Family Forte
The mission of Family Forte is to build stronger family systems through education and compassionate listening, to improve interpersonal relationships, and to enhance mutual cooperation contributing to communal strength.
The group workshop is for adults who would like to learn what are the essentials of creating a harmonious family system and community. We will explore through the lens of the Redwood Family, roles of family members, respect, boundaries, provisions, and other topics that arise.
Upcoming opportunities for group session opportunities are
Thursday, August 13, 10 to 11:30 am
Saturday, August 15, 10 to 11:30 am
A minimum of four (4) participants is needed for the Circle to make. The maximum is twelve (12).
Facilitators:
Dr. Shazia Anwar: Listening to the Redwoods:
Shazia was born in Karachi, Pakistan. She was trained as an OB/GYN in Karachi. She has lived in Chicago for more than 20 years where she did Academic research in psychiatry. To incorporate the spiritual component in her work, she obtained a degree in Islamic Sciences, with special interest in Islamic Psychology and Counseling. Her husband is a Physician, they are blessed with three children and a grandchild.
Dr. Lil Smith: Compassionate Listening:
Lil was born in Nashville, TN and is the granddaughter of the first licensed psychiatrist in the state of TN. Frank Luton is her mentor in ministry as he knew deeply the interconnectedness of mental health and the family. As a co-founder of Retreat House, Lil’s passion is holding space for compassionate listening to self, others, and communities. Her husband is an entrepreneur, they are blessed with three children and two grandchildren.
Why Family Forte?
Lil and Shazia have been working on this project for more than a year. It started with a discussion on how we can bring compassion into our family systems. Something that would feel more like a gentle breeze and opens our minds for higher perception.
We had our first pilot session within the RH community .The second one with community leaders who brought in their expertise in various professional backgrounds.
Check out some of our reviews:
The comparison of human family systems to the redwood forest is excellent, nature has so much to teach us’
Sherry
spiritual director
retired RN, retired minister
This knowledge is so valued and has been missing from my experience as a young parent. This concept is so wonderful, so needed in our world and community!
Kasey
executive director nonprofit for moms
Well thought out and very thought provoking.
Gavin
ministry leader, youth impact leader
spiritual director
Very excited about possibilities in my family. This is so appropriate for family discussion, regardless of religious tradition.
Arva
a devoted grandmother
I think this is very helpful for our country not just families in this time of polarization and loss of compassion era.
Robin
hospice chaplain
writer
Wonderful thought provoking content, it inspires a necessary conversation for families.
Sheeza
executive coach, trainer, counselor
This will be very helpful for the people I work with who are out of crisis and need of building back their family systems.
Mona
nonprofit CEO, works with trauma- culture-women
In addition to our group sessions at RH, private family sessions (adults and their children) are available by contacting Shazia directly at Shazia@retreathousecommunity.org
Reach out to Shazia for available days and times.
Private Individual 75 minute session: $65 base fee plus a $10 materials fee per person.
More information about Family Forte can be found here. Facilitated by Shazia Anwar and Lil Smith.
Family Forte
The mission of Family Forte is to build stronger family systems through education and compassionate listening, to improve interpersonal relationships, and to enhance mutual cooperation contributing to communal strength.
The group workshop is for adults who would like to learn what are the essentials of creating a harmonious family system and community. We will explore through the lens of the Redwood Family, roles of family members, respect, boundaries, provisions, and other topics that arise.
Upcoming opportunities for group session opportunities are
Thursday, August 13, 10 to 11:30 am
Saturday, August 15, 10 to 11:30 am
A minimum of four (4) participants is needed for the Circle to make. The maximum is twelve (12).
Facilitators:
Dr. Shazia Anwar: Listening to the Redwoods:
Shazia was born in Karachi, Pakistan. She was trained as an OB/GYN in Karachi. She has lived in Chicago for more than 20 years where she did Academic research in psychiatry. To incorporate the spiritual component in her work, she obtained a degree in Islamic Sciences, with special interest in Islamic Psychology and Counseling. Her husband is a Physician, they are blessed with three children and a grandchild.
Dr. Lil Smith: Compassionate Listening:
Lil was born in Nashville, TN and is the granddaughter of the first licensed psychiatrist in the state of TN. Frank Luton is her mentor in ministry as he knew deeply the interconnectedness of mental health and the family. As a co-founder of Retreat House, Lil’s passion is holding space for compassionate listening to self, others, and communities. Her husband is an entrepreneur, they are blessed with three children and two grandchildren.
Why Family Forte?
