Retreat Schedule

Seeding the Soil Creative Retreat — June 2–4, 2023

Friday, June 2

4:30–5:30 p.m. — arrival and settling into cabins/rooms (check in at main building)

6:00–7:00 p.m. — communal dinner and greeting time (kitchen and great room)

7:15–8:45 p.m. — Tilling the Soil: In this group time, we will prepare our hearts to listen and create through meditation on Scripture and a time of guided, prayerful confession/repentance. Come ready to confront the rocks and hard dirt clods blocking your spiritual and artistic practice. (conference room)

 The rest of Friday evening is your own to spend in solitude, either sleeping, praying, reading/studying/researching, or creating.

Saturday, June 3

Optional appointments for a writing critique/mentoring session with Kelli Sallman are available from 11–12 p.m. and 3–5 p.m. Saturday for an additional fee.

Optional appointments for an art critique session with Kammy Downs are available from 10:45–11:45 a.m. and 1–3 p.m. Saturday for an additional fee.

 7:00–9:00 a.m. — communal breakfast (come and go) and early morning nature exploration

9:00–9:45 a.m. — Seeding the Soil: In this group time, we will consider the spiritual practice of harvesting the seeds of our own lives—our emotions, our experiences, our passions, our vulnerabilities—and a willingness to place those seeds in the soil of Scripture to be deconstructed and reconstructed in faith. (conference room)

9:45–10:30 a.m. — We will walk together in silence to the stone cross (weather permitting) and listen to the recitation of Scripture there.

 10:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. — Free time to create, sleep, or explore

 12:00 p.m.             Pick up a packed lunch to eat in solitude.

 5:30–6:15 p.m. — communal dinner (kitchen and great room) / sign-ups for art share time

 6:15–7:30 p.m. —OPTIONAL art share time; share with the group what you’ve been working on / discovering. Sign up for a share slot during dinner.

 7:45–8:30 p.m. —OPTIONAL memorization and creativity workshop. Learn about Tammy Lea Fabian’s memorization workshops and how some of her techniques can cultivate creativity for your art and writing.

 The rest of Saturday evening is your own to spend in solitude, either sleeping, praying, reading/studying/researching, or creating.

Sunday, June 4

Optional appointments for a writing critique/mentoring session with Kelli Sallman are available from 11–12 p.m. and 1–2 p.m. Sunday for an additional fee.

Optional appointments for an art critique session with Kammy Downs are available from 10:00–11:30 a.m. Saturday for an additional fee.

7:00–8:30 a.m. — communal breakfast (come and go) and clean up

9:00–9:45 a.m. — Watering the Soil: worship time, Scripture recitation, and short message (conference room)

 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Free time to create, explore, and pack up and clean cabins/rooms before leaving.

 12:00–1:00 p.m.—communal lunch and discussions about your creative work, the weekend experience, and plans to keep creating.

 4:00 p.m. ­— latest check-out time; please be sure to change your sheets, clean your lodging, return any dishes (clean) to the kitchen, and bring trash and dirty linens in provided bags up to the main building.