2209 East Grace Street Richmond, Va 23223 September 2016 Tending The Spirit One such place is Richmond Hill. Bringing Shalom to the City Richmond Hill is an ecumenical retreat center on Church Hill, less than a mile from the Capitol. he poem “Desert Places” by Robert Frost first Its mission is “to seek God's healing of metropolitan spoke to me decades ago, as a lonely teenager. Richmond through prayer, It continues to do so today. T Desert places hospitality, racial recon- We all have our desert ciliation and spiritual places — loneliness, fear, development.” regret for wrongs we have They cannot scare me It is a place where one done and memories of with their empty spaces can hear God's voice, wrongs done to us, mental experience his healing, health challenges such as Between stars—on stars and follow his direction. anxiety and depression. where no human race is. Richmond Hill's The list is long. How remarkable history began can we not only cope I have it in me so much 150 years ago [last] month, but overcome? nearer home as six nuns arrived from Only recently have I Baltimore to start a become aware of how often To scare myself with my monastery and school. the desert, or the wilderness, Richmond in 1866 was a is referenced in a positive own desert places. devastated city, its econo- light in the Bible. Moses, — Robert Frost my literally in ashes and Elijah, David, John the Baptist its spirit figuratively so. and Jesus, among others, each confronted personal The nuns moved into a house on the highest challenges in desert places and emerged stronger point in the city, on a bluff overlooking the Shockoe for the experience. Valley. And they began to pray. Every day, the nuns I also have come to realize that scriptural at Monte Maria prayed for the peace of the city and references to desert places are not always literal — the welfare of its residents. Every day for 120 years. blazing sun and endless sand — but are often Their prayers are best described by the Hebrew metaphorical. They are places of deep solitude word shalom, which encompasses well-being, tran- where one can hear the whispers of God. quility, prosperity and security. The prophet So, ironically, the frightening “desert places” Jeremiah called upon the faithful to “seek the of Frost's poem — which we confront as imperfect shalom of the city,” an exhortation the nuns took human beings — often can be overcome when we seriously. seek out the quiet “desert places” where God’s In 1986, the nuns’ order began the process of voice can be heard. But where can one find divinely selling Monte Maria, which by then covered an inspired quiet and solitude in the midst of a bustling entire city block, to a nonprofit entity created by city and the demands of everyday life? members of 15 diverse local churches. Continues on page 2 REVIVE TENDING THE SPIRIT RICHMOND Richmond Hill Council Members President Richmond Hill was born. And the Don Cowles prayers for shalom continued, along Widening the Circle Vice President with many good works. The Rev. Phoebe Roaf ach new season brings opportunity for Secretary It is delightfully ironic to refer to change and growth. We celebrated that Cindy Paris Richmond Hill as a “desert place,” for it recently remembering the faithfulness of Treasurer E Tim Holtz is a thriving spiritual community with a the Sisters of the Visitation of Monte Maria Dominic Barrett lush and beautiful garden. Yet, it is also who began their work and prayer here on The Rev. Dr. Lynne Caldwell a place of quiet and solitude where one Richmond Hill 150 years ago. Drawing on DeBorah Cannady can hear God's whispers. their example and strength, ministry contin- Terry Dolson Brenda Giannini A more apt description may be what ues on this fall with the start up of annual Latrice Jeffery the Celts called a “thin place” — where programs and offerings of spiritual devel- The Rev. Larry Johnson the distance between heaven and earth, opment, racial dialogue, support for Rita Ricks Richard Rumble between God and man, is small. children and youth, and outreach. Donna Thompson I came to this realization during a It’s our practice at Richmond Hill to Audrey Vosburg The Rev. Janie Walker day retreat recently as I sat on a bench precede the new season with a community Charles Williams in the garden, praying, reading and retreat involving residents, staff, and The Rev. Tiont Williams writing. I was facing southward, high Council. It was a time for us to strengthen Davis Wrinkle above the city. relationships, reconnect with our mission, Community and Staff Around me, all was perfectly peace- and prepare for the many guests who will Co-Pastoral Directors ful and still. If there was an actual come to be renewed, inspired and The Rev. Joel Blunk [email protected] Garden of Eden, it must have felt like equipped. The Rev. Janie Walker that. In the distance, I could barely see [email protected] and hear the traffic snaking along Our theme was Widening the