Lil and Shazia have been working on this project for more than a year. It started with a discussion on how we can bring compassion into our family systems. Something that would feel more like a gentle breeze and opens our minds for higher perception.
We had our first pilot session within the RH community .The second one with community leaders who brought in their expertise in various professional backgrounds.
Check out some of our reviews:
The comparison of human family systems to the redwood forest is excellent, nature has so much to teach us’
Sherry
spiritual director
retired RN, retired minister
This knowledge is so valued and has been missing from my experience as a young parent. This concept is so wonderful, so needed in our world and community!
Kasey
executive director nonprofit for moms
Well thought out and very thought provoking.
Gavin
ministry leader, youth impact leader
spiritual director
Very excited about possibilities in my family. This is so appropriate for family discussion, regardless of religious tradition.
Arva
a devoted grandmother
I think this is very helpful for our country not just families in this time of polarization and loss of compassion era.
Robin
hospice chaplain
writer
Wonderful thought provoking content, it inspires a necessary conversation for families.
Sheeza
executive coach, trainer, counselor
This will be very helpful for the people I work with who are out of crisis and need of building back their family systems.
Mona
nonprofit CEO, works with trauma- culture-women
In addition to our group sessions at RH, private family sessions (adults and their children) are available by contacting Shazia directly at Shazia@retreathousecommunity.org
Reach out to Shazia for available days and times.
Private Individual 75 minute session: $65 base fee plus a $10 materials fee per person.
What is Spiritual Direction?
An entry point for curious people - Join trained spiritual director and Retreat House Covenant Partner, Kim Verriere, for a presentation and discussion, addressing the history of spiritual direction, how to find a spiritual director, when & why people seek spiritual direction, what to expect, shared resources and your questions and answers.
Supervision Retreat
Rooted & Resourced:
A Supervision Retreat for Spiritual Directors and Compassionate Listeners
Nature-based supervision and contemplative time with local directors
to renew your presence and practice
Facilitated by Diane Bricker and Lil Smith
Friday, August 21, 2026
10 am to 3 pm
Lunch provided
$75 per director ($40 for RH Covenant Partners)
Bring your focus question, and linger with the gifts it has for you to discover. Consultation questions will be discussed during the lunch hour.
Group and individual opportunities available for exploration.
Limited to 6
Facilitators:
Diane Bricker, Perkins CSD, Advanced Certificate in Supervision (ACS) program within Fordham University's Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education (GRE)
Rev. Dr. Lil Smith, SFTS DASD, Certificate in Supervision with Together in the Mystery (TIM)
Sound & Color
Led by artist and Visual Energy Curator Krista Miller, this gentle evening is designed for anyone longing to reconnect with themselves, the sacred, and the rhythms of the natural world. No artistic experience is necessary - only a willingness to be present and curious. Together we'll explore how creativity can become a spiritual practice, helping us mark transitions with intention and openness.
The Sacred Feminine In Everyday Life
Many people today sense that the world is asking something different of us. Beyond achievement, certainty, and constant striving, there is a growing longing for a way of living that is more grounded, connected, compassionate, and life-giving.
Emerge: The First Conversation
Whether you're newly trained, just beginning your practice, recently relocated to North Texas, or simply looking for a community of fellow practitioners, you're warmly invited to join us for the first EMERGE gathering.
Vedic Fire Ceremony
The Vedic fire ceremony is an instrument that harnesses the purification quality of fire.
This ancient ritual is performed at precise times depending on celestial events. Daily sunrises and sunsets, monthly lunation cycles or major planetary transits are used as guides for timing. In daily life they are used in celebration or as an auspicious offering to bring about peaceful change and abundance.
A “kunda,” a square pit that faces all four directions, is used to contain the fire where gifts of grains, ghee, herbs and seeds are offered and specific mantras are repeated.
This sacred fire coupled with prayerful intention removes fear, spreads joy, purifies the environment and creates conditions for peace and prosperity.
Join Retreat House Covenant Partner, Lavanga Schlette from 4-6 p.m. Registration includes Fire Ceremony and Dinner.
New Year’s Special Vedic Fire Ceremony
The Vedic fire ceremony is an instrument that harnesses the purification quality of fire.
This ancient ritual is performed at precise times depending on celestial events. Daily sunrises and sunsets, monthly lunation cycles or major planetary transits are used as guides for timing. In daily life they are used in celebration or as an auspicious offering to bring about peaceful change and abundance.
A “kunda,” a square pit that faces all four directions, is used to contain the fire where gifts of grains, ghee, herbs and seeds are offered and specific mantras are repeated.
