Wednesdays Away
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35)
Join us for Wednesdays Away, a time of spiritual renewal on the first Wednesday of the month, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Christ Center. The cost is $50 per gathering and includes a delicious lunch. These one-day monthly retreats are open to all people interested in exploring new faith practices. Attend one or attend all—and be sure to invite friends to join you.
Throughout the year we gather with a variety of spiritual directors who will focus each month upon a different spiritual practice. Our time together begins in community with prayer and conversation, which will be used to ground your day and guide your personal retreat time. The spiritual director will also be available throughout the day for one-on-one conversation, prayer, and spiritual companionship.
If you have any questions, please contact our Office Manager at officemanager@crossroadsretreat.com or at 908-832-7264.
2019-2020 Wednesdays Away Dates and Themes |
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| September 4, 2019 |
Transitions and Transformations As we transition from summer into fall we turn to the God of Transitions, the One who is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, and everything in between.
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| October 2, 2019 |
Leaves and Lives Lessons from the woods about God’s love and life’s lessons.
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| November 6, 2019 |
Creating and Using Spirit Stones in Contemplative Prayer This day will connect art, soul and journey by creating Spirit Stones, lovely palm-sized inspirational words and pictures on glass stones that can be used on a prayer altar or as a thoughtful gift. They will fit in a pocket as you travel through your day, walk a labyrinth or do ministry. Participants will learn the history of ancient sacred stones from Scripture and their use in Celtic theology and create Spirit Stones during the workshop. These practices are tools to bring you closer to the center of yourself and the heart of God. All materials provided in this accessible and fun creative practice! No art experience necessary.
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| December 4, 2019 |
Behold! God With Us The word “behold” is defined as to see through sight or apprehension to gaze upon. This day will be a time to discover where God reveals God’s self to us in the ordinariness of our lives.
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| February 5, 2020 |
God in the Ordinary So often we believe that God can only be experienced on the mountain top in a cloud of glory. But what if God is constantly showing up in the ordinary, the common, the mundane? And further, what if God is always showing up, not just in the mundane but even in the profane—in our valley of death moments. This session will reflect on what it means to have a God of the cross.
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| February 26, 2020 (Ash Wednesday) |
Finding Grace in the Ashes We begin our Lenten journey with ashes on our foreheads, as we ponder the wonder of God’s grace and set our intentions for the next forty days.
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| April 1, 2020 |
Made in the Image of God We will explore the imago dei—the image of God and what it means for us to be made in God’s image. What is the significance that after the resurrection Christ still bears scars? Can our scars bear witness to God’s beauty? Come and see . . . or hear, or feel, or smell, or taste!
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| May 6, 2020 |
Rebirth and Renewal A spring-time focus on rebirth and renewal and a time to examine and reexamine all that is ‘sprouting’ in our lives. We will plant some seeds and pray over our own personal plantings. All materials provided.
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| June 3, 2020 |
Sowing Summer with Mary Oliver Let the poems of Mary Oliver plant seeds for summer growth in us.
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