To Dwell in God’s Tent: Widening the Tent Pegs of Benedictine Stability

At this year’s retreat, "To Dwell in God’s Tent: Widening the Tent Pegs of Benedictine Stability," we’ll consider and discuss the irreplaceable power of long-term commitments to a people, a place, and a purpose. Our lives deepen, our capacities for love grow, and we gain true wisdom as we remain. Our world needs women and men equipped with the practical ability to restore the broken forged only through a life of stability. The three sessions of this retreat will be related to the Camaldolese three-fold good of communion, contemplation, and mission. The venue will be the beautiful Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Encino, which has picturesque grounds and is home to the Sisters of Social Service, who are rooted in Benedictine spirituality.

The retreat will include the Liturgy of the Eucharist and Hours, Taize candlelight service, a musical recital, and opportunities for sitting meditation, walking meditation, or labyrinth walking.

Double or single accommodations are available on a limited basis. Commuter (3 meals) and Zoom registrations are also possible. If you need an ADA room, don't hesitate to get in touch with us at programs@contemplation.com.

Nathan Oates

Keynote Speaker

Nathan Oates writes, speaks, and serves as lead pastor of Emmaus Church Community in Sacramento, which he started with a few friends in 2004. He holds a master’s degree in spiritual formation from Wheaton College and is the author of Stability: How an Ancient Monastic Practice Can Restore Our Relationships, Churches, and Communities. He is passionate about holistic transformation in the context of community for the restoration of all things.

From Nathan's book, Stability: How an Ancient Monastic Practice Can Restore Our Relationships, Churches and Communities:

Finally, Benedictine stability includes a spiritual layer, a quality of devotion and contentment that, while forged in the physical realities of place and people, becomes less concerned about context and individuals and more focused on God's will as the "cell" or place in which the soul finds its rest. And this is critical because the real problem stability addresses is the restless heart. We might begin to understand this layer as purpose.

Friday, January 9th

4:00 pm Arrival & Registration of Guests (Dining Room)

5:00 pm Rooms Available

5:30 pm Dinner & Announcements (Dining Room)

6:30 pm Welcome, Opening Remarks (Lakeview Room & Zoom)

7:15 pm Taizé candlelight service around the Cross, including Compline (Lakeview Room & Zoom)

Saturday Morning, September 7th

6:30 am Labyrinth meditation or walking meditation (Outdoors)

6:45 am Meditation w/ Elbina (Fireside Room)

7:20 am Lauds (Chapel)

8:00 am Breakfast & Announcements (Dining Room)

9:00 am Morning Keynote with Nathan Oates (Lakeview Room & Zoom)

11:00 am Break

11:15 am Mass (Lakeview Room)

12:00 pm Lunch (Dining Room)

1:00 pm Break

3:00pm Afternoon Keynote + Groups (Lakeview Room & Zoom)

4:30 pm Break

5:00pm Vespers (Chapel)

5:30 pm Dinner and Announcements (Dining Room)

6:30 pm Oblate Community Developments (Lakeview Room & Zoom)

7:30 pm Musical presentation (Chapel) followed by dessert (Gardenside Room)

Sunday, September 8th

6:30 am Labyrinth meditation or walking meditation (outdoors)

6:30 am Meditation w/ Elbina (Fireside Room)

7:00 am Collatio (Fireside Room & Zoom)

8:00 am Breakfast

9:00 am Closing Talk with Nathan Oates (Lakeview Room)

10:30 am Break

11:00 am Mass & Closing Remarks (Chapel)

12:00 pm Lunch and checkout

1:00 pm Departure - Safe travels!