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| Elsie
Sechrist, a major figure within the A.R.E. has said that a retreat is
one of the most effective ways to utilize and apply all that we study
in A Search for GOD groups. In the early years of A.R.E. activity in the Metro Area (late 1960's), four councils existed and each council held their own activities and retreats - Montgomery County, Prince Georges County, Northern Virginia Area, and Baltimore. Washington, DC members could choose to attend the council of their choice. As council chairperson for the Northern Virginia Area, Barbara Heiberg saw a need for the councils to come together in a spirit of unity and cooperation. A major way for this to occur would be at a retreat. Barbara envisioned that each retreat attendee would become immersed in the "Spirit of Light" (often the results of a good spiritual retreat). Attendees would return home, enlightened from sharing GOD's love and fellowship. In turn, these attendees would become a "Beacon of Light", radiating this light within their surroundings. "Love and Light" would spread afar! With this in mind, Barbara founded the Mid-Atlantic Retreat (Inter-Council) in 1976 and served as the first retreat chairperson. Each council was asked to choose how they would actively participate in the weekend program. For many, this concept was not considered workable. But Barbara, with energy, faith, vision and much persuasion, went forward. It was this first retreat which produced the guidelines, formats, and ideals that are still used today. The ideal set at that time was for a weekend of relaxation, fellowship, and the sharing of our higher self through participation in spiritual-oriented activities. In addition, programs would stimulate participants in their search for their true self as they moved toward oneness with all, beginning with meditation and exercise. This first Inter-Council Retreat was held at Claggett Diocesan Center in Buckeystown, MD. Thirty-one people attended and each council actively participated in the program. The major speakers were Ursula & Joe Jahoda (both involved in A.R.E. as youths and adults) who presented lectures and workshops on "Alter Your Life through Prayer and Meditation." The cost for this first weekend of fun, fellowship, and learning was $33. Here are a few of the comments taken from the evaluation forms: "wonderful fellowship and exchange of ideas", "liked the overall emphasis on meditation", and "the feeling of spiritual growth in all of us, the 'circles of love' as well as making new friends, was marvelous". Over the years, attendance has fluctuated with various speakers and programs. The largest number (over 500 people) with the Drs. McGarey in 1987 brought about two major changes. First, the name was changed to the current Mid-Atlantic Retreat due to the influx of attendees from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Ohio. The other major change occurred when the retreat team decided that large participation was not suitable for our original ideal. Large crowds also presented logistical problems. Therefore, the team (an all-volunteer group still striving to have representation from each area) decided that the retreat should remain a rather small, spiritual, enlightening, learning, and fun weekend. The original ideal is still intact! |
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