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Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote, “Earth’s crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God; But only he who sees takes off his shoes … “
This is a time that is ripe for us to figuratively “take off our shoes” as we become more aware of systemic racism and adjust to life in a pandemic. Cedar Cross Retreat Center continues to be a place where people can rest and reflect in the hope and expectation of being renewed.
During the pandemic, we are taking measures to still be able to welcome retreatants by disinfecting our guest facilities after each retreatant’s stay. If you want to schedule a time for retreat, please click on the link below or send an email to cedarcrossregistrar@gmail.com.
In the photos, the common, and, yet, beautiful and wild, oxeye daisies speckle the New Field at Cedar Cross as they reach toward the afternoon sun, and succulents growing in the rock terrace on the South Hillside show their spring blossoms.
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Words from a retreatant …
“Thank you. Thank you, Covenant Church, for providing this beautiful place for rest and renewal! Immaculately maintained, aesthetically engaging, with so many beautiful, whimsical paths to explore — God bless you all! Covid-19 was underway unbeknownst to us, when I was here last December. I came this time with a heavy heart, with many fears. I leave now, with a renewed sense of the grace of God, and a heart that, by that grace, now sings, ‘Trust’ and ‘Courage.’ Until next time.”
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A word about work at Cedar Cross
We all keep upgrading Cedar Cross during this pause, either doing needed maintenance, or allowing creativity to emerge. Granite rocks disturbed from millennial sleep by mule-pulled plow a century and a half ago were thrown into dozens of piles to allow farming. Leaves, dirt and moss provided blankets for renewed sleep.
For the last 45 years, a few of us have been resurrecting many rocks to create low walls, focal points, and reflection spaces. Now, younger pairs of hands are moving hundreds more to express new visions provided by the same Spirit.
From the beauty of simple food to nourish bodies, rock is now moving to allow beauty to nourish souls.
— John Hilpert, a founder of Cedar Cross and the forest steward
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A beam of sunlight illuminates a leaf on this tulip poplar near a new trail being developed at Cedar Cross. Among the four miles of trails, retreatants can see more than 50 species of trees. The most common, in addition to the tulip poplar, are maple, oaks (many kinds), pines, sweet gum, wild cherry, hickory (many kinds), dogwood, holly, cedar, beech, black gum, and sourwood.
We seek to nurture a healthy forest. Here is an excerpt from Eco Trail Guide written by John Hilpert: “You may see some big trees with light green tape on them, and two horizontal cuts about an inch into the bark and outer layer (called cambium). All the nutrients of the tree go up through this layer, so by cutting it, the tree slowly dies. Why would we do that? Simply, there are too many large “canopy” trees in a small space, and cutting down one of the least healthy could likely destroy many other trees as it fell.
“But as the tree dies slowly, birds, including woodpeckers, start to hunt for insects by digging holes in the bark. Then other birds, including owls, dig out cavities or holes in the rotting wood for homes. By the way, trees flagged with blue tape are to be cut out and put in the gulleys; red tape means to save for firewood.”
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Dawning of Life
The numerous sprigs of running cedar
point toward a morning sky,
looking past the arms of trees open wide
to a black bird flowing above.
The bird carries a stick for a spring nest,
preparing for the dawning of life.
–This poem was written by Jimmy Allen during A Guided Day Apart at Cedar Cross.
If you have written a poem, short story, or reflection while you were at Cedar Cross, or if the poem, short story, or reflection is about the retreat center, we’d love for you to share it with us. You can make a submission to the coordinator at cedarcrossregistrar@gmail.com.
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A virtual walk … on the Middle Trail
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We are trying something new for friends of Cedar Cross. As a way to give you a taste of the retreat center, we are going to offer short videos that we hope are meaningful for you. In this edition, you can join in a walk on the Middle Trail during a spring rain. To take the virtual walk, just click on this link, which will take you to our web site: https://www.cedarcrossretreat.info/2020/06/16/walk-with-me-on-the-middle-trail-to-the-south-hillside/
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Getting to know the Mission Group of Cedar Cross
Note: We consider everyone who participates in a retreat here, prays for this ministry, volunteers to help, and/or offers financial support to be a part of Cedar Cross Retreat Center. In addition to the hundreds who are part of the Cedar Cross community, we have a Mission Group that oversees the ministry. This section is intended to give us all a little insight about these folks. The names of Mission Group members is below in the masthead.
In this edition of Journeys, Butch Grove responds to the prompt: Please tell us a favorite experience at Cedar Cross.
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Butch Grove, right, talks with Mac Hulslander about the moss garden
being developed at Cedar Cross Retreat Center. Below, he writes about the wedding arch that is pictured above. The arch is on the Village Green near the goldfish pond.
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Butch Grove
My favorite memory and experience at Cedar Cross has to be when in 2003, Vickie and I got married on the Village Green, next to the goldfish pool.
Although Cedar Cross was never intended as a wedding venue, the Mission Group made an exception since Vickie and I had been active members for years. Neither Vickie nor I could imagine a more fitting place to bring together our faith community and the blending of our two families.
The only enhancement we made to the natural beauty of Cedar Cross in preparation of sharing our vows was to erect a simple cedar archway adorned with a stained glass symbol of Cedar Cross given to us by the Mission Group as wedding gift.
That cedar arch has become affectionately known as the wedding arch, and every time I see it I think back to that special day.
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Mission of Cedar Cross: Rest, Reflection, and Renewal
We provide overnight and day-retreat space for small groups (up to 16 participants) and individual retreatants. Individuals, couples, and friends are invited to stay in Heron’s Nest, which is a two-bedroom cottage, or in one of the three suites of the Lodge. For more information, please contact the coordinator, Jimmy Allen, at 919-729-2586, or at cedarcrossregistrar@gmail.com. More information is available on our web site: cedarcrossretreat.info. We look forward to hosting you.
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Mission Group members who oversee the ministry of Cedar Cross
Butch Grove, Vickie Grove, Mac Hulslander, Margaret Hilpert, John Hilpert, Lillie Jones, Ginger Allen, and Jimmy Allen
Specific roles at Cedar Cross
John Hilpert and Margaret Hilpert, founders and back-up hosts
Jimmy Allen, coordinator
Lillie Jones, gleaner
Rachel Allen, caretaker for indoor spaces
David Jerose, caretaker for outdoor spaces
Boomer Alston, caretaker for outdoor spaces
Lori Litton, bookkeeper
Linda Lamb, caterer
Covenant Community Church supports this retreat center through the Cedar Cross Mission Group. We are a small ecumenical church offering a participatory form of worship that invites lively involvement by all members. We worship Sunday afternoons in Raleigh at the Community United Church of Christ (corner of Wade Avenue and Dixie Trail). During the pandemic the community gathers virtually.
The mission group, which is a subset of the Covenant Community membership, typically meets monthly at the retreat center for a day of work, prayer, play, planning, and being with friends.
Giving
We are grateful to all who support the ministry of Cedar Cross Retreat Center. If you believe in providing a place for people to experience rest, reflection, and renewal, please consider giving a donation.
You can give securely online at www.cedarcrossretreat.info/donate/ or click on the donate button below. Or send a check to Cedar Cross Retreat Center, 150 Cedar Cross Way, Louisburg, NC 27549.
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Jimmy Allen
Ginger Allen