The Spiritual Life Committee for the Episcopal Diocese of Easton has planned a day retreat at Christ Church in Easton on Saturday, October 25th from 10 am to 4 pm. The retreat will address the theme of hope as a way to calm us down and help us get beneath the surface to the real issues that prevent us from living reconciled lives.

Well-known throughout the Episcopal Church as a preacher and writer, Martin Smith is Senior Associate Rector for St. Columba’s Episcopal Church in Washington DC. His most popular books are The Word is Very Near You, A Season for the Spirit and Reconciliation. His most recent book, Compass and Stars, published in the spring of 2007, is a collection of his columns from “Bearings”, the monthly newspaper for the Diocese of Washington DC. Fr. Smith has traveled extensively in the United States and Canada over the last 25 years: preaching; leading retreats, parish and diocesan renewal events; and giving lectures and seminars. He was also chaplain to the House of Bishops for several years.

Fr. Martin trained as a theologian at Oxford, and he was ordained in 1970. After several years in parish ministry he joined the Society of St. John the Evangelist, the Anglican Communion’s oldest religious order for men. He moved to the USA in 1979. After many years in leadership in the order, he relinquished his membership and moved to Washington in 2002.

The $20 cost includes a catered lunch. The retreat will feature time for meditation and time to walk the labyrinth. Free babysitting will be available but must be reserved in advance. Reservation forms can be printed from the diocesan website at www.dioceseofeaston.org. For more information contact Ellen Smith at esmith@easton.net or George Kettell at 410-820-8504 or gkettell@bluecrab.org.