2014 Dates

Our weekend at Shrine Mont is Friday, May 10 through Sunday, May 11.

Packing List

Flashlights and Camping Lanterns
Towels - they are provided, but you will be happy if you bring some extras
Medications and first aid items - stores are rather far away
Extra Shoes and Socks for kids - even better if you have some rainboots
Travel Mug
Sports equipment
Roasting sticks
Instruments and music
Sweaters and jackets for the mornings and evenings
Water bottles (reusable sports bottles)
Hiking shoes/boots
A watch
Kid games in case it rains
Snacks to share and drinks for social hour and dance
Bug spray and suntan lotion
Raingear
Comfortable clothes and shoes
Nets and buckets for catching newts

2013 Schedule

Friday
4:30 pm-later Check in with Cindy Peterkin Porch
5:30 - 7:00 pm Dinner Virginia House (Main hotel)
8:00 pm Welcome Gathering Old Rec Hall
9:00 pm Compline Old Rec Hall
9:30 pm Bonfire Upper Field

Saturday
7:30 am Wake up bells ring
8:00 am (sharp) Breakfast Tucker Dining Hall
9:00 am Morning Prayer Stribling living room
Hike to the Cross Meet in front of Peterkin
Noon Noon Devotions Stribling living room
12:30 pm Lunch Tucker Dining Hall
4:30 pm Social Time Scott Porch
5:30 pm Dinner Tucker Dining Hall
7:00 pm Evening Prayer Stribling living room
8:00 pm Square Dance Upper pavilion

Sunday 7:30 am Wake up bells ring
8:00 am Breakfast Tucker Dining Hall
9:30 am Holy Eucharist Shrine
Pack and load cars
12:30 pm Lunch Tucker Dining Hall

Friends

This year's theme is FRIENDS. We hope you will consider inviting a friend or bringing one of your children's friends with you to Shrine Mont.

The 2013 Parish Retreat is May 10 - May 12 at Shrine Mont. Mark you calendars.

2012 Schedule

Friday

4:30 pm and on - Check in with Cindy - Peterkin Porch
5:30 - 7:00 pm - Dinner in Virginia House (Main hotel)
8:00 pm - Welcome Gathering in Old Rec Hall
9:00 pm - Compline in Old Rec Hall
Bonfire (NEW LOCATION) - Behind Stribling

Saturday

7:30 am - Wake up bells ring
8:00 am (sharp) - Breakfast in Tucker Dining Hall
9:00 am - Morning Prayer in Stribling living room

Morning activities:
trip to the candy store
hike to the Cross with the group (meet in front of Peterkin)
walk the labyrinth (near the Shrine)

Noon - Noon Devotions in Stribling living room
12:30 - Lunch in Tucker Dining Hall

Afternoon activities:
Free time
Bookstore
Catch Newts
Walk the labyrinth
Sports

Zip Wire at Bryce Resort - depart at 2:20

4:30 pm - Social Time (Peterkin Porch and Sunroom)
5:30 om - Dinner in Tucker Dining Hall
7:00 pm - Evening Prayer in Stribling living room
8:00 pm - Square Dance in UPPER pavilion

Sunday

7:30 - Wake up bells ring
8:00 - Breakfast in Tucker Dining Hall

Free time
Pack and load cars - take food items from common area
Bookstore

11:45 am - Holy Eucharist in the Shrine
12:30 am - Lunch in Tucker Dining Hall

Depart in Peace

Additional Packing Items!

(Please also scan previous posts from previous years!)
Rain gear.

Bug spray, sun lotion. Camera.

Juice and Water - especially kid drinks if you have kids
Beer and wine, if you wish

Snacks Before dinner on Saturday we gather for social time (cheese, crackers, appetizers, dips, veggies)    
At the dance we set out a spread of food (all the above plus some desserts)

Reusable drink mug for coffee and tea - available all day!!! (Or buy one there)

Flashlight
Watch
Extra bath towels (the Shrine Mont version are on the small side)
Extra shoes and socks for kids - they will probably get wet feet. Bottom of mountain hike is WET!

Casual clothes only! Jeans. Jackets and sweatshirts for morning and evening.

Musical instruments.

Marshmallow roasting sticks

Retreat Information

If you haven't been on the retreat and want more details, start with the April 2008 blog posting called "Retreat Primer."

Shrine Mont: Fellowship, Worship, Community, Welcoming, Education, Music

The parish retreat provides a place to bring together the strengths of St. Thomas.

Community Shrine Mont is similar to the type of neighborhood where we adults may have grown up. The children are safe and can be given more freedom each year. The entire community of St Thomas watches over our children, giving the children freedom to mature in the safety of a community.

Fellowship The weekend starts on Friday night with games and activities inside and later we gather around the bonfire for s’mores. Saturday afternoon we have social hour together before dinner and a dance in the evening. The meals are family-style, giving everyone a chance to enjoy meal time with other parishioners. It is an opportunity to learn about others in our church and form bonds that don’t usually happen during a quick chat at coffee hour on Sundays.

