Morning Silence
2026-09-02 08:00, 2026-09-16 08:00 - 09:00, 2026-10-07 08:00, 2026-10-21 08:00 - 09:00, 2026-11-04 08:00, 2026-11-18 08:00 - 09:00, 2026-12-02 08:00, 2026-12-16 08:00 - 09:00 (America/New_York) | NC
Morning Silence is an ongoing event that occurs from 8:00 – 9:00 am on Zoom on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. Rotating facilitators provide a few words about the theme(s) for the day to introduce each session. Two sessions of silence (20 minutes) follow with a brief time of stretching in between. The time concludes with 10 minutes of sharing from the participants. To be added to the notification list, please go to contact us page.

Ends of the Earth
2026-09-18 15:00 - 2026-09-20 15:00 | Avila, 711 Mason Road, Durham, NC, 27712, United States
A Contemplative Retreat to Experience the Wisdom, Food, and Musical Traditions of Celtic Christianity

Full moon over Iona, Scotland. Photo by Terry Allebaugh.

Register

Register by August 1st to receive a 10 percent early-bird discount – use promo code EARLYBIRD at checkout! (Code is case-sensitive and entered on the payment screen).

Ends of the Earth will offer participants an opportunity to slow their pace, gather for thoughtful listening to each other and the natural world, enjoy nutritious communal meals, and restore energy for engagement in the world. The retreat will include teachings, practices, food, and music grounded in the Celtic Christian traditions, which took shape at the westernmost ends of Europe on the coasts of Scotland and Ireland beginning in the 5th century.

Early themes of Celtic Christianity developed perspectives especially relevant to modern spirituality and social change, including emphasis on original goodness rather than original sin; equality for women in education and leadership; incorporation of Druidic stress on non-dominant connection of human beings to nature and creation; recognition by Jesus of economic and social iniquities; and prioritizing horizontal organizational structures over hierarchical ones.

The Ends of the Earth retreat is designed both for those who remain hopeful in the witness of the church to the world and those who have sought other sources of sustenance and belonging; for those who are fighting heartily for justice and who hunger for spiritual nourishment; and for those outside of religious traditions who are curious about how an indigenous expression of an inclusive and dynamic Christianity could have taken shape so long ago and remained mostly hidden from view for many centuries.

A pre-retreat gathering begins on Friday, September 18, with a community supper followed by live music and storytelling by the fire pit, with perhaps a “wee dram from the water of life.” On Friday evening, local legend Fiddlin’ Al McCanless will join the musical jam, bringing his virtuoso Celtic fiddle to the mix.

The Merry Gadflies perform “Soldier’s Joy,” featuring Al McCanless alongside Charles Pettee and Terry Allebaugh.

The retreat proper begins Saturday morning and runs through mid-afternoon on Sunday, September 20. Participants can expect an easy rhythm that includes teaching, live meditative music, times of silence, hearty meals, small group sharing, opportunities for walks on the path or labyrinth, as well as rest and sleep.

The retreat will be held at the Avila Center for Community Leadership, a serene, wooded 50-acre property 20 minutes north of Durham, North Carolina. It offers multiple indoor and outdoor meeting spaces, along with nature trails, gazebos, a labyrinth, and a fire pit.

The retreat will be led by Terry Allebaugh and Esther Hethcox, who will be joined by Chef in Residence Milton Brasher-Cunningham and Musician in Residence Charles Pettee.

Terry Allebaugh, Retreat Facilitator

Terry Allebaugh is the President of Peace Hill at Avila and a graduate of The Living School Program of the Center for Action and Contemplation. Terry is also a student in the School of Earth and Spirit led by John Philip Newell, including a pilgrimage week with Newell at Iona, Scotland, the historic center of the Celtic Christian tradition.

Esther Hethcox, Retreat Facilitator

Esther Hethcox is the Associate Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Durham and a certified spiritual director, which currently includes services for inmates on death row. Celtic theology has deeply informed Esther’s prayer and spiritual life and her leadership with The Somethings, a young adult fellowship group at First Presbyterian.

Milton Brasher-Cunningham, Chef in Residence

Milton Brasher-Cunningham is the author of Keeping the Feast: Metaphors for the Meal, and chef for numerous Ireland Retreats, a program led by Gareth Higgins and Brian Ammons looking at the story of Northern Ireland as a way to learn more about peacemaking. Also a pastor, poet, and songwriter, Milton returns to Durham, the home of his heart, to cook for the retreat.

