A Welcoming Future –

The Nitty-Gritty

Margaret Cooley — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 19:06:56 +0000

So we’re building a building! What’s it gonna LOOK like?!?

Here’s a link for the architectural renderings and floor plans. (There will still be a few tweaks here and there, but this gives a pretty good sense of things.)

And here’s a glimpse at the current facade from north, southeast and southwest. (Roofing and windows scheduled to be installed next week!)

A Leap of Faithfulness

Margaret Cooley — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 18:08:10 +0000

Below is part of a recent message from one of our Board members, which we thought to share with the wider community:

In Woolman Hill’s November Board meeting, there was worship sharing following our decision on budget and moving forward with next steps. The discernment was described as a “leap of faith,” and one Board member was uncomfortable with that characterization. What rose after that, and was voiced into the sharing, was that this was a “leap of faithfulness” on the part of the Board.

Another way to carry this – we’ve been hewing close to our Guide. The ideas about improving our accommodations have been in the air for well over a decade, and now they are coming to first fruits in this project. They are grounded in a strategic plan that is ‘holding’ and nourishing our movements as a Board, keeping our gaze steadily on the sustainability and accessibility goals of the plan. And they have been supported in unexpected and totally miraculous turns of events. Even a pandemic has been, in the frame of our discernment, a gift of grace, and a deeply enriching time.

In discussions with f/Friends who have been past Board members on the Hill, they are struck with the evolution of this body – one Friend called it a ‘maturing’ that has impressed her and re-energized her interest in the Hill. This evolution has, in many ways, led us into the work that is happening on the Hill right now.

All of this points, for me, to faithful transformation of our body, and commitment of that body to a vision that is so important for our times – especially after the political turmoil of recent past that is rooted in over 20 years of an emerging, uncharitable stridency in public discussion:

Our vision is to provide a welcoming sanctuary where people come to be restored and inspired,
and leave with the strength to act out of love, sowing seeds of peace that lead to a world transformed.

I believe the Hill is a ground for nurturing emerging, prophetic voices among us that will bring about a world transformed.

That may be a lot to lay on the ridgepole of a modest building project. But, for me, this is the most important project that I have been associated with. Framing the effort (no pun intended) as “transformational” is grounded in the leading we’ve all been living under.

Growing into the future

Margaret Cooley — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 05:04:54 +0000

Woolman Hill Retreat Center is experienced by Friends and many others as a spiritual sanctuary. It is often described as a grounding place—an island of calm in the midst of turbulent seas. From this seedbed many people have discovered and nurtured calls to ministry and long-lasting spiritual friendships.

At the heart of Woolman Hill’s mission is our in-person programming and events. Woolman Hill’s physical facilities—the buildings, land, and their accessibility—are the indispensable component that makes that possible. During the pandemic, we have grown increasingly aware of and committed to the unique essence of Woolman Hill as an in-person gathering space, and the critical role the physical setting plays in the spiritual experiences of our guests. The land itself is an active participant in the events that occur on-site. We have repeatedly received feedback about the cozy non-institutional character of our facility contributing in positive ways to the dynamic of a gathering.

As part of a deeply discerned multi-year strategic plan, Woolman Hill is in the process of renovating the main building. While the 1800s farmhouse that serves as our main conference center is central to Woolman Hill’s charm, it also inhibits the use of Woolman Hill by many individuals and groups. The building has aspects that make navigating it with limited mobility next to impossible. Groups also struggle with too few bathrooms, limited privacy and insufficient break-out spaces.

While maintaining the facility’s beloved personality and features, we are completely redesigning the main entrance and foyer, as well as adding a two-story addition. The renovations include fully accessible ground floor accommodations, bathrooms, and sitting nooks, as well as increased privacy in bathrooms and bedrooms.

We are so excited to welcome you back in person to our new and improved space soon!