Spiritual Practices Certificate Series
various dates
A series of experiential workshops to explore and enrich your spiritual life. To obtain the certificate participants must attend all six programs in this year’s series. They are marked in the program listing below and include body prayer, soundmaking, mindfulness meditation, care for creation, practices of Islam and labyrinth & mandalas.

*Register by January 25 for the series. (Space is limited so register early!) Workshops can be taken individually.
Cost: $130 for the Certificate Series or $25 per workshop, except labyrinth walk is $35 because it includes supper. The full amount is due at time of registration.

More detailed information about these individual workshops is available in our chronological listing below or click here to download a printable flyer.

To register click here.

Day Away
Sept. 1, Wed. 9am-4pm
Are you in need of spiritual nourishment? If so, this is the day for you. Come and spend a day away from the noise and busyness. The day begins with a short time of worship and community building led by Five Oaks spiritual guides. The rest of the day is for you to spend time reflecting with the Spirit, through silence, journaling, meditation, walking the labyrinth, by the river, or tending other practices that help you seek God’s presence. You may even choose to spend the day on silent retreat. The day closes with communal worship. Spiritual accompaniment with a Five Oaks spiritual guide is available on this day to assist you in deepening your relationship with the Divine. Time with a spiritual guide is optional. Please indicate when you register if you wish to meet with a spiritual guide during the Day Away. Leadership: Five Oaks Spiritual Guides

Five Oaks spiritual guides come from a variety of backgrounds and training/education experiences and represent several denominations. All guides participate in the on-going development of the Day Away and Guided Silent Retreat programs by attending regular planning and development days with Five Oaks staff. Their practice is shaped by guidelines and expectations developed for this specific ministry by Five Oaks and by the Guidelines for Ethical Conduct as published by Spiritual Directors International.

Cost: $45 (includes lunch); $60 (includes lunch & spiritual accompaniment for one session)

The maximum number of people for a Day Away is 8, so please register early!

Also, it is extremely important that you arrive on time (9:00am sharp) for the Day Away so that the sacred space that is created through the opening worship can be honoured.

Note: Day Away is for individuals to experience a day on retreat. If an established group wishes to experience such a day together please contact Robin McGauley, Coordinator of Adult Programs, to make these special arrangements

Click here for flyer

To register click here.

Day Away
Oct 6, Wed. 9am-4pm
Are you in need of spiritual nourishment? If so, this is the day for you. Come and spend a day away from the noise and busyness. The day begins with a short time of worship and community building led by Five Oaks spiritual guides. The rest of the day is for you to spend time reflecting with the Spirit, through silence, journaling, meditation, walking the labyrinth, by the river, or tending other practices that help you seek God’s presence. You may even choose to spend the day on silent retreat. The day closes with communal worship. Spiritual accompaniment with a Five Oaks spiritual guide is available on this day to assist you in deepening your relationship with the Divine. Time with a spiritual guide is optional. Please indicate when you register if you wish to meet with a spiritual guide during the Day Away. Leadership: Five Oaks Spiritual Guides

Five Oaks spiritual guides come from a variety of backgrounds and training/education experiences and represent several denominations. All guides participate in the on-going development of the Day Away and Guided Silent Retreat programs by attending regular planning and development days with Five Oaks staff. Their practice is shaped by guidelines and expectations developed for this specific ministry by Five Oaks and by the Guidelines for Ethical Conduct as published by Spiritual Directors International.

Cost: $45 (includes lunch); $60 (includes lunch & spiritual accompaniment for one session)

The maximum number of people for a Day Away is 8, so please register early!

Also, it is extremely important that you arrive on time (9:00am sharp) for the Day Away so that the sacred space that is created through the opening worship can be honoured.

Note: Day Away is for individuals to experience a day on retreat. If an established group wishes to experience such a day together please contact Robin McGauley, Coordinator of Adult Programs, to make these special arrangements

Click here for flyer

To register click here.

