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 A Silent Retreat with Hildegard of Bingen

Hildegard of Bingen, 12th Century Benedictine Abbess, is renowned as a mystic, poet, composer, dramatist, doctor, counselor, and scientist. Gifted with  astounding visions throughout her life, she authored several volumes of inspiring writings and illustrated them with captivating illuminations that represent her visions. She also composed dozens of gorgeous musical works, including a full-length liturgical drama titled Ordo Virtutum (Order of the Virtues). Hildegard’s contemporaries described her music as “chants of surpassing sweet melody” and “strange and unheard-of music." Throughout our weekend retreat, deep silence will be punctuated with five calls to communal prayer in which participants will be guided in singing chants from the Ordo Virtutum coupled with the Liturgy of the Hours. Retreatants also will be invited to immerse themselves in some of Hildegard's deeply moving writings and to reflect on her hauntingly  beautiful illuminations.

DATES:        March 8 – 10, 2019 (Friday 4:00 PM to Sunday 9:00 AM)

LOCATION:   St. Columba's Inverness, 12835 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Inverness, CA

COST:          Daytime retreat, materials, and meals: $300; for lodging, see Registration.

LEADERS:     Devi Mathieu and Rev. Vincent Pizzuto, PhD

The retreat will be co-directed by Devi Mathieu, a specialist in medieval song who has immersed herself in Hildegard's music and mysticism for the past 25 years, and Fr. Vincent Pizzuto, Vicar of St. Columba’s. Devi teaches and performs medieval, traditional, and contemporary music in the US and Europe. She teaches Hildegard's music in the same oral tradition Hildegard used when sharing her music with those around her. It's a restful, nourishing process of listening and singing together that brings out the best in every voice, including the voices of those who are hesitant or believe they can't or shouldn't sing.  Singing Hildegard's music is a powerful and direct way of experiencing  her mystical teachings and everyone, regardless of musical background, can participate. Devi facilitates ongoing song gatherings in Santa Rosa  (numinacenter.org) and San Rafael (santasabinacenter.org) and collaborates on a variety of musical projects with pianist, author, and composer W.A. Mathieu (coldmountainmusic.com).

Fr. Vincent Pizzuto founded New Skellig Contemplative Christian Community in 2006 and serves as a Professor of New Testament and Christian Mysticism at the University of San Francisco. Drawing upon his rich academic and theological background, Fr. Pizzuto works for the advancement of contemplative Christianity through his many workshops, lectures, sermons, and retreats given at St. Columba's annually. His most recent book, Contemplating Christ: The Gospels and the Interior Life, was published in April 2018 by Liturgical Press. In its pages he seeks to bring his readers into a lived realization of the Christian doctrine of “Deification” – that is, the affirmation that through the Incarnation we have all been made partakers of the divine nature. It is this theological conviction that underlies his mission and ministry at St.  Columba’s.

REGISTRATION: To register for this retreat and for information about lodging rooms and rates, go to the retreat web page. After you register, you will receive a detailed memo about what to bring, etc. For more retreat information and to inquire about partial scholarships, contact Anna Haight (annahaight@stcolumbasinverness.org or 415-690-6287).

 

 

Silence: Being in Real Communion with Each Other

This daylong silent retreat will include periods of group silent meditation, body movement, walking meditation, walking the labyrinth, lectio divina, free time, and rest. Bring a packed lunch (hot tea and water provided), a pillow, blanket, and journal or notebook.

DATE:        Saturday, April 6, 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

LOCATION:  Community Congregational Church, Tiburon, CA

COST:        Free (optional donation)

LEADER:  Jane Ferguson Flout and Richard Flout

REGISTRATION:  For more information and to register, contact Jane or Richard at 415-499-1420 or email rdflout103@gmail.com.

 

Contemplative Triduum (Easter Weekend) Retreat

Please join Fr. Vincent Pizzuto and the New Skellig Community for a retreat centered around the celebration of the liturgies of the Triduum (Easter Weekend). Our theme this year is Confronting Chaos Ancient and Modern. Retreatants are invited to truly make the liturgy what it is intended to be — "the work of the people." A synthesis of active participation in the liturgies as well as group and personal reflection weave the Holy Days into a deep immersion of community building and contemplative reflection on the Paschal Mystery of Christ's dying and rising. The weekend includes liturgical celebration, communal faith sharing, silent reflection, and contemplative enjoyment of our natural environs.

DATES:        March 29 – April 1, 2018 (Thursday 4:00 PM through Easter Sunday Liturgy and brunch)

LOCATION:   St. Columba's Inverness, 12835 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Inverness, CA

COST:          Daytime retreat, materials, and meals: $225; for lodging, see Registration.

LEADER:     Fr. Vincent Pizzuto

REGISTRATION: To register for this retreat and for information about lodging rooms and rates, go to the retreat web page. After you register, you will receive a detailed memo about what to bring, etc. For more retreat information and to inquire about partial scholarships, contact Anna Haight (annahaight@stcolumbasinverness.org or 415-690-6287).