Circle, Administrator inspired by the Rilke poem, “I live my life Keesha Sims Interstate 95. [email protected] in widening circles....” found in his classic Also in the distance was the majestic Book of Hours. We looked at the impact Coordinator of Spiritual Guidance James River, where slave ships once Brenda Giannini of our work here upon individual lives, [email protected] docked. To my right on the next hill was Guest Master Thomas Jefferson’s magnificent Capitol. our immediate community, and the metro- DeBorah Cannady politan area as a whole. This work, of [email protected] The valley between the two hills was the Development Director site of Lumpkin’s Jail, the notorious course, reaches even farther than that. Debbie Winans slave market. [email protected] That truth was brought home recently Communications Director Behind me was St. John’s Episcopal in the preceeding article that appeared Richard Rumble [email protected] Church, where Patrick Henry eloquently in the Faith and Values section of the Hospitality Coordinator & called for liberty. Yet just a few blocks Richmond Times-Dispatch, written by Virginia Facilities Manager past the church are mean streets where Supreme Court Justice William C. Mims. David Vinson death often accompanies drug deals. [email protected] Reproduced here with Bill’s permission, Hospitality Assistant Richmond’s history is complicated, the article is another reminder that our James Byrd and our present is often troubled. But influence stretches far and wide, those Garden Heather Watt as long as Richmond Hill exists, as long who have gone before paving the way Librarian as faithful women and men retreat there for a faith-filled future. Carol Parke to pray for the shalom of the city and Musician Rev. Joel Blunk Jim Bennett depart strengthened to work for its Co-Pastoral Director Urban Service Corps healing, there is hope for our future. Linda Anderson Tony Martin I live my life in widening circles William C. Mims Residents That reach out across the world. Kristen Saacke Blunk I may not ever complete the last one, Lindsey Vinson Table of Contents But I give myself to it. Armstrong Leadership Program Yvette Rajput I circle around God, that primordial tower. Marvin Roane Departments I have been circling for thousands of years, Micah Association 1-2 Tending the Spirit, 6 Opportunities for And I still don’t know: am I a falcon, Qasrah Spencer Revive Richmond Retreat, A storm, or a great song? Front Office Assistant 3 Richmond at Prayer, 7 Celebrate the Spirit, Marvette Craighead Community News In Direction Rainer Maria Rilke 4-5 Retreats, Schools, 8 Prayer Cycle Book of Hours: Love Poems to God Groups, and Classes 2 Metro Richmond at Prayer Community News Pray for Schools and Educational Arrivals and departures A warm welcome to Betty Jane Hagan of First Baptist Church as Institutions of Metropolitan Richmond. she joins the Urban Service Corps Class of 2016-17. As part of Only take heed, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the her duties, Betty Jane will be working with Bon Secours in the things which your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your East End this year. Josie Carver, also of First Baptist Church, heart all the days of your life; make them known to your children has come onboard to assist with hospitality in the kitchen while and your children's children. (Deut 4:9) September 2016 she completes her Masters work at Baptist Theological Seminary in Richmond. Brian Lamm headed off to Thailand this summer, September 4, 2016. We pray for schools and educational and Tony Martin and Linda Anderson have transitioned out of institutions of Metropolitan Richmond: For all Superintend- the residential community as well, and into what comes next. ents, School Boards, School Administrators, PTAs, teachers, We are grateful for their good service, and wish them all bless- students, and staff. ings and peace. We welcome Keesha Sims as our new Administrator, as we September 11, 2016. We pray for schools and educational bid our goodbyes to Charles Williams, who served faithfully institutions of Metropolitan Richmond: For all public schools; as the Administrator during the search for Keesha. Godspeed for students, teachers and support personnel, including and blessings as you go, Charles! cafeteria workers, building and grounds staff, and school bus drivers; for all private and religious schools, pre-schools and RMSTRONG EADERSHIP ROGRAM daycare centers, and for children in home schools. A L P September 18, 2016. We pray for schools and educational College Shower Initiative institutions of Metropolitan Richmond: For all universities, col- he Armstrong Leadership Program College Shower Initiative leges, seminaries, trade, technical, graduate, and professional completed its 5th year of honoring Armstrong High School schools; for the students, faculty, and staff of these institutions.
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