Charles Pettee, Musician in Residence

Charles Pettee is a Master Teaching Artist, performer and instructor. He is a founding member of a world traveling bluegrass group, The Shady Grove Band, and folk music project FolkPsalm, featuring his work setting the words of the Psalms to Celtic and Americana influenced melodies. Charles is currently celebrating the release of his 15th album Slippery Hill Bluegrass, a project with his oldest son, musician Jackson Pettee.

Retreat Cost

Two-Night Retreat (Friday–Sunday) – Join us for a pre-retreat gathering on Friday evening to share a meal, music, and time by the campfire! This ticket option includes accommodations for Friday and Saturday nights, meals, and all weekend retreat activities: $350

Overnight Retreat (Saturday–Sunday) – This ticket option includes overnight accommodations, meals, and weekend retreat activities: $250

Commuter Retreat – This ticket option includes Saturday-Sunday weekend retreat activities and meals, but not overnight accommodations: $175

We are committed to financial accessibility and strive to ensure retreats are not cost-prohibitive. If you would like to request a scholarship, please contact us at information@peacehillavila.org. If you are able to contribute any amount above the ticket cost, donations help us provide support to participants with financial need.

Register by August 1st to receive a 10 percent early-bird discount – use promo code EARLYBIRD at checkout! (Code is case-sensitive and entered on the payment screen).

Lodging

Accommodations include single rooms with twin-sized beds and double rooms with two full-sized beds, with bathrooms shared among two or three rooms. Lodging will generally be single-occupancy, though discounts are available to those electing to share a room. If you would like to share a double room with another participant, please contact us prior to registration. Some rooms are more accessible than others; please let us know your accessibility needs during registration.

Meals

Chef in Residence Milton Brasher-Cunningham will craft a menu inspired by the Celtic Christian traditions. Please share any allergies or dietary preferences during registration; we can accommodate most restrictions. Coffee, tea, and snacks will be available throughout the retreat.

Retreat Location

The Avila Center

The retreat will be held at the Avila Center for Community Leadership. Originally a Carmelite monastery that has since been transformed into a center for community organizing, Avila offers offers numerous spaces for conversation and quiet moments of contemplation, comfortable overnight lodging, a dining hall and kitchen, high-speed wireless internet, and parking.

Cancellation Policy

All refund requests must be received at least 30 days prior to the retreat. A $25 processing fee will be deducted from refunds.

BIPOC-Only Practice and Dialogue with Lama Rod Owens
2026-11-11 18:00 - 21:00 | The People’s Solidarity Hub, 1809 Chapel Hill Road, Durham, North Carolina, 27707, United States
The People’s Solidarity Hub, Durham NC

Register

Join Lama Rod Owens for a BIPOC-only evening of practice and dialogue on November 11.

The title of Lama Rod’s November 12-15 retreat is Healing, Resilience, and Liberation. Because affinity groups can often offer a deeper opportunity for both safety and healing, on November 11, he is offering a BIPOC-only (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) space. Everyone who identifies as BIPOC in their everyday life is invited to register.

This event will include a reception beginning at 6:00 pm and the program with Lama Rod will begin at 7:00 pm.

Registration is for the November 11 practice only. If you would like to attend the November 12-15 retreat, please apply at this link.

Presented by Bhumi Durham in partnership with Peace Hill at Avila.

Learn more about Lama Rod Owens here.

Healing, Resiliency, and Liberation
2026-11-12 15:00 - 2026-11-15 15:00 | Avila, 711 Mason Road, Durham, NC, 27712, United States
Lama Rod Owens

Avila Center for Community Leadership, Durham NC

Retreat Application

We are excited to once again offer a retreat with Lama Rod Owens November 12–15. It seems as if we are living through an apocalypse, struggling to learn lessons through economic instability, war, political unrest, climate change, continuing genocides, and various forms of systematic violence. However, this moment is also inviting us back to an authentic indigeneity. We are being asked to remember how to be in relationship to the land, to our brokenheartedness, and in gentle healing relationships with others.

In the face of so much change, we may find it difficult to maintain our physical and emotional balance. Resiliency is such an important skill to develop right now. Resiliency is about how well we can meet the challenges of our lives with a sense of openness and curiosity that helps us to regain our balance. Balance means understanding how to return to a sense of being grounded to meet challenges directly. During our time together, we will explore both personal and collective resiliency through somatic based mindfulness practice, grief work, chanting, and prayer. Led by Lama Rod, we will explore themes of spiritual abolition, liberatory care, grieving as care work, as well as what it means to be a love-centered agent of liberation in this moment. Lama Rod will be assisted in this retreat by Sister Sadada (Sierra).

