Copyright © 2003 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee

She and 11 others spent a Saturday at Grace Point camp and retreat center in early October together and apart in silence, prayer and conversation.

Methodists, Presbyterians and Episcopalians devoted the day to meditating on the beauty and power of God’s creation. After an opening prayer, they sang “Morning Has Broken.” Then they reflected in silence on the haiku: “A world of grief and pain, flowers bloom even then.” Participants had the option of expressing themselves using available art materials during this time.

A bag lunch quelled the hunger pangs and gave time for conversation, laughter and learnings.

Then a second time of silence was devoted to meditation on the verse from the book of Job: “Speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee.”

“It was a beautiful, warm and sunny early fall day,” said Buchholz. “Grace Point offered the perfect space to wander or sit.”

She said the dozen participants closed the day with a circle of prayers for the earth, for one another and for the concerns each was carrying.

“We sang a slightly off-key version of ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful,’ and we headed back to the busy-ness of our lives,” she said, “hopefully a bit refreshed and with a deeper reverence for all of God’s creation.”

Two additional Quiet Days are scheduled at Grace Point: On Dec. 13 is “Waiting with Mary in Joyful Hope” and on March 20 is “Created in the Image of God.”

Please see www.etdiocese.net/forms/quietdays/index.php for more information.