 

 

Buddhist and Christian Meditation: 
Living and Breathing on a Common Path

Our five-day meditation retreat offers participants a unique opportunity to experience both Buddhist and Christian contemplative practices, through brief instruction, extended periods of silent meditation practice, and generous time for unstructured quiet and solitude.

Complementary practices from these two great spiritual traditions are offered each day, experienced in the context of silent meals and shared “energy gift” times. This retreat is ideal for those who wish to go deeper into stillness, to receive some instruction in meditation and contemplative practice across traditions, and to experience the benefits of meditation and prayer away from our usual distractions of daily life, traffic, cell phones, and electronic media.

St. Francis Retreat Center provides comfortable, hospitable lodging and contemplative spaces for spiritual practice, plus delicious vegetarian meals that aim to accommodate special dietary needs. There are hills dotted with oak trees, several miles of trails, panoramic views, and natural habitats for a community of wild turkeys, hummingbirds, deer, and other wildlife.

DATES:        July 21 – 26, 2019 (Sunday 5:00 PM through Friday lunch)
                     Participants may arrive beginning at 3:00 PM.

LOCATION:   St. Francis Retreat Center, San Juan Bautista, CA; nearest airport: San Jose, CA (SJC)

COST:          Registration, food, and lodging for 5 days: single $760; double $655
                    (each room has its own bath)

LEADERS:     Susan Murphy and Rod Dugliss

We are committed to making it possible for all to attend who wish to do so, regardless of the ability to pay.  We are very grateful for donations to help pay for scholarships for those who might not otherwise attend. For more information or to have a registration form sent to you, contact Susan at somurphy@earthlink.net, (650) 969-3452 or Rod at rdugliss@gmail.com, (415) 441-4104.

REGISTRATION:  To register for this retreat, print this registration form, fill in the information, and send it with your check to the address provided.

 

 Practical Skills for Open-Hearted Communication

Do you long to create honest, caring relationships with family, friends, and others? Being both genuine and compassionate is possible in all your relationships, avoiding repetitive arguments with loved ones or people with differing viewpoints (especially political).

In this series, you will learn a practical method to communicate with authenticity, without blame and reactivity, from a place within of greater compassion.

DATES: Four Tuesday evenings: September 25 to October 16, 2018, 6:30 – 8:00 PM

LOCATION: Fairfax Community Church, 2398 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Fairfax, CA

COST: Early bird (by August 25): $78; after August 25: $93. Some partial scholarships are available.

LEADER: Ruth Schweitzer-Mordecai, MFT

To register or for more information, go to livingfromwithin.com/index.php/events or contact Ruth directly at ruth@livingfromwithin.com or 415-258-9382. Please register early because group size is limited. 

 

 

How to Make Wise Decisions You're Glad About Afterward

Finding it hard to decide? One day answer “A” seems right, and the next day plan “B” seems better. Then you think of possible answer “C.” If you’re asking what’s God’s will, it can get even more confusing. How to decide? 

Making Wise Decisions is a spiritually based method that helps us make decisions by listening to all of the voices within us, embracing the fullness of who we are. Learn how to include the many parts of your being, from basic human needs to higher inner wisdom, in your decision-making processes.

In a small facilitated group, you will learn how to listen with openness to the voices within you and discover what your limits are as well as areas where you can stretch and grow. 

DATES: Two Saturdays: March 31, 2018 (9:30 AM –12:30 PM) and April 14, 2018 (9:30–11:00 AM)

LOCATION: Fairfax Community Church, 2398 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Fairfax, CA

COST FOR BOTH SESSIONS: Early bird (by March 9): $47; after March 9: $56. Some partial scholarships available. A percentage of the profits will be donated to Fairfax Community Church.

LEADER: Ruth Schweitzer-Mordecai

To register or for more information, please go to livingfromwithin.com/index.php/events or see the flyer. For questions, email ruth@livingfromwithin.com.

 

 

Author Book Reading Event:
Contemplating Christ by Rev. Vincent Pizzuto

The incarnation has made mystics of us all. What if we read the gospels as if that were true? In his book Contemplating Christ, Rev. Vincent Pizzuto offers an exploration of the interior life for modern contemplatives that is as beautiful as it is compelling. With an emphasis on the gospels and Christian mystical tradition, his book explores ancient themes in new and surprising ways.
 
Please join Rev. Pizzuto for a reading of selected passages of his new book, Contemplating Christ, with book signing to follow.
 

DATE:        Thursday, May 31, 2018, 7:00 PM

LOCATION:  Green Apple Books, 506 Clement Street, San Francisco

COST:        Free 

AUTHOR:  Rev. Vincent Pizzuto, PhD

For more information about the event, go to greenapplebooks.com/event/clement-vincent-pizzuto.

For questions, contact Anna Haight at annahaight@stcolumbasinverness.org or (415) 690-6287.

 

 

Contemplating Christ:
The Gospels and the Interior Life

The incarnation has made mystics of us all. What if we read the gospels as if they were true? 
 
