Retreats
Please click on one of the below retreats for more information:
Praying With Icons, Ancient
and Natural
Reflections on Living Water
About The Presenter
Praying With Icons, Ancient
and Natural
Doorways to the Heart of the Beloved
Using several striking, ancient icons, and captivating images from the natural world, with quieting music and inviting poetry, John invites us into new ways of praying, where gazing is prayer.
In Part One we meet ancient icons as doorways or gates, pointing beyond themselves to the beauty of the heart of God, coming to us through these beautiful images. We learn the symbolic and spiritual intent of several remarkable icons and the story of the anonymous monks who painted them. Following a liturgy of centering prayer and simple chants inviting our open-heartedness, we rest with our companions, the Holy Trinity and the Christ, in new ways, where gazing is our prayer.
In the afternoon we explore “A Contemplative Nature,” a series of natural icons photographed by John. With quieting music and suggestive poetry, we come to see the natural world with wonder and mystery. Journeying through the four seasons of the year, we notice the spiritual questions which each season offers, the gifts into which fall, winter, spring, and summer invite us. We come to see all of creation as an icon, through whom the Beloved comes to us, in every moment.
“This as the MOST amazing, valuable seminar I have been to in several years. The richness of the material, the flow and availability of contemplative time impacted me deeply.”
“I have a peace and understanding I didn’t have before. It was perfect.”
You may contact John to schedule this retreat.
The Rev. John Holliger
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
197 East Center Street
Marion, Ohio 43302
Telephone 740-387-6220
Email: johnholliger@verizon.net
In Your Parish
John will come to your parish for a lunch meeting or, weekday Bible study, to offer a portion of the morning or afternoon of this retreat, or you may wish him to come for a morning or a day of your choosing for a larger parish life retreat.
Cost: For a luncheon, student supper, or weekday study, a simple meal and the IRS car allowance. For the half and full day retreats please contact me.
The Rev. John Holliger
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
197 East Center Street
Marion, Ohio 43302
Telephone
740-387-6220
Email: johnholliger@verizon.net
The Path of this Retreat
We gather in the morning for quiet music interwoven with silence and reflections on the multi-layered meaning of Living Water in Isaiah, the Gospel of John, Psalm 23, the poetry of David Whyte and Mary Oliver, and prayers of the New Zealand Prayer Book.
You will experience photographic images of Living Water--oceans, hidden streams, cascading waterfalls, still water, and fountains.
Following the first session participants choose one of the photographs to be their companion for a time apart to journal, meditate, or take a walk. Upon our return we’ll have a conversation about what we’re experiencing. Some find that silence is the better way for them.
After lunch we will consider the compelling lament from the River Runs Through It, followed by John of Patmos’ hope-filled vision of the River of Life and the Tree of Life from Revelation, interwoven with music, stillness, and a concluding conversation.
What inspired these Reflections on Living Water?
“Living Water” in Greek, zao hudor, is sparkling, bubbling water; leaping, jumping water; kissing, blessing everything.
My first memory of living water is as a small boy, exploring the huge, soft shouldered boulders of the Little Pigeon River in the Great Smoky Mountains. I experienced newfound freedom as I rock-hopped from boulder to boulder. I crouched down between rocks to touch the bubbles of tiny waterfalls and listen to their songs. My hands stroked the clear water flowing over curving stone shapes. Swirling water sang with quiet confidence.
I caressed the soft, wet, green mosses on shaded boulders. Standing like a giant I took huge boy strides in slow motion onto the next boulder. I jumped like an Olympic star onto a wet mossy boulder and careened feet first into the pool below, falling hands-forward soaked, frightened, and excited for more. Out of breath I listened to different songs arising everywhere around me.
Years later I had such fun showing my daughters the joy of rock-hopping. We were Olympic gymnasts slipping off the high beam onto wet mossy boulders below, laughing, excited to be wet and free and alive.
“All my life I have journeyed up the chanting river of life to find the Source...
Searching for the One who is just around the next boulder…
Then to glimpse that One already flowing within me as the River of Life.
You in me and I in you.”
John Holliger
What participants have said
“I loved the theme—living water was such a rich metaphor with so many meanings to explore. The photography, poetry, & music all worked together to create a meditative atmosphere.”
“I enjoyed it immensely and I thought the planning was excellent.”
“I normally think of retreats that explore one angle of spirituality—like love, suffering, etc. but I liked that living water was an image that branched out into many associations.”
“I really liked the unhurried pace of the day and that we were offered many images to chew on.”
A Few
Details
1. You may book this retreat by contacting me at johnholliger@verizon.net
2. Two Power Point CD’s of the photographic images, music, & meditations may be purchased through the web site or by email.
www.acontemplativenature.com
The Rev. John Holliger is an Episcopal priest and a nature photographer who created of A Contemplative Nature. John has been an Episcopal priest for more than three decades, serving parishes in Connecticut and Ohio.
A graduate of Oberlin College with a major in history, a participant in the life of the Oberlin Conservatory, a graduate of Yale Divinity School with a Masters in Divinity, and the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge Massachusetts, he is also a published, professional photographer, a member of Professional Photographers of Central Ohio, awarded Photographer of the Year 2007.
He has led retreats at the Hermitage on Beaver Run in Warsaw, Cedar Hills Conference Center, the Day Spring Retreat Center in Wellington, Canterbury Club at Kenyon College in Gambier, Forest Hill Church Presbyterian, Cleveland Heights, and he has presented at the Diocesan Mission and Ministry Conference.
John currently exhibits his photographic images at the Sacred Path Gallery at the Cathedral in Cleveland, and the Not-on-the-Corner Gallery in Delaware.
Email: johnholliger@verizon.net
www.acontemplativenature.com