall.

Sigi Koko founded Down to Earth to provide sustainable design and consulting services in the Mid-Atlant8ic region. Sigi designs natural, healthy, and sustainabe buildings (residential and commercial), and specializes in healthy and sustainable building materials, strawbale construction, energy and water conservation, and passive solar design. For more info visit: www.buildnaturally.com. Scot and Linda will be joining the Rolling Ridge staff community, and will be living in the cordwood house while completing a new community staff house.

Cost of the Workshop - $65 including lunch. Please register with Scot at scot@rollingridge.net or Linda at linda@rollingridge.net. We will need at least 8 people to be able to host this workshop. (If finances are an issue, please contact us).

To see how the cordwood workshop went in July, visit this photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/73974168@N00/?saved=1

For directions and informationa about Rolling Ridge, visit www.rollingridge.net.

Make your plans now to attend these other retreats sponsored by Rolling Ridge in 2006:

  • Meditative Arts Retreat: Mysteries of Creation/Patterns in Nature (October 6-8)
  • Rolling Ridge 2006 Annual Meeting (November 11, 2006)
  • Advent Retreat (December 1-2)
  • A Day Away for Pastors and Church Leaders (Second Monday of each month)
  • Or create your own private retreat during the week. We offer spiritual direction and directed retreats for individuals during the week days. Call us for details.

View or print PDF version of retreat flyer

A Day Away

For Pastors and Church Leaders
Monday, September 11, 2006
10:00 am - 1:00 pm or 4:00 pm
Retreat House

Throughout his ministry, Jesus regularly took time to withdraw to a quiet place, to reflect and pray.

Retreat and rest is vital, and yet busy schedules often prevent us from setting aside the time we need.

We invite you to join us on the second Monday of each month for "A Day Away," a Sabbath day especially set aside for pastors and church leaders at Rolling Ridge Study Retreat Community.

 

Rhythm of the Day

We will gather at the Retreat House at 10:00 a.m. for brief input, followed by your own time for prayer and reflection. Lunch will be served at noon. Retreatants may choose to leave at 1:00, or stay until 4:00 to hike the trails, sit quietly in the Meditation Shelter, get creative in the Art Cottage, or settle into a room to journal, rest or pray.

Second Mondays

"A Day Away" for pastors and church leaders will take place the second Monday of each month. The day is offered at no cost to attendees. Donations are accepted. Join us as often as you wish!

RSVP

Please let us know you will be attending by calling 304-724-6653 or emailing us at community@rollingridge.net. But if you forget to let us know in advance, come anyway!

About Rolling Ridge

Rolling Ridge Study Retreat Community is a non-profit, ecumenical retreat center, begun in 1986. It is located on 1400 acres of wilderness land in the Blue Ridge mountains. Facilities include a Retreat House, Meditation Shelter, and an Art Cottage.

Private Retreats

In addition, the Retreat House is frequently available during the week for private retreats. Please call the staff community at 304-724-6653 to schedule a time.

Directions

From Charles Town or Martinsburg: Go east on Route 9. After crossing the Shenandoah River, go one mile and then turn right on Mission Road. Go 6.3 miles, and turn left at the Rolling Ridge sign onto the gravel road (still called Mission Road). Go one mile and turn right at the intersection, following Mission Road. Go .3 miles and turn left at Christ Church Road, following the signs for Retreat House.

Annual Labor Day Work Day

September 4, 2006
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Retreat house

We would like to invite you to join with the Rolling Ridge staff community for our annual work day retreat this labor day.

Can work together be a retreat?

We think so. That's why we often end this day of shared work with more energy and joy than when we began. As we work through the day, we are restored with good conversations, reconnection with others who love this land, a simple shared meal from the Rolling Ridge garden, singing together in the meditation shelter, and the delight of stretching and moving our bodies in new ways.

Shared work can be prayer together and a time that renews our soul. Join us at the Retreat House for this special day. Bring your work gloves and boots, and don't forget a joyful heart. We will provide a retreat house that needs to be cleaned, trails that need to be cleared, fire wood that needs to be cut, and land that needs to be loved.

Invite your friends. Please let us know if you are planning to come. You can call or e-mail us at the address given below.

The Retreat House is not being used August 18-20 and September 1-3. Call Bob is you want to schedule it for your use.

A Day Away

For Pastors and Church Leaders
Monday, August 14, 2006
10:00 am - 1:00 pm or 4:00 pm
Retreat House

Throughout his ministry, Jesus regularly took time to withdraw to a quiet place, to reflect and pray.

Retreat and rest is vital, and yet busy schedules often prevent us from setting aside the time we need.

We invite you to join us on the second Monday of each month for "A Day Away," a Sabbath day especially set aside for pastors and church leaders at Rolling Ridge Study Retreat Community.