Licensed Lay Worship Leaders
Oct. 8-10, Fri. 5:30pm with supper-Sun. 12:30pm with lunch
Many people, as a part of their faith journeys, are called upon to courageously step forward to lead worship. This program will help participants develop skill in worship preparation and in the writing and delivery of sermons. This particular weekend will focus on Christian Theology. This is one of four weekend courses offered at Five Oaks to fulfill the requirements for certification as a Licensed Lay Worship Leader with the United Church of Canada. The four weekend courses that make up the Licensed Lay Worship Leadership program offer an introduction in the areas of biblical interpretation, theological reflection, inclusive language, preaching, spirituality, church history and ethics. Reading and written assignments, including writing liturgy and sermons, will be completed between weekends.

This program is open to anyone who is interested in exploring their skills and abilities as a worship leader. A person does not need to commit to taking all the units or to seeking licensing as a lay worship leader to attend.

Please click here for more extensive information on the Licensed Lay Worship Leaders program.

Cost: $300 ($330 after September 3) ~ includes tuition, meals & accommodation

This program fills up very quickly. Please register early.

To register click here.

Guided Silent Retreat
Oct. 20-22, Wed.10am-Fri.12:30pm with lunch
Join with others to nurture your spirit through practices of prayer, meditation, rest, the outdoors and scripture. The retreat will begin with community building and worship leading into silence. Spiritual guides are available as desired throughout the retreat to listen and reflect with you on your spiritual needs. Silence ends with lunch on the last day of the retreat. The retreat closes with communal worship. While silence will be maintained throughout the retreat, including mealtimes, other groups may be using parts of the Five Oaks campus. Total quiet, therefore, cannot be guaranteed.

Leadership: Five Oaks Spiritual Guides

Five Oaks spiritual guides come from a variety of backgrounds and training/education experiences and represent several denominations. All guides participate in the on-going development of the Day Away and Guided Silent Retreat programs by attending regular planning and development days with Five Oaks staff. Their practice is shaped by guidelines and expectations developed for this specific ministry by Five Oaks and by the Guidelines for Ethical Conduct as published by Spiritual Directors International.

Cost: $295 ~ includes tuition, meals & accommodation

Click here for flyer

To register click here.

God & Jesus in Prayer & Parable
Oct. 22-24, Fri. 7pm-Sun. 12:30pm with lunch
John Dominic Crossan offers lectures based on two of his upcoming books to be published by HarperOne of San Francisco. The first, The Greatest Prayer, is on the Lord’s Prayer as a revolutionary manifesto as well as a hymn of hope and will be published in 2011. The second, The Power of Parable, is on parable-stories both by Jesus and about Jesus. It considers why and how parables are appropriate to proclaim the kingdom of God. It will be published by 2013. Group facilitation, integration & worshipful reflection will be woven throughout the event as we ask how to take back what we have learned from John Dominic Crossan’s outpouring of knowledge and thought provoking insight.

Leadership: Lectures offered by John Dominic Crossan who is known through his work on the historical Jesus, earliest Christianity and the historical Paul. He is Professor Emeritus in the religious studies department at DePaul University. His books include God & Empire: Jesus against Rome then and now, The Historical Jesus (1991), Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography (1994), Who killed Jesus? (1995), and The Birth of Christianity (1998).

Group Facilitation offered by Michelle Owens & Robin McGauley.
Michelle Owens is a diaconal minister serving a three point charge in Huron Perth Presbytery. She appreciates the opportunities at Five Oaks to engage with current scholarship, the challenges of bringing the energy and learning home to her congregations, and her copies of John Dominic Crossan's books are often bristling with sticky notes during her sermon prep.

Robin McGauley is Coordinator of Adult Programming at Five Oaks who has a passion for creating meaningful community experiences. She leads with gentleness and playfulness to create a safe and rich environment in which to learn.

Cost: $390 ($420 after Oct. 1) includes tuition, meals & accommodation

Click here for a printable flyer of this program

To register click here.