Worship and Education Our worship time is casual and family-friendly. The lessons and psalms are usually read by the children and the discussions involve the children. They want to participate. The lessons are relevant to all – young and young-at-heart!

Welcoming Parishioners often invite friends and family to join us. We’ve had friends of teens, grandparents, non-member spouses, sisters, Aunts, cousins. We have new parishioners at St. Thomas who joined after attending the retreat as guests. All are welcome and we hope you will join us, too.

Music We have many choir members and musicians, and we create beautiful music in the mountains. We sing favorite hymns usually accompanied by guitar and piano. Children are also encouraged to bring their instruments.

2012 Dates Are Here

The St. Thomas Parish Retreat will be Friday, May 11 through Sunday, May 13. Please join us!

2011 Scedule

Friday

4:30 pm and on - Check in with Cindy - Peterkin Porch
5:30 - 7:00 pm - Dinner in Virginia House
8:00 pm - Welcome Gathering in Old Rec Hall
9:00 pm - Compline in Old Rec Hall
Bonfire in the field near the upper pavilion

Saturday

7:30 am - Wake up bells ring
8:00 am (sharp) - Breakfast in Tucker Dining Hall
9:00 am - Morning Prayer in Meade living room

Morning activities:
trip to the candy store
hike to the Cross with the group (meet in front of Peterkin)
walk the labyrinth (near the Shrine)

Noon - Noon Devotions in Meade living room
12:30 - Lunch in Tucker Dining Hall

Afternoon activities:
Free time
Bookstore
Catch Newts
Walk the labyrinth
Playground
Sports
Photo Scavenger Hunt

4:30 pm - Social Time (Peterkin Porch and Sunroom)
5:30 om - Dinner in Tucker Dining Hall
7:00 pm - Evening Prayer in Meade living room
8:00 pm - Square Dance in lower pavilion

Sunday

7:30 - Wake up bells ring
8:00 - Breakfast in Tucker Dining Hall

8:45 am - Holy Eucharist in the Shrine

9:30
Free time
Pack and load cars - take food items from common area
Bookstore

12:30 am - Lunch in Tucker Dining Hall

Depart in Peace

2011 Retreat Dates

Now that you have your 2011 calendar it is time to block out the weekend of the Parish Retreat at Shrine Mont. The dates this year are Friday, May 6th through Sunday, May 8th. The flowers will be in bloom, the wisteria will be sending out a sweet fragrance and the weather should be mild.

The highlights of the weekend include s’mores around the campfire, hiking the mountain, music by St Thomas musicians, family-style meals, and Sunday morning worship at the Cathedral Shrine.

2010 Schedule

Friday

4:00 pm and on - Check in with Cindy
5:30 - 7:00 pm - Dinner in Virginia House
8:00 pm - Welcome Gathering in Chilton Hall
9:00 pm - Compline in Chilton Hall
Bonfire in the field near the upper pavilion

Saturday

7:30 am - Wake up bells ring
8:00 am (sharp) - Breakfast in Tucker Dining Hall
9:00 am - Morning Prayer in Meade living room

Morning activities:
trip to the candy store
hike to the Cross with the group (meet at Scott)
walk the labyrinth (near the Shrine)

Noon - Noon Devotions in Meade living room
12:30 - Lunch in Tucker Dining Hall

Afternoon activities:
Free time
Bookstore
Catching Newts
Walk the labyrinth
Playground
Sports
Visit the new winery down the road

4:30 pm - Social Time (location to be determined)
5:30 om - Dinner in Tucker Dining Hall
7:00 pm - Evening Prayer in Meade living room
8:00 pm - Square Dance in lower pavilion
(if too cold, indoor location is Chilton Hall)

Sunday

7:30 - Wake up bells ring
8:00 - Breakfast in Tucker Dining Hall

Morning activities:
Free time
Pack
Bookstore

10:15 am - Holy Eucharist in the Shrine

11:30 am - Pack and load cars
(remember to take
food items, etc. from common areas)

12:30 am - Lunch in Tucker Dining Hall

Depart in Peace

Life Unplugged!

Join us for a weekend in the mountains. Read a book in a chair on the porch, hike up a mountain, play your musical instrument, walk the labyrinth, cook s'mores at the bonfire, and limbo at the dance.

These are just some of the ways to escape from Northern Virginia: traffic, tv, internet, video games, phone calls. Leave it all behind and join us at Shrine Mont!

Packing List

Snacks and Drinks to share during social time and Square Dance on Saturday.
- remember soft drinks for the kids
- beer and wine, if you want it
- sweets (brownies, cookies), salty (nuts, crackers, pretzels), fruit, cheese, dips

Marshmallow roasting skewers, if you have them

Reusable drink mug for coffee and tea throughout the day. Or pre-order a Shrine Mont travel mug ($3) and Cindy will have it for you when you arrive.

