Join us in beautiful Hendersonville, North Carolina, for a wonderful time
to explore spiritual teachings,
relax and center yourself amidst the mountain splendor,
and enjoy playtime with fellow seekers!

Or  wake up your body with gentle, healing Tai Chi with Chuck Blackburn on the pavilion overlooking the lake... mist rising... birds singing as the sun peeks over the pine trees reflected in the tranquil waters... ah...

Inspiring, original Music will fill the air and your hearts... including...

• Rev. Sky St. John
• Lytingale & Trilogy
• Our fabulous Talent Show

For the sixth year, this retreat will be held at Kanuga Conference Center in scenic Western North Carolina ~ on 1,400 acres, six miles from Hendersonville at 2300' altitude. 

Kanuga is a beautiful facility in a peaceful, wooded setting, with a friendly staff.  Kanuga offers an outdoor labyrinth to walk, outdoor exercise trail, playing fields, tennis courts, hiking trails (varying degrees of difficulty), a scenic lake for boating (canoes & rowboats available for free), fishing, swimming in the lake (chilly but available), and a gymnasium.  (Project Adventure Ropes Course, 52-foot climbing tower, indoor climbing wall may be available for an additional charge.)  

Enjoy delicious food at the breakfast buffet and family-style lunches & dinners.  Accommodations include the 62-room Inn, and 46 two- to six-bedroom cottages (no a/c, but rooms have ceiling fans or box fans provided - temperature isn't usually a problem at this season. Some have shared bathrooms.)  There are plentiful rocking chairs overlooking the lake.

Kanuga Conference Center is reached from I-26, and is served by the Asheville, NC airport (30-minute drive) or Greenville-Spartanburg, SC airport (60-minute drive). Directions to Kanuga. 

Area attractions include the world-famous Biltmore House (French chateau-style mansion, gardens, winery), Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site (tour of house, goat barns, hiking) very near, the Flat Rock Playhouse, the Blue Ridge Parkway, downtown Asheville, Chimney Rock Park, Pisgah National Forest (Cradle of Forestry, Sliding Rock, waterfalls, Pisgah Inn), excellent golf nearby, shopping in nearby historic downtown Hendersonville, arts & crafts, and antiques. Click for Links to more area info.

Kanuga Inn

A Guest house at Kanuga

We offer a Children's Program & Nursery care from 9am until 9:30pm (during workshops & programs)

The experience begins with dinner on Tuesday evening
and lasts until 11:00 am Friday.
Fees include: 8 meals (3 dinners, 2 lunches, 3 breakfasts), 3 nights lodging,
and all workshops and children's programs.

Join the fun!
We'll see you on the mountaintop!

"Words cannot express the joy & peace I brought home with me from the Spiritual Retreat..... It was a pleasure to meet you & so many new friends.  As I start my Path down the Unity journey, I'll always remember the joy & peace that fills me now.  Sincerely, Yvonne" 

Massages & Bodywork by local professionals will be available for a separate love offering that you give to the bodyworker. Please indicate on your registration form that you plan to treat yourself to bodywork, so we can plan times and availability.

Click here for Registration Form

2009 Keynote Speakers: www.ummas.org/RetreatKeynote.html

Schedule     (subject to revision!)

Tuesday

2:00 on ~ Registration in the lobby

6:00 - 7:00 pm  ~ Dinner together at Kanuga

7:00-7:30 ~ Welcome & Introduction - Rev. Margaret Hiller (Myrtle Beach SC)

7:30-8:15 ~ New Games - Do you know how to meet a lot of new people in a fun and non-threatening way in a matter of minutes? Come and find out how! Be prepared to laugh, have fun, and start new friendships. - Rev. Bruce Milne (Chapel Hill NC)

8:15-9:30 ~ Keynote Kickoff:  Mark Nepo & Rev. Sky St. John - We kick off our amazing mountaintop experience with music, poetry, entertainment from our keynote speakers.

after evening program (about 9:40):