 

Rhythm of the Day

We will gather at the Retreat House at 10:00 a.m. for brief input, followed by your own time for prayer and reflection. Lunch will be served at noon. Retreatants may choose to leave at 1:00, or stay until 4:00 to hike the trails, sit quietly in the Meditation Shelter, get creative in the Art Cottage, or settle into a room to journal, rest or pray.

Second Mondays

"A Day Away" for pastors and church leaders will take place the second Monday of each month. The day is offered at no cost to attendees. Donations are accepted. Join us as often as you wish!

RSVP

Please let us know you will be attending by calling 304-724-6653 or emailing us at community@rollingridge.net. But if you forget to let us know in advance, come anyway!

About Rolling Ridge

Rolling Ridge Study Retreat Community is a non-profit, ecumenical retreat center, begun in 1986. It is located on 1400 acres of wilderness land in the Blue Ridge mountains. Facilities include a Retreat House, Meditation Shelter, and an Art Cottage.

Private Retreats

In addition, the Retreat House is frequently available during the week for private retreats. Please call the staff community at 304-724-6653 to schedule a time.

Directions

From Charles Town or Martinsburg: Go east on Route 9. After crossing the Shenandoah River, go one mile and then turn right on Mission Road. Go 6.3 miles, and turn left at the Rolling Ridge sign onto the gravel road (still called Mission Road). Go one mile and turn right at the intersection, following Mission Road. Go .3 miles and turn left at Christ Church Road, following the signs for Retreat House.

Architecture for a Sustainable World Workshop

Weeklong Retreat/Workshop
July 21-23, 2006
(Optional stay for week of July 24-28)
Retreat House

Roll up your sleeves, get your hands in the mortar, and help us build a small dwelling near the Art Cottage! Learn how to do cordwood construction and add colored bottle-ends for light, while enjoying the camaraderie of others.

The cost of the retreat is $50 per person for meals and lodging. To register or get more information, email scot@rollingridge or linda@rollingridge.net.

View PDF Version of Retreat Flyer

A Day Away

For Pastors and Church Leaders
Monday, July 10, 2006
10:00 am - 1:00 pm or 4:00 pm
Retreat House

Throughout his ministry, Jesus regularly took time to withdraw to a quiet place, to reflect and pray.

Retreat and rest is vital, and yet busy schedules often prevent us from setting aside the time we need.

We invite you to join us on the second Monday of each month for "A Day Away," a Sabbath day especially set aside for pastors and church leaders at Rolling Ridge Study Retreat Community.

 

Rhythm of the Day

We will gather at the Retreat House at 10:00 a.m. for brief input, followed by your own time for prayer and reflection. Lunch will be served at noon. Retreatants may choose to leave at 1:00, or stay until 4:00 to hike the trails, sit quietly in the Meditation Shelter, get creative in the Art Cottage, or settle into a room to journal, rest or pray.

Second Mondays

"A Day Away" for pastors and church leaders will take place the second Monday of each month. The day is offered at no cost to attendees. Donations are accepted. Join us as often as you wish!

RSVP

Please let us know you will be attending by calling 304-724-6653 or emailing us at community@rollingridge.net. But if you forget to let us know in advance, come anyway!

About Rolling Ridge

Rolling Ridge Study Retreat Community is a non-profit, ecumenical retreat center, begun in 1986. It is located on 1400 acres of wilderness land in the Blue Ridge mountains. Facilities include a Retreat House, Meditation Shelter, and an Art Cottage.

Private Retreats

In addition, the Retreat House is frequently available during the week for private retreats. Please call the staff community at 304-724-6653 to schedule a time.

Directions

From Charles Town or Martinsburg: Go east on Route 9. After crossing the Shenandoah River, go one mile and then turn right on Mission Road. Go 6.3 miles, and turn left at the Rolling Ridge sign onto the gravel road (still called Mission Road). Go one mile and turn right at the intersection, following Mission Road. Go .3 miles and turn left at Christ Church Road, following the signs for Retreat House.

Retreat House AvailableMeeting Circle Workday Retreat

June 30 - July 3, 2006 (Friday - Monday)
Fourth of July Weekend
Retreat House

The Annual Music Festival scheduled for the Fourth of July Weekend has been cancelled. The Retreat House is available for use at no cost to individuals and families within the partner group churches. Please let us know if you would like to come for any part of the Fourth of July Weekend. Bring your own linens and food. We can let you know who is planning to come if you give us a call, so that some of the food arrangements can be coordinated. We will have a short worship time together in the Stone Meditation shelter each day.

You are also invited to join Jack Smalligan and Bob Sabath to continue work on the Meeting Circle, a project initiated by the Community House Church in memory of Nelson Good and other friends and family closely connected to Rolling Ridge. The goal is to build an outdoor meeting space using stone and wood gathered at Rolling Ridge. The location is a short distance from the Meditation Shelter and in the space of the future Memorial Garden. It will consist of three semi-circle benches with three stone supports each, a tenth entrance stone and three boulders in the center.