This sacred fire coupled with prayerful intention removes fear, spreads joy, purifies the environment and creates conditions for peace and prosperity.
Join Retreat House Covenant Partner, Lavanga Schlette from 4-6 p.m. Registration includes Fire Ceremony and Dinner.
Spiritual Work of Getting Curious about Emotional Reactions
When Emotions Speak: Using Emotional Reactions as a Pathway to Spiritual Growth
Have you ever found yourself wondering why you reacted so strongly to something that happened?
Perhaps a conversation left you feeling unexpectedly hurt. A disagreement triggered defensiveness. A situation stirred anxiety, frustration, shame, or anger that seemed larger than the moment itself.
Many of us have been taught to view these reactions as problems to overcome or signs that we are somehow falling short spiritually. Yet our emotional reactions often reveal something important about what we believe, how we see ourselves, and the stories we carry about God, others, and our own worth.
In this engaging and practical workshop, author and spiritual companion Catherine Weiskopf will guide participants in exploring emotional reactions as opportunities for deeper spiritual awareness and transformation.
Together, we will learn how to:
Discern whether a reaction is connected primarily to a present situation or to deeper underlying beliefs
Understand the relationship between beliefs, emotions, and behavior
Identify the hidden assumptions and stories that shape our reactions
Recognize false or limiting beliefs that keep us stuck
Practice bringing those beliefs into the light of God's truth, grace, and healing presence
Use emotional reactions as invitations into spiritual growth rather than sources of shame or guilt
Rather than seeing emotional reactions as something to suppress, this workshop invites participants to approach them with curiosity, compassion, and faith. By learning to listen more deeply to what our emotions are communicating, we can discover new pathways toward freedom, healing, and connection with God, ourselves, and others.
Facilitator
Catherine Weiskopf is an author and spiritual companion who helps individuals explore the intersection of emotional awareness, spiritual growth, and personal transformation.
Note: Register below and attend either gathering.
WEDNESDAY MORNING GATHERING WILL BE ON ZOOM ONLY. Register to receive the link.
SATURDAY’S PROGRAM WILL BE ONLINE OR IN-PERSON.
Writer's Gathering online
We all have a story to share. As writers of stories, it is good to join with others to share our journeys, thoughts, ideas, struggles, and “aha"s. Writers often compose in solitude but get energy, inspiration, and insight when we meet in community with other writers. In this online gathering we discuss what we are writing, why we are writing, where our hopes and struggles are, and who we are when we write. No experience is necessary to join in the fun. Writers’ Gathering is for all writers in all genres - beginner, novice, experienced.
This gathering is a sacred space of giving and receiving. Facilitated by Gretchen Martens
Have you considered sharing your writing more widely? This fall you have a special opportunity to submit your poetry, prose or any style of writing for our upcoming book entitled, House of Creativity. For more information, contact Gretchen.
Finding the Divine in Nature: Contemplative Prayer in Celtic Tradition
Were you with us during Wild Week, when we explored Finding the Divine in Nature? Do you feel moved by the power of nature and the writings of people like Ray Simpson and John O’Donohue? Are you curious about contemplative prayer and Celtic traditions?
Please join Sharon Hudak, spiritual director, for contemplative prayer in the tradition of Celtic spirituality, drawing on the writings of Ray Simpson, John O’Donahue, and others on the second Wednesdays of every month at 11:45 in St. John’s room, starting June 10.
Please reserve your space and stay for our Souper Lunch afterward.
Were you with us during Wild Week, when we explored Finding the Divine in Nature? Do you feel moved by the power of nature and the writings of people like Ray Simpson and John O’Donohue? Are you curious about contemplative prayer and Celtic traditions?
Please join Sharon Hudak, spiritual director, for contemplative prayer in the tradition of Celtic spirituality, drawing on the writings of Ray Simpson, John O’Donahue, and others on the second Wednesdays of every month at 11:45 in St. John’s room, starting June 10.
Please reserve your space and stay for our Souper Lunch afterward.
Music & Meditation with Judy
Start your month with a meditative music practice on the First Wednesdays at Noon. Judith Ritchie-Annis, certified music practitioner, brings us an array of musical instruments that we use with accompanying poetry, texts or themes each month. Then, join us for lunch at Souper Soul Wednesdays at 12:30
Spiritual Work of Getting Curious about Emotional Reactions (WED. is ONLINE ONLY)
When Emotions Speak: Using Emotional Reactions as a Pathway to Spiritual Growth
Have you ever found yourself wondering why you reacted so strongly to something that happened?