Breakthroughs: Moving Congregations Beyond Impasses to Vitality & Change (with leadership from the Alban Institute)
Oct. 25-27, Mon. 12:30pm with lunch-Wed. 12:30pm with lunch
This program looks at some of the common patterns and dynamics that keep leaders and their congregations or religious organizations stuck or unable to sustain the necessary changes for their breakthroughs in becoming vital centers for spiritual growth and for ministry in their communities. Drawing upon the wisdom of many leading thinkers and practitioners Larry and Susan will encourage and stimulate clergy, denominational and lay leaders "to boldly go where no one has gone before" and to go there with grace and courage. Come and see the power of the collective wisdom of the group and through the use of experiential techniques expect to engage and be engaged (no passive learners allowed!) and to learn in this fun, supportive and creative environment.

Leadership: Susan Nienaber - Before joining the Alban Institute as a senior consultant, Susan intertwined careers as a psychotherapist and independent congregational consultant. As a licensed marriage and family therapist, she worked with individuals and couples with a specialized interest and expertise in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing in helping her clients recover from trauma and abuse. Since 1993 Susan has served as a consultant and mediator in congregations and denominations. She is an ordained Elder of the United Methodist Church and has been a hospital chaplain and a parish pastor. She writes, lectures, and leads training workshops and retreats for clergy and laity on a variety of subjects such as managing conflicts, professional boundaries, the use of dialogue, developing staff, and strengthening leadership.

Larry Peers - Prior to his work at the Alban Institute, Larry served as a director of congregational development and growth with a national denominational office for ten years, as a minister in local congregations, and as a therapist. He has worked on several national congregational research projects and most recently on the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence project, funded by Lilly Endowment, Inc.

Larry draws from a rich array of insights and methods developed from his extensive background in congregational studies, organizational development, large-group interventions, coaching, narrative therapy, and spiritual discernment processes. His personal spiritual journey encompasses a wide variety of experiences that enable him to comfortably move within a broad range of faith traditions.

Cost: $420 ~ includes tuition, meals & accommodation

Click here for a printable flyer of this program

To register click here.

Finding Jesus in the Basement: Experiential Learning for Church School Teachers
Oct. 27, Wed. 4:30pm (early bird workshop), 6pm (supper), ends at 9:30pm
An evening to explore different models of offering Sunday School - from ‘Godly Play’, ‘Rotation Model’, ‘Messy Church’ and more. Experience what it is like to enter the church school experience from a child’s point of view. Come with childlike wonder and a sense of curiosity! Time for reflection on the experiences will also be built in to each workshop.

Detailed information on workshops and leadership will be available closer to the time of event. Please keep checking this site.

Agenda:
4:00-6:00: Register & explore Book Store
4:30-5:30: Early Bird Workshop (Optional)
6:00-6:45: Supper
6:45-8:00: Workshop choice
8:00-9:15: Workshop choice
9:15-9:30: Closing & Farewell

Cost: $35 or $30 if 3 or more from a congregation (includes supper)

To register click here.

Expressive Arts Retreat: The Season of Change
Oct. 29-30, Fri. 7pm-Sat. 4pm
Treat yourself to a fall getaway in a beautiful, sacred and safe place for the sake of personal expression and spiritual growth. By exploring paint, sound, movement, sculpture and writing participants will discover hidden treasures within themselves that give way to the creation of beautiful and deeply personal works of art. The focus will be on the process of creativity – not art technique. There is much we can learn from our own ‘inner creator’! Come away to explore what the season of autumn has to teach us about acceptance of change and times of transition.

Leadership: Robin McGauley is an Expressive Artist, Silversmith and Ordained Minister with the United Church of Canada whose spiritual journey led her to creativity and the arts. She leads with gentleness and playfulness to create a safe environment for participants to explore and learn from their own inner creator. She has a passion for creating powerful community experiences as well as for team building. Robin works in the purple office as a Program Coordinator at Five Oaks.

Cost: $185 ~ includes tuition, meals, accommodation and art supplies

Click here for our Expressive Arts Retreat flyer

To register click here.

When Walking on Water, It’s the Second Step that Counts
Nov. 1, Mon. 7-9:30pm
Kim Uyede-Kai invites those encountering times of crisis, transition, loss or disappointment to enter a time of practicing faith and trust toward the next step in their faith journey. Through sharing our stories, biblical reflection, and active listening to the Spirit, we will come away with a new relationship with transition.