The retreat begins on Thursday, November 12, and ends on Sunday, November 15. The retreat will be preceded by a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) gathering the evening of November 11 at the People’s Solidarity Hub (separate registration is required).

A retreat allows us to do the deep work and healing that our minds, bodies, spirits, ancestors, and the earth are calling for so strongly. It is a gift we can give ourselves which also affects all the lives we touch.

If you are new to practice with Lama Rod or new to meditation retreats, you are most welcome. Also most welcome are those who have formed community during earlier retreats at Avila and previous retreats with Lama Rod.

We will meditate together and engage in movement, compassion, and earth-based ancestor practices and rituals. This is a residential-only retreat, and we have scholarship assistance available. There is an application process and BIPOC and LGBTQ+ folks will have priority.

If you have questions about the retreat, email Karen at BhumiDurham@gmail.com.

If you have questions about the registration process or about the retreat center, email Elaina at elaina@peacehillavila.org.

Learn more about Lama Rod Owens here.

Presented by Bhumi Durham in partnership with Peace Hill at Avila.

REGISTRATION PROCESS:

There is an application process for this retreat. Please note, you must have an approved application in order to register. To apply, please fill out the form at this link:

Retreat Application

We expect this retreat to be oversubscribed, so preference will be given to BIPOC, LGBTQ people, and those who have been studying with Lama Rod. Admissions will continue until the retreat is full, after which applicants will be added to a waiting list. Often, there are last-minute cancellations which allow those on the waiting list to be admitted.

Apply by July 1st for priority consideration. Initial acceptances will be announced by the end of July. Applications will continue to be reviewed after July 1st on a rolling basis until the retreat is full.

RETREAT COST:

Pay-it-forward Residential Retreat (includes single-room accommodations and meals): $900

Residential Retreat – single room (includes single-room accommodations and meals): $800

Residential Retreat – shared room (includes shared-room accommodations and meals): $600

Payment will be made in two installments: a $200 deposit will hold your place at the retreat, and payment of the remaining balance will complete registration.

All refund requests must be received at least 30 days prior to the retreat. A $30 processing fee will be deducted from refunds.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

The retreat containerAfter the opening program on the first night until the noon meal on the fourth day, everyone is invited to enter into silence throughout the buildings and grounds. At times, such as the Q&A sessions, silence will be lifted in the meditation hall.

This supportive silence invites all yogis to refrain from verbal and written communication with others, including telephone calls, texts, and emails. There will be an emergency number for emergencies.

MealsCoffee and tea will be available during the retreat. Meals will be vegetarian. Please let us know allergies and food intolerances when you register. We can usually accommodate dietary restrictions.

LodgingA limited number of single rooms are available, and double rooms with two full-sized beds will be shared by two participants. Some rooms are more accessible than others; please let us know your accessibility needs on the application form.

Single Room

Shared Double Room

Accessibility Please help us make this retreat as accessible as possible by telling us about your accessibility needs on the application.

Location of the retreat The retreat venue is the Avila Center for Community Leadership, a 20-minute drive from downtown Durham and a 35-minute drive from the Raleigh Durham (RDU) airport.

Avila is a nonprofit community center, where people and groups connect, deepen their work, and rejuvenate. The mission of the center is to support and connect community organizers and leaders working together for systemic change in the South and beyond. The buildings are surrounded by 50 acres of green space and trails.

You can learn more about Avila at this link.

If you have questions about this retreat, please contact Karen at BhumiDurham@gmail.com

The Seeing That Frees: Cultivating Calm, Clarity, and Freedom in Difficult Times
2026-11-19 16:00 - 2026-11-22 13:00 | Avila, 711 Mason Road, Durham, NC, 27712, United States
Avila Center for Community Leadership, Durham NC

Retreat Application

Join Triangle Insight Meditation Community teachers Ron Vereen and Sharon Shelton for a four day, three night silent residential retreat. In this retreat, we will explore how mindfulness helps us meet life’s challenges with greater steadiness, wisdom, and compassion. Together, we will investigate how perception shapes our experience, how thoughts and emotional reactions proliferate into suffering, and how awareness can interrupt habitual patterns. Drawing on the Buddhist Insight tradition and practice, we will learn to bring curiosity to every aspect of our experience, including uncertainty, loss, fear, and even mortality itself. Through meditation, Dharma talks, silence, and community, we will discover how freedom becomes possible not by avoiding difficulty, but by seeing it clearly.

