FEBRUARY 4, 2010 ISSUE
Spring Programs at Valle Crucis Conference Center
Workshops on Writing, Drum Building, Prayer
Participants in the Valle Crucis Conference Center’s seminars and programs enjoy looking over the valley from the peaceful comfort of the center’s rocking chairs.
Every spring and fall, the Valle Crucis Conference Center presents a series of workshops and programs open to the public. The center includes accommodations and meeting space and is seated on 448 acres overlooking a rural valley. The Holy Cross Episcopal Church operates the center as a ministry for church and nonprofit groups throughout the Southeast.
Below is a list of spring programs at the Valle Crucis Conference Center, beginning in March.
“The drum building workshop would especially appeal to ASU students, I think,” said Tom Eshelman, executive director of the conference center. The facilitator, Tom Harris, teaches therapeutic drumming at a residential hospital in Georgia. “He is an amazing man and an inspirational person,” Eshelman added.
For more information or to register, contact Eshelman at 828-963-4453 or vccc@highsouth.com or click to www.highsouth.com/vallecrucis.
A Patchwork of Prayer
Friday, March 12, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Facilitator: Rev. Jeanne Finan
Cost: $35, includes lunch
Come away for a day in the beautiful mountains of Valle Crucis and experience a taste of a variety of prayer forms: praying with beads, praying with icons, Ignatian prayer, centering prayer, breath prayers and more. This day welcomes those who are just beginning their practice of prayer as well as those for whom prayer is already their way of life.
Weekend Writers Workshop: Writing for Spiritual Enrichment and for Understanding
Friday to Sunday, March 12 to 14
Facilitator: Katerina Whitley
Cost: $180, includes lodging, meals and materials
This workshop for serious writers will concentrate on retrieving memories, on paying attention to the inner self and on expressing all this in poetry or prose, according to the individual’s inclination.
This workshop is limited to the first 14 registrations; send a $50 deposit to reserve a space.
Workshop: Courage to Live Your Authentic Life
Monday to Wednesday, March 15 to 17
Facilitators: Ann Holtz and RaRa Schlitt
Cost: $240, includes lodging, meals and materials
This workshop is about transforming lives into what they are meant to be. RaRa Schlitt and Ann Holtz will lead the retreat. Schlitt is a mother, wife, artist, author, physical therapist and spiritual director. Holtz is a mother, wife, congregational consultant, business consultant and spiritual director.
The retreat will offer opportunities for personal work and elements of worship, storytelling, guided meditation and quiet reflection.
African Drum Building Workshop
Friday to Sunday, March 26 to 28
Facilitator: Tom Harris
Cost: Ashiko $370 or Djembe $470, includes drum materials, lodging and meals
Under the expert guidance of master drum builder Tom Harris, you will sand, stain, oil, wrap and shave your very own drum of your choice.
You can choose an Ashiko (from purple heart, oak, walnut, cherry, ash or heart pine) or a Djembe. Harris has built more than 1,200 drums and will share his stories and knowledge of African drums. No previous woodworking experience is necessary, and all ages are welcome.
The drum you make is yours to take home with you. Limited space is available for a few participants who would prefer to commute to the classes instead of stay overnight; call for prices. For Ashiko drums, indicate your choice of wood on the registration form.
A deposit of $200 is required by March 5.
Drumming Classes March 26 and 27
In conjunction with the drum building workshop, the center will offer two additional drumming classes for those not building a drum. The cost for each drum class will be $25. Early registration is encouraged, but payment will be accepted at the door.
The first class will be Friday, March 26, from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m., and the second will be Saturday, March 27, from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. The classes will be held in the Apple Barn and are for all ages and levels of experience. Bring your own drum.
The Rule of Prayer/The Rule of Belief: Exploring our Liturgy
Friday, April 16, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Facilitator: The Rt. Rev. G. Porter Taylor
Cost $35, includes lunch
The Episcopal Church is not a confessional church but a liturgical church. Its faith is best expressed in its liturgy. The mystery of faith cannot be reduced to a formula; it must be experienced in the drama of The Holy Eucharist.
This day will explore liturgies with a particular focus on the Holy Eucharist and its variations during the church year. There will be some attention to the history of the rite, but the primary focus is on the theology embedded in the rites themselves. The format will be presentation, discussion and time for individual reflection. Participants are invited to bring a journal or notebook.
Weekend Workshop: God Among Us: Mysticism in Christianity and Beyond
Friday to Sunday, April 16 to 18
Facilitator: Pierrette Stukes, Ph.D
Cost: $195, includes lodging and meals
Mysticism holds a tension between the universal longing to experience the divine and distinct beliefs about the sacred dimension of life.
Join women of all faith traditions for a weekend of prayerful exploration of God among us, through active imagination, nature walks, body prayer, art meditation, dream exploration and reflection on scripture and poetry from different faith paths. This retreat is limited to 12 women.
Experiencing Contemplative Prayer
Friday, April 30, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Facilitator: Jim Banks
Cost: $35, includes lunch
When asked what is prayer, a common response is “talking with God.” But what about listening to God or being with God or even experiencing God? Come to experience a variety of Christian prayer forms that disengage the calculating mind. The day will alternate between teaching, discussion and practice in a relaxed setting. Participants will experience praying with scripture, prayer beads and Centering Prayer, concluding with a contemplative form of intercessory prayer.
Explore the Valle Crucis Conference Center’s indoor and outdoor labyrinths at a day-long retreat on Monday, May 3.
Explore Our Two Labyrinths
Monday, May 3, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Cost: $35, includes lunch
Facilitator: Tom Eshelman
Have you heard about labyrinths and want to know more? Now is your chance. In this day-long retreat you will learn about the fascinating history of this ancient tool of walking meditation and prayer as you spend the day walking the center’s indoor and outdoor labyrinths.
Wear comfortable clothes and walking shoes, and bring a journal. There will be lots of handouts and plenty of time for questions.
Community Interest
News & Notes
Events
Arts & Entertainment