Leadership: Kim Uyede-Kai is ‘Keeper of the Vision’ with the Francis Sandy Theological Centre. Her previous work was with the General Council Office of The United Church of Canada in the areas of racial justice, LGBT and gender justice, Aboriginal ministries, and ethnic/intercultural ministries. She is also a Reiki practitioner and mother of two adult sons in the arts field.

Cost: $20 or $15 when two or more register together

Click here for a printable flyer of this program

To register click here.

Day Away
Nov. 3, Wed. 9am-4pm
Are you in need of spiritual nourishment? If so, this is the day for you. Come and spend a day away from the noise and busyness. The day begins with a short time of worship and community building led by Five Oaks spiritual guides. The rest of the day is for you to spend time reflecting with the Spirit, through silence, journaling, meditation, walking the labyrinth, by the river, or tending other practices that help you seek God’s presence. You may even choose to spend the day on silent retreat. The day closes with communal worship. Spiritual accompaniment with a Five Oaks spiritual guide is available on this day to assist you in deepening your relationship with the Divine. Time with a spiritual guide is optional. Please indicate when you register if you wish to meet with a spiritual guide during the Day Away. Leadership: Five Oaks Spiritual Guides

Five Oaks spiritual guides come from a variety of backgrounds and training/education experiences and represent several denominations. All guides participate in the on-going development of the Day Away and Guided Silent Retreat programs by attending regular planning and development days with Five Oaks staff. Their practice is shaped by guidelines and expectations developed for this specific ministry by Five Oaks and by the Guidelines for Ethical Conduct as published by Spiritual Directors International.

Cost: $45 (includes lunch); $60 (includes lunch & spiritual accompaniment for one session)

The maximum number of people for a Day Away is 8, so please register early!

Also, it is extremely important that you arrive on time (9:00am sharp) for the Day Away so that the sacred space that is created through the opening worship can be honoured.

Note: Day Away is for individuals to experience a day on retreat. If an established group wishes to experience such a day together please contact Robin McGauley, Coordinator of Adult Programs, to make these special arrangements

Click here for flyer

To register click here.

Beyond Bowling: Faith Development with Youth (Neos)
Nov. 5-7, Fri. 7:30pm-Sun. 12:30pm with lunch
Youth leaders often have a difficult task of keeping youth interested and engaged in coming out to youth group, special events, projects and programs, let alone trying to nurture and explore with youth a sense of Christian identity and faith. It can be challenging to keep things creative and contemporary for youth, while at the same time taking care of one’s own spiritual needs as a leader.

During this weekend at Five Oaks we will explore the role of the youth leader when it comes to faith development. You will deepen your understanding of Christian practices and how they might be integrated in to ministry with youth. Specific topics that will be explored include biblical engagement, worship, types of prayer, ‘rites of passage’ such as confirmation, developing youth ministry in the congregational setting and much more.

All people in paid accountable ministry, as well as active volunteers, will benefit from this program. You will come away with lots of resources and practical tools to put to use in your ministry with youth as well as meet a network of energetic colleagues and friends.

(Youth Leaders are encouraged to bring youth to Five Oaks during this weekend for a fun Youth Retreat. Please refer to the Children, Youth & Family program listings for more information.)

Leadership: Marilyn Arthur is the Director of Children and Youth Ministries at Riverside United Church in London, ON. This is her eighth year working at Riverside. One of Marilyn's passion's is helping to create community for youth to come together to share in their faith and recognize that Christ in the midst of their relationships.

Robin McGauley is an Ordained Minister and Program Coordinator at Five Oaks. She has a passion for spiritual practices that nurture people of all ages. She is also on the board of the Institute for Specialized Ministries which, for the past 2 years, has offered an educational event called ‘CanLead Forum’ that seeks to expose youth ministry practitioners to leading practices in youth ministry.

Cost: $250 ($280 after Oct. 15) - includes tuition, meals & accommodation

Click here for a printable flyer of this program

To register click here.

Guided Silent Retreat
Nov. 12-14, Fri. 7pm-Sun. 3pm
Join with others to nurture your spirit through prayer, meditation, rest, the outdoors and scripture. The retreat will begin with community building and worship leading into silence. Spiritual guides are available as desired throughout the retreat to listen and reflect with you on your spiritual needs. Silence ends with lunch on the last day of the retreat. The retreat closes with communal worship. While silence will be maintained throughout the retreat, including mealtimes, other groups may be using parts of the Five Oaks campus. Total quiet, therefore, cannot be guaranteed.

