SPIRITUAL GROWTH OFFERINGS
FOR FAITH GROUPS
The Mission Group at Cedar Cross Retreat Center offers a number of workshops, held
at your church, to support the spiritual growth of your members. These modestly priced
workshops come out of our extensive experience and have been well received in other
settings. They can be modified for different time formats and content. Topics include:
Spiritual Practices: We lead a process which helps participants identify one or
more spiritual practices that would fit their personalities and stage of life. Experiences
are provided for options such as: prayer, guided meditation, journaling, walking
meditation, creative expression, Bible study and centering prayer.
Gift Identification: Participants would come away with a list of gifts that they have
energy to offer in the church or community.
Personality Types: We lead participants in a clear and experiential understanding
of their Myer’s-Briggs personality types, with optional emphases on ways to express
appreciation, leadership, and especially spiritual disciplines that fit best for them.
Linking Art & Spirituality: Using simple art materials, we offer guided
experiences as a way of prayer that can help participants gain insight on their spiritual
path. No artistic experience of any kind is necessary.
Group Spiritual Guidance: An introductory session will explain and provide a
taste of how a small group can support the spiritual and ministerial journey of each
member. We facilitate the first and last sessions, and train facilitators for the interim.
(Individual spiritual direction is offered at Cedar Cross by John, Nancy and Margaret.)
Transforming Social Action: Participants learn to work for justice in ways that
deepen their spiritual lives and produce life-changing results. The mission group model,
successfully implemented by many churches, feeds energy back to the church.
Discernment Committee: We facilitate a small group called together to help an
individual discern God’s leading on a tough decision.
Financial Considerations: Our suggested group donation for leadership is:
1-2 hours: $75 - 125; Half day: $ 150 - 200 Full Day: $ 200 - 400
Contact: 252-431-0829
cedarcrossretreat@gmail.com
www.cedarcrossretreat.org
SPECIAL RETREATS AT CEDAR CROSS
Faith to Focus: This highly interactive series has enriched churches for 20 years.
The goal is to help participants identify gifts in multiple ways; discerning a direction for
ministry in, through and beyond the church using those gifts; and developing support for
that ministry. Faith to Focus is available in a format that consists of two 24-hour
retreats. (This series was originally offered by CLAY of which John was a co-founder.)
Money - From Fear to Freedom: Through a series of exercises, prayer and
sharing, participants work to understand their relationship to money. Completion of a
Money Autobiography is required; guidelines are provided. Goals include:
Discover money’s present role in one’s life;
Define new ways to claim one’s true security
Envision steps to help move from compulsion to freedom
Celebrate the joys of giving and receiving
Searcher’s Day: During times of transition such as loss of job and retirement, there
is value in taking time to frame better questions and opening to new options. Offered in
an 8 or 20 hour format, reflective periods complement exercises with the aim of gaining
clarity on what might be a more life-giving path.
Contact us at 252-431-0829 or cedarcross@vance.net to discuss suggested donations.
WORKSHOP – RETREAT LEADERS
John Hilpert was Minister to the Community for Pullen Memorial Church where he supported various
social action mission groups and spiritual formation. He started with an MBA in Urban Economics, was
the transportation planner for Milwaukee and Raleigh, and the founding director of Partners which worked
with troubled youth. He was co-founder of CLAY: Clergy & Laity Together in Ministry. Currently, John and
his wife Margaret help coordinate Cedar Cross Retreat Center where they offer spiritual direction. They
were co-founders of Covenant Community Church.
Margaret Hilpert has degrees in English and Art from Meredith College. After teaching in the public
schools for 12 years, she worked as an organizer for regional peace groups. She has led many retreats
and workshops, including a three year painting workshop at the Ark shelter. Margaret finds much joy in
using simple art processes with groups and individuals as a way of exploring and nurturing the spiritual
life. She and John have 35 years of experience leading retreats.
Mac Hulslander is a Commissioned Minister of the United Church of Christ. He has served as a
missionary teacher in Japan under the Board of Global Missions of the UMC, prison chaplaincy and
pastoral ministry with the Presbyterian Church, and as Director of CLAY: Clergy and Laity Together in
Ministry, an ecumenical ministry based in Raleigh, NC involved with faith-based vocational discernment.
He is an experienced spiritual growth retreat leader with more than 20 years of experience here in NC
and PA.
Nancy Newell is a certified Director of Christian Education and has completed the RUAH School of
Spiritual Direction. She has been fostering spiritual growth by attending, leading and supporting retreats
since the mid 1970's and continues to find them a uniquely rich setting for opening one’s soul to the Holy.
She provides spiritual direction to seekers at Cedar Cross and in Raleigh.
Betty Anne Ford is a certified Director of Christian Education and Non-Profit Manager. She has been
employed by Presbyterian congregations in Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina. A co-founder of
Loaves and Fishes Ministry, she served that children’s organization in various capacities for 24 years.
She has been a retreat participant or leader for as long as she can remember.