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A retrospect of autumn at Cedar Cross
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Look, I want to love this world
as though it’s the last chance I’m ever going to get
to be alive
and know it.
— Mary Oliver (from October)
These images give a sample of God’s creation at Cedar Cross Retreat Center in the fall. Pictured are the following: … the underside of a yellow lily in contrast to red maple leaves and a blue sky; … fish dancing in the goldfish pond; … a camellia bloom on the dining room table of the Lodge; … a form of fungi called trametes showing its intricate patterns on a tree stump on the Village Green; … and mums growing in the Sunny Garden behind the Art Studio.
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A place where we can be with ourselves and God
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“Speaking from personal experience and my many years in Lenten hermitage (where I stayed in one small place for the forty days of Lent), I found a deep inner liberation in ‘giving up’ my freedom to come and go as I chose. I am experiencing some of that same freedom in my hermit-like life necessitated by the pandemic. I cannot ‘fill’ my life or myself up with outside experiences; I must simply ‘be’ with myself and God.”
— Richard Rohr, Daily Meditation, December 19, 2020
The mission of Cedar Cross is to provide a place for rest, reflection, and renewal. To use Rohr’s words, we could describe our mission as a way to provide a place where retreatants can be with ourselves and God.
When we rest, we are preparing ourselves to listen.
When we reflect, we are opening ourselves to whom we really are.
When we are renewed, we are given an opportunity to live with hope and gratitude.
Of course, Cedar Cross doesn’t do any of this. We simply seek to provide a place that is conducive for the three R’s to occur. We do that in many ways, including quiet places to sit along the four miles of trails through woods and across fields.
During the pandemic, we are still welcoming retreatants for rest, reflection, and renewal. Individuals, couples, families, and small groups up to four people (with one person or couple staying in Heron’s Nest and each of the three suites in the Lodge) are invited.
If you want to schedule a retreat or want more information, just click on the button below, give us a call at 919-729-2586, or send an email to cedarcrossregistrar@gmail.com.
We look forward to welcoming you!
— Jimmy Allen, coordinator
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A tiger swallowtail butterfly is nourished by the blossoms of a lantana near the trail leading to the Way of Jesus. In ancient Greek, the term for butterfly was “psyche,” which also means spirit or breath, as in the animating life form in humans and other animals. (U.S. Forest Service web site: https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/pollinator-of-the-month/TigerSwallowtail.shtml
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Words from a retreatant …
“Thank you, Covenant Community, John, Margaret, and Jimmy, for this beautiful and much-needed ministry during this pandemic!
“I can imagine that this is a difficult time, perhaps, to ‘keep the lights on’ out here, because of greatly reduced capacity to have retreatants. That said, I pray you will flourish because this is not ‘optional’ — we need this!
“The beauty and steadfastness of your work blows me away every time I am blessed to visit! Thanks be to God for your faithfulness! (We) benefited so much staying in this awesome cottage this weekend. Amen and amen!”
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The gift of retreat
If you know someone who would benefit from a retreat at Cedar Cross, consider giving them a gift card. The suggested donation for an individual on retreat is $75 per night, or $50 each for two or more. Just send an email to cedarcrossregistrar@gmail.com. We’ll send an invoice to give electronically or you can send a check to Cedar Cross Retreat Center, 150 Cedar Cross Way, Louisburg, NC 27549. Depending on what you want, we’ll send a gift card via mail or send you a gift letter electronically that you can print out.
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A walk toward the North Pond
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To give a sense of life at Cedar Cross in late autumn, you’re invited to join in a walk along a section of the Loop Trail from the Way of Jesus to the North Pond. Here is the link:
https://www.cedarcrossretreat.info/2020/12/19/autumn-walk/
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Getting to know the Mission Group of Cedar Cross
Note: We consider everyone who participates in a retreat here, prays for this ministry, volunteers to help, and/or offers financial support to be a part of Cedar Cross Retreat Center. In addition to the hundreds who are part of the Cedar Cross community, we have a Mission Group that oversees the ministry. This section is intended to give us all a little insight about these folks. The names of Mission Group members is listed at the base of each edition.