This is a residential-only retreat, most suitable for those with some meditation experience, and scholarship assistance is available. Priority registration is offered to people who identify as BIPOC or LGBTQ+ and to active participants in the Triangle Insight Meditation Community and Mindful Families of Durham. But everyone is welcome as space allows!

If you have questions about the retreat, please email Triangle Insight Meditation Community at info@triangleinsight.org.

Learn more about our teachers:

Sharon Shelton teaches retreats, courses, and meditation groups, and mentors people who want to bring more awareness, compassion, and freedom into their everyday lives. She serves as a member of the Teaching Council of Triangle Insight Meditation Community and as a mentor for the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program founded by Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield. She is also a founding advisor and lead teacher with the online program Banyan. Her teaching is rooted in the Insight Meditation tradition and shaped by nearly three decades of practice. She has studied with and been influenced by teachers Tara Brach, Jack Kornfield, Joseph Goldstein, Sharon Salzberg, Ruth King, Tuere Sala, Bhikkhu Analayo, James Baraz, Cheri Maples, Gil Fronsdal, and others whose wisdom continues to guide her path.

Ron Vereen is a retired psychiatrist who has been practicing mindfulness and Insight meditation since 1992. He is a founding member of Triangle Insight Meditation Community, where he serves as the leading teacher. He has been teaching mindfulness in Duke’s MBSR program since 1999. Ron is a graduate of the Community Dharma Leader Program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, and he has completed the Integrated Study and Practice Program of the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. His principal teacher is Rodney Smith. He has also studied with Shinzen Young, Leigh Brasington, Taraniya Ambrosia, Andrew Olendzki, and Narayan Helen Liebenson. Ron’s interests include exploring the interface between Western and Buddhist psychology.

REGISTRATION PROCESS:

There is an application process for this retreat, with preference given to people who identify as BIPOC or LGBTQ+ and to those who regularly participate with offerings from Triangle Insight Meditation Community or Mindful Families of Durham. When your application is approved, we will send you a link for paying a $75 deposit along with instructions for finalizing payment. Admissions will continue until the retreat is full, after which applicants will be added to a waiting list. Often, there are late cancellations which allow those on the waiting list to be admitted.

Retreat Application

RETREAT COST:

Single room (includes single-room accommodations and meals): $600 (there are limited singles, so you will increase your chances of being admitted to the retreat if you are willing to share a room)

Shared room with one other person (includes shared-room accommodations and meals): $450

This cost doesn’t include dana, that is, donations to the teachers and retreat manager, who offer their services freely and without other compensation. You’ll be given an opportunity to offer dana at the end of the retreat.

Payment will be made in two installments: a $75 non-refundable deposit will hold your place at the retreat, and payment of the remaining balance by the due date will complete registration. Those on the waiting list will not be charged the $75 deposit until they are added to the retreat if a cancellation occurs.

Cancellations: Refund requests will be honored if made by October 19, minus a $30 processing fee. After October 19, the registration fee is only refundable if your space is filled, minus a $30 processing fee. The $75 deposit is not refundable.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

The retreat containerAfter the opening program on the first night until the noon meal on the fourth day, everyone is invited to enter into silence throughout the buildings and grounds. At times, such as the Q&A sessions, silence will be lifted in the meditation hall.

This supportive silence invites all yogis to refrain from verbal and written communication with others, including telephone calls, texts, and emails. Yogis are encouraged to leave their devices at home or, at a minimum, turned off. There will be an emergency number for emergencies, with an on-site retreat manager ready to assist.

MealsMeals will be provided by Chef Netta of Netta’s Pantry. Coffee and tea will be available during the retreat. Meals will be vegetarian. Please let us know allergies and food intolerances at the time of final payment. We can usually accommodate dietary restrictions.

LodgingA limited number of single rooms are available, and double rooms with two full-sized beds will be shared by two participants. Some rooms are more accessible than others.

Single Room

Shared Double Room

Accessibility Please help us make this retreat as accessible as possible by telling us about your accessibility needs on the application.

Location of the retreat The retreat venue is the Avila Center for Community Leadership, a 20-minute drive from downtown Durham and a 35-minute drive from the Raleigh Durham (RDU) airport.

Avila is a nonprofit community center, where people and groups connect, deepen their work, and rejuvenate. The mission of the center is to support and connect community organizers and leaders working together for systemic change in the South and beyond. The buildings are surrounded by 50 acres of green space and trails.

You can learn more about Avila at this link.

If you have questions about this retreat, please contact info@triangleinsight.org.

Presented by the Triangle Insight Meditation Community and Peace Hill at Avila.
