August 2000 Newsletter

Table of Contents

Silence
25th Anniversary Pilgrimage to Grandchamp, Switzerland
Volunteer Opportunities at ARC
Community News
A Mountain Pilgrimage: The Summer of 2001
Upcoming ARC Retreats
ARC's First Annual Benefit Concert and Silent Auction
Telephone Fund-Raising Campaign
ARC WISH LIST
Summer Recipe - Chilled-Berry Soup
What's New at ARC?
ARC Retreat Center Seeks Resident Community Members
RETREATS

As a people, we are afraid of silence. --Richard Rohr

"The world is divided between the makers of noise and the victims of noise," wrote Lance Morrow in the July 10 issue of TIME magazine. He admitted
that oversimplifies. But when I'm running and these dirt bikers are buzzing, those are the north and south poles of my world. They, the makers of noise; I, the victim.

"As a people, we are afraid of silence," writes Richard Rohr about our society. I've witnessed many examples of that fear. Ten to twenty years ago, I drove an hour and a half one way on Mondays to do group psychotherapy. My car had no radio, no tape player. I drove in silence - silence in daylight on the way there, silence in night darkness on the return. Hearing of this, people typically asked, "How can you stand the silence?" (Sometimes I couldn't!) These were not TV or boom-box addicts who asked this, but thoughtful people.

I've known highly learned folks who have serious difficulty with silence, preferring instead the babble of their knowledge and sophistication.  Such babble the reassurance that one does not have demons like lesser people. Who wants to have a run-in with one's inner demons - one's corrupting ego, slippery impulses, well-masked fears, voracious needs, or secret anxieties - the very opposites of one's public persona? Demons, monsters. They hide in the shadow of noise. But in the light of silence, they have nowhere to hide.

"The point of noise is not to think, not to see," wrote Morrow. Although he made no mention of monsters, the point of noise is to avoid them; the result of silence is to encounter them. No wonder silence can be frightening. No wonder someone once told me she could tolerate no more than a few minutes of silence. No wonder our culture's preference for noise. (There is now, for people's noise addiction, a web site that offers nonstop noise for while you work on your computer!) Even the psalmist found silence terrifying: "If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would have lived in the land of silence." (Ps. 94:17)

Then why seek silence? Because (and here's the irony) silence is where prayer begins and where we first begin to hear God speak to us. A person may speak long and lovely prayers but not have the intimate relationship with God that true prayer is. A person may quote scripture chapter and verse but never "have it out" with God, which God's word inevitably makes you do. Both that intimacy and that conversation can be evaded by avoiding silence - the emptiness so frightening because it's monsters and demons, not prayer and God's word that one initially encounters there.

When we first encounter our inner demons, our impulse may be to rid ourselves of them or to so overpower them that they slink into oblivion. "Slay the dragons," is the way of our culture's testosterone triumphalism. "Vanquish the dragons," is the way of our culture's creed of perfectability through self-improvement. Inner demons, though, ultimately resist our attempts to slay or vanquish them. They are like the mint in my backyard that keeps coming back despite my persistent efforts to pull it up. All one can do is be reconciled to them just as one must finally be reconciled to the truth of one's mortality. This brings humility. And with humility comes the possibility of prayer and the possibility of hearing the voice of God. The prayer may be nothing more than inarticulate "sighs too deep for words." And the voice of God may also be nothing more than an ache, a longing, a yearning. The words, when necessary, will come later. In the meantime God's Spirit takes the sigh and makes it prayer, takes the ache and makes it God's own speech. Born out of silence.

Someone told me recently of an experience of silence and its attendant encounter with inner monsters, the result of which was that her prayer life suddenly and inexplicably blossomed. I've heard others tell of similar experiences with similar consequences. Prayer and hearing begin in silence. The silence can be so scary. Yet for this silence many people come to ARC. Because, they find, silence can be so holy, so life-giving.

 --Dwayne Daehler, Co-Director
Back to Top

25th Anniversary Pilgrimage to Grandchamp, Switzerland
In honor of ARC's 25th anniversary, Ruth and Loren Halvorson, ARC's founders, will be leading a trip to Grandchamp Convent and Retreat Center in Switzerland where Ruth originally experienced the calling to begin ARC. The dates are: October 1 - 11, 2001. The trip will also include time at the Taize Community in France, a visit to Sonen Hof Monastery, and a tour of the Ecumenical Center as well as other points of interest in Geneva. More information will be forthcoming about reservations, costs, etc. But it's not too soon to let us know you're interested.
Back to Top

