Still Waters

Still Waters
Buchanan, Michigan

Still Waters is a retreat house that values the timeless need for silence, solitude, and spiritual companionship in order to better hear God’s voice and, therefore, be transformed by Him. We offer space to enjoy these gifts for a few hours or a few days.

Maybe you are looking for a silent retreat in a beautiful and secluded place. Or perhaps you seek to be spiritually formed in a group setting. One-on-one spiritual companionship might be what you need most.

If you are being called to “steal away,” just let us know how we can be of help.

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion?

Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life.

I’ll show you how to take a real rest.

Walk with me and work with me–watch how I do it.

Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.

I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.

Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.
(Matthew 11:28-30, The Message)

Who We Are

Still Waters retreat house was established in 1989 and is located in a secluded rural setting near Buchanan in southwestern Michigan. The main retreat house is a quaint old farm cottage with five cozy bedrooms (near bathrooms), a chapel, library, living room, dining room, and kitchen. Seventy-one acres of grounds include three small lakes, rolling hills, beautiful gardens, and a hermitage snuggled into the woods.

Rooted in its Christian identity, Still Waters welcomes anyone desiring to deepen their journey with God. Our guests and friends come from a variety of denominations and faith backgrounds.

Our Mission

The name Still Waters and our mission come from the age-old Shepherd’s Psalm. The Hebrew psalmist spoke of being led by “waters of rest” where life would be restored by the Lord. Still Waters exists for the purpose of providing a place of silence, solitude and spiritual companionship to help one hear the Shepherd’s voice and live prayerfully in their world.

It is a place of rest where one…

• is invited into the presence of the Lord who restores lives
• walking in the shadow of death in body, mind or spirit, may become aware of God’s presence with them
• might experience God’s sighing comfort for them in the midst of life’s trials
• may find sustaining fellowship in the midst of those issues that bind up, put in distress, keep in narrow vision
• may be cared for and honored by God
• may become aware of God’s goodness and mercy in life
• may choose to be part of the family of God continually

Retreat

Do you need time and space to allow Love to free you*? Do you long to “recollect a scattered life and focus on the One who calls and seeks and invites us to communion”? Do you desire a deeper knowing of who you are and who you are called to be in this world?

Retreat provides us with the space to become more aware of God’s presence in our lives. Every one of us needs time to be alone, let go of the daily noise of our busy lives, and create an opportunity to listen, be refreshed, re-ordered, and renewed. Organizations and groups also need these times.

Individual Retreats

Still Waters offers retreat space for individuals and/or couples to enjoy God’s presence in silence and solitude for a few hours or a few days.  You may come for a day retreat, a 24-hour overnight retreat, or longer if you desire. You may also choose to have a spiritual companion meet with you during your retreat time.

We also offer our retreat space to groups that seek a restful place to meet. Perhaps your prayer group, pastoral team, or planning committee would like to use a facility that provides a more contemplative atmosphere for working and growing together.

Love Does That

All day long a little burro labors,
sometimes with heavy loads on her back
and sometimes just with worries
about things that bother only burros.

And worries, as we know,
can be more exhausting
than physical labor.

Once in a while a kind monk comes
to her stable and brings
a pear, but more than that,
he looks into the burro’s eyes
and touches her ears

and for a few seconds the burro is free
and even seems to laugh,
because love does that.

Love frees.

(Meister Eckhart)