Leadership: Five Oaks Spiritual Guides Five Oaks spiritual guides come from a variety of backgrounds and training/education experiences and represent several denominations. All guides participate in the on-going development of the Day Away and Guided Silent Retreat programs by attending regular planning and development days with Five Oaks staff. Their practice is shaped by guidelines and expectations developed for this specific ministry by Five Oaks and by the Guidelines for Ethical Conduct as published by Spiritual Directors International.

Cost: $295 ~ includes tuition, meals & accommodation

Click here for flyer

To register click here.

Spiritual Nurture: Time Away for Clergy
Nov. 17-19, Wed. 10am-Fri. 12:30pm with lunch
An invitation to clergy to spend time in a beautiful setting to rest, renew, and have intentional time set aside to plan for Advent and Christmas. Whether you are Diaconal, Ordained or DLM – all are welcome to this safe environment to do what you need to do. Many options will be available for participants to choose how to best spend this time away, including spending the retreat in silence as a way to listen deeply to inner yearnings and God’s call. Spiritual Guides will be available to offer daily worship and spiritual accompaniment.

Cost: $325 ~ includes tuition, meals & accommodation

Leadership: Sue Campbell and Andre Auger are both Five Oaks Spiritual Guides.

Sue Campbell was ordained to ministry in 1998 and has served both rural and urban congregations. She has training in spiritual direction and is a member of the Five Oaks Listening Ministries team and the Guelph Ecumenical Guild of Spiritual Directors. Sue loves music and enjoys singing and dabbling at piano, guitar, harp and djembe.

Andre Auger’s first experience with Ignatian spirituality occurred in 1984, with the Ecumenical Week of Guided Prayer. Since then he has trained to become a Prayer Guide as well as a Spiritual Director. He is keen on helping congregations develop spiritual practices using small group format and is particularly interested in introducing the practice of Ignatian meditation to young people and to men.

Click here for a printable flyer of this program

To register click here.

Choosing Creation: Exploring the Roots of Liberation & Empire
Nov. 19-20, Fri.3pm-Sat. 4:30pm
This program will provide participants with the space to explore their relationship to creation, and to the obstacles we encounter to connecting with it - in our faith community, and in our society. We will take advantage of the beautiful landscape at Five Oaks to explore these connections, as well as life-giving alternatives. Participants will have the opportunity for quiet reflection and devotional time as well as for discussion. The workshop will emphasize drawing on participants own experiences and reflections.

Leadership: Rusa Jeremic is the Empire Mission Theme Animator for the United Church of Canada. She has a Masters Degree in Political Science from York University. Rusa spent over a decade working in the ecumenical social justice movement as an Economic Justice Educator, Researcher, and Campaigner. Most of her adult life has been dedicated to working for change including a stint as a human rights observer in Central America, volunteering as a community conflict resolution mediator, participating in the People not Profits global movement, campaigning on Parliament Hill, and performing satirical comedy. Rusa's writing has been published widely and she frequently acts as a commentator. She has written extensively on Food Sovereignty issues.

Cost: $165 ($185 after Oct. 22) ~ includes tuition, meals & accommodation

Click here for a printable flyer of this program

To register click here.

Courage to Lead® Seasonal Retreat Series
various dates listed below
Over the past decade under the guidance of Parker J. Palmer, highly skilled facilitators across North America have created a unique retreat-based approach to renewing personal identity, professional integrity and vocational vitality. This seasonal retreat series has been carefully designed to invite clergy and congregational leaders to move beyond the “what” and “how” questions of leadership to the “who” questions. It is rooted in the belief that effective service and leadership flow from the identity and integrity of the person, and focuses on how we listen to ourselves, and to each other, in communal spaces that invite the voice of the soul to be heard.

Courage to Lead work is framed by such questions as, “How can I maintain a strong connection between who I am and what I do?” “What practices will help me align my soul and my role?” “When pulled in so many directions that I feel dis-membered, how can I re-member myself and stay connected to the heart of my vocation?”

