JHYM Retreats 2011-2012

Sept. 30 - Oct. 2, 2011                             Portland Friends Meeting, ME

The © of Community                    It’s been a couple of years since we’ve been in Portland!  Join us as we thoughtfully and playfully build a community centered in the Spirit which, as Thomas Kelly wrote, can “renew our life and courage and commitment and love.”  He called it the Blessed Community.  JHYM calls it awesome.

Nov. 4 - 6, 2011                                        Woolman Hill Center in Deerfield, MA

Still I’m Connected to You: The JHYM Music Retreat           Music is one of the most universal bridges between people, no matter how different they seem.  The connections of friendship in our spiritual community are deep and wide.  When you put them together…… it’s amazing!  Join us for our 8^th annual music retreat.  Every attender and staffer brings a piece of music to share that speaks to them of that of God, Love, Peace or Hope. The afternoon workshops and  evening coffeehouse make this a retreat not to be missed.

Jan. 13 - 15, 2012                                    Westport Monthly Meeting, MA

God’s Yeast                What inspires you?  What gives you hope?  What do you know works like God’s yeast within you – even on the boring, blah days – to raise your spirits and help you be more fully your awesome, unique self?  How do you keep yourself open to the unexpected moments of grace and kindness that pop into your days in unlikely ways?  We’ll consider all of this (and more) as we mindfully make and bake our own loaves of bread.  Bread Retreats only come around every 2 or 3 years –  hope you can come!

March 2 - 4, 2012                                     Westport Monthly Meeting, MA

Bodyworks:  A special Retreat for 6^th Graders    This annual retreat at Westport Meeting, just for our beloved 6^th graders, is jointly offered by the JYM and JHYM Retreat programs.  Registrations for this one-of-a-kind special retreat are welcome anytime.  Please be in touch with Kevin Lee, JYM Retreats leader and/or Gretchen Baker-Smith.

March 16 - 18, 2012                                 Wellesley Monthly Meeting, MA

Present Moment, Wonderful Moment          We will stop and “smell the roses” (or at least the tropical flowers at the Wellesley College Greenhouse), savor Wendyl’s cooking, sink into Silence, wallow in silliness, sing, breath more deeply, and try to re-gain our balance in the midst of our full schedules of  school, sports, arts, family, Meeting, and work.  How can we help ourselves live from the Center when we return to those busy lives so that we are aware of how wonderful and sacramental each and every moment is?
 

May 4 - 6, 2012                                        Framingham Friends Meeting, MA

We All Need More Kindness in this World   It can feel so scary to live from a place of mercy and gentleness.  And yet, compassion and kindness for ourselves and each other can heal crater holes and move mountains.  What can we share with each other about ways we’ve found to increase the peace in ourselves, in JHYM and in our communities back home?  On Saturday afternoon, we’ll put our theme into action and go out on service projects in the local area.  And, on  Saturday night, we’ll have our now infamous 8^th Grade Celebration – always a shower of love and gratitude -- for our beloved friends moving on to Young Friends in the Fall. 

Under the care of New England Yearly Meeting of Friends,  JHYM Retreats are open to young people in
grades 6, 7 & 8.  For more info and to register, please go to  www.jymretreats.org.  Or contact
Gretchen Baker-Smith, JHYM Coordinator: 
email:  hellogretchen@gmail.com | phone: 508-997-0940