Oasis Ministries

Download "Renewing & Deepening the Way the Spiritual Guide" brochure (.pdf)

Ongoing Seasonal Program Providing Rest and Renewal

"Returning to the Well" seeks to be true to its name. The intent is draw participants back to the well of the Spirit. Learning emerges from the depths of the retreat, from the experiential engagement with the material, and the intimacy of the small group interactions and prayerfulness.

How often have you as a director needed time to be on retreat yourself, not simply encourage others to do so? The Returning to the Well program provides two-day retreats for the personal renewal and growth of the trained spiritual director. (Requires that participants be graduates of Oasis Ministries’ Spiritual Direction for Spiritual Guides or a similar program.) The intent is toward deepening the skills, awareness and ministries of directors.

The approach uses a retreat format, reading lists and suggestions are provided, personal sharing and reflection is encouraged, but there is great freedom for participants to dive in at their own pace and level.

LEADER: Glenn Mitchell, M. Div. , is the lead presenter/facilitator for Spiritual Direction for Spiritual Guides, Deepening Year for Direction Ministries, and Returning to the Well. Glenn served as a Church of the Brethren pastor for 23 years in Maryland, Minnesota and Pennsylvania, before transitioning his ministry to the area of spiritual formation and direction in 2001, and is a graduate of Shalem Institute. Glenn has led a variety of retreats around the country on themes of prayer, spirituality, spiritual direction, nature and spirituality and the interplay of art and spirituality. He has a practice of spiritual direction and retreat leadership based in State College, PA. Glenn can be reached at (814) 422-8843; or e-mail: glenn@likeafeather.com

Glenn Mitchell, Director of Training and Program, Oasis Ministries

The major components of every Returning to the Well retreat include:

Presentation around a particular mystic or contemplative tradition. In the past, these have included Teresa of Avila, Meister Eckhart, Mechtild of Magdeburg, Hadewijch, Thomas Merton, and the contemplative traditions of Sufism, Judaism, and Zen Buddhism.
A “hands-on” right brain activity. For example, Japanese calligraphy, haiku poetry writing, papermaking, bead making, book making, have been part of retreats in the past. The hope is that, as we move into the right brain, learning, understanding, and transformation can occur on another level. Participants often have some powerful connections as they come to express themselves creatively.
Blocks of individual retreat time – significant block on Thursday afternoon, smaller block on Friday afternoon.
Group Spiritual Direction with other directors to focus on the spiritual journey of each participant.
A seminar on the particular gifts and contributions from a specific tradition for spiritual direction or a focus on some particular aspect of spiritual direction; for example, these have included:
- resistance in directees,
- transference and counter-transference,
- mystical experience,
- use of scripture in direction.
A rhythm of community worship and sharing.

RETREAT DATES, TIMES & TOPICS

Topics are drawn from the needs, yearnings, and suggestions of retreat participants.

FALL RETREAT (2008)

No RTW retreat planned for the Fall of 2008 so that you can join Glenn Mitchell on a spiritual pilgrimage to the High Desert of New Mexico.

We encourage you to participate in our "Fall Harvest Retreat" with Vicki Kensinger (November 22-23, 2008) in Lebanon, PA.

WINTER RETREAT (2009)

Theme: Rumi: The Sufi Mystic

Dates: 9:30 a.m., Thursday, February 19, through 3:00 p.m., Friday, February 20, 2009

SPRING RETREAT (2009)

Theme: Mary Oliver: Nature and Spirit
Dates: 9:30 a.m., Thursday, April 23, through 3:00 p.m., Friday, April 24, 2009

LOCATION: All the above Retreats are held at Mariawald Renewal Center, Reading, Pa.

Mariwald Renewal Center

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Call Glenn Mitchell, (814) 422-8843; or e-mail; glenn@likeafeather.com for more information or to talk about your participation.

RETREAT FEE: $275 – $325 (as you are able) per retreat. Please provide $50 registration 30 days in advance, and balance at time of retreat.

TO REGISTER, please contact betsykeller@oasismin.org

Payments by MasterCard & Visa are welcome.

You may also call, mail, or e-mail us at:
419 Deerfield Rd., Camp Hill, PA 17011
oasismin@oasismin.org
Phone: 717-737-8222

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