Volunteer Opportunities at ARC
Looking for a fun way to spend a weekend? Come to ARC! Weekend volunteers generally come Friday evening and stay until Sunday afternoon. They help with anything and everything ...when we have large groups, there are a few dishes to wash, for instance. There are usually a variety of "tasks" to choose from and we don't ask anyone to do anything they really dislike! Plus you get time to yourself to enjoy ARC, you get to fraternize with community members and find out what goes on behind the scenes. Jerry Belanger is the current volunteer coordinator. If you'd like to sign up, just give him a call: 763/689-3540, or check the space on the Response Form. Weekday volunteers are also welcome.
Back to Top

Community News
In July we said good-bye to Cindy Tidball after two years at ARC. She has moved to the Cities and is working at the University of Minnesota as Program Associate for the Evening Classes and Summer Session Dept. of the College of Continuing Education. We will miss Cindy's administrative talents, her patience with the computer, her beautiful photo cards (unless she keeps making them!), her ready smile and gracious hospitality. Her husband Dave will still work full-time at ARC, thank goodness, but will now be commuting several days a week.

We hope to welcome one or two new community members in August/Sept.

In August we will be hosting some men from the group home for developmentally disabled adults where Jerry Belanger worked prior to moving here. This will be a new experience for us to which we're looking forward!

One sad note is that Chris Wolf's car was recently totaled in an accident. Fortunately, she's okay but is in need of a car. She's hoping one of our newsletter readers might have one to donate. If so, give her a call: 763/689-3540.
Back to Top

A Mountain Pilgrimage: The Summer of 2001
In The Solace of Fierce Landscapes, Belden Lane writes, "...mountain places, located on the margins of society, are locations in luring God's people to a deeper understanding of who they are."

In the summer of 2001, ARC will sponsor a mountain pilgrimage, also in honor of ARC's 25th Anniversary. The seven-day trip in late July or early August will depart and return on a Saturday. We will travel by van to the Big Horn Mountains in northern Wyoming and camp in a National Forest campground adjacent to Cloudy Peak Wilderness Area.

While traveling we will stay in motels. The group will share in camp setup and meal preparation. Cost is yet to be determined.

We will do as-you-choose day hikes from the base camp. This is not a backpacking or mountain climbing trip, but we will be hiking above 9,000 feet. We will discuss the symbolic and religious significance of mountains in Jewish and Christian tradition and have ample time for personal reflection. (This is a retreat!) Through these experiences, reflections, and conversations, we will hopefully come to a deeper understanding of who we are as God's people.
Back to Top

Upcoming ARC Retreats
Faith and Fiction: A Summer Reading Retreat
7 pm Fri - Sun afternoon, August 4-6
While contemporary literature may not be the most predictable place to listen for God, it can be among the most rewarding. Using Vol. 3 of the popular Listening for God series, we will choose from essays and stories by writers such as Mary Gordon, Wendell Berry, Louise Erdrich, and Tillie Olsen. There will be time for reading, rest, and reflection as well as lively discussions on how life and faith merge in surprising ways and places when we're attentive to it.
Led by Katherine Dutton, ARC co-director and fiction fan
Cost (includes book): $145

Photography and Contemplative Seeing
"You cannot see beauty but with a serene mind," said Henry David Thoreau. He was speaking about contemplative seeing which is beyond our knowing, beyond our ability to explain, beyond our controlling, beyond our own selves even. We will explore the connection between photography and contemplative seeing and consider how photography can contribute to one's spiritual practice. We'll consider what helps and what hinders our seeing and examine the difference between how the camera sees and how the human eye sees. And we'll take photographs. Bring your camera!
Led by Dwayne Daehler, ARC co-director
7 pm Sun - 2 pm Wed, September 24-27     --    Cost: $200
7 pm Fri - Sun afternoon, October 13-15     --    Cost: $135

Attentive Listening, Compassionate Living
7 pm Fri - Sun afternoon, Nov 3-5
An opportunity to recover the sacred rhythms of rest from the world and service in the world. Private time, group sharing, worship, music, and stories help us to renew the vital connection between personal solitude and public service.
Led by Ruth and Loren Halvorson, ARC founders
Cost: $135

"Stories in the Autumn of Our Lives"
5 pm Mon - Wed afternoon, Nov 6- 8
Elders are rich with stories. Often though, these stories are unheard and unappreciated except by a small circle of family and friends. In this retreat for seniors we will tell and reflect on our personal stories of joys and sorrows, of dreams fulfilled and unfulfilled, or satisfactions and regrets. We will discover the richness of our stories and God's presence in them.
Led by Dwayne Daehler, ARC co-director
Cost: $140

Nurturing Body and Soul: Seasonal Times of Reflection and Baking
It's soul-satisfying to mix, knead, and bake your own bread. Join us for a time of creative nurturance through baking, praying, reflecting, and walking in the woods.

