What is Spiritual Direction?  What is a Labyrinth?  What is our Spiritual Orientation?  

What is Spiritual Direction?

Spiritual Direction is a time to explore one's yearnings, questions and life experiences with another person whose role it is to pray, listen and help discern the movements of God's Spirit in it all.  It is not counseling or therapy, but a time to expand one's awareness of God's presence in all of life, both in times of struggle and times of serenity.  If you desire, spiritual direction is available while you are on retreat as well as monthly sessions with Director Florence Schloneger. 

What is a Labyrinth?

A labyrinth is a circular path which winds around to the center.  It is not a maze because there are no wrong choices--if you stay on the path you will end up at the center.  The path allows you to slow down and walk in a comtemplative way that leads to creative reflection and prayer.  It has been used by Christians as a spiritual tool since medieval times.  The retreat library has several resources that describe how the labyrinth is a pilgrim experience that connects us to our spirit and imagination.  (see picture below)

Bottle Creek Retreat is a Christian Retreat with an ecumenical flavor.  Rev. Florence Schloneger, Director, is a retired Mennonite pastor after 22 years of ministry in three churches.  She has an MTS degree from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio; 5 units of Clinical Pastoral Education from Upper Valley Medical Center in Troy, Ohio; and a certificate in Spiritual Direction from Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary.  In the summer of 2006 she spent a month at a Benedictine Monastery in Mt. Angel, Oregon, and is a member of Bridgefolk, an  organization of sacramentally-minded Mennonites and peace-minded Roman Catholics who come together to celebrate each other's traditions.  Her passion is being on the spiritual journey with others to find those spacious places where God leads and invites us to abide.