// BLOG
Weekend Writing Retreats Coming!
February 10, 2012
For some time now we’ve been hosting Monday-Friday communal writing retreats at the Convent. That’s great for those who don’t have weekday 9-5 kind of jobs or those who can use up a week of vacation — which some have been happy to do! — but that leaves “normal” folk high and dry. After several requests for weekend writing retreats we’ve decided to give it a go and devote almost all the weekends in June for just such a thing. We want the Convent to be a birthing place for all kinds of writing.
However, since writers need traction, we didn’t see anyway to knock out Friday without defiling our conscience, so if you want to be a part of one or more of these, you’ll somehow have to find a way to get at least that day off work.
The schedule will be as follows:
Thursday
Arrive Thursday evening and get settled into your room. If you live locally you can show up Friday morning, but why on earth would you!?
Friday / Saturday
(morning)
08:00-08:15 morning prayers
08:15-09:00 breakfast
09:00- 12:00 writing
(afternoon)
12:00-12:15 midday prayers
12:15-01:00 lunch
01:00-06:00 writing
(this is a 5-hr. stretch, so you’ll probably need a walk and/or nap break to stay productive)
(evening)
06:00-06:15 evening prayer
06:15-07:30 dinner
07:30-09:00 free time
09:00-09:15 nighttime prayers (compline)
09:15 enter into “The Great Silence”
Sunday
(morning)
08:00-08:15 morning prayers
08:15-09:00 breakfast
09:00- 12:30 writing
(afternoon)
12:30-12:45 midday prayers
12:45-02:00 lunch … this marks the conclusion of the writing retreat
02:00-02:30 departures
____________
Purpose
Our intent is to provide the place, time and community for established and emerging writers to create works that contribute to the contemplative dimension of faith, spiritual formation, and church life in general. Poetry is as welcome as prose.
Dates
• June 1-3
• June 8-10
• June 29-July 1
Cost
The cost of the retreat, which includes 3 nights and 8 meals is $250. We’ll do these with a minimum of 3 participants. You can reserve your spot with a $100 deposit, which will be fully refunded in the event that fewer than 3 writers sign up.
To get a better sense of the retreat, read up on the Monday-Friday by clicking here.
Pentecost Poetry – she-walks-with-many-names
June 12, 2011
she walks with many names
through wind and flame
breathing passion
in water and light
graceful in the frolic of glory
mothering
she comforts diverse hearts
awakens and dwells
among the deeper wells
within
rests and soars
along the driving current
wherein
she speaks with many tongues
to divine and portend
a whisper of hope
with renown and acclaim
the conviction of love again and again
O, her mystifying ways
O, her succulent allure
the barest scent
you can discover
as the gentle breeze
caresses your face
as the gale force
batters your body
breathing new life
with the quickening
of living transformation
where the living liquid
flows forth
one Spirit
one Body
one Lord
Pentecost Poetry – coals of my soul
June 11, 2011
a whispering hope smoulders
in these glowing inward embers
…waiting for the eternal breath
to blow on them
bringing new life
and flame within
fire and wind
propel one another
…the ancient mystery
stoking the coals
of renewed flesh and spirit
now fueled with wildfire within
Pentecost Poetry – fons vivus, ignis caritas
June 10, 2011
in the cascade of
a living fountain
a fiery love
such pure saveur
in a moment so vulnerable
formed with fire and water
a baptism sealing
the signs and wonders
of Love
who with the diligence
of a master craftsman
lovingly submits Her Masterpiece
to the blazing travails
of an inferno unbound
separating the impurities
while new strength is found
forged in a life of fierce devotion
flowing from a living Source
both within and without
Pentecost Poetry – the texture of eternity
June 9, 2011
Yesterday began the Jewish holiday of Shavu’ot, the Feast of Weeks, in which – 50 days after Passover – Jews would bring the first fruits of the recent harvest into the Temple. For us, we remember this as Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out on all flesh and sending us out as workers in the harvest. Thus for the next four days, until Pentecost Sunday, we will have a piece of wordcraft or poetry in celebration! Today, our first is called: the texture of eternity
with the oil of gladness
burning on my brow
alight with anointing
i get caught up
in the embrace
of such instance
where i could never be content
…with indistinct distance
…with inadequate detachment
rather than the demonstration
…Your Holy Touch
…Your Love Divine
that sprinkles mercy
upon my face
while liquid joy
runs up and down my spine
embracing me
with the texture of eternity