"A bread for all seasons - and soup!"

Fall Rustic European Bread 
4pm Sun Oct8 - 4pm Mon Oct 9 (Columbus Day)
Struan and Butternut Squash-Apple Puree

Winter Whole Grains
4 pm Sun Jan 14 - 4 pm Mon Jan 15 (Martin Luther King Day)
Whole Wheat Bread and Vegetable Chowder

Registration will be limited to the first six registrants - our kitchen is only so big! Bring an apron.
Led by Jerry Belanger, ARC community
Cost (includes ingredients): $85 each
Back to Top

ARC's First Annual Benefit Concert and Silent Auction
On Saturday evening, November 11, 2000, the Jumpin' Jehosafats will give a benefit concert for ARC in the Twin Cities. This Minnesota group, in which our own Dave Tidball is the drummer, plays a lively combination of dixieland, jazz, and gospel music. They've recently acquired "uniforms," t-shirts which query, "What if the Hokey Pokey is really what it's all about?"!

The evening will also feature a silent auction for which we're seeking donations of goods and services. If you work for or have contacts with a business or organization that might be willing to donate something, please let us know. Or if you're a gourmet cook, an artist. writer, photographer, etc., we're also hoping for some creative donations. Contact Dave at ARC, 763/689-3540.

Mark your calendar and watch for your invitation with details about time, place, and tickets.
Back to Top

Telephone Fund-Raising Campaign
Many of you have probably received a telephone request for a contribution to ARC. ARC has employed the services of St. Cloud-based ARIA Communications to conduct this campaign. ARIA is an organization that works solely with not-for-profit organizations. We are testing this effort as a way to receive financial support from a broader base of people to whom we send our mailings. Thank you for your courteous hospitality to these callers and to all who have given a gift.
Back to Top

Summer Recipe - Chilled-Berry Soup
Much more than just a soup, this refreshing tart-sweet preparation can be a summer beverage, a breakfast dish, or even a dessert. Frozen berries work very well in here, so you don't need to wait for perfect fresh ones. Blue-, Black-, rasp-, and strawberries can all be found in frozen, unsweetened form in the supermarket. You can also freeze your own during an abundant season. Frozen berries give off generous amounts of pure berry juice as they defrost, and you can include all of it in the soup. It creates an indescribably lovely color.

1. Whisk together orange juice and buttermilk or yogurt. Add lemon or lime juice and optional sugar or honey to taste. Cover and chill until serving time.

2. When you're ready to serve, place about 1/2 cup berries in each bowl. Ladle the soup on top. If desired, dust very lightly with cinnamon and/or nutmeg, and garnish with a few small sprigs of mint.

 --taken from Moosewood Cookbook by Mollie Katzen
Back to Top

What's New at ARC?
This summer ARC will be getting A New Septic System. After twenty-plus years, the old one plum wore out. Okay, maybe that's not so exciting ...how about the Beautiful New Chapel Chairs? They are made of oak and have "pine needle green" cushions. We think they make the chapel even more inviting and peaceful, although we know some of you will miss getting down to and up from the cushions on the floor! Thank you again to all whose gifts made it possible for us to get chairs.

And then there's the BOOKNOOK Expansion. Our maintenance person emeritus (!), Loren Halvorson, constructed some additional shelf space for us in the Hospitality Room where we will now be selling gifts from Ten Thousand Villages. These lovely handicrafts provide vital, fair income to people from developing countries.

Would you like an ARC experience throughout the year? We are producing a 2001 Calendar with a photograph of an ARC scene for each month. To order or for more information, please call 763/689-3540 or e-mail us: arcretreat@hotmail.com.

Back to Top

ARC Retreat Center Seeks Resident Community Members
We invite individuals or couples to join us in our ministry of hospitality. Tasks include cooking, housekeeping, office work, indoor and outdoor maintenance, and gardening. We provide room and board, health insurance, a monthly stipend and perks such as community enrichment days, walks in the woods, and baking day sampling! We have an immediate opening. Contact ARC by phone or mail to arrange a visit and/or to receive an application.
Back to Top

RETREATS
To arrange a group or private retreat, call (763)689-3540.
(not long distance from the Twin Cities)
Office hours: 9 am to 5 pm
e-mail: arcretreat@hotmail.com