Peace Bridges 2026 Fall Retreat
What does it mean to welcome the stranger?
So many scriptures give us this charge.
Let's consider how we can build the bridges necessary
to embrace this challenge.
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WELCOMING THE STRANGER,
a weekend retreat at The Welcoming Place,
a lovely center in Akron, PA run by The Central Mennonite Committee.​​
Welcoming the Stranger
What is our resistance to the so-called other? How do we recognize this reaction and choose a more compassionate response based on our Invocation to be living TOWARD LOVE, HARMONY and BEAUTY?
Together we can explore where we can soften and allow the Message of UNITY to guide our livingness, not just as we dance together, but as we live in our neighborhoods, communities and on this beautiful planet.
Dates:
October 8-11, 2026 Thursday - Sunday
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Cost:
$325 (Early Registration through August 31st)
$350 (September 1st and after)
* Single room pricing available
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Begins: Thursday evening with Dinner
Ends: Sunday after lunch
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Meals:
Thursday - Dinner
Friday and Saturday - Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Sunday - Breakfast & Lunch
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Location: The Welcoming Place Retreat Center, 21 S 12th Street, Akron, PA 17501
The Welcoming Place
The Welcoming Place is designed to represent an international village, reflecting the homes, schools, and churches of MCC’s partner organizations around the world. All buildings are decorated with international art and handicrafts from Ten Thousand Villages. All our facilities are accessible and have free wi-fi. Retreat attendees will stay in the campus guest houses. Amenities described here.
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The Welcoming Place is designed not only to be a beautiful, restful area for people but also as a support for local ecosystems. The landscape emphasizes native plant communities that provide food and habitat for birds, pollinators like butterflies, moths and bees, and wildlife. A walk across the campus provides an immersive nature-based experience, extending into a woodland that offers a network of trails perfect for short hikes and relaxation beneath a shaded tree canopy.