FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the retreat center and how do I get there?

St. Andrew’s House is an Episcopal Retreat Center in Union, WA on the Hood Canal.   It is an hour and 45 minutes from downtown Seattle, one and a half hours from the SeaTac airport, and 40 minutes from Olympia.  If you are flying in, please allow two hours in each direction to get to and from the retreat center.  We will connect you with others who are flying in to share an airport shuttle (approx cost is $40 each way – based on total number of riders). The shuttle is far less expensive with several riding together so we schedule it to depart the airport at about 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 7 – please schedule your flight so that you can arrive in time and pick up any luggage before the shuttle leaves.  On Friday, November 12th the shuttle will leave the retreat center at 1:00 and arrive at the airport by 3:00 p.m.

The setting is definitely worth the trip!  The retreat center has views of the Hood Canal – a channel of water between the Kitsap and Olympic peninsulas – and the Olympic Mountains.  It is a beautiful setting to refresh the spirit.  You can find directions here.

What are the accommodations and meals like?

The Retreat Center is a lodge-style building with several comfortable bedrooms upstairs with shared bathrooms.  Sheets, blankets, and towels are provided.  On the main floor are two handicapped-accessible bedrooms with private bathrooms, these rooms are assigned in advance to those who request them for medical reasons.

Our gatherings are held in the large living room or in the chapel overlooking the Hood Canal.  Meals are served buffet style in the dining area and we can often accommodate food allergies upon prior request.  We have the whole building to ourselves which creates an intimate and quiet atmosphere.

The property is adjacent to Harmony Hill, a retreat center providing free programs for people living with cancer and their loved ones.  Harmony Hill has a lovely outdoor labyrinth available for our use and we can also access their property during free time for walks.

What is the schedule like?

Our time together is fairly intensive as we cover a lot of material in five days but we do try to honor your need for some quiet integration time.  Generally our day begins at 8:00 a.m. for breakfast, morning session from 9-noon, lunch and an afternoon break from 12-3, afternoon session from 3-5, evening break and dinner from 5-7, and evening session from 7-9.  We encourage you to listen to the needs of your own body and spirit.

When are the arrival and departure times?

Our program begins with check-in between 4:00-6:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 7, 2010 followed by dinner at 6:00 and our opening session from 7:00-9:00 p.m.

We end on Friday, November 12, 2010 with lunch which is served at noon.  We need to check out by 1:00 p.m.

See above for information on scheduling flights in conjunction with the airport shuttle.

If I’m not an artist can I still participate?

We believe that everyone is an artist!  Our approach is through the philosophy of the expressive arts, which focuses on the process of the creative experience rather than on creating a beautiful product (although inevitably an authentic expression of the soul is indeed beautiful!) and engages the arts in the service of healing.  We have had participants join us with a variety of previous art experience, and some of our “least experienced” participants have been the ones who have most wholeheartedly brought the full spectrum of the arts back to their ministry contexts.

If I’m not a spiritual director can I still participate?

We have had participants from a wide range of soul care ministries join us – spiritual directors, chaplains, retreat facilitators, counselors, therapists, pastors, and educators, as well as some who were just beginning to discover the direction in which they were being called to share their gifts.

When we have our initial phone call together we will discuss if this program would be a good fit for you.

Is this a denominationally-based program?

While Betsey and Christine are both rooted in the Catholic tradition, the program is designed to be inter-spritual and inclusive of persons of any faith background.  In our teaching, we draw on sacred stories from Christian and Jewish scriptures as well as the poetry of Sufi mystics and our week is structured around the four elements.  Our work together is in service to the ministry of companioning others on their spiritual journeys, wherever that may take them.  The arts offer tools and practices for being present to the ways that call unfolds.