A message from Cedar Cross

Dear Friends, Supporters, and Retreatants,
 
Our hope for you is that you have weathered this storm of COVID change without too many losses, or that the changes and losses have not been overwhelming. We are grateful to have met our expenses due to the steady stream of individuals coming on retreat with a prayer to “restore my soul.” We are grateful to provide, with your help, this forested sanctuary for all those precious souls.
 
From a friend: “As one who has retreated here often over the years, Cedar Cross has become a ‘spiritual home.’ Perhaps you can resonate with that sense:  the trees, birds, rocks, and moss welcome you; there is a palpable, reciprocal love calling you home, home to your senses, home to your deep soul’s longing for that vast realm within, yet reflected and amplified without. We see and hear from the vast yet tender terrain of the heart.”
 
Our co-founder Margaret Hilpert’s dear, limited form is no longer with us, and we miss her. But her presence is everywhere, continuing to pervade all that we do, and all that Cedar Cross has been, is, and will be. She and John began taking steps to ensure the longevity of Cedar Cross before her death, and our intention is to remain faithful in providing this special place of rest, reflection, and renewal as long as the call continues.
 
In honor of Margaret’s creative legacy, we have dedicated time this year to cleaning, sorting, re-designing, painting, and re-envisioning the art studio, as well as creating a library/writing space in the former Garden Loft. Our hope is that the Studio and Library Loft will be a place of creativity and reflection that enriches our offerings here as we carry forward the lessons we learned from Margaret about spiritual formation through creative expression and study. We are grateful for all the gifts in memory of Margaret that we received last year.
 
We consider you a vital community of prayerful support and encouragement. We rely on you in those ways and financially as well. We ask for and appreciate your financial support.
 
Every season has its own beauty. Spirit is transforming lives here. We thank you for helping us create space for that transformation to happen.
 
Cedar Cross Mission Group
John Hilpert, Mac Hulslander, Vickie Grove,
Ginger Allen, Butch Grove, Julie Purcell, Jimmy Allen

(Those of you on our mailing list will also receive a copy of this letter in the mail. If anyone wants to be on our mailing list, please let us know. Send an email to cedarcrossregistrar@gmail.com.)