Upcoming Programmed Retreats

Guided Silent Retreats and Retreats on specific themes are regularly held at Rivendell Lodge led by members of the Rivendell Community and partner groups.

Rivendell is committed to making these retreats financially accessible. We ask for a minimum of $80.00 per day to cover food, basic costs and facilitation. You add to that amount what you can afford per night for your accommodation. When you come to Rivendell for your retreat, you can pay by cheque, cash or e-transfer at booking@rivendellretreat.org.

We ask that you choose one retreat pre year to attend; this helps accomodate all who are interested. Thanks for your understanding.

A Contemplative Story Retreat Jan 13-17, 2025

Story has had a profound role in shaping and re-shaping us: our values, our character, our worldview…from the first story we were read or told as a child, until now.

What are the stories you and I tell/believe about ourselves, our neighbor, the earth, the world…about God/the Sacred?

During these days of retreat,  you will be invited into a rich time of exploring, reflecting and praying with these personal and communal/cultural stories. There will be a variety of modes of engagement open to you, such as poetry, scripture, music, art, and journalling. A rhythm of interaction and spacious silence, presentation and reflection, movement and stillness will guide the flow of our days.

 Retreat Leaders:

Jan Bihl

Jan’s varied life experiences, along with her training in teaching, ministry, and spiritual direction, weave together to form her love for people and for accompanying them on their spiritual journey. Jan is sustained and deeply enriched by the creative power of story, song, poetry and her engagement with the Rivendell Community. In her active retirement she continues to have a zest for life, laughter, creativity, community…and great coffee…not to mention friendship, savouring sunrises, and quality time with her loving spouse and the motley crew, near and far, who they are blessed to call their family.

Margaret McAvity

After many years as a librarian involved in international education, Margaret pursued theological studies and became a spiritual director and retreat leader. An active lay person in the Anglican Church and a long-serving community member of Rivendell Retreat Centre, Margaret enjoys gardening, walking, reading, and spending precious time with her spouse, children, grandchildren, and extended family and friends

Lunch and Dinners will be catered meals, please bring your own breakfast items. You will be given a private room with your own washroom, all of your linens and towels will be provided.

Cost: $80/day for food and facilitation plus what you can give for your accomodation.

Begins Monday, January 13th, 2025 at 5 pm and concludes Friday, January 17th, 2025 at noon.

We ask that you choose one retreat pre year to attend, this helps accomodate all who are interested, thanks for your understanding.

Registration for this retreat is now full, if you would like to be added to the waitlist plesae fill out the above registration form

Feb 7-16th, 9 day Silent Retreat

Dipping Our Toes into the Ignatian River
   A Nine Day Silent Retreat

During this silent retreat, you will be invited to explore and engage in the Ignatian practices of the prayer of the imagination and the daily reflective practice of the Examen of Awareness.  This retreat is available to those who have participated previously in a three day silent retreat.

A silent retreat provides space to rest, pray, be in nature and deepen your spiritual journey. While on retreat, you will be provided with your own room with private washroom, a shower or tub, all linens, and healthy yet simple meals. 

After an introduction to silence on the first evening, you are invited to shape the day as you are led.  Spiritual accompaniment is offered daily and there will be a daily 5pm group gathering, offering the opportunity  to experience a taste of Ignatian spiritual practice as well as the themes emerging from the daily accompaniment .

Leadership for the silent retreats is organized by Kathi Bentall and Margaret McAvity, both spiritual directors and experienced retreat leaders.

Cost: $80/day for food and facilitation, + what you can give generously for your accommodation.

We ask that you choose one retreat pre year to attend, this helps accomodate all who are interested, thanks for your understanding.

Attendance at a 3 day retreat (or one similar) is a prerequisite for this longer retreat.  

This retreat is now full. If you would like to be placed on the waitlist- please fill out the registration form.

March 6-9, 3 day Silent Retreat

A silent retreat provides space to rest, pray, be in nature and deepen your spiritual journey. While on Retreat at Rivendell you will be provided with: your own room with private washroom, either with a shower or tub, all linens, and healthy yet simple meals.

After an introduction to silence on the first evening, you are invited to shape the day as you are led. Spiritual Direction is offered daily, and there is a group gathering at 5pm.

Meals are shared in silence.

These retreats are individually directed, and the themes for our daily gatherings emerge from the group.

Leadership for the silent retreats is organized by Kathi Bentall and Margaret McAvity, both spiritual directors and experienced retreat leaders.

Cost: $80/day for food and facilitation, + what you can give generously for your accommodation.

We ask that you choose one retreat pre year to attend, this helps accomodate all who are interested, thanks for your understanding.

Registration for this retreat will open Dec 19 at 10am, the registration button will appear here.

REGISTRATION FOR THIS RETREAT IS NOW FULL. We hope you are able to find a retreat to attend in the future.

April 13-21, Holy Week at Rivendell

Holy Week is reserved for individuals who want to meditate on the biblical stories of Jesus’ death and resurrection.  Rivendell’s  5 pm gatherings and additional Good Friday and Easter Sunday gatherings will centre on the Easter story.  As individual retreatants you are free to shape the days as you are led and spiritual accompaniment is available.  Please sign up through bookings@rivendellretreat.org for at least 3 nights so you can enter into the flow of the week.  

This is not an organized retreat which means you will need to bring your own food.  You are provided with your own room with private washroom and all linens. Leadership is offered by Louise Cummings and Kathi Bentall and others.

Registration for this retreat is open now, please email: booking@rivendellretreat.org to reserve your spot.

THE CONTEMPLATIVE EYE

A retreat exploring presence, invitation and seeing

Monday, April 28 – Friday, May 2, 2025

“In cultivating photography as a contemplative practice, the camera becomes a way to develop our ability to see more deeply, clearly, and truly, beneath the surface realities of the world around us and into the sacred presence shimmering in the world.”

- Christine Valters Paintner

This is not a retreat about cameras, lenses or technology.This is a retreat that uses the camera as a form of meditation, a way of bringing ourselves into presence, an opportunity to learn about and respond to the invitations of grace that are being offered to us always. And in the sacred container of presence and periods of silence, our contemplative hearts are awakened and we open to the grace all ‘round.

Bring your cellphone and we will explore the wonderful possibilities that your phone camera holds as an ever-ready contemplative, reflective tool.

This 4-day retreat will be both spacious and directedas we rest in the beauty and invitation of Rivendell Lodge and Bowen Island.Spirit stands still for the photographer it has chosen.- Minor White

This retreat provides space to rest, reflect, be in nature and deepen your spiritual journey. While on retreat at Rivendell you will be provided with: your own room with private washroom, either with a shower or tub, all linens, and simple meals.

Cost: $320 ($80/day) for food and facilitation, plus what you can give generously for your accommodation.

Leadership: Lorne Braun and Sharon Salomons. For more information please email: registration@rivendellretreat.org

Registration for this retreat will open Januray 29th at 10am

Creative Expression Retreat

May 9-12th

more details to come

registration for this retreat will open Feb 10th at 10am