• Vespers ~ Rev. Lisa Thorpe (Columbia SC)- Chapel of the Transfiguration

Wednesday

7:00 - 8:00 am ~ Tai Chi ~ Centuries-old Oriental exercise and healing method emphasizes slow, controlled movements & connection to Chi energy. Simple enough for beginners, yet beneficial techniques to maintain your health for a lifetime. - Master Chuck Blackburn (Asheville, NC) - Pavilion by the Lake

7:30 - 8:00 am ~ Morning Meditation ~ Rev. Herb Pierson (Morehead City NC) - Chapel of the Transfiguration

8:00-8:45 am ~ Breakfast

9:00 - 10:30 am

• Keynote Speaker: Mark Nepo:  Part 1 - Facing the Lion, Being the Lion: The Practice of Inner Courage ~ Quite often, we are brought to each other through love or hardship. To learn from this and grow, we are given the gifts of courage and love. The original notion of the word courage means to stand by one’s core. This two-part workshop is an exploration into how to find our way to our core, to stand by it, and to then sustain the practice of living from our core—to live out of our courage. During this 2-part series, we will learn about the power of encouragement to impart strength and confidence, the courage of listening, the gift of vulnerability, the willingness to explore and the commitment to respect our own, as well as other’s journeys.

• "Life Visioning" ~ The reason you have been born is to reveal the Glory of your Divine essence as only you can do. The question is, “What is God’s idea of Itself – as your life? Come and explore this question as Rev. Terrence Padgett leads you in a "Life Visioning" – as taught by Rev. Dr. Michael Beckwith. ~ Rev. Terrence Padgett

• An Outer Walk with an Inner Reflection with Joel & Maryanne Blackford (Atlanta GA) and Rev. Herb Pierson (Morehead City NC) ~ We will gather at "the wall" just outside the Kanuga snack bar, open with prayer and an inner reflection process to embark on an easy climbing-walking meditation to the mountain top. There we will see the outer views with a renewed inner view. The return trip will help us solidify our mountain top experience and the Abundance of Nature all along the trail to home....
• Lake Walk with Erin Kosak (Charleston SC) ~ For those who would like to stay ‘grounded’, join Erin as she explores the lake trail.

12:30 -1:30 ~ Lunch

1:45 - 3:15 (choose one)

• "Mellowing the Drama 101" ~  Rev. Chad and Lytingale invite you to join them for a mystical/musical inquiry into the nature of the human predicament. We'll explore the question, "How did we become so adept at turning our "Garden of Eden" into a "Rock and a Hard Place?" And then we'll play with some empowering strategies for maintaining "a peace that passes understanding" right in the middle of a "crowd of sorrows." There's an invitation carved on our souls from the very beginning to sing & laugh & learn & love. R.S.R.P. - Rev. Chad O'Shea & Lytingale (Mills River NC)

• "Go For It! - Climbing Over the Wall of Limitation" ~ Challenge yourself to soar to new heights and breakthrough limiting beliefs. Receive group support and lots of 'go for it' energy to do a 40' climb on the Outdoor Climbing Wall at Kanuga. $20 Fee to be paid with pre-registration. - David Hiller (Myrtle Beach SC) and Rev. Sheryl Padgett (Augusta GA)

• Keynote Speaker: Mark Nepo:  Part 2 - Facing the Lion, Being the Lion: The Practice of Inner Courage ~ Continuation of Part 1 - attendees are welcome to attend one or both sessions.

Thursday

7:00 - 8:00 am ~ Tai Chi ~ Centuries-old Oriental exercise and healing method emphasizes slow, controlled movements & connection to Chi energy. Simple enough for beginners, yet beneficial techniques to maintain your health for a lifetime. - Master Chuck Blackburn (Asheville, NC) - Pavilion by the Lake

7:30 -8:00 am ~ Morning Meditation ~ Rev. Bruce Milne (Chapel Hill NC)

8:00-8:45 am ~ Breakfast

9:00 - 11:00am

• Keynote Speaker: Rev. Sky St. John: "Coming Home"  ~ Coming Home workshop is an experiential exploration into the story of the Prodigal Son/Daughter. Using metaphysical interpretative techniques, coupled with aspects of psycho-drama, we will explore aspects of each character in the story and how they are reflective of our own lives. Then, in a safe environment, we are all asked to participate in our own homecoming. This is an exceptionally powerful experience in which many life-transforming healings have happened. The event dares to transform some of the most difficult separations of our lives and brings us home in a joyful and sacred reunion. The end result is an exquisite experience of Heaven on Earth.

