Rest Renew Reconnect St. Mary’s Sewanee

“What is Forest Bathing?” “Do I get to keep my clothes on?” “Will we take a bath outside?” These were the first questions the staff asked when we learned that St. Mary’s Sewanee: The Ayres Center for Spiritual Development is sponsoring a one-day retreat on July 13 called Forest Bathing with Painting Response. Because we… Read More »

“Walking a labyrinth for the first time taught me to trust the path”  Read more of this first-person account of one woman’s life-changing experience while on retreat at St. Mary’s Sewanee. Tina Chambers’s essay, first published by Chapter 16, the website of Humanities Tennessee, can be found here. This retreat will be offered again in September…. Read More »

St. Mary’s Sewanee has announced that it has accepted the resignation of the Rev. Dr. Andy Anderson as executive director of St. Mary’s Sewanee: The Ayres Retreat Center for Spiritual Development, effective April 30, 2019. In his place, the Board has hired former executive director the Rev. John Runkle to serve in a half-time interim… Read More »

To read the entire newsletter, click here:  OCTOBER 2018 NEWSLETTER At sunset on October 27, we celebrated Bob Ayres’ life and faith along with his immense contributions to St. Mary’s Sewanee through the decades. Watching the fiery orb sinking into the horizon was Bob’s favorite time on New Hope Bluff. And it has become mine, as well. Witnessing the daily rhythm… Read More »

Why go on retreat? We could tell you, but listen to what our guests say in their evaluations about their experience at St. Mary’s Sewanee: I’m leaving here inspired. Thank you. You have a beautiful setting and there was such a wonderful flow to the weekend. The retreat leaders were sensitive, intentional, and deeply loving…. Read More »