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A Contemplative Story Retreat:
(March 1-5)
Story has had a profound role in shaping and re-shaping us: our values, our character, our worldview…from the first story we were read or told as a child, until now.
This Contemplative Story Retreat is an invitation to explore, ponder, and pray with the personal and communal stories we believe about ourselves, our neighbour, creation, and the Sacred. The flow of our days will be guided by rhythms of interaction and spacious silence, presentation and reflection, movement and stillness. We will engage in a variety of modes of expression, including poetry, scripture, music, art, and journaling.
Parker Palmer articulates this approach to reflecting on our lives in his Circles of Trust. "Guided conversations focused on a poem, a teaching story, a piece of music or a work of art—drawn from personal experience, and different cultures and wisdom traditions—invite us to reflect on the “big questions” of our lives, allowing each person to intersect and explore them in his or her own way. (adapted from Parker Palmer’s Circle of Trust )
Note that between group gatherings, and during meals, participants will be in silence for their personal reflection time.
The retreat begins Monday, March 1st at 5pm and concludes Friday morning March 5th
Retreat Leaders:
Jan Bihl
Jan’s varied life experiences, along with her training in teaching, ministry, and spiritual direction, weave together to form her love for people and for accompanying them on their spiritual journey. Jan is sustained and deeply enriched by the creative power of story, song, poetry and her engagement with the Rivendell Community. In her active retirement she continues to have a zest for life, laughter, creativity, community…and great coffee…not to mention friendship, savouring sunrises, and quality time with her loving spouse and the motley crew, near and far, who they are blessed to call their family.
Margaret McAvity
Margaret’s love of story, nurtured in childhood found expression in storytelling as a children’s librarian. After many years involved in international education, Margaret pursued theological studies and became a spiritual director and retreat leader. An active lay person in the Anglican Church and a long-serving community member of Rivendell Retreat Centre, Margaret enjoys gardening, walking, reading, and spending precious time with her spouse, children, grandchildren, and extended family and friends.
Cost: $400 ($100/day) for food and facilitation, PLUS what you can give generously for your accommodation. (it costs us aprox $75/per room per night to run our facility). When you come to Rivendell for your retreat, you can pay by cheque, cash or e-transfer at booking@rivendellretreat.org.
Registration Fee: A $20 non-refundable registration fee is taken at time of registration.
Registration will open Dec 1, 2026 at 10am
A Contemplative Story Retreat:
(March 1-5)
Story has had a profound role in shaping and re-shaping us: our values, our character, our worldview…from the first story we were read or told as a child, until now.
This Contemplative Story Retreat is an invitation to explore, ponder, and pray with the personal and communal stories we believe about ourselves, our neighbour, creation, and the Sacred. The flow of our days will be guided by rhythms of interaction and spacious silence, presentation and reflection, movement and stillness. We will engage in a variety of modes of expression, including poetry, scripture, music, art, and journaling.
Parker Palmer articulates this approach to reflecting on our lives in his Circles of Trust. "Guided conversations focused on a poem, a teaching story, a piece of music or a work of art—drawn from personal experience, and different cultures and wisdom traditions—invite us to reflect on the “big questions” of our lives, allowing each person to intersect and explore them in his or her own way. (adapted from Parker Palmer’s Circle of Trust )
Note that between group gatherings, and during meals, participants will be in silence for their personal reflection time.
The retreat begins Monday, March 1st at 5pm and concludes Friday morning March 5th
Retreat Leaders:
Jan Bihl
Jan’s varied life experiences, along with her training in teaching, ministry, and spiritual direction, weave together to form her love for people and for accompanying them on their spiritual journey. Jan is sustained and deeply enriched by the creative power of story, song, poetry and her engagement with the Rivendell Community. In her active retirement she continues to have a zest for life, laughter, creativity, community…and great coffee…not to mention friendship, savouring sunrises, and quality time with her loving spouse and the motley crew, near and far, who they are blessed to call their family.
Margaret McAvity
Margaret’s love of story, nurtured in childhood found expression in storytelling as a children’s librarian. After many years involved in international education, Margaret pursued theological studies and became a spiritual director and retreat leader. An active lay person in the Anglican Church and a long-serving community member of Rivendell Retreat Centre, Margaret enjoys gardening, walking, reading, and spending precious time with her spouse, children, grandchildren, and extended family and friends.
Cost: $400 ($100/day) for food and facilitation, PLUS what you can give generously for your accommodation. (it costs us aprox $75/per room per night to run our facility). When you come to Rivendell for your retreat, you can pay by cheque, cash or e-transfer at booking@rivendellretreat.org.
Registration Fee: A $20 non-refundable registration fee is taken at time of registration.
Registration will open Dec 1, 2026 at 10am