2018 Summer Retreat
Reaching Sideways
August 3-5 at Ronora Lodge and Retreat Center in Watervliet Michigan
We will gather in Trilogy Lodge, a dorm-style lodge that sleeps up to 25. Catered gourmet Vegan meals, nourishing workshops, wildflower walks and worship circles make up this weekend "back to the land" on the 400+ acres of woodland and lake within the spirit-filled place called Ronora. A few workshops, plus time to explore, relax, drum, sing and commune with nature and each other.
Workshops will feature hands-on ice-dyeing, solar cooking, chanting/singing, and a wildflower/plant walk.
Our theme comes from the title of a UU women's journal. UU foremother Rosemary Matson says, "Sara Best, a lay woman in the Joseph Priestly District Women and Religion Committee, with the help of her friends, created a journal REACHING SIDEWAYS - A Continental Exchange of Views and Ideas chronicling the successes and failures of those trying to implement the Women and Religion Resolution. It was a voice when there were very few other voices in the denomination speaking for women and it proved to be the writing of our Women and Religion story as it was being lived. Sara Best produced her first issue in October 1981 and sent out her last issue on June 15, 1991. REACHING SIDEWAYS is sorely missed."
Remember to bring drums (and musical instruments if you like), perhaps an item to place on one of the 5 altars, and a small item of personal significance to pass along via the Giveaway Blanket.
See you at Ronora! Contact
2017 Summer Retreat
Coming Home to Our Selves
August 18-20 at Ronora Lodge and Retreat Center
in Watervliet Michigan
We gathered in Trilogy Lodge, a dorm-style lodge that sleeps up to 25. Catered gourmet Vegan meals, nourishing workshops, wildflower walks and worship circles made up this weekend "back to the land" on the 400+ acres of woodland and lake within the spirit-filled place called Ronora. A few workshops, plus time to explore, relax, drum, sing and commune with nature and each other.
BONUS: Our chefs Josh and Kerry offered an experience on their farm for a picnic lunch on Sunday the 20th. Pick your own organically grown Blueberries, enjoy a guided tour, intro to permaculture discussion and demonstration, as well as lunch.
2017 Fall Retreat
October 13-15 Fall Retreat at DeKoven Center in Racine Wisconsin
The amazing Shelley Graff returned to DeKoven!
A feminist singer, songwriter, guitarist, and Singing In Sacred Circle facilitator, Shelley has been sharing her songs with audiences during the past twenty-plus years. Her folksy, personable approach to performing and facilitating Singing In Sacred Circle workshops, draw her audiences down a path of political inquiry, peace, healing, and transformation. Whether she is sharing her music at political events, women’s conferences, coffeehouses, or music festivals, Shelley charms her way into her listeners’ hearts!
Shelley's third CD is Coming Home. It includes many new songs and chants as well as songs that Shelley has written over the past twenty years. The Coming Home CD starts with a spoken word piece called "Hope" and continues with songs/chants rich with women’s voices as well as, on some pieces, accompaniment of guitar, piano, flute, and cello. As one might expect, there are many women’s voices on this CD. The following women, who Shelley calls her Amazing Spirit Sisters, lovingly added their soulsounds to this recording: Ruth Barrett, Amy Carol Webb, Kathy Crocco, dorrie andermills, Lee Hoffman, Leslie Bevans, Cherie Ackerson, Rachel Alexander, Elizabeth Bolen, Jennifer Powers, Linda Smith Koehler and Women With Wings, the Columbus Singing In Sacred Circle, and the Cincinnati Singing In Sacred Circle. The amazing and inspiring Mary Southard shared her beautiful artwork on the CD cover as well on the back of the Coming Home CD.