Name: The Art of Sacred Words: Writing as a Spiritual Practice (in-person)
Start: 2025-11-21T18:00:00-06:00
End: 2025-11-22T15:30:00-06:00
Location: 920 Market St, La Crosse, WI, United States, Wisconsin 54601

The Art of Sacred Words: Writing as a Spiritual Practice (in-person)

Meets Friday, 6-9 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Spiritual writing is writing that opens up possibilities, asks probing questions and challenges easy assumptions. It can take many forms, but it always honors process over product and probes the deep places in our lives – places ripe for exploration, confrontation, healing, celebration and lament. We will consider what it means to write as a practice of the soul. We’ll read and discuss masterful examples of spiritual writing and do a LOT of writing ourselves, guided by a variety of free-writing exercises and prompts. We will practice shaping our experiences of the numinous, the painful, the mysterious and the transcendent into writing that draws us closer to what is real, true and sacred.
At the conclusion of our time together, participants who wish to share a brief piece of their writing will be welcome to do so during an “open mic” reading.
This retreat is open to anyone interested in exploring spiritual writing. If you are brand new to the practice, the retreat will offer you gentle, accessible ways to begin. If you already have an established writing routine, you’ll have opportunities to deepen your practice and benefit from the company of fellow writers.
Presenter: Debie Thomas
Investment:
OVERNIGHT: $190, includes private room and lunch on Saturday
COMMUTER: $110, includes lunch on Saturday
www.FSCenter.org | 608-791-5295
Direct link to registration: https://fsc.retreatportal.com/calendar/event?programcode=25SON09505
ABOUT THE PRESENTER:
Debie Thomas is a sought-after speaker on Scripture, faith, writing and spiritual practice. She holds a master's degree in English literature from Brown University and an MFA in creative writing from The Ohio State University. A columnist and contributing editor for The Christian Century, Debie is also the author of “Into the Mess and Other Jesus Stories” and “A Faith of Many Rooms: Inhabiting a More Spacious Christianity.” She is a seminarian at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific and lives in northern California.