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2007 ST. FRANCIS LENTEN RETREAT

To: All Retreat Attendees

From: Lenten Retreat Committee

Date: March 5, 2007

We look forward to seeing you at the St. Francis Lenten Retreat at the beautiful Trinity Conference Center beginning this coming Friday evening, March 9th, and concluding after lunch on Sunday, March 11th.

We are most fortunate to have the Reverend Barbara Crafton as our Retreat leader. She will guide us through several meditations on the Retreat theme, Death: The Lighter Side. Reverend Crafton will be accompanied at the Retreat by the Geranium Farm’s deacon, Joanna Depue (for more information on the Geranium Farm, go to www.geraniumfarm.org). Reverend Crafton will be available for brief, private spiritual direction meetings on Saturday morning and afternoon, and Deacon Joanna (“DJ”) will also offer 20-minute counseling / healing touch sessions. A schedule for the weekend and directions to Trinity Conference Center are enclosed.

You can check into the Center any time between 4:00PM and 5:30PM on Friday. (Please do not check in before 4:00PM, as the Center will charge us for each early arrival!) Our traditional reception party starts at 5:30PM and gives us a chance to meet or catch up with each other. We expect 47 Retreat participants this year, our highest total ever. We will fill the rooms in the main building as well as the adjacent cottages on the property and the Potter Cottage a half mile down the road. You may pull into the circular drive in front of the main building to check in, pick up your keys and, if you are housed in the main building, unload your bags. Parking is in the lot across from the main building.

The Retreat is predominantly a silent weekend. After the talking dinner on Friday night, we start the silence with the first meditation and, except in the Octagon Room, we remain silent, including at mealtimes, until the group discussion on Sunday morning. Most group activities (other than meals) will take place in the Glass Room just inside the main entrance to the Center. The Octagon Room located in the right wing of the Center is the one designated “chat” room, available for the entire weekend for movies or talking. Reverend Crafton and Deacon Joanna will meet briefly there after the Saturday morning and afternoon meditations for those who wish to discuss meditation topics.

The rhythm of the weekend is marked by shared worship as well as by meals and meditations, with compline to end each day, morning and evening prayer on Saturday, and Holy Eucharist on Sunday. One of us will read a prayer or other brief meditation of his or her choosing at the start of each meal, and we lead the worship services on Friday and Saturday as well. There will be a sign-up sheet in the Glass Room on Friday evening for both the meal readings and the services.

We will be the only group in the Center. The dress code is casual. Other than the private, individual sessions with Reverend Crafton or Deacon Joanna for those who sign up for them, there is free time between 10:30AM and 4:00PM on Saturday. You may stay on the Center property, walk or drive into West Cornwall less than a mile down the road, or drive to nearby Litchfield or Kent. You will find art galleries, antique stores and other interesting shops in each town. The Ian Ingersoll handcrafted furniture showroom in West Cornwall, the little restaurant on the square in Litchfield, and the Belgian chocolate shop in Kent are favorite stops for many.

There are also many things to do at the Center. The Glass Room with roaring fire lures many to read or reflect and enjoy nature’s quiet beauty outside every window. There is a small exercise room on the lower level with a variety of equipment, as well as ping pong and billiards tables. A library stocked with books and magazines is on your right on the way to the dining room, and the Octagon Room has a telescope for stargazing. For those so inclined, there is a wonderful hiking path in the woods that parallels the Housatonic River, which you’ll find by walking down the road to the right as you exit the front door of the Center. Although the weather is predicted to be quite mild, it will likely be wet, if not snowy and icy as well, so you would do well to check the local weather forecast and be sure to bring appropriate clothing and footwear if you plan to be outside.

The phone number at the Center is 860 672-1000. You can make outgoing calls from the phone in your room, but all incoming calls are posted at the front desk. Cell phones don’t usually work so bring a calling card. If you have any questions before the Retreat starts, please contact Carol Rice at (203) 322-6390 or email cbrahr@sbcglobal.net.

We are looking forward to seeing you!

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