Reusable sports bottles for kids (good for hike).

Camera

Cards and board games (in case it rains)

Musical Instruments (and tell Shawn if you want to play an instrument during the worship services so he can transpose the music).

Flashlight

Comfortable clothing and shoes (extra clothes and shoes for kids!) Lots of socks for the kids. (They tend to find their way into the streams and ponds and puddles and mud.)

Dress in layers - it is warm during the day and cool at night. No dressy clothes needed.

Raingear, just in case.

Sunscreen and bug spray.

Sports equipment: Fishing rod, nets, tennis rackets, football, kickball, basketballs

(Linens and towels are provided) but you may wish to bring extra towels (esp. if you like big, fluffy towels)

2010 Retreat is Almost Here

We are finalizing the rooms and schedule for our 2010 retreat. Please let us know if you are joining us as soon as possible! Watch this website for the retreat schedule, packing list and driving directions.

Weekend Schedule

Music in the Mountains
St Thomas Retreat 2009

FRIDAY
4:00 pm Check In Peterkin
5:30-7:00 Dinner Virginia House
8:00 Welcome and Family Activities Chilton
9:00 Compline Chilton
Bonfire Upper Pavilion

SATURDAY
8:00 am Breakfast Tucker Dining Room
9:00 Morning Prayer Meade
Hike to the Cross and/or
Visit the New Labyrinth (contemplative)
Noon Devotions at Noon Meade
12:30 pm Lunch Tucker Dining Room
1:30 Free time/music rehearsal
Camp tour Virginia House lobby
3:00 Hayride Virginia House lawn
Quiet Prayer time with harp music (adults only)
4:30 Social Time Peterkin Porch
5:30 Dinner Tucker Dining Room
7:00 Evening Prayer Meade
8:00 Square Dance Lower Pavilion


SUNDAY
8:00 am Breakfast Tucker Dining Room
Free time/pack/visit bookstore
10:00 Eucharist Shrine
11:30 Pack and load cars
12:30 pm Lunch Tucker Dining Room

Depart in Peace

Take A Break From Northern VA

Each spring, for as along as our kids can remember, the Hargroves have headed to Shrine Mont in Orkney Springs for the annual Parish Retreat. We look forward to the weekend each year for many reasons.

We are unplugged. Yes, it is wonderful that the cell phone doesn’t work so well and that there is no internet or TV. The hand-held games stay in the car if we brought them for the ride. The kids investigate the streams, catch newts in the pond, play ball, run and swing at the playground. We all hike, dance and go for a hayride. We look at spring budding, fossils on the mountain, wisteria blooming, streams of running water as the winter snows melt.

We have time to chat. How often do you really sit after a meal and chat with other adults? Or sit on a porch, watching the kids play and the flowers bloom? Or catch up with a friend after the kids are asleep? We do all that.

The kids can be kids. The kids often leave the dining room and go up to the playground. The older ones take the little ones. We don’t worry about our kids when we are at Shrine Mont like we do in Northern Virginia. The small town atmosphere allows them to roam, much like we did as kids. Each year we give them a little more leeway to explore the grounds.

We don’t do chores. There’s no laundry, yard work or cooking. Similar to a vacation with your family except that when you go to the dining room the meal is ready and we are all together. No menus, no fussy kids. We enjoy the community and fellowship time, so often ignored in Northern VA.

We don’t get stuck in traffic (once you get out of Northern VA). Most of us park the car on Friday and get back in it on Sunday. Wow! It feels great to walk to meals, the bookstore, the playground and the candy store.

These are just some of the great things that come to mind. If you haven’t been to Shrine Mont, please consider coming just once. Most of us can’t stop going. It is truly an amazing place.

2009 Retreat

Save the date: Friday, April 24 - Sunday, April 26, 2009

Sign ups will start in February.

Driving Directions

You want to be heading out Rt 66 West. Options for getting there include:
Rt 7 to the Beltway (slow through Vienna at rush hour)
Toll Road to Rt 28 (puts you further out on 66)
Hunter Mill to 123 in Oakton (also puts you further out on 66)

Most of you should be able to ride in the left lane, HOV!

Go to Rt 81 and head South.

Get off of Rt 81 at Exit 273, Mt. Jackson.
(The sign says Orkney Springs is a left turn. You can go through town this way. Head south on Rt 11 and turn left on Orkney Grade.)
To avoid town, Turn RIGHT, which will be Mt. Jackson Road.
Drive to the STOP sign.
Turn LEFT, which will be S. Middle St.
Drive to the STOP sign.
Turn RIGHT, which will Orkney Grade.
Follow this road through Basye to the end at Orkney Springs!

Drive past Virginia House and up the hill; bear LEFT and drive through the stone gate. Peterkin is on the right side, 1st building. That is where you can meet us and find your rooms. Check the schedule - print it out - so you can find us.