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What is a Retreat? A week-end away from the rest of the world, a chance to meet and connect with others who have lost friends or family members to suicide, in hopes of celebrating their lives and finding a bit of peace within.
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Where is the Retreat?
Columbia is about 45 miles southwest of Nashville, Tennessee. Airport Code is BNA Driving Directions Drive on I-65 and take exit # 46 west to Columbia. Go 3 and 1/2 miles. Turn right on to Rip Steele Road. Drive 1 1/2 miles more; the house is on the left.
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Where do people sleep? Some people
may stay at area motels. (Info below.)
The first 12 people to register for the >|< Butterfly Dorm >|< will be guests in our home. (After 12, a waiting list will be kept.) The >|< Butterfly Dorm >|< is not luxury quarters, but there are 12 single beds, and there is a bathroom with shower.
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Where do people eat?
We eat meals in the >|< Butterfly Pavilion >|< . The >|< Butterfly Pavilion >|< also houses the new international Suicide Memorial Wall.
Most meals
will be catered.
(It is generally
around $10 per catered meal.) (Thursday for lunch and supper, we will all go to the Cracker Barrel.)
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What are Memorial Displays? We encourage you to bring special items and photos to display to let us know more about the family member you are remembering. (Tote bags to hold he display items are recommended.)
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What are Sharing Circles? On Friday night, Saturday morning, and Saturday afternoon, we will have sharing circles for those who would like to participate. Sharing circles are times to talk about those who died by suicide, our feelings, our grief, with others who will listen with their hearts.
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What is the Peace Fire? The Peace Fire Ceremony is held Saturday night after the evening meal. We assemble in a circle around the fire. We have a few readings, music, and then each person places a letter s/he wrote into the fire.
Peace Fire Spring 2006 |
The Suicide Memorial Wall The new international Suicide Memorial Wall was dedicated on April 21, 2006 during the Spring Retreat. Since then, other tiles have been added. On Friday, we will have the Reading of the Names. The name of every person remembered on the Wall will be read out loud. There are almost 250 names at this time. To see a photo of the wall, click the button.
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Directions to Register SMALL - September 22 - 24 REGULAR - October 6 - 8 Copy & Paste the form below to an e-mail and send to: cfofswga@cs.com 1. Name & E-mail 2. Which retreat are you registering for? (Small or Regular) 3. Your city & state 4. Arriving: Date & First Meal 5. How will you get here? (Note if you need to be picked up at the airport on Thursday morning.) 6. Name of person you are remembering (and relationship) 7. Sleeping: Butterfly Dorm or Motel 8. Smoker or non-smoker 9. Is anyone coming with you? If so, name and connection 10. Any questions, comments or concerns |
The Quilt We will display the Most Beautiful International Suicide Memorial Quilt in the World. (Section 6 is finished, and the FFOS quilt will also be here. They will be dedicated on Friday.) To see a photo of the POS quilt, click the button.
Amelia the Cat. |
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Retreat Booklet
Judy Rice has already
volunteered to make a Retreat Booklet for the Small Fall Retreat.
You will get directions for the booklet shortly after you register.
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Signing up for the RETREAT GROUP A week or two after registration starts, we will open up the Retreat Group for the Fall Retreat. This is so that you can get announcements and information related to the retreat, and so we can discuss various issues about our activities, etc. We will not open the group up for the Regular Retreat until around September 1. |
