Fr. Mike will lead the Annual Diocesan Silent Retreat 

“We entreat you, make us truly alive.” (Eucharistic prayer of Sarapion of Thmuis) I suspect you know the deep longing expressed in those words. It is that longing to be truly alive that took thousands of men and women to the Egyptian desert to study and learn what it means to be human, to be truly alive.
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Their experiences and teachings have come to be known as the “desert tradition” of Christianity. It began in the third century and flourished until at least the late seventh century though its presence and influence continue to be felt today. The desert they experienced was as much an interior landscape as it was the sand, rocks, and mountains of the places where they lived. The desert is a place of silence, solitude, and stillness; a time of waiting and temptation; and a place of revelation, conversion, and transformation.

The women and men of the desert have given us their learnings, challenges, and wisdom in short, pithy sayings. They are more interested in experiences of God than in explanations of God. They seek a word of life, saying, “Abba, give me a word.”
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During this retreat, we will let the wisdom of the Ammas and Abbas guide us into the desert of our own lives and challenge us to become more alive. What, for example, does a green pea on the road have to do with your life? More than you might think. Come join me and others around the diocese and hear what Abba Agathon has to say about that. –  Fr. Mike