Releasing & Welcoming: Praying with the Elements at the New Year’s Threshold
Annually, as we arrive at the closing of the year and move into the next one that awaits us, we are presented with a rich gift as human beings. We are granted a spiritual opportunity, if we accept it, to take inventory, dwell in possibility, and recalibrate our inner compass, all with intentionality and hope before the dawning of the new year.
While an array of meaningful practices and rituals are available to us for these important tasks, this retreat will invite participants to spend time specifically connecting with the sacred elements of air, water, fire, and earth. In engaging with each of these, we will focus on the energies of releasing and welcoming – releasing what we no longer need and welcoming what we do. Materials and exercises that form the foundation of this program will be sourced from spiritual practices within the Celtic, Native American, and Christian traditions, with special contributions from the contemporary works of Christine Valters Painter.
During the retreat, participants will also have personal time for exploration and contemplation.
Some of the activities for the day will take place outside – please dress appropriately. Bring along a journal for use throughout the day. Guided by Gordon Creamer.
Gordon Creamer, creator of the Mission Bridge, currently serves as Program Director at Well For The Journey, a spiritual wellness center in Lutherville, MD. He has also been involved in healthcare programming and operations since 2001 at various Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing, and Hospice communities. He earned an MA in Spiritual & Pastoral Care from Loyola University and an MA in Theology from the Ecumenical Institute of St. Mary’s Seminary & University. He is currently 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. Uplifting the journey of adults, individuals with memory impairment and members of the LGBTQ+ community is a passion for him, and in the last several years, he has fostered support groups and programs for caregivers and those who are grieving losses. Trained as an end-of-life doula, certified spiritual director, and Reiki Practitioner, Gordon welcomes all in discovering the spiritual life as a means of healing, growing and thriving. www.themissionbridge.com