11:15am - 12:15pm (choose one)

• Spiritual Communion ~ Go directly to the Source for spiritual food. Without bread or wine, we will commune with God, divine substance, and the elixir of life. Rev. Ed Kosak (Charleston SC)

• Walk the Labyrinth ~ Be a-mazed at the experience of walking a labyrinth, an archetypal symbol of wholeness that invites one into a transformational prayer experience. Walking this mystical path is a personal pilgrimage to spiritual wholeness.  Led by Sam Richardson (Hendersonville NC)

12:30-1:30 ~ Lunch

1:45 - 3:15pm (choose one)

• Embracing the Spirit of Healing ~ The Healing Presence is available to all but many times we do not know how to fully receive and embrace this power. This special Healing Ceremony will assist you in connecting with healing for body, mind and spirit. With special music and gentle guidance Rev James will help us release the blocks and embrace our positive health and well being. Each participant is encouraged to come in silence and prepare to experience the Spirit of healing and wholeness. Miracles are always possible when two or more gather together.  Rev. James & Leah King (Greenville SC)

• Kayaking with Doug ~ Have you ever wanted to paddle a canoe or kayak around the lake on a beautiful afternoon? Here’s your chance! Join Rev Doug for some simple basic instructions, and an enjoyable outing on the lake. Rev. Doug Werth (Chattanooga TN)

3:30 - 5:00pm

• Keynote Speaker: Rev. Sky St. John: "Seamless Service"~ This is a workshop for anyone who desires to help create dynamic, smooth flowing church services. We will discuss how to work creatively with group energy, what elements of service can be used to enhance and guide the movement of that energy, and finally, how to educate everyone to support the changes necessary to keep our services vital and appealing to present congregation, new seekers and the younger generation. Come prepared to sing, pray, laugh, learn and have fun.

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5:00 - 6:00pm

• Free time.... Walk around the lake... check out a canoe or rowboat...  Nearby attractions include the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site (tour of house, goat barns, hiking), Flat Rock Playhouse, golf at Crooked Creek, shopping in nearby historic downtown Hendersonville, arts & crafts, and antiques. Click for Links to more area info.

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6:00 - 7:00 ~ Dinner

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7:00 - 9:30 pm

• Talent Show ~ Get out your talent—this is YOUR time to shine in an evening of fun and surprises!  We applaud your talents!  Sign up at Registration if you want to perform.  Facilitator & Emcee: Rev. Joel Blackford (Atlanta GA)

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•  Vespers ~ A Sacred Drumming Circle ~ connect with God by drumming or listening and catching the vibe of the drums. A great way to "come down" after a high energy night! Led by Rev. Ed & Erin Kosak (Charleston SC)

Friday

7:00 - 8:00 am ~ Tai Chi ~ Centuries-old Oriental exercise and healing method emphasizes slow, controlled movements & connection to Chi energy. Simple enough for beginners, yet beneficial techniques to maintain your health for a lifetime. - Master Chuck Blackburn (Asheville, NC) -Pavilion by the Lake

7:30 - 8:00 am ~ Morning Meditation ~ Rev. Doug Werth (Chattanooga TN) 

8:00-8:45 am ~ Breakfast

9:00 - 10:00 ~ Closing Program ~ We're so glad we've had this time together! In this hour, we will bless each other through sacred experiences before heading out on the Road of Life!  Rev. Ed Kosak (Charleston SC) and Rev. Chad O'Shea (Mills River NC)