Agents of Peace in a Time of Fear
Tuesday, October 3 – Friday, October 6, 2017
Led by Masud Syedullah, TSSF & Garrett Mettler
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. – 2 Timothy 1:7
In these days when hate speech and acts of violence are all too common, many find themselves fearful and with a sense of helplessness. We don’t have to be. As followers of Christ, Jesus calls us to be peacemakers and reconcilers, just as he was. This retreat aims to reinforce our trust in and dedication to the peacemaking work of Christ. Through prayer, reflection on scripture, and times of silence, participants will have opportunities to personally tap into that “peace that surpasses all understanding.” Furthermore, they will consider ways to create safe and constructive dialogue among those who have not had much positive conversation with each other regarding race, politics, class, or religion. And to help put faith into practice, they will be empowered with methods to use in their relationships and communities for positive responses to violence.
The Rev. Masud Ibn Syedullah TSSF, Founder and Director of Roots & Branches: Programs for Spiritual Growth, a ministry resource for individuals and communities of faith (rootsandbranchesprograms.org). An Episcopal priest of the Diocese of New York, he creates and leads an array of conferences, retreats, pilgrimages, and other events to support spiritual formation.
The Rev. Garrett Mettler, Associate, Roots & Branches, is an Episcopal priest and former journalist interested in creating more intersections between Christian wisdom and secular culture. While serving in congregations, he has taught and written about how to apply faith practices in everyday life. In his ministry as a school chaplain, he has worked to strengthen inter-generational relationships, bringing the insights, creativity and curiosity of youth and adults together in mutually encouraging ways.
Cost: $450 ; deposit: $150