The St. Stephen's Mary Brewster Committee invites the women of Ridgefield to participate in a Zoom retreat, “Wisdom During Difficult Times,” taking place in two sessions on Saturday, Oct. 10, beginning at 9 a.m.
The year 2020 has been challenging for many people, with the coronavirus pandemic causing much suffering and ongoing uncertainty. The event will consider how we can respond spiritually to this moment and what words of wisdom can bring us courage, comfort, and solace.
The retreat will turn to two renowned English spiritual teachers who each experienced a pandemic. From the middle ages comes the wisdom of Lady Julian of Norwich, famous for saying "All Shall Be Well" and "the fullness of joy is to behold God in all." Closer to our time is Evelyn Underhill, a laywoman who, in the words of Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey, "did more than anyone else in Anglicanism to keep the spiritual life alive in the period between the [two world] wars." Lady Julian lived through the bubonic plague and Ms. Underhill the Spanish flu outbreak of 1918. Yet they both celebrate a spirituality steeped in divine love and filled with optimistic joy.
Cost of the retreat is $20. To register, contact Emily Santella by Sept. 25 at 203-448-9768 or email her at emilysantella@icloud.com . She will advise on how to make payment and will provide additional logistics, including how to get the suggested reading (included in the fee): Julian of Norwich: Selections from Revelations of Divine Love, by Mary C. Earle. Zoom training is available if needed.
Caption: Carl McColman, facilitator at the St. Stephen’s retreat.