Friends World Committee for Consultation
Europe and Middle East Section
Europe and Middle East Section
From Oct 8th to 15th 2009 there is an opportunity to join with Friends for a week's retreat at Assisi.
Organised by Pax Travel at a guesthouse in the old town of Assisi, and led by two members of the Quaker Retreat Group: Peter Varney and Frances Crampton. We are both interested in the links between creativity and spirituality. Frances is an Interfaith minister with a special interest in working with people whose spirituality seems not to be reflected in traditional ways. Peter has led several painting retreats in Italy and is interested particularly in fresh expressions of worship.
Autumn is a time when the colours are richer, the crowds have largely left, and the city's quiet spaces can be found. The convent guest house has its own garden yet is close to the basilica and other churches. The retreat offers time alone and apart from other concerns and responsibilities, and time with others to reflect and share discoveries during the week, with opportunities for one to one accompaniment on our different spiritual journeys.
The week will include daily Meeting for Worship, times of meditation and guided visualisation, an introduction to Franciscan spirituality and visits to the places important in the story of Francis. Before the evening meal we include Worship Sharing to reflect on our discoveries, and we end the day with a short epilogue and keep the Greater Silence until breakfast. During the retreat there will be an opportunity to develop our creative gifts, we will give suggestions about painting, sketching, reflecting on our lives, writing and keeping a spiritual journal.
Local guides will lead a walking tour of Assisi and a tour of the Basilica, and we include an excursion to Lake Trasimeno, where Francis lived for a time. Groups visiting Assisi are invited to worship in the basilica, we hope to hold Quaker Meeting for Worship there, perhaps for the first time, and we particularly invite Italian Friends and others living on the continent of Europe to join us.
Cost, including flights from UK, transfers and half-board: £719 (reduction if flights not needed); single room supplement £56 (limited availability). A Pax Travel Italian speaking tour escort will also accompany the group.
For further information and a Pax Travel booking form please contact
Peter Varney: 1 Thomas Wyatt Close, Norwich, NR2 2TB, UK
or email QuakerRetreats@waitrose.com
Send updates of calendar and meetings to the secretary.
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