In this edition of Journeys, John Hilpert responds to a prompt to tell us a little about yourself.
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A word from John Hilpert
For 45 years, a good day at Cedar Cross was when Margaret and I would work out in the woods together. A great day was when we built a new trail or created a sacred space along the way.
The Ridge Trail appeared by going off the driveway just to push down a dead tree, and then wondering what was just ahead. The Oak and Holly Trail taught me a key lesson. I was trying to connect what was to become the Village Green to Creekside, and was forcing my way through thick prickly holly trees. Exhausted, I sat down. Finally looking up and to my right, I saw a hint of an opening, and a pleasant trail emerged. Not only did I learn about building a trail, this was a key insight for professional work and spiritual development.
Our four miles of trails developed in response to a general need, but enhanced by a willingness to let the land speak. The Mission Group wisely set a limit on building new trails since they all have to be maintained. I’ve obeyed – sort of. A trail blazer has to do what a guy has to do. So there are other trails I’ve had fun creating, but these were not put on the map and are last to be maintained.
While I was tackling three careers, my first 25 years here focused on transforming a badly abused and neglected tract into a healthy forest. For the last 20 years, a lot of a fourth career was devoted to coordinating with Margaret a retreat ministry. Most of this was enjoyable though parts felt like work. Now that Jimmy has taken over operational responsibility and I only help out now and then, I am returning to my first love of being a forest steward. I do want the record to note that the new trail being cut out along the north side of the creek flowing out of North Pond was strictly Jimmy’s idea. The fact that we had a ball and played off each other’s leadings is totally incidental.
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Mission of Cedar Cross: Rest, Reflection, and Renewal
We provide overnight and day-retreat space for small groups (up to 16 participants) and individual retreatants. Individuals, couples, and friends are invited to stay in Heron’s Nest, which is a two-bedroom cottage, or in one of the three suites of the Lodge. For more information, please contact the coordinator, Jimmy Allen, at 919-729-2586, or at cedarcrossregistrar@gmail.com. More information is available on our web site: cedarcrossretreat.info. We look forward to hosting you.
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Mission Group members who oversee the ministry of Cedar Cross
Butch Grove, Vickie Grove, Mac Hulslander, Margaret Hilpert, John Hilpert, Lillie Jones, Ginger Allen, and Jimmy Allen
Specific roles at Cedar Cross
John Hilpert and Margaret Hilpert, founders and back-up hosts
Jimmy Allen, coordinator
Lillie Jones, gleaner
Mitch Mitchell and David Jerose, caretakers for outdoor spaces
Lori Litton, bookkeeper
Linda Lamb, caterer
Covenant Community Church supports this retreat center through the Cedar Cross Mission Group. We are a small ecumenical church offering a participatory form of worship that invites lively involvement by all members. We worship Sunday afternoons in Raleigh at the Community United Church of Christ (corner of Wade Avenue and Dixie Trail). During the pandemic the community gathers virtually. If you would like more information, please send an email to cedarcrossregistrar@gmail.com.
The mission group, which is a subset of the Covenant Community membership, typically meets monthly at the retreat center for a day of work, prayer, play, planning, and being with friends. During the pandemic, those meetings have been virtual, although we have had a couple socially-distanced work days.
Giving
We are grateful to all who support the ministry of Cedar Cross Retreat Center. If you believe in providing a place for people to experience rest, reflection, and renewal, please consider giving a donation.
You can give securely online at www.cedarcrossretreat.info/donate/ or click on the donate button below. Or send a check to Cedar Cross Retreat Center, 150 Cedar Cross Way, Louisburg, NC 27549.
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Jimmy Allen
Ginger Allen