“The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil, for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.” ~Luke 6:45 (NRSVUE Translation)
“Speak with integrity. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.” ~Don Miguel Ruiz
Have you been curious about or desiring to live Jesus’ teachings in a more embodied, incarnational way? Are you interested in exploring the deeper spiritual connections between Christianity and other faith traditions? If the answer within you is ‘yes,’ you are invited and encouraged to join us for a 3-night weekend retreat in which we will consider with deep intention the person and Gospel message of Jesus in light of what has been understood through time and human experience as ancient wisdom. Through prayer and meditation, writing prompts, group dialogue, and other contemplative and creative exercises, participants will spend time discerning how the words and example of Jesus converge with contemporary embodiment of the throat chakra.
Altogether, this retreat will highlight the transformative teachings of Jesus as participants are guided to ground them within the reality of striving to live in a more incarnational way, including how we experience and express our truth, speak up and out from this truth, engage in various other forms of communication, and connect with the spiritual dimension of life. A focus on deepening awareness of our intuitive abilities will be explored in addition to how to enact our propensity to create — from the level of conceiving ideas and blueprints to manifesting them into a meaningful reality. There will be ample time for personal and collective reflection in between presentations on Jesus’ embodied wisdom, engaging with the chakra system, and some Eastern spiritual practices. A yoga session attuned to the throat and other chakras will be offered as an optional weekend opportunity. An outdoor gathering with music is scheduled for Saturday evening, and participants are welcome to bring their own drums and instruments to play.
Please bring along an open mind and heart for this journey! A journal, yoga mat, and comfortable clothes and shoes will make great companions for this weekend. Structured and optional time in nature will be offered throughout the retreat. It is not a requirement to have participated in last year’s retreat on Jesus and the Heart Chakra to register or participate in this retreat. Guided by Gordon Creamer.
Check-in begins at 4pm. There will be a brief welcome session at 5:30pm, followed by dinner at 6pm. The retreat begins after dinner at 7pm on Friday and concludes before lunch on Monday.
Gordon Creamer, MA, creator of the Mission Bridge, currently serves as Program Director at Well for the Journey, a spiritual wellness center in Lutherville, MD. As a creative and contemplative builder, he has held leadership roles in healthcare programming and operations since 2001 at various assisted living, skilled nursing, and hospice communities. He earned a Master of Arts in Spiritual & Pastoral Care from Loyola University and a Master of Arts in Theology from the Ecumenical Institute of St. Mary’s Seminary & University. Currently, he is a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry Program at the Ecumenical Institute. Gordon has facilitated numerous retreats and workshops that focus on creating opportunities for participants to explore and enhance their spirituality and well-being through various media and formats. He also participates as a peer group leader in the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation’s Transforming Community Program. His passions include uplifting the journey of adults, individuals with memory impairment, and members of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as fostering support groups and programs for caregivers and those who are grieving losses. Trained as a spiritual director/companion, end-of-life doula, and Reiki practitioner, Gordon welcomes all in discovering the spiritual life as a means of healing, expanding, and flourishing. For more information, visit TheMissionBridge.com.