Coming Soon: Fall Retreat 2025
Coming Soon:
Fall Retreat - Oct 3-5
Learning to See as The Mystics See
Sharing Wisdom from Richard Rohr’s Naked Now
We will be at beautiful St Mary’s Sewanee the first weekend in October. Registration will open in April. If you aren’t on my email list, let me know if you want to be added.
Heart Circles offers a new way to connect with God in a supportive community. It combines that ancient wisdom of clearness committees with intentional silent time. Spring 2025 Groups are underway, If you are interested in joining a future group, just let me know!
Spring Retreat 2025
Peace, Presence, and Grace:
A Retreat for Reflection and Renewal
Give yourself the gift of a time away to reconnect with God, the source of peace, presence, and grace in our lives. Join Beth and Sandy at beautiful St. Mary's Retreat Center in Sewanee, TN for a weekend of reflection and renewal. With Wendell Berry's poem "The Peace of Wild Things" as our springboard, we will explore the themes of peace, presence, and grace in our lives through scripture, conversation, and spiritual practices.
Our time together begins with dinner on Friday, February 28 and concludes with morning worship on Sunday, March 2. Registration fee includes housing, meals, and facilitation for the weekend. Our 2024 retreat filled up quickly, so make sure to register early. Cost for a double room is $500 and a single is $600. Scholarships are available through the Center for Hope and Healing at Woodmont Christian Church.
Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions about scholarships or the retreats.
The Wisdom of Celtic Christianity
As many of you know, I’m just back from a pilgrimage to the Isle of Iona. That small island off the coast of Scotland, is the home of Celtic Christianity. Since St Columba landed in Iona in 563, pilgrims have flocked to Iona to deepen their faith and study Celtic Christianity. As so many before me, Iona had a remarkable impact on my relationship with all that is Holy.
In the year ahead, I want to share what I have learned. I am introducing a three-part retreat series, on The Wisdom of Celtic Christianity: New Insights from Ancient Spirituality. Each retreat will offer some of the Celtic wisdom, along with plenty of time for you to reflect on what that means for your life.
This is your invitation to join me
Saturday, Sept 7: All of Life is Sacred
Saturday, Dec. 14: Exploring the Feminine in the Divine
Saturday, Jan. 4 2024: Sacred Earth is our Cathedral
Space in this three-part series will be limited to 12 people. That allows us to form a community to understand and share our learning, our questions and our struggles. Each retreat will run from 9 am to 3 p.m. in Campbell West (behind Woodmont Christian Church). A light breakfast and a delicious healthy lunch will be served. The cost of the three-retreat series is $250. Scholarships are available through the Center for Hope and Healing, thanks to the generosity of the Woodmont Christian Church Board. Questions about scholarships and anything else are welcome!
Turning towards Renewal
As the weather warms, and the new growth begins to emerge from the earth, join me for a Spring retreat day. Relax into a spacious time to breathe and feel closer to all that is Holy. We will explore different means of listening for the depth in our lives. This is a chance to tend to yourself, in the midst of a supportive community.
The retreat will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday April 6th at Campbell West. The cost is $80 and lunch will be served.
If you cancel by February 15, you will receive a refund of $75 to cover ticketing fees. If you cancel after February 15, refunds are available ONLY if the spot can be filled.
Scholarships are available, thanks to generous support of the Woodmont Christian Church Board. Don't hesitate to ask. In fact, all questions are welcome! Please reach out!
Creating Holy Space
A Spring 2024 WeekendRetreat
Join Beth Pattillo and I at beautiful St. Mary's Sewanee for our Spring 2024 retreat. We will explore important questions. How do we live the life we are called to? What does a spirit-filled authentic life look like? How can we create holy space in the many dimensions of our lives, including time, physical space, the commitments we make, and the routines of daily life?
All adults - both men and women - are welcome to participate in this event. The retreat will kick off with dinner on Friday, March 1st. St Mary's Sewanee is about two hours away from Nashville. We will finish with closing worship on Sunday. Both single and double occupancy rooms are available. But space is limited, so we recommend reserving early.
The total cost of the retreat includes lodging in the new Anna House, all meals (dinner Friday, three meals on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday) along with facilitation and supplies.
$450 in a double occupancy room. Roommate requests will, of course, be honored.
$530 in a single occupancy room
A $100 deposit is required to reserve your space. The balance will be due by Feb. 1. Cancellations before Dec. 1, 2023 will receive a deposit refund, less a $10 cancellation fee. Cancellations after Dec 1 will only receive refunds IF the space is filled.
Scholarships are available, thanks to generous support of the Woodmont Christian Church Board. Don't hesitate to ask. In fact, all questions are welcome! Please reach out!
Start Close In
take a small step
you can call your own
don’t follow
someone else’s
heroics, be humble
and focused,
start close in,
don’t mistake
that other
for your own.
— David Whyte (River Flow)
Always We Begin Again
Join Sandy Smith for a one-day retreat on Saturday, January 6th. As we start the new year, we will pause to reflect and set intentions for 2024. What do you need to live life to the fullest? Is there anything you need to 'leave behind' to prepare for what is ahead? Leave better prepared to face the blessings and challenges of every day life.
The retreat will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday Jan 6th at Campbell West. Lunch will be served. Scholarships are available. Ask for details.
If you cancel by December 15, you will receive a refund of $70 to cover ticketing fees. If you cancel after December 15, refunds are available ONLY if the spot can be filled.
To experience awe, to fully open ourselves up to it, helps us to live happier, healthier lives. —Dacher Keltner.
The Gift of Awe:
Finding Wonder in the Every Day
Join Beth Pattillo & Sandy Smith for a one-day retreat on Saturday, September 30th. We will delve into the power of awe in our lives. Through mindfulness activities like journaling and prayer, we will explore ways to find the holy in everyday life. Walk away with fresh insights into living life to the fullest.
The retreat will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday Sept. 30th at Campbell West behind Woodmont Christian Church in Nashville. The cost is $75 and lunch will be served. Scholarships are available. Ask for more information.