5.0
Verified
A Prayerful Evening with the Psalms
I enjoyed the presentation and the sharing. However, I would have preferred to have at least three evenings on this topic for the Lenten Season.
A Simply Centered Advent: Mandalas, Candles and Prayer - Virtual Retreat
Top Rated
Online
A Simply Centered Advent: Mandalas, Candles and Prayer - Virtual Retreat
4.8671 reviews
53 Mill Street, Westfield, MA, USA
18:30 - 19:30
About this Retreat
Your Guides
Rev. Sharon Seyfarth Garner is a spiritual director, retreat leader, author and United Methodist pastor. She founded Belly of the Whale Spiritual Direction & Retreat Ministries in 2014 and finds great joy in helping fellow seekers nurture spiritual vitality in daily living. Sharon is an award-winning author of two books on contemplative coloring (Praying with Mandalas: A Colorful, Contemplative Practice and Mandalas, Candles & Prayer: A Simply Centered Advent) and anticipates the release of her third book with Upper Room Books in the summer of 2026 (The Jonah Retreat: Still Enough to Know & Bold Enough to Go). Sharon has led spiritual retreats and workshops widely including on the Camino de Santiago in Spain, Spiritual Director’s International Annual Conference, Wild Goose Festival, Weird Church Camp, a school in Liberia and a women’s prison in Cleveland. In addition to her M.Div., she also holds graduate certificates in Spiritual Direction (Ignatian Spirituality Institute, John Carroll University), Diversity Management (Cleveland State University) and Ecumenical Studies (World Council of Churches). Perhaps more importantly; however, Sharon enjoys savoring this wild and wonderful gift of life by getting dirt from the garden under her finger nails, soaking in sacred silence, taking long walks, singing loudly, and seeking the world’s best wood-fired pizza (recommendations welcome!).
Details of this retreat
Begin your Advent journey this year with creative prayer, calming candlelight, and contemplative coloring. The beauty of Advent can easily become lost amidst the busy-ness of the season. If we are not careful and intentional, the sacred invitation to “wait with bated breath” quickly becomes the cultural compulsion to “shop with stressed-out spirit.”
If you are longing for a simpler and more centered Advent this year, join us as we gather for a quiet hour of rest and renewal each Monday throughout the season. Based on her book Mandalas, Candles and Prayer, we will explore how the spiritual practice of lighting candles on the Advent wreath and coloring prayer mandalas can help bring hope, love, joy and peace to our journey toward the manger as we seek to keep Christ at the heart of Christmas.
Each participant will want to have their own copy of the book Mandalas, Candles and Prayer -A Simply Centered Advent for use during our sessions and throughout the Advent season. Copies can be purchased wherever you typically buy your books. If you would like to purchase directly from the publisher, Upper Room Books is offering a 20% discount for participants in this retreat. Simply enter the discount code CHRM at check out. https://store.upperroom.org/product/mandalas-candles-and-prayer
If you are longing for a simpler and more centered Advent this year, join us as we gather for a quiet hour of rest and renewal each Monday throughout the season. Based on her book Mandalas, Candles and Prayer, we will explore how the spiritual practice of lighting candles on the Advent wreath and coloring prayer mandalas can help bring hope, love, joy and peace to our journey toward the manger as we seek to keep Christ at the heart of Christmas.
Each participant will want to have their own copy of the book Mandalas, Candles and Prayer -A Simply Centered Advent for use during our sessions and throughout the Advent season. Copies can be purchased wherever you typically buy your books. If you would like to purchase directly from the publisher, Upper Room Books is offering a 20% discount for participants in this retreat. Simply enter the discount code CHRM at check out. https://store.upperroom.org/product/mandalas-candles-and-prayer
Customer Reviews
Verified
5.0
Verified
Be With an Open Heart
I spent time with JoAnn Bourquard a few years ago when I was on a day-long retreat at Genesis Spiritual Center. We meditated together and I opened my heart to her for spiritual guidance. She deeply listened, attentive and present with me, as I shared some difficult challenges I was having in my life. I clearly remember her gently and kindly responding with a phrase, "you have your work cut out for you". I have accepted that gift from her, without even being entirely certain what she meant, as part of my daily spiritual practice since then.
This most recent Zoom experience with her, dedicated to reflecting on this season of Lent and what it means for each of us who were there on the screen, was also a gift. Guided by JoAnn, we had opportunities to pray, meditate, and share aloud about our daily spiritual practice, whatever it is. All experiences validated and accepted. No judgement if we weren't Catholic or even Christian. I am a Buddhist practitioner and I felt completely welcomed. I offered to share with the group a poem I had written for Lent and read it tearfully. God and the Universe are indeed good to me when I open my heart to them. Blessings, Jennifer D.
This most recent Zoom experience with her, dedicated to reflecting on this season of Lent and what it means for each of us who were there on the screen, was also a gift. Guided by JoAnn, we had opportunities to pray, meditate, and share aloud about our daily spiritual practice, whatever it is. All experiences validated and accepted. No judgement if we weren't Catholic or even Christian. I am a Buddhist practitioner and I felt completely welcomed. I offered to share with the group a poem I had written for Lent and read it tearfully. God and the Universe are indeed good to me when I open my heart to them. Blessings, Jennifer D.
1.0
Verified
Lenten Conversation with the Psalms
Due to the blizzard, I was unable to attend
5.0
Verified
The Wisdom of St. Francis
Simon and David led us on a beautiful experience of St. Francis and St. Clare. The music, sharing, dialogue and discussion all helped to create a strong bond between participants. Genesis is a place of peace, hope and healing, and I could feel it the moment I arrived. Thank you to the staff for their hospitality and kindness.
5.0
Verified
Wise woman Retreat
The best part of this retreat was connecting with the amazing women who shared this retreat with me. It is so affirming and healing to be in a group of mature women who listen with their hearts and all their wisdom and very little judgment. The Genesis Spiritual Center is very welcoming and accommodating and made you feel at home. The leader of the retreat set the stage and then allowed us to fly. I am so glad that I took the time to go.
Last Chance
