Arrive and settle in with check-in at Riverside Retreat Center where you'll receive a welcome packet and tour of the meeting spaces; follow this with a relaxed continental breakfast in the Sunroom Dining Hall to meet fellow attendees. After breakfast, gather for light icebreakers and orientation on the Meadow Lawn, including a short guided devotion led by retreat staff and a gentle nature walk to the nearby French Broad River overlook to set a peaceful, reflective tone for the weekend.
After a leisurely lunch, gather for a guided creative worship session in the cozy chapel of Laurel House, where a local worship leader will lead hymns and a short testimony time to deepen connections. Later, enjoy a gentle craft-and-conversation hour on the Maple Veranda-think devotional journaling with provided art supplies-followed by a sunset prayer circle at the scenic Ridgeview Gazebo to transition into the evening with a shared blessing.
As dusk settles, gather for a cozy fellowship supper in the rustic dining room of Chestnut Hall, followed by an informal testimony circle around the indoor stone fireplace in Hearthside Commons where women can share highlights from the day and pray for one another. Finish the evening with a guided candlelit compline service in the intimate chapel of Willowcroft, then enjoy quiet free time on the sheltered Birch Porch for one-on-one conversations or personal journaling before lights-out.
Begin the morning with an uplifting sunrise worship and prayer at Chestnut Courtyard, followed by a guided Scripture meditation led by the retreat chaplain in the intimate Cedar Chapel to build on last night's devotional tone. After worship, choose between hands-on spiritual growth workshops in the bright Willow Studio-options include contemplative prayer practices and faith-based creative journaling-or a breakout session on community service planning in the Hearthside Meeting Room, finishing with a short quiet reflection walk to the nearby Garden of Benedictions to internalize insights before lunch.
After lunch, head to Laurel Reflection Garden for a guided lectio divina walk that blends scripture with quiet nature prompts, then continue with a hands-on faith-and-fiber workshop in Sunbeam Craft Room where attendees will knit prayer squares to donate to local shelters. Finish the afternoon with a short, intentional service project at NeighborCare Pantry-a gentle way to put morning lessons into compassionate practice and deepen fellowship before evening worship.
Wind down the day with a reflective vespers service at Starlight Prayer Hall, where a guest speaker leads a short devotion and shared song, then move to Riverbend Community Room for a warm, family-style supper and small-group table prayers to process the day's lessons. After dinner, gather for a gentle guided gratitude labyrinth walk across the grounds of Oak Sanctuary Commons, finishing with quiet one-on-one prayer stations under the string-lit arbor to deepen bonds formed earlier in the retreat.
Start the morning with a purposeful service project at Hearthside Community Garden, where small teams will harvest produce and pack care baskets for a nearby women's shelter while sharing short group prayers. Afterward, gather for intimate small-group discussions and guided reflection in the cozy Juniper Parlor, using prompted devotionals and gentle contemplative exercises to weave the weekend's lessons into personal action before a silent mid-morning tea on the Cove Terrace to settle and pray together.
After a shared lunch, head to Blue Ridge Outreach Center for a gentle community visit where teams will assemble care kits and share short prayers with staff, putting morning service into compassionate practice. Later, retreat to Hemlock Prayer Grove for small-group guided processing using prompted discussion cards, followed by a quiet solo reflection walk along the wooded Fern Hollow Trail to journal and listen for next steps before gathering again for evening fellowship.
Gather for a warm community supper at Harvest Hall featuring locally sourced comfort dishes, followed by a themed testimony circle in the candlelit Moonlit Atrium where women can share how today's service work shaped their faith. Close the evening with a guided compline and communal prayer in the peaceful Stone Lantern Garden, then enjoy optional quiet conversation on the sheltered benches of Pinewood Veranda for gentle fellowship before retiring.
Ease into your final morning with a gratitude-focused devotional and coffee fellowship on the sunny terrace of Biltmore Village Community Green, followed by a short guided blessing walk through the historic Pack Square Park where attendees exchange prayer cards and blessings. Before departures, enjoy a leisurely farewell brunch at Wythe & Co. Eatery with a brief group commissioning prayer and time to swap contact info and plan post-retreat accountability pairs.
After brunch, take a gentle scenic drive to Blue Ridge Parkway Overlook (Craggy Gardens area) for a group photo and a short guided prayer walk amid winter mountain views, then return to town for a relaxed artisan visit to South Slope Chapel Collective where local Christian artists lead a pop-up talk and hands-on prayer-card stamping activity. Finish the afternoon with a reflective tea and fellowship at Asheville Prayer Garden Conservatory, where women can exchange contact info, pray together beneath the conservatory glass, and collect take-home devotional booklets before departures.
End the retreat with a relaxed farewell dinner at The Market Veranda featuring communal platters and a short commissioning prayer circle where guests can share one takeaway and a blessing. After dinner, take a gentle twilight stroll to Riverside Reflection Walk for a final guided candlelit compline and quiet one-on-one prayer stations, then gather under the lanterns at Countryside Terrace for a last round of contact-sharing and blessing exchanges before departures.