History of Gathering Leaves
The idea for Gathering Leaves had its beginning in the spring of 2002. Women from the General Convention of the Swedenborgian Church of North America approached women in the General Church of the New Jerusalem, the Lord's New Church, and the General Conference of the New Church, extending an invitation to join together and make connections with each other. The result was Gathering Leaves 2004 at the Temenos Retreat Center in West Chester, PA, USA where the theme was "Unity." That event was the first time women from all Swedenborgian/New Church organizations around the world had been invited to come together in a retreat. In 2006, Gathering Leaves was held at Temenos again, with the theme "The View from the Canopy." The focus was on our shared history and our differences. Gathering Leaves UK was held in 2008 at the Purley Chase Centre in Warwickshire, England where the theme was "The Tree of Life." Gathering Leaves 2010 was held in Huntingdon Valley, PA on the campus of The Lord's New Church, celebrating "A Feast of Friends." The 2013 Gathering Leaves Retreat was held in Fryeburg, Maine and the theme was "Changing Leaves, Changing Lives." The 2017 Gathering Leaves was held in 2017, Crieff Retreat Centre, Puslinch, Ontairo, Canada and the theme was “Waters of Life ~ Spirit of Love.” The 2023 Gathering Leaves was held again at the Lord's New Church in Huntingdon Valley, PA, and the theme was, “Delighting in Spiritual Variety.” We are excited to announce that Gathering Leaves 2025 will be held again at the Temenos Retreat Center in West Chester PA, and the theme will be, "Remaining Rooted Through Adversity."
The idea for Gathering Leaves had its beginning in the spring of 2002. Women from the General Convention of the Swedenborgian Church of North America approached women in the General Church of the New Jerusalem, the Lord's New Church, and the General Conference of the New Church, extending an invitation to join together and make connections with each other. The result was Gathering Leaves 2004 at the Temenos Retreat Center in West Chester, PA, USA where the theme was "Unity." That event was the first time women from all Swedenborgian/New Church organizations around the world had been invited to come together in a retreat. In 2006, Gathering Leaves was held at Temenos again, with the theme "The View from the Canopy." The focus was on our shared history and our differences. Gathering Leaves UK was held in 2008 at the Purley Chase Centre in Warwickshire, England where the theme was "The Tree of Life." Gathering Leaves 2010 was held in Huntingdon Valley, PA on the campus of The Lord's New Church, celebrating "A Feast of Friends." The 2013 Gathering Leaves Retreat was held in Fryeburg, Maine and the theme was "Changing Leaves, Changing Lives." The 2017 Gathering Leaves was held in 2017, Crieff Retreat Centre, Puslinch, Ontairo, Canada and the theme was “Waters of Life ~ Spirit of Love.” The 2023 Gathering Leaves was held again at the Lord's New Church in Huntingdon Valley, PA, and the theme was, “Delighting in Spiritual Variety.” We are excited to announce that Gathering Leaves 2025 will be held again at the Temenos Retreat Center in West Chester PA, and the theme will be, "Remaining Rooted Through Adversity."