Previous work retreats have gathered stones and boulders. On Saturday and Monday, we will begin digging the foundation for the stone support columns, but will have other jobs for people of any skill level, including children. We are hoping to have our biggest work day on Monday, and will provide lunch for those who can participate on that day.

Please let us know if you will be coming by calling Bob Sabath at 304.724.6653 or emailing us at community@rollingridge.net

Pastors for Peace

Seventeenth US/CUBA Friendshipment Caravan
June 25, 2006
5 - 8 pm
Deerspring

Pastors for Peace is a small non-profit organization with offices in New York City which has sponsored 17 caravans to Cuba, transporting donated goods in both directions and developing friendships with Cuban people. Pastors for Peace is working for a foreign policy based on ending the US government’s travel ban and blockade of Cuba.

In June and July the caravan originates at 14 separate departure points beginning in Canadian provinces and in northern states in the US. Vehicles carrying 100 people will travel south stopping in some 120 towns and cities to discuss the harms being done by the US blockade of Cuba and to gather up some 60 tons of humanitarian aid which has been donated for Cuban people.

One route of the caravan with some 16 people will pass through Jefferson County, stopping at the Rolling Ridge Retreat House on Mission Road, June 25. You are welcome to come to a potluck supper with the caravan members to hear them share their vision for friendship between peoples of the US and Cuba and for challenging the blockade of Cuba.

  • Potluck supper will occur at 5:00 pm
  • Presentation of the Caravan’s mission by Lisa Valenti at 6:00 pm

The featured speaker who is traveling with the caravan on this route is Lisa Valenti. She has traveled to Cuba over 20 times and is the founder and president of the national US Cuba Sister Cities Association, President of the Pittsburgh Matanzas Sister City Project, National Co-Chair of the Cuba Action Committee of WILPF, and founder of the Pittsburgh CUBA Coalition. She also serves as a consultant and most recently facilitated the University of Pittsburgh’s Semester at Sea to go to Cuba bringing the largest number of US students (over 700) ever to go to Cuba. She has traveled extensively as a public speaker on the US blockade of Cuba throughout the US as well as Canada, Mexico, Britain, Belgium and the Netherlands. Lisa has been an active participant on each of the Pastor’s for Peace US-Cuba Caravans. She explains, “It’s what I do to put my deepest prayers for peace into action.”

Driving directions to the Retreat House from Charles Town are as follows: Take Route 9 east toward Leesburg, Virginia, cross the Shenandoah River and continue about a mile until Mission Road, turn right and continue 6.5 miles until a gravel road to the left, take this road about a mile until a sign at the Retreat House lane. Telephone Vivian Headings, 304-725-4172 for further information.

A Day Away

For Pastors and Church Leaders
Monday, June 12, 2006
10:00 am - 1:00 pm or 4:00 pm
Retreat House

Throughout his ministry, Jesus regularly took time to withdraw to a quiet place, to reflect and pray.

Retreat and rest is vital, and yet busy schedules often prevent us from setting aside the time we need.

We invite you to join us on the second Monday of each month for "A Day Away," a Sabbath day especially set aside for pastors and church leaders at Rolling Ridge Study Retreat Community.

 

Rhythm of the Day

We will gather at the Retreat House at 10:00 a.m. for brief input, followed by your own time for prayer and reflection. Lunch will be served at noon. Retreatants may choose to leave at 1:00, or stay until 4:00 to hike the trails, sit quietly in the Meditation Shelter, get creative in the Art Cottage, or settle into a room to journal, rest or pray.

Second Mondays

"A Day Away" for pastors and church leaders will take place the second Monday of each month. The day is offered at no cost to attendees. Donations are accepted. Join us as often as you wish!

RSVP

Please let us know you will be attending by calling 304-724-6653 or emailing us at community@rollingridge.net. But if you forget to let us know in advance, come anyway!

About Rolling Ridge

Rolling Ridge Study Retreat Community is a non-profit, ecumenical retreat center, begun in 1986. It is located on 1400 acres of wilderness land in the Blue Ridge mountains. Facilities include a Retreat House, Meditation Shelter, and an Art Cottage.

Private Retreats

In addition, the Retreat House is frequently available during the week for private retreats. Please call the staff community at 304-724-6653 to schedule a time.

Directions

From Charles Town or Martinsburg: Go east on Route 9. After crossing the Shenandoah River, go one mile and then turn right on Mission Road. Go 6.3 miles, and turn left at the Rolling Ridge sign onto the gravel road (still called Mission Road). Go one mile and turn right at the intersection, following Mission Road. Go .3 miles and turn left at Christ Church Road, following the signs for Retreat House.

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