Peace Hill at Avila encourages all to take the time to slow down, to notice the fabric of our lives and the connections to one another and to the earth. As we quiet the noise coming in from our busy lives in our busy worlds, we can be nourished by stillness, thoughtful connection, and heartfelt presence.
Toward this end, we have two types of offerings: events and programs.
For events, Peace Hill offers contemplative retreats regularly to the general public that span from partial days to overnight or multiple nights. Peace Hill has a broad appreciation for the many forms of contemplation whether that be meditation, mindfulness, reflection, prayer, walk in the woods, or walk the labyrinth. We draw from ancient and contemporary sources across diverse faith and secular traditions. Retreats in the past have included the Practice of Mindfulness, the Sufi poets Rumi and Hafiz, the Life and Teachings of Howard Thurman; Celtic Christianity, to name a few. The events are advertised via the website, mailing list, and by our friend and partner organizations.
Morning Silence is an ongoing event that occurs on zoom on the first and third Wednesdays of each month from 8 -9 am. Rotating facilitators provide a few words that provide the theme(s) for the day to introduce each session. 2 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.
Peace Hill intends to expand Morning Silence in Fall, 2023 to include twice monthly sessions onsite at Avila, 711 Mason Road. Watch this space for more information.
Programs are another offering provided. It is our perspective that all and especially modern community organizers need some type of inner, spiritual-type practice life to sustain their work to make a more just world. To support this vision, Peace Hill leadership partners alongside other organizations who are having their training and/or retreat at Avila and desire to have some type of contemplative component as a part of their event. These range from 20 minute to two hour sessions or can also include assistance with planning the retreat to incorporate a variety of meditative elements. Examples of this in the past have included: focused breathing and walking the labyrinth with The People’s Think Tank; Reflection on the words of Desmond Tutu of with the Leadro Coalition; Helping plan and facilitate a contemplative Retreat with Durham Nonprofit Leaders.
Events and Programs led and facilitated by Peace Hill at Avila focus on the right-brain, creative, experiential side of our functioning than on the left-brain, rational, and conceptual side.
For more information contact Terry Allebaugh at terry.allebaugh@gmail.com
Or visit: https://avilacenter.org/meditation-program-offering/