Having spent many years working as both a professional in Christian Education and as a volunteer in diverse church positions, Mary Dreier knows—really knows—about working with church staff, volunteers, and congregational members and the needs of each.  Contact us for more information on how we can serve you!

Personal Retreats for Those Serving Churches
Spiritual Direction/Companionship for Those Serving Churches
Retreats for Congregations
Labyrinth Workshops for Confirmation Groups/Youth Groups/Sunday School Classes
Christmas Story in the Barn
 

Personal Retreats for Those Serving Churches

Working on a church staff can be overwhelming at times. In the midst of tending and nurturing others, we sometimes forget we need tending and nurturing, too.  As we strive to create worship and educational experiences for our folks to connect with God, we often set aside our own need for this vital, life giving connection.  Soul of the Prairie has become a place of personal retreat for many, a place to "come away to; and be tended, nurtured and re-connected with a loving God. It is a place that is simple, quiet, and demand-free—still enough that God's voice can be easily heard. Some choose to spend a day, some an overnight, some an extended period. Offerings/Individuals will provide more information about personal day retreats and overnight accommodations. Individual spiritual direction/companioning is available as a part of personal retreats. Contact Mary for more information.

Spiritual Direction/Companionship for Those Serving Churches

Spiritual direction/companionship is a professional ministry of compassionate presence—an intentional companioning of others on their journey with the Holy. It is a quiet practice, where the presence and movements of the Holy Spirit in a personís life are discerned, with the assistance of an experienced guide in the presence of God. Spiritual Direction/companionship may be an individual process, or a small (3-4 members) group process—where each member companions and is companioned by those in the group, facilitated by a trained guide. Typically, individual spiritual direction involves a commitment to meet monthly for a one-hour session, while small group sessions are about two hours monthly, depending on group size. Sessions may be scheduled at your convenience after an initial free consultation. If you have two or three colleagues with whom you'd like to do Group Spiritual Direction, contact Mary for available dates and times.

Mary Dreier is a spiritual director/companion, an associate of the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation, and a member of Spiritual Directors International.

Retreats for Congregations

Mary Dreier is an experienced retreat facilitator, and can create the space around which members of your congregation can gently go deeper into relationship with God, themselves, and others. Retreats led by Mary typically include facilitated discussion around a theme, sharing, prayer, art, small and large group time, silent reflection, and a closing worship. Themes for past congregational retreats include Come and Find the Quiet Center, Connections, The Bread of Life, and On Holy Ground. Congregational retreats may be held at Soul of the Prairie, where retreatants have full use of the labyrinths and grounds, or at a site of your choosing. Contact Mary for more information.

Labyrinth Workshops for Confirmation Groups/Youth Groups/Sunday School Classes

Soul of the Prairie is the perfect place to bring a group to experience labyrinths - circular walking paths for mediation and prayer. Soul of the Prairie is home to Soul of the Prairie labyrinths , which provide three very different prayer experiences. Groups may also choose to work together to build and walk their own labyrinth or create finger labyrinths to take home. Trained labyrinth facilitator, Mary Dreier, is available to guide your group and facilitate any labyrinth experience you desire. Contact Mary for more information.

 Christmas Story in the Barn

Each Advent season we open our barn for re-telling the Christmas Story.  With costumes, music, assorted animals, and all of the ambiance of a real barn your group is led from a telling of The Story in a wondering sort of way, to the barn where the manger waits, to the lit spiral labyrinth where The Story enters each heart.  Contact Mary for more information, and to schedule your never-to-be forgotten Advent event!