In large-group, small-group and solitary settings, we will share our inner journeys via personal story-telling, poetry and teaching tales from various wisdom traditions. Guided by skilled facilitators, participants will be invited to speak honestly about their lives and work and to listen and respond to each other—and to themselves—with encouragement and compassion. Courage to Lead retreats support spiritual formation by providing opportunity for:
- renewing heart, mind, and spirit by exploring the inner landscape of the leader’s life;
- reconnecting personal identity and professional integrity, honoring gifts and acknowledging the power of limits;
- creating a community of mutual respect and caring that welcomes the soul and honors diversity;
- participating in the Clearness Committee discernment process and deepening skills to ask open and honest questions;
- developing trustworthy space for inner exploration within diverse religious communities; and
-?exploring connections between the leader’s inner life and the renewal of congregational life.

Leadership: Mardi Tindal serves as Moderator of The United Church of Canada and has enjoyed decades of experience facilitating leadership development within church and secular organizations, regionally, nationally and internationally. She attended her first Circle of Trust retreat in 2006, then participated in an invitational retreat led by Parker J. Palmer in 2007, and has ever since remained committed to participating in and facilitating Courage to Lead seasonal retreats. Mardi has completed the Center for Courage & Renewal's facilitator preparation program, with gratitude that Russ Moxley has served as her mentor and co-facilitator.

Russ S. Moxley is an experienced facilitator of Courage to Teach and Courage to Lead programs. Russ is an independent trainer/consultant who focuses on leadership development programs and processes. He is the author of Leadership and Spirit (Jossey-Bass, 1999), co-editor and contributing author of the Center for Creative Leadership Handbook on Leadership Development (Jossey-Bass, 1998), and contributing author of chapters for four edited books. He serves as secretary of the board for the Center for Courage and Renewal.

Participants are expected to participate fully in all five retreats:
Fall: Nov. 22-24, 2010
Winter: Jan. 31-Feb. 2, 2011
Spring: May 16-18, 2011
Summer: July 18-20, 2011
Fall: Oct. 3-5, 2011
All retreats run Mon. 2pm-Wed. 12:30pm with lunch

Cost per retreat: $420 ~ includes tuition meals & accommodation

Please apply by October 18 for this Retreat Series

For more detailed information on the Courage to Lead retreats please visit www.couragerenewal.org

Click here for flyer and application form (on-line registration is not available).

Day Away
Dec. 1, Wed. 9am-4pm
Are you in need of spiritual nourishment? If so, this is the day for you. Come and spend a day away from the noise and busyness. The day begins with a short time of worship and community building led by Five Oaks spiritual guides. The rest of the day is for you to spend time reflecting with the Spirit, through silence, journaling, meditation, walking the labyrinth, by the river, or tending other practices that help you seek God’s presence. You may even choose to spend the day on silent retreat. The day closes with communal worship.

Spiritual accompaniment with a Five Oaks spiritual guide is available on this day to assist you in deepening your relationship with the Divine. Time with a spiritual guide is optional. Please indicate when you register if you wish to meet with a spiritual guide during the Day Away. Leadership: Five Oaks Spiritual Guides

Five Oaks spiritual guides come from a variety of backgrounds and training/education experiences and represent several denominations. All guides participate in the on-going development of the Day Away and Guided Silent Retreat programs by attending regular planning and development days with Five Oaks staff. Their practice is shaped by guidelines and expectations developed for this specific ministry by Five Oaks and by the Guidelines for Ethical Conduct as published by Spiritual Directors International.

Cost: $35 (includes lunch); $50 (includes lunch & Spiritual Guide for one session)

The maximum number of people for a Day Away is 8, so please register early!

Also, it is extremely important that you arrive on time (9:00am sharp) for the Day Away so that the sacred space that is created through the opening worship can be honoured.

Note: Day Away is for individuals to experience a day on retreat. If an established group wishes to experience such a day together please contact Robin McGauley, Coordinator of Adult Programs, to make these special arrangements

Click here for flyer

To register click here.

Back to Main Page