The retreat starts in the early evening of Friday, May 3 with supper at 7 p.m. Fred Taylor from our 8th Day Community will be our leader. He is a gifted retreat leader. After supper, we will gather for the opening meditation which will lead us into the Great Silence for the remainder of the evening, Saturday, and Sunday morning until our worship at 10 a.m. We move through the time in-between in silence and share the work of helping to prepare meals and provide grace before the meals. Fred will also be giving a meditation on Friday evening and again on Saturday. But, most of our time we will be in silence and invited to walk the beautiful fields and woods of Dayspring and enjoy the wildlife--birds, deer, foxes, geese . . .

If you have never been on a silent retreat, below are some guidelines or suggestions:

1. First talk with a member of the Servants Group (Kent, David Hilfiker, or Marcia) or your spiritual companion about silent retreat. Silent retreat can be challenging for first-timers. We want to help you understand what this experience is about.

2. Know that silence means: no cell phone communication; no listening to programs on headphones; no computer use or downloading of stuff on a laptop. Silence is a REST from the all of the outside distractions, including technology and and any other stuff that might be distracting. The retreat center also counsels us to not "wear perfume or cologne on retreat". There is no smoking in the Lodge or in the Inn where respectively the communal gatherings happen or where people live during their weekend stay.

3. Each person who would like to go on retreat with us needs to register. This can be done online or by mail. If you want to come and need help, let us know.

4. You must commit to the whole weekend. This is not a drop-in event. We are a community. We gather to be with one another and with the Holy Spirit.

5. Retreat is one of the deepest and most meaningful experiences of our community. We become a family within the community on this weekend, knowing in powerful ways how we connect to one another and to the larger worshiping community and to our commitment to follow Jesus and make real this commitment by our actions and ways in which we live our lives..

The retreat fee is $225 for the weekend. 8th Day has scholarships for those who would like to come. A commitment to the entire weekend is expected.  An application can be found here.

Let Kate Lasso know if you would like to attend and would need a scholarship/ help with paying.