NOTES ON “A THEOLOGY OF WATER”
October 30 – November 2, 2019
1 P.M. Wednesday – 1 P.M. Saturday
Marquette, Michigan
This three day retreat is an immersion into the spirit and mystery of North America’s Great Lakes Basin, specifically Lake Superior, its streams and rivers, aquifers and watersheds, all which define a remote and extraordinary landscape.
A signature of Cedar Tree Institute retreats and projects involves honoring both the inner and outer worlds that shape our personal and collective lives. The Institute is committed to exploring the intersections, the dance between these two realities.
Our days together will be a balance of reflection and encounter. We will walk trails along rivers, stand on ancient cliffs that define the Canadian Shield -outcroppings of rock that date back 4 billion years. We will be visiting waterfalls, pondering insights from journals of Jesuit priests who first visited these shorelines in the 17th century, examining the challenges of the global water crisis, sharing wisdom from Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, and Native American traditions. We will gather around wood stoves, hear the lyrics of poet Kathleen Heideman, and tap our feet to the sound of local folk-singer Michael Waite.
We intend this to be a time for rest and renewal, but also a shared inquiry into the deep chemistry of water and the role this “essential element” plays in our lives and the future of our planet. We will be gathering together on the edge of seasons: A time of transition for the earth. A good time for prayers, laughter, shared meals, songs, creative dialogue, and the pondering of mystery.
FACILITATORS and GUEST PRESENTERS
Jon Magnuson is Director for The Cedar Tree Institute, a nonprofit organization that initiates projects and provides services in the areas of mental health, religion and the environment. A former Peace Corps volunteer and parish pastor, he has long been involved in efforts to protect treaty rights of American Indian tribes in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Kathleen M. Heideman is a writer, artist, and activist working in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Her newest collection of poetry is Psalms of the Early Anthropocene (Winter Cabin Books, 2017). She currently provides key leadership for the Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition.
Joseph Piccione is an ethicist and Vice-President for Mission Integration with the OSF Healthcare System in Illinois and Michigan. A theologian and scholar, he serves as a consultant on spirituality and health for hospice staff and volunteers in the Great Lakes Basin.
John Rosenberg is an environmental writer and community organizer who resides in Olympia, Washington. A Lutheran (ELCA) pastor, he is a fly fisherman and former chaplain at Pacific Lutheran University having served several parishes in the Pacific Northwest.
Scott Emerson, is a former Emergency Room physician, now certified in Integrative Medicine. He lives with his wife on the shores of Lakes Superior.
RETREAT FEE: $1150
Includes transportation from and to the Marquette, Michigan airport (Sawyer International), three nights lodging, nine meals, maps, resource materials and a copy of “Death and Life of the Great Lakes” (2017) by two-time Pulitzer Award Finalist Dan Egan.
REGISTER & PAY ONLINE Or pay by check to: The Cedar Tree Institute, 403 East Michigan Street, Marquette, Michigan 49855
A deposit of $550 secures your reservation. Deposit Deadline: September 15, 2019
The balance for the retreat ($600) is due before or upon arrival October 30, 2019
Total number of participants will number between 10-12 individuals
Private rooms are set aside for all participants at the historic Big Bay Lighthouse. (Rooms for couples are available. Our third evening together will be spent in a remote, but comfortable cabin. Shared accommodations will frame that experience. A wood-fired sauna will be available on both Friday and Saturday evenings. On Friday evening, a visit to Big Bay’s Lumberjack Tavern will be an option for those who wish. Dietary needs will be accommodated. Local foods include smoked whitefish and traditional Ojibwe wild rice soup. Upon registration, further details and suggested background readings, appropriate clothing and footwear will be suggested.
We’ll be glad to answer any questions you may have about transportation to Marquette and possible accommodations you may need days before or following the retreat. (906-360-5072)
Refund policy: Full refund of deposit and retreat fee if cancellation before September 15th, 2019.
75% refund of deposit and retreat fees paid if cancellation before October 15th, 2019
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