SPIRIT CENTER READY FOR 2006 NEWLY RENOVATED AND REOPENED FOR HOLY BUSINESS.Byline: Holly J. Andres Staff Writer ENCINO - Advent hymns, a labyrinth labyrinth (lăb`ərĭnth), intricate building of chambers and passages, often constructed so as to perplex and confuse a person inside. walk and New Year's Eve camaraderie will play a part at three end-of-the-year meditative med·i·ta·tive adj. Characterized by or prone to meditation. See Synonyms at pensive. med  i·ta activities at the newly renovated Holy Spirit Retreat Center. The Sisters of Social Service, a Roman Catholic order dedicated to improving the lives of people in need, is again offering programs for spiritual rejuvenation Rejuvenation Aeson in extreme old age, restored to youth by Medea. [Rom. Myth.: LLEI, I: 322] apples of perpetual youth by tasting the golden apples kept by Idhunn, the gods preserved their youth. [Scand. Myth. on the grounds they've owned for more than 50 years. ``The nice traditions we have, it's great to start them up again,'' said Sister Rochelle Mitchell, the executive director of Holy Spirit Retreat Center, which recently completed a nearly two-year landscaping and renovation project. ``I hope they (the participants) will capture the sense that there's a time to be quiet and not be frenetic fre·net·ic or phre·net·ic also fre·net·i·cal or phre·net·i·cal adj. Wildly excited or active; frantic; frenzied. [Middle English frenetik, from Old French frenetique . I hope that they enjoy the collection of people who come and they get a sense of prayerfulness. ``We want people to come here to experience God, experience hospitality and go out to pursue peace.'' The first opportunity for prayerfulness is Sunday, when an Advent Vespers vespers (vĕs`pərz) [Lat.,=evening], in the Christian Church, principal evening office. In the Roman rite, vespers have consisted since the 6th cent. of a few prayers, five psalms, a lesson, the Magnificat, and an antiphon. service will begin at 7 p.m. Mitchell created the format for this more festive than usual Vespers, an evening prayer service that the retreat center has offered about four times. ``This is community prayer with a structured form, which is nice,'' Sister Mitchell said. ``I think evening prayer is beautiful anytime but more so at Advent. We will have music, recitations of Psalms, sacred prayer and Advent hymns.'' The center will uphold its tradition of celebrating the changing of seasons with a silent labyrinth walk at 7 p.m. Wednesday, the day of the winter solstice winter solstice n. In the Northern Hemisphere, the solstice that occurs on or about December 22. winter solstice Noun . Participants will walk along a winding pathway to the rose-petal center and back again. ``The labyrinth is a wonderful meditation tool. It's a way of making a pilgrimage,'' said Sister Chris Machado, who is marking her 20th year in the order. ``People walk it for healing, to get rid of stress and for the answer to a question. ``People have told me how peaceful they've felt after walking it. Some find new insights about themselves and God. I love it because it's hard for me to meditate med·i·tate v. med·i·tat·ed, med·i·tat·ing, med·i·tates v.tr. 1. To reflect on; contemplate. 2. To plan in the mind; intend: meditated a visit to her daughter. and sit still. Walking it is like a prayer.'' To mark the new year, the retreat center will hold a three-day retreat led by Sister Machado and Michael O'Palko. The ``Honey from the Rock'' themed retreat will include prayer, a film screening and discussion tied to the theme, a labyrinth walk and, of course, a party to welcome 2006. ``The retreat is a way of bringing in the new year in a more meaningful and reflecting way,'' Sister Machado said. ``It's a time to reflect on your life, where you've been and what are you hoping for.'' Advent Vespers service, 7 p.m. Sunday. Winter solstice labyrinth walk, 7 p.m. Wednesday. ``Honey from the Rock'' retreat, 1 p.m. Dec. 30-11 a.m. Jan. 1. Fee $200 for private room, $175 shared. Reservations and a $30 deposit due by Monday. Holy Spirit Retreat Center, 4316 Lanai Lanai (lənī`), island, 141 sq mi (365 sq km), central Hawaii, W of Maui island across the Auau Channel; Mt. Lanaihale (3,370 ft/1,027 m) is the island's highest point. For many years the island was used for sugarcane raising and cattle grazing. Road, Encino. Call (818) 784-4515. See www.hsrcenter.com. Holly Andres, (818) 713-3708 holly.andres(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Sister Chris Machado, in her 20th year with the Sisters of Social Service, lights candles on the Advent wreath An advent wreath is a ring or set of four candles, usually made with evergreen cuttings and used for household devotion by some Christians during the season of Advent. Many churches illuminate these candles in succession through the four weeks leading up to Christmas as part of at the Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Encino. Tina Burch/Staff Photographer |
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