February 14, 2012

The beauty of Cape Cod in the off season still amazes us after ten years! The quiet seems to gently enfold as one walks our grounds or the nearby beaches. We occasionally pass a strolling neighbor, but usually there are few other people about. The winter sun seems especially warm as it shiines on the water and the air is crisp and sweet. Even on cloudy days it is easy to sense the presence of the Sacred. We hope you can come and take advantage of this beautiful and quiet season. We are accepting requests for private individual retreats - call today.

January 1, 2011

Happy New Year to all! We pray that this year will be filled with blessings and prosperity for you and your family, and that perhaps it will involve a visit to Evensong for some prayer and reflection. As the new year begins we close for a few weeks for our annual maintenance and some vacation time. Check our schedule for upcoming retreats. You can easily apply for a scheduled retreat, or for a private or group retreat by using our online application from our main page. We look forward to seeing you in 2012.

December 1, 2011

Advent Blessings to all! December is a quiet and beautiful time on the Cape. The crowds of summer are gone for now, and the beaches are wide open for reflective walks. At this time of year the sunsets over Nantucket Sound, a ten minute stroll from Evensong, can be quite spectacular. Join us for a private retreat during December. We are accepting private individual retreats throughout the month, including the week between Christmas and New Year's Day. Call us to arrange for your retreat.

October 30, 2011

Here on Cape Cod we were spared the amazingly early snow that blanketed other parts of the northeast, but we didn't get away entirely unscathed. Retreatants here over the weekend were treated to 60 mph "breezes" off the water as we endured a rather typical n'oreaster. Lots of leaves and pine needles are everywhere today, but fortunately no large branches or trees came down. Our only problem is that our phone service is out for who knows how long. As is often the case with these kind of storms the next few days should be beautiful and seasonably chilly.

As we enter November and get closer to the winter months its a great time to consider a private individual or group retreat. We can schedule your retreat any time between Tuesday afternoon and Sunday morning. Give us a call and we'll be pleased to work with you.

October 2, 2011
We have been so fortunate to have a number of guest speakers and presenters join us as we celebrate our tenth season!  This coming Saturday, October 8, Mashpee Author Jamie Cat Callan joins us from 1:00-2:30pm!  Jamie’s most recent novel, Bonjour Happiness, describes how her special relationship with her grandmother led her to experience “joie de vivre”! Jamie will be speaking about recognizing the joy of the simple things of life from hosting dinner parties to scarf tying.   A special invitation to grandmothers, surrogate grandmothers, granddaughters and everyone in between to share in her stories and book signing.  Delicious refreshments shared in her book will be served.  (Suggested donation of $20 will be graciously accepted to support women from WE CAN to participate in Nicole Sotelo’s retreat at Evensong Retreat & Spirituality Center for women survivors of abuse entitled Discovering Love to be held in spring 2012.)  Jamie Cat Callan grew up under tutelage of her French grandmother, who taught her the secrets of how French women find and keep love.  Jamie is creator of The Writer’s Toolbox and the author of Hooking Up or Holding Out and French Women Do Not Sleep Alone!    
Email info@evensongretreat.com or call 508-432-0027 to register.

September 2, 2011

Below:Reiki Students Practice Giving Reiki Treaments


I have been in the process of developing our yearly retreat for Reiki Practitioners to be held October 15th form 9:00am to 5:00pm.  This year’s experience, Beyond Fear: the Gifts and Graces of the Chakras  is an opportunity for Reiki Practitioners to join together in taking an in-depth look at the chakra energy system.  Navigating through the fears of each energy center we will look at how the gifts and graces of the individual chakras support our health, wellbeing and transformation.  Time for group discussion and personal reflection will support each participant in developing her/his intention for the afternoon Reiki treatment, connecting with the goodness and wisdom within each person.  (An intention is based on what a person would like to release that no longer serves to make room for the new, healing energy received through Reiki .)   Our culture often encourages us to continue taking on more and more responsibilities without making room for them.  Reiki and Labyrinth Meditation are two great ways to release to make room to receive the goodness of life!   This  experience is also available as a three day  personal private retreat for anyone who would like to gain in-depth knowledge about the chakra energy system.  Private retreatants will have their choice of a Reiki treatment with myself or a private yoga class with Katherine Trainor.  Many blessings to all!  Marie

August 20, 2011
(below: participants at Beyond Words Workshop)

Our Talented Tuesdays continue with the workshop Prayer Beyond Words:  An Introduction to Art Journaling.   On August 16th eight people joined Bernadette Waystack and myself to “pray and play” with a variety of art mediums. There are times when words cannot begin to describe what is in our hearts, but color can invite us into the unspoken within.  Watercolors, pastels and clay supported participants in giving voice to the beauty within as they “spoke”  with color and materials of their choice!  The beauty of our spacious gardens provided sacred space to listen to their inner wisdom and God’s response to their prayers.  In addition $160 was received in donations towards the purchase of art materials for The Children’s Center in Harwich.  This Art Journaling experience is one that available to private and group retreatants upon request throughout the year at Evensong. 

August 9, 2011
(below: "Laura's Angel" and Artist Laura Craciun)

Our Talented Tuesdays continue to draw incredible artists to document the whimsy and beauty of our gardens.  Today we are fortunate to have six members of The Harwich Artists Guild join us!  Katherine Vacca and Laura Craciun, found the perfect spot on the patio while Chris Banks and Barbara Quinn Grasso enjoyed the whimsy of ducks and black-eyed susans, with the gift of a butterfly!  Katherine was painting with watercolors in the miniature this morning to accommodate her broken arm, but the cast comes off next week!  Laura utilized her gift with pastels to paint the attached Enchanting Angel (at least that is my title for it!).  Ann O’Callaghan was with us again, enjoying the shade while she captured the beauty of the verbena and Doris Mee used watercolors to paint “Retreat”, a view of the adarondack chair by the labyrinth.  We are so gifted to have artists come and share their skills with our guests and one another!  Jim & I really share in the joy of each person’s presence with us, come and share in our joy!       (Images used with permission of Artist Laura Craciun)

August 1, 2011

We are so fortunate to be able to offer retreat experiences in the summer!  On Tuesday, Agugst 16th Artist Bernadette Waystack will be joining me from 10:00am – 1:00pm to offer a workshop entitled “Prayer Beyond Words”.  There are times when words cannot begin to describe what is in our hearts, but color can invite us into the unspoken within.  Join us as we share our experiences with a variety of art materials in giving voice to the goodness within.  Participants will be invited to pray with color and materials of their choice!  (Suggested donation of $20 will be graciously accepted towards the purchase of art materials for The Children’s Center in Harwich.  A program of HECH, The Children’s Center is a non-profit child care program offering pre-school and child care to families throughout the Mid and Lower Cape, serving children who are 15 months-5 years old.)  Overnight accommodations are available for those would like to extend the prayer experience.  Blessings,  Marie       

July 30, 2011

Jim and I have been working to develop a series of Companioned Retreat Experiences for individuals and small groups to experience at Evensong.   Moving Forward through Life’s Tensions   invites the participant(s) to relax deeply and to be open and attentive to the invitations that lie in the midst of life’s tensions.  Together we will look at feelings, beliefs, ideas that are in opposition within, identifying expectations and pulls.  We will revision ideas of holiness, recognizing spiritual practices that draw us deeper into the nurturance of our souls. All of this will be expressed through the mandorla process in support of the recognition of the liminal space between life’s expectations, images and pulls, the sacred space of the authentic self calling from within.   This retreat is a supportive experience for anyone who is looking to make challenging life decisions as well as career choices.