Retreats & Events
Three Day Sketching as Prayer Retreat
5:00 PM Tuesday, September 24 – 1:30 PM Friday, September 27, 2024
Holy Cross Monastery, West Park, NY
“Earth’s crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God,
But only he who sees takes off his shoes;
The rest sit round and pluck blackberries.”
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Seeing heaven here on earth and recognizing God’s presence, whether in the wildness of a burning bush or in the shifting colors of autumn trees, requires slowing down and stepping aside from our busyness. Sketching can be a pathway to noticing the ways God is speaking through creation, and in the process we are drawn into prayer, either with words or in silence, and into worship of the Master Artist.
Each morning and afternoon we will have a presentation on some aspect of sketching as prayer, then time on our own to sketch, rest, or explore the beautiful building and peaceful grounds of Holy Cross Monastery.
For more information see Sketching as Prayer Retreat on my blog and https://holycrossmonastery.com/events/sketching-as-prayer/.
To register, please contact the Holy Cross Monastery Guesthouse Office by phone (845-384-6660, ext. 3002) or email (guesthouse@hcmnet.org).
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Sketching as Prayer Lenten Retreat
Saturday, March 2, 2024
Who wants to suffer? It’s not something we typically choose, nor should we without good reason. But Jesus did choose to suffer, because of his tremendous love for us. He chose to enter into our suffering here on earth, in order to give us life. Lent is a season during which we choose to identify with Jesus, sharing in his sufferings, not for some morbid fascination with suffering, but in order to experience the resurrection life and power we can only have in fellowship with him. This Lenten journey of 40 days prepares us to more wholeheartedly experience and celebrate the reality of resurrection joy when Easter comes.
Given that choosing a path that includes suffering is not usually our first choice, it could be helpful at the start of this Lenten season to set aside a few hours to focus on what it might mean to share in Jesus’ suffering in our daily lives. You are invited to a Lenten Retreat on Saturday, March 2nd to join with others in seeking fellowship with Jesus, as we choose to share in his sufferings and experience his resurrection power in our lives.
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New Year’s Retreat
Saturday, January 20, 2024
All are invited to a New Year’s Prayer Retreat on Saturday, January 20th from 9:45am to 3pm. This will be a time to slow down after the busyness of the holidays and open ourselves to the certainty of God’s presence in the world despite the challenges of this time. We’ll reflect on the past year and bring our hopes and prayers for the coming year before God. All are welcome to come together for a day of quiet reflection, sharing, and mutual encouragement as we seek to draw into God’s presence and set our eyes on him at the start of a new year. Email me at melissafischerartist@gmail.com for more details or to let me know you’ll participate.
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Advent Retreat
Saturday, December 3, 2023
Immanuel Church
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New Year’s Day of Reflection (Sketching as Prayer)
Saturday, January 7, 2023
We can have the certainty of knowing we are in God’s loving care, and that all our days are known to him, but with health concerns, a challenging economy, and general societal turmoil it can be easy to feel at loose ends and anxious about what lies ahead, looking back with regret and forward with fear… unless we allow our minds to slow down and we take time to draw into God’s presence. Sometimes that’s easier to do in the presence of others who are also seeking God’s presence, so you are invited to a day of retreat and reflection, a day of looking back with gratitude and forward with hope.
Details:
Saturday, January 7, 2022
9:45 AM – 3:00 PM
Immanuel Church
Wappingers Falls, NY
All are welcome. Artistic experience isn’t necessary, but you might want to bring a few supplies. Email me (melissafischerartist@gmail.com) for more details and to register.
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Sketching as Prayer Retreat
Saturday, September 17, 2022
Join us for a day of retreat, rest, and renewal as we open our sketchbooks or journals, eyes, and hearts to God’s presence in his creation and look to discover his fingerprints all around us. This is an opportunity to slow down and renew our focus on God through silence and prayer. We will also have times to encourage one another with the thoughts, insights, and sketches or written words that have come from our observation and meditation. Artistic experience not necessary; you can sketch with any kind of simple art supplies or with written words.
Details:
Saturday, September 17, 2022
9:45 AM to 3:00 PM
Immanuel Church (253 Myers Corners Rd; Wappingers Falls, NY)
Email Melissa Fischer (melissafischerartist@gmail.com) for more details or to let her know you’ll participate.
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Growing Together Women’s Retreat
October 14-16, 2022
Ashford, CT
More information here: Growing Together Women’s Retreat Brochure
I’ll be leading a breakout session “Sketching as Prayer” at this “Growing Together” retreat.
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Sketching as Prayer Retreat
May 29, 2021
“Earth’s crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God,
But only he who sees takes off his shoes;
The rest sit round and pluck blackberries.”
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Seeing heaven here on earth and recognizing God’s presence, whether in the wildness of a burning bush, in the subtle budding of a shrub in spring, or in the exuberant blossoms of May flowers requires slowing down, stepping aside from our busyness, and becoming receptive to what we haven’t yet perceived. Sketching can be a pathway to seeing, to noticing the ways God is speaking through creation, and to becoming aware of his presence in the world around us. And in the process we are drawn into prayer, either with words or in silent communion with God, and into worship of the Master Artist.
In this one day retreat we will open our eyes and hearts to God’s presence in his creation and look with eyes of faith into the world to see God’s touch all around us, as we enter into prayer through the pages of a sketchbook or journal.
No artistic experience needed and you can sketch with pencil, paints, or words. I will email suggested supplies out a week in advance.
