Welcome to the Bon Secours Retreat & Conference Center’s blog! This blog will extend our retreat ministry by bringing prayers and reflections into your home ‘retreat’. Many of our presenters and staff share their homilies, favorite prayers and reflections through this medium. We encourage you to comment, pass it along to friends or simply take a moment to pray with us. We hope that this will serve as a moment during your day when you can ‘retreat with us’.
It is the beginning of a new school year in most areas of our country. Let's take a few moments to hold students in prayer for a peaceful and successful school year, full of growth and support. A Prayer for Our Students I pray for: Strength - that God gives them the strength to do what they need to do each day. Courage - that they will be brave as they face the challenges that are before them. Peace -…
Fr. Michael Schleupner, a favorite spiritual director for retreats here at the Center, recently shared this inspiring reflection so we thought you may enjoy it too! Take a few quiet moments to pray on this message of keeping our sights on Jesus. Physical Balance Five years ago, I participated in a strength and balance class at a fitness center. One of the balance exercises was to stand on one foot. We were to concentrate on placing all of our weight…
As many teachers are busy preparing for the new school year, we offer this prayer for them. Do you have special people in your life who are teachers? Comment and share what they mean to you and take a few quiet moments to pray for God's protection and guidance. God of Love, Thank you for every teacher who notices a child’s special gift. Thank you for teachers who are listeners and gentle guides. Thank you for teachers who expect…
During this week's Planning Meeting with our Retreat & Conference Center staff, Doris Gallagher, our Guest Services Coordinator, opened with a revised version of the prayer below (shared from https://concordpastor.blogspot.com/2022/08/night-prayer-monday-81.html). She found that the prayer works well for this time of year, at the end of August too, so we've added her revised words in parentheses. We went around the room during our meeting and talked about things that we had originally hoped to accomplish this summer and maybe things…
Although it's summertime, often a time for retreat or carefree vacations, there is still a lot of anxiety and stress in our every day world today. We discovered this soothing 6+ minute audio meditation and hope that the words of St. Paul will set the tone to turn your anxiety and stress over to the One who can provide relief and comfort. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your…
Traditional Buddhist Prayer May all beings have happiness and the causes of happiness; May all be free from sorrow and the causes of sorrow; May all never be separated from the sacred happiness which is sorrowless; And may all live in equanimity, without too much attachment and too much aversion, And live believing in the equality of all that lives. ~Author Unknown A Prayer for Unity In this century and in any century, Our deepest hope, our most tender prayer,…
We are excited to welcome Pamela Ayo Yetunde this Friday for "The Dharma of Jesus" retreat (click here)! Ayo brings a wealth of spiritual knowledge to our audience. She will spend time with our guests, sharing the similaries between Buddhism and Christianity and how that can bring diverse faiths together through dialogue, prayer and meditation. Ayo's recent book "Casing Indra's Net" has received rave reviews and we encourage you to learn more. Spirituality and Practice recently reviewed the book and…
Revel in Summer Dear God, Let us revel in summer. Let us soak up the long days and warm sun. May our feet walk on sandy beaches and our heads rest on thick grass under blue skies. May we listen to and marvel at the singing of the birds and stop to watch blissful children at play. This summer, God, may our breathing slow and our hearts open. God help us to be present to all that is so that…
Today's blog comes from writer and retreat presenter, Mary DeTurris Poust. (Click here to read about her upcoming retreat at our Center that you won't want to miss!) She has a way with words and we always enjoy her shared posts that tie in lessons from nature. In this reflection, she opens up about something that was blocking her from a new activity and how she overcame it though. Does it resonate with you? Are you working on moving past…
On Friday, we will welcome "The Wisdom and Practice of Prayer Within the World's Spiritual Traditions" retreat, presented by the beloved Gordon Creamer. We can learn so much about our own faith by exploring the various practices of other faiths and Gordon has a gift for incorporating these insights into Christian prayer. If you'd like to learn more about the retreat, please click here. So, today, we offer a few spiritual quotes and a prayer to unite all faiths for…
