Retreats » Fall 2008 Retreat
European Unitarian Universalist Fall Retreat 2008Traben-Trarbach, Germany, 31 Oct-02 Nov
Rev. Jill McAllister, Minister of People's Church, Kalamazoo, Michigan |
Where Is Your Spiritual Home?
The Kaiserslautern Unitarian Universalist Fellowship invites you to join UUs from all over Europe for a thought-provoking and enjoyable weekend with activities for all age groups, including a full religious education program for children and teenagers.
EUU RETREAT Oct 31-Nov 2, 2008: Finding Your Spiritual Home
Our guest speaker:
We are delighted to announce that our theme speaker will be the Rev. Jill McAllister, who will be coming from Kalamazoo, Michigan. Rev. McAllister is the minister of People's Church in Kalamazoo and is a past president of the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists.
Rev. McAllister's theme talk will be "Finding Your Spiritual Home." It is based on Buddhist practices (translated into Unitarian Universalism) concerning the four central virtues: Loving-Kindness, Compassion, Sympathetic Joy, and Equanimity (collectively referred to as the “Brahma Viharas”). She has found this to be a wonderful format for considering and practicing centering and mindfulness, and for helping UUs understand and articulate their own needs for spiritual practice.
Sunday service: Homemaking
What does it mean to be at home in the world, when so much is at stake on our fragile planet? What does it mean to be at home in the world, when so many are displaced, and even homeless? Could it be that we are called, as religious people, to be homemakers, in the deepest sense of the word? Could it be that homemaking is truly a spiritual quest? Could it be that homemaking is what we need the most?
What Happens at a Retreat?
EUU retreats offer something for all ages. People begin arriving late Friday afternoon, but the first event is dinner that evening. After this, an evening activity helps everyone get to know one another. The theme talk takes place on Saturday morning, and after lunch there is a choice of various workshops and other activities. Saturday evening generally includes a youth presentation and will be followed by a cabaret-theme talent show. On Sunday morning, there is a worship service. The retreat ends in the early afternoon after lunch.
The entire weekend is filled with activities but also opportunities to relax, meet fellow Unitarians from all over Europe, and generally have a good time. EUU retreats have been described as family reunions where newcomers feel at home right from the beginning.
The Traben-Trarbach Retreat Site
In order to reduce costs and make this Retreat family friendly/affordable, we will be staying at the Middle Mosel Youth Hostel. Rooms are basic but clean and all have a toilet, bath or shower in suite. Towels are NOT provided, so please bring a nice, large, fluffy one with you from home. (Small towel may be rented from the Hostel staff for 1€.) The Hostel is small but should serve our needs well. We have reserved the entire facility so we will be the only guests that weekend. There are very few single rooms available. Please do not request one unless absolutely necessary. Lodging preferences will be taken on a “first registered – first served” basis. If you have any special needs (mobility difficulties, dietary restrictions, etc.) please make them know to the Retreat Committee when registering so that we may attempt to accommodate them. Looking forward to seeing you at what promises to be a wonderful Unitarian Universalist retreat.
The Traben-Trarbach Area
A meeting point with flair and charm!
The woods and vineyards snuggle up to the double city on the left and right banks of the Mosel as if they were a mighty amphitheater bordered by grape vines.
An abundance of buildings with architectural treasures of the Jugendstil and “Belle Epoque” styles will make our retreat in Traben-Trarbach a refreshing experience.
Click here for more information
Youth Programs
Our UU children and teens are an integral and very important part of the retreat. Youth activities are scheduled to coincide with adult activities so that parents can participate fully while their youngsters are having a great time. Contact Michelle Poiani at EUU Retreat Committee. for details of the program or if you wish to help out.
Child care will be provided for children under 3.
Music
Enjoy a variety of musical opportunities, both listening and participation, throughout the weekend. We are fortunate that many of our members and friends are talented musicians. Please bring an instrument if you play one, and volunteer to perform at the Saturday cabaret talent night. All are welcome to join the EUU choir which will sing at the Sunday service. In the evenings after the official program, we gather informally to listen to and sing along with music until the wee hours of the morning!
Workshops
If you would like to offer a workshop on Saturday afternoon, indicate it on your registration and you will be contacted. Four workshops will be organized around each of the spiritual practices presented in the Theme Talk. We are especially soliciting workshops focusing on spiritual practices not covered in the Theme Talk, such as journaling, movement (yoga, dance, tai chi), mediation, mortification, et cetera.
Social Action and English Book Exchange
- We are continuing to collect used eyeglasses and cases for Burkina Faso, as well as collecting used corks and used postage stamps for charities in Germany.
- At every retreat, there is a used English book exchange where everyone can bring books that are just taking up space on their shelves. A small cash contribution is made for each book taken, and the money is donated to a worthy cause.
EUU Retreat Grants
EUU strongly believes that no one should miss a retreat because of a lack of funds, so we have a grant fund. If you can contribute to this fund, please do so with your registration. If you need to apply for grant assistance, simply write to EUU Treasurer Peter Jarrett at EUU Retreat Committee stating the reasons for your request. All grant applications are handled confidentially.Prices for the weekend include your room for Friday and Saturday nights, all meals from Friday evening through Sunday lunch, and coffee breaks.
Price is soon to be determined and will be posted shortly.
For questions contact the EUU Retreat Committee
How do we get to Traben-Trarbach?
Travel by Car, Motorcycle, Camper Van
From the West, Trier/Luxembourg:
Take the autobahn A 1/48 in the direction ofKoblenz . Exit the autobahn at the Wittlich exit, then follow the signs on the B 50 to Traben-Trarbach.
From the West, Lüttich:
Take the autobahn A 60 in the direction of Trier/Wittlich. Exit the autobahn at the Wittlich exit, then follow the signs on the B 50 to Traben-Trarbach.
From the East, Frankfurt/Mainz:
Take the autobahn A 60 in the direction of Bingen. At the autobahn interchange “Nahetal,” follow the signs in the direction of Koblenz . Exit the autobahn at the Rheinböllen/ Flughafen Hahn exit, then take the B 327/ 50 and drive straight ahead past Simmern in the direction of Bernkastel-Kues. Take the exit to the right from the B 50 and follow the signs to Traben-Trarbach.
From the South, Karlsruhe:
Take the autobahn A 61 via Ludwigshafen in the direction of Koblenz . Exit the autobahn at the Rheinböllen/ Flughafen Hahn exit, then take the B 327/ 50 and drive straight ahead past Simmern in the direction of Bernkastel-Kues. Take the exit to the right from the B 50 and follow the signs to Traben-Trarbach.
From the North, Cologne:
Take the autobahn A 61 in the direction of Koblenz . Exit the autobahn at the Mendig exit, then take the Federal highway (Bundesstraße) in the direction of Mayen. Shortly after Mayen take the autobahn A 48 in the direction of Trier . Exit the autobahn at the Wittlich exit, then follow the signs on the B 50 to Traben-Trarbach.
Travel by Airplane
Traben-Trarbach is only 18 km by car from the "MoselAirport " Frankfurt-Hahn.
You can also take a taxi to Traben-Trarbach (20 min ride) which costs ca. € 30,--.
Traben-Trarbach Mittelmosel-Jugendherberge Jugendgästehaus
Hirtenpfad 6
56841 Traben-Trarbach
Telefon +49 6541 92 78