Online Retreat (Zoom)
Once Upon A Time
In A Town Called Nazareth
A three-week Advent retreat you can take live or at your own pace.
December 4, 11, 18, 2024
9 AM - 11 (PST) | 11 AM - 1 PM (CST) | Noon - 2 PM (EST)
New Life
You are invited this Advent season to join us for a Sabbath experience with the young Jewish girl, Mary, as she encounters the Angel Gabriel and says “yes!” to God’s call. Through creative practices, ritual, and imagination, we will explore how God calls each of us to the gift of incarnation and invites us to the birthing of new life.
SESSION ONE (Wed, Dec 4th, 9-11 am PST)
We set the scene. The place, Nazareth, the Galilean home of a young Jewish girl. The time, 2000 years ago, 12 hours, B.C., the night before the angel Gabriel is sent to Miriam. With story, song, and the Jewish prayers of Shabbat, we prepare our own imagination or the in-breaking of the divine into human existence.
SESSION TWO (Wed, Dec 11th, 9-11 am PST)
The Annunciation event comes alive as we experience images of the Annunciation created by artists through the centuries. Conversation and reflection follow as we consider how the encounter with an angel informs our own call to gestate and give birth to the holy. The invitation is ours in the week ahead to use at-home prompts giving our own expression go the Annunciation, using whatever modality is ours: art, poetry, movement, etc.
SESSION THREE (Wed, Dec 18th, 9-11 am PST)
A time for theological reflection as we ponder the idea that God's choice to become human and Mary's yes change all things. We close our time together with the reflective, sensual prayer of Havdalah, the ending ritual of Shabbat. Enriched by our time together, we turn our hearts toward the season of Advent and the coming Christ-event of Christmas. Amen. May it be so.
At Your Pace
You choose how to experience this retreat.
Join Kathleen for 3 two-hour retreats on Zoom for reflection, prayer, and sharing.
The following morning, a recording of the retreat will be sent with suggestions for further reflection time and a place for sharing online in a written format for those unable to join on Zoom.
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Register for Online Retreat
Once Upon a Time, In A Town Called Nazareth
When: December 4, 11, 18, 2024
Where: Online
Time: 9 AM - 11 (PST) | 11 AM - 1 PM (CST) | Noon - 2 PM (EST)
Cost: $60
Sliding Scale $40, $20
Meet Your Facilitator
Kathleen MacInnis Kichline, M.Div.
Kathleen grew up the eldest of seven sisters and followed her heart into lay ministry in the church at a time when such a thing was just becoming. Perhaps she was destined to forever fascinate in the intersection of women’s stories and God’s invitation. She received her Masters of Divinity from Seattle University where she later served as adjunct faculty for seven years, teaching a course on spiritual retreats. She also served many years as Pastoral Associate and Faith Formation Director in several parishes in western Washington. In that setting, she developed scripture studies for women out of which grew her first two books, SISTERS IN SCRIPTURE: Exploring the Relationships of Biblical Women and NEVER ON SUNDAY: A Look at the Women NOT in the Lectionary. Her most recent book is WHY THESE WOMEN: Four Stories You Need to Read Before You Read the Story of Jesus.
What to Expect
Wondering what to expect with an online retreat on Zoom? Take a look at our FAQ’s.