Perhaps a conversation left you feeling unexpectedly hurt. A disagreement triggered defensiveness. A situation stirred anxiety, frustration, shame, or anger that seemed larger than the moment itself.
Many of us have been taught to view these reactions as problems to overcome or signs that we are somehow falling short spiritually. Yet our emotional reactions often reveal something important about what we believe, how we see ourselves, and the stories we carry about God, others, and our own worth.
In this engaging and practical workshop, author and spiritual companion Catherine Weiskopf will guide participants in exploring emotional reactions as opportunities for deeper spiritual awareness and transformation.
Together, we will learn how to:
Discern whether a reaction is connected primarily to a present situation or to deeper underlying beliefs
Understand the relationship between beliefs, emotions, and behavior
Identify the hidden assumptions and stories that shape our reactions
Recognize false or limiting beliefs that keep us stuck
Practice bringing those beliefs into the light of God's truth, grace, and healing presence
Use emotional reactions as invitations into spiritual growth rather than sources of shame or guilt
Rather than seeing emotional reactions as something to suppress, this workshop invites participants to approach them with curiosity, compassion, and faith. By learning to listen more deeply to what our emotions are communicating, we can discover new pathways toward freedom, healing, and connection with God, ourselves, and others.
Facilitator
Catherine Weiskopf is an author and spiritual companion who helps individuals explore the intersection of emotional awareness, spiritual growth, and personal transformation.
Note: Register below and attend either gathering.
WEDNESDAY MORNING GATHERING WILL BE ON ZOOM ONLY. Register to receive the link.
SATURDAY’S PROGRAM WILL BE ONLINE OR IN-PERSON.
Kirtan Meditation and Dinner
The central component of Bhakti, the yoga of devotion, kirtan (keer-tahn) is a heart-centered mantra meditation practice where we experience the Divine via sacred sound. Through simple call-and-response chanting, live music, and community connection, kirtan creates space for inner stillness, reflection, and spiritual connection.
After the meditation, we will have a short discussion on the practice followed by a vegan/gluten free dinner.
Bring an open heart so we can fill it up — no musical experience needed, come as you are.
Together at the Table
Are you looking for . . . .
a caring, inclusive community committed to a world that works for everyone?
a place you feel welcomed and safe to share your story?
a reminder that peace of mind is possible, even in our complicated world?
Join us for Together at the Table, a gathering to build community and provide support for
diverse, open-minded people in troubled times. We’ll meet, greet, and share food. Then we’ll have a group conversation based on ideas submitted by those who attend.
Bring a small plate (finger food, tapas) to share if you are able; and know you are welcome
whether or not you bring food! Coffee, tea, and water provided.
Questions? Want to volunteer to help out? Contact Gretchen Martens
Saturday (usually 4th Saturday) at Retreat House from 4 to 6 pm
2026 Dates: May 30, June 27, July 25, August 29, September 26, October 24, November 21, December 19.
Vedic Fire Ceremony: Commemorating Summer Solstice
The Vedic fire ceremony is an instrument that harnesses the purification quality of fire.
This ancient ritual is performed at precise times depending on celestial events. Daily sunrises and sunsets, monthly lunation cycles or major planetary transits are used as guides for timing. In daily life they are used in celebration or as an auspicious offering to bring about peaceful change and abundance.
A “kunda,” a square pit that faces all four directions, is used to contain the fire where gifts of grains, ghee, herbs and seeds are offered and specific mantras are repeated.
This sacred fire coupled with prayerful intention removes fear, spreads joy, purifies the environment and creates conditions for peace and prosperity.
Join Retreat House Covenant Partner, Lavanga Schlette from 4-6 p.m. Registration includes Fire Ceremony and Dinner.
Gratefulness Gatherings
Join others as we explore the transformative possibilities of grateful living, and discover greater meaning, purpose, and joy in our lives. Grateful Gatherings will take place every month at Retreat House. We will gather every third Tuesday from 10:30 to noon.
Informed by spiritual wisdom, scholarship, and scientific research, the Gatherings provide community connection, invigorating reflection and conversation, and practical tools for living a meaningful and flourishing life.
Living gratefully helps you navigate the joys and difficulties that accompany life. This is not an exercise in avoiding the hard stuff you experience by pretending things are okay when they are not. Instead, living gratefully is being fully present to your life so that your perspective can be expanded, your compassion enhanced, and your purpose discovered in this moment. This is what makes every day more meaningful.
The Gatherings will be hosted by Richard Mickelson, a trained facilitator. We will utilize robust materials provided by the Grateful Living organization (grateful.org). The gathering is open to anyone seeking inspiration, resources, and fellowship for living life with purpose and joy.
