Members Kathy Stewart, Carole Barnhart and Cathy Barney led a December 2022 retreat on the “Joy of Being Together” that drew 26 participants to the meetinghouse. Based on the Pendle Hill Pamphlet “Spiritual Gifts, the Beloved Community, and Covenant” by Emily Provance, facilitators focused on exploring “what is alive” in each of us. In the large group, small groups and one-on-one, we listened and shared our stories of finding our way to Cincinnati Friends Meeting (CFM), why we stay, what gives us life in our community and what it means to be a covenant people.
Participants created a timeline of their first CFM visit and individual art pieces, now a collage displayed in our entryway. We practiced deep spiritual listening as well as sharing hearts and a meal.
A post-retreat survey conveyed an eagerness to: explore spiritual gifts from a variety of perspectives; look at spiritual needs in our community; understand one another; deepen our connections; and discern who we are now and who we want to become.
Ministry and Counsel generously funded the cost of the pamphlets.
