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
Friday, April 24, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
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.
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.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
2009 Retreat
Save the date: Friday, April 24 - Sunday, April 26, 2009
Sign ups will start in February.
Sign ups will start in February.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
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.
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.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Link to Shrine Mont website
ch 2003 For information about the facilities, maps of the grounds and hiking trails, and directions to Orkney Springs, VA, you can look at the website for Shrine Mont. I will also be posting more information - so keep checking back here!
http://shrinemont.com/
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Packing List
Snacks and Drinks to share during social time and at the Saturday evening Square Dance
- juice and water for your kids (either refillable sports bottles or water bottles)
- soft drinks
- beer and/or wine if you want it
- ideas for snacks: sweets (brownies,cookies) , salty (nuts, crackers), fresh fruit,
cheese/crackers, dips
Reusable drink mug (travel coffee cup) for coffee/tea throughout the day
Camera
Cards and board games
Musical Instruments - all are welcome to join the retreat band
Flashlight
Comfortable clothing and shoes (extra clothes and shoes for kids)
The kids might get wet shoes and socks so its always nice to have extra.
No need to bring anything dressy!
Its warm during the day and cool in the mornings and at night. Dress in layers.
Raingear, just in case
Sunscreen and bug spray
Sports equipment: fishing rod, nets, tennis rackets, football, kickball, kid-friendly bats, balls and gloves, basketball
Linens and towels are provided, but you may wish to bring extra towels
- juice and water for your kids (either refillable sports bottles or water bottles)
- soft drinks
- beer and/or wine if you want it
- ideas for snacks: sweets (brownies,cookies) , salty (nuts, crackers), fresh fruit,
cheese/crackers, dips
Reusable drink mug (travel coffee cup) for coffee/tea throughout the day
Camera
Cards and board games
Musical Instruments - all are welcome to join the retreat band
Flashlight
Comfortable clothing and shoes (extra clothes and shoes for kids)
The kids might get wet shoes and socks so its always nice to have extra.
No need to bring anything dressy!
Its warm during the day and cool in the mornings and at night. Dress in layers.
Raingear, just in case
Sunscreen and bug spray
Sports equipment: fishing rod, nets, tennis rackets, football, kickball, kid-friendly bats, balls and gloves, basketball
Linens and towels are provided, but you may wish to bring extra towels
Schedule of Events
FRIDAY
4:00 pm
Check In (Peterkin )
5:30-7:00
Dinner (Virginia House)
8:00
Welcome and Family Games (Chilton)
9:00
Compline (Chilton)
Bonfire (Upper Pavilion)
Social Time (Peterkin)
SATURDAY
8:00 am
Breakfast (Tucker Dining Room)
9:00
Morning Prayer (Meade)
Free time
Noon
Devotions at Noon (Meade)
12:30 pm
Lunch (Tucker Dining Room)
Free time
3:00
Hayride (Virginia House lawn)
4:30
Social Time (Peterkin)
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)
10:15
Eucharist (Shrine)
11:30
Pack
12:30
Lunch (Tucker Dining Room)
Depart in Peace
4:00 pm
Check In (Peterkin )
5:30-7:00
Dinner (Virginia House)
8:00
Welcome and Family Games (Chilton)
9:00
Compline (Chilton)
Bonfire (Upper Pavilion)
Social Time (Peterkin)
SATURDAY
8:00 am
Breakfast (Tucker Dining Room)
9:00
Morning Prayer (Meade)
Free time
Noon
Devotions at Noon (Meade)
12:30 pm
Lunch (Tucker Dining Room)
Free time
3:00
Hayride (Virginia House lawn)
4:30
Social Time (Peterkin)
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)
10:15
Eucharist (Shrine)
11:30
Pack
12:30
Lunch (Tucker Dining Room)
Depart in Peace
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