The Grateful Living organization supports daily life during challenging and joyful times with programs, resources, and skills for being more fully alive. They have a revolutionary spirit like their founder, the internationally beloved “Grandfather of Gratitude,” Br. David Steindl-Rast. They are a global nonprofit organization that empowers people to live meaningful lives through the transformative practice of grateful living.
Contact Richard at 123ramick@gmail.com; or contact inquiry@retreathousecommunity.org
Consider making a donation to Retreat House to help us tend spaces for little to no cost.
Interspiritual Meditation
Jackie Linden Schade, pastor, spiritual director and trained ISM facilitator joins Fran Shelton, author, pastor and spiritual director, as they bring InterSpiritual Meditation back to Retreat House this fall. ISM brings ancient teachings to modern day, allowing individuals space for personal practice.
We will gather in person at Retreat House, 2nd Sunday of each month, 5-7 p.m.
Open to all. Questions or RSVP here.
House of Becoming - Book Release & Celebration
Book Release and Celebration: House of Becoming and Meet and Greet with Aaron Manes
Join us as we celebrate the release of the newest Retreat House book, House of Becoming and the New RH Executive Director: Aaron Manes
Friday, June 12, 2026
4 to 6 pm
Author readings begin at 4:30 pm
Meet and greet with Aaron Manes, newly established Executive Director for Retreat House.
Filled with prose and poetry, heartfelt writings by members of our RH community, you won’t want to miss reading - and gifting - this book. Our in-house editor extraordinaire, Gretchen Martens, will be with us as we eat, drink and read together.
Writer's Gathering online
We all have a story to share. As writers of stories, it is good to join with others to share our journeys, thoughts, ideas, struggles, and “aha"s. Writers often compose in solitude but get energy, inspiration, and insight when we meet in community with other writers. In this online gathering we discuss what we are writing, why we are writing, where our hopes and struggles are, and who we are when we write. No experience is necessary to join in the fun. Writers’ Gathering is for all writers in all genres - beginner, novice, experienced.
This gathering is a sacred space of giving and receiving. Facilitated by Gretchen Martens
Have you considered sharing your writing more widely? This fall you have a special opportunity to submit your poetry, prose or any style of writing for our upcoming book entitled, House of Creativity. For more information, contact Gretchen.
Finding the Divine in Nature: Contemplative Prayer in Celtic Tradition
Were you with us during Wild Week, when we explored Finding the Divine in Nature? Do you feel moved by the power of nature and the writings of people like Ray Simpson and John O’Donohue? Are you curious about contemplative prayer and Celtic traditions?
Please join Sharon Hudak, spiritual director, for contemplative prayer in the tradition of Celtic spirituality, drawing on the writings of Ray Simpson, John O’Donahue, and others on the second Wednesdays of every month at 11:45 in St. John’s room, starting June 10.
Please reserve your space and stay for our Souper Lunch afterward.
Were you with us during Wild Week, when we explored Finding the Divine in Nature? Do you feel moved by the power of nature and the writings of people like Ray Simpson and John O’Donohue? Are you curious about contemplative prayer and Celtic traditions?
Please join Sharon Hudak, spiritual director, for contemplative prayer in the tradition of Celtic spirituality, drawing on the writings of Ray Simpson, John O’Donahue, and others on the second Wednesdays of every month at 11:45 in St. John’s room, starting June 10.
Please reserve your space and stay for our Souper Lunch afterward.
Music & Meditation with Judy
Start your month with a meditative music practice on the First Wednesdays at Noon. Judith Ritchie-Annis, certified music practitioner, brings us an array of musical instruments that we use with accompanying poetry, texts or themes each month. Then, join us for lunch at Souper Soul Wednesdays at 12:30
Together at the Table
Are you looking for . . . .
a caring, inclusive community committed to a world that works for everyone?
a place you feel welcomed and safe to share your story?
a reminder that peace of mind is possible, even in our complicated world?
Join us for Together at the Table, a gathering to build community and provide support for
diverse, open-minded people in troubled times. We’ll meet, greet, and share food. Then we’ll have a group conversation based on ideas submitted by those who attend.
Bring a small plate (finger food, tapas) to share if you are able; and know you are welcome
whether or not you bring food! Coffee, tea, and water provided.
Questions? Want to volunteer to help out? Contact Gretchen Martens
Saturday (usually 4th Saturday) at Retreat House from 4 to 6 pm
2026 Dates: May 30, June 27, July 25, August 29, September 26, October 24, November 21, December 19.
