Visit the Abbey of the Arts online retreat platform to access your programs:

A Midwinter God: Advent Preparation Retreat

with Christine Valters Paintner

Friday, November 22, 2024

4:30-6pm Ireland

11:30am-1pm Eastern

8:30-10am Pacific

**Hosted by Mercy by the Sea**

Program Description

We live in a culture that celebrates the flowering and fruitful energy of spring and summer, with a focus on productivity and output. And yet our bodies and spirits also crave the grace of autumn and winter to rest, reflect and replenish. In the rush up to Christmas, we often illuminate everything to push back the darkness and busy ourselves with gift-buying and preparations.

However, Advent, at least in the northern hemisphere, is a season of descent into the expanding darkness. It is a time when we are called to ponder the mystery that is growing in the womb-space. It is also a time when we often experience the grief of our losses more acutely but push it away through busyness and distraction.

Join us for a holy pause before Advent begins to center yourself and listen for the gifts and invitations the darkness can bring to our lives. Whether or not we have birthed physically, we are all called to holy birthing in this time of deep rest and incubation.

Through teaching, reflection and meditation, you will be invited to consider how you might more fully embrace the darkness of this season and its gifts. This online program will glean from Christine’s newest book, A Midwinter God: Encountering the Divine in Seasons of Darkness (Ave Maria Press, 2024). 

Your Guide for the Journey

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Christine Valters Paintner

Christine Valters Paintner is the online Abbess and director of AbbeyoftheArts.com, a virtual monastery exploring contemplative practice, creative expression, and ways to nourish an earth-cherishing consciousness. She is a spiritual director, teacher, pilgrimage guide, Benedictine oblate, and author of numerous books on spirituality and the arts. Her deepest belief is that the earth is the original monastery–a wisdom guide and mentor in living a soulful and vibrant life. Visit the “About Christine” page for more information.

Registration

Your registration constitutes an agreement with our online program Terms and Conditions below.

This retreat is hosted by Mercy by the Sea. For questions about registration or financial assistance please email Karin Nobile at knobile@mercybythesea.org

Please be careful to enter your correct email address when you register. 
Price displayed in USD.

Terms and Conditions

Please consider your purchase carefully and review the many free materials we have on our website to make sure the program will be a good fit or get in touch with any questions.

We ask that you honor our work by not sharing the program materials with others who are not enrolled.

Please contact us for permission to quote in settings beyond the program