In this presentation of his book Contemplating Christ, Rev. Vincent Pizzuto will share the implications of the incarnation for the modern world. Sharing personal experiences coupled with selected readings from the book itself, Rev. Pizzuto will unfold the radical claim at the heart of the Christian faith: Through the incarnation, we have all been made “other Christ’s” in the world.
 
See the event flyer. All are welcome! We will have light refreshments, and there will be time for your questions.
 

DATE:        Thursday, October 25, 2018, 7:00 – 8:30 PM

LOCATION:  The Gathering Space, Dominican Sisters Center, 1520 Grand Avenue (between Acacia and Locust Streets), San Rafael

COST:        Free; all are welcome!

LEADER:  Rev. Vincent Pizzuto, PhD

Rev. Vincent Pizzuto, PhD, is Professor of New Testament and Christian Mysticism at the University of San Francisco. He also serves as Vicar of St. Columba’s Episcopal Church and Retreat House in Inverness, California, where he is developing extended retreats, workshops, and presentations for the advancement of contemplative Christianity. His most recent publication, Contemplating Christ: The Gospels and the Interior Life (Liturgical Press, 2018) explores the ancient Christian teaching on “deification,” which makes the radical claim that through the incarnation, we have all been made divine.

RSVP: Email CommunityRelations@sanrafaelop.org or call (415) 453-8303.

  

 

Advent Retreat:
Opening to Possibilities

This has been a year of many surprises and unexpected events in our beleaguered world, magnified by the ever-present news on “devices.” What has your journey been like this year?  Where have you seen and experienced rays of light and hope?  As the world and your family have been changing, what is your particular “call” and inspiration? 

In this year’s Advent Retreat, there will be time for reflection on our lives this year and for looking into 2018.  Where are we on our life journey?  What might we be called to do in the coming year?  The answer might be very small and simple, or it might be ambitious.  What changes might that new call require of us?

We will enjoy the beautiful setting by the sea at Villa Maria Del Mar in Santa Cruz. The retreat center is on a bluff overlooking the ocean, with beach access down a flight of outdoor stairs. The retreat staff provides delicious food and a deeply contemplative atmosphere.

DATES:         December 1 – 3, 2017 (Friday after 4:00 PM, dinner at 6:30 PM, through Sunday lunch)

LOCATION:    Villa Maria del Mar, Santa Cruz, CA; nearest airport: San Jose, CA (SJC)

COST:           Registration, food, lodging, and leadership for the weekend: single $380; double $275
                      (each room has its own bath)

PCSF offers partial scholarships. If you have questions or wish to request a scholarship, contact Carol (see the registration form below for contact information). 

REGISTRATION:  To register for this retreat, print this registration form, fill in the information, and send it with your check to the address provided. Space is limited. Last day to register is November 1 with full fee or $100 deposit.

LEADER:       Carol Saysette

Carol is a founding member of PCSF and is a Pastoral Counselor and Spiritual Director at the Interfaith Counseling Center at S.F.T.S. in San Anselmo. She wrote her D. Min. dissertation on “Dreamwork in Ministry.”   

 

 Women's Retreat:
Deepening Our Relationship with the Divine

Jesus’s relationship with God was personal, intimate, trusting, loving, and joyful. God seeks such a partnership with each one of us. In this retreat, we are encouraged to deepen our bond with the Divine, each of us in our own unique way. Created exclusively for women, this retreat will integrate scripture and journal writing with meditation and prayer in order to explore our unique experience of connection with God. Through presentations and group discussion, Rev. Rachel Rivers will introduce practical methods for entering into and deepening this most personal and  life-enhancing alliance. Whether you already have a deep spiritual  practice or wish to explore such an intimate relationship with God for  the first time, all are welcome! Wherever you find yourself on this journey of discovery, this retreat can serve as a time and a place to  nurture this most intimate, healing, and joyful of relationships.

DATES:        February 1 – February 3 (Friday 4:00 PM through Sunday 9:00 AM)

LOCATION:   St. Columba's Inverness, 12835 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Inverness, CA

COST:          Daytime retreat, materials, and meals: $250; for lodging, see Registration.

LEADER:     Rev. Rachel Rivers, D. Min.

The Rev. Rachel Rivers, D. Min., is a longtime minister of the Pacific Coast Association of the Swedenborgian Church and simultaneously has a career as a psychotherapist.  She served as a parish pastor for twenty-five years in both urban and rural churches. Presently, in addition to her counseling practice, she provides spiritual direction, teaches ongoing classes on Swedenborgian spirituality, and is a workshop and retreat leader, specializing in guiding people in developing and deepening their relationship with the Divine.

REGISTRATION: To register for this retreat and for information about lodging rooms and rates, go to the retreat web page. After you register, you will receive a detailed memo about what to bring, etc. For more retreat information and to inquire about limited partial scholarships, contact Anna Haight (annahaight@stcolumbasinverness.org or 415-690-6287).