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Seasoning Grief: A retreat to savor and soften your grief story, one year and beyond
Grief is a changeling, morphing in form, intensity, and expression as we adapt to living with loss. Seasoning Grief is a retreat for those whose grief has shifted from its initial intensity yet continues to quietly shape their lives. If you find yourself reflecting on how grief continues to ripple through your days and you seek space to slow down and notice its quieter whispers, this retreat is for you.
Through reflection, movement, creative expression, ritual, and community, retreat leaders Jill and Kim will guide you in exploring how grief continues to flavor your experiences. You’ll gain renewed insight into grief’s presence in your life, along with practical and creative tools to engage with it more intentionally, carrying forward a sense of peace and companionship.
- Cost of Retreat
Participants contribute $150 toward the cost of lodging and meals for the retreat. The majority of the retreat costs are covered by Centrica Care Navigators’ generous donors and funders.
- Cancellation/Refund Policy
Cancellations made before October 1st will be eligible for a full refund. We are unable to offer refunds for cancellations received after October 1st.
Jill Terwilliger, M.Div., CPCC is a grief support counselor with Centrica Care Navigators. She embodies a compassionate and grounding presence as she works with individuals, small groups, and organizations to process and integrate the many layers of grief. In 2024, Jill gave her TEDx Kalamazoo talk, Befriending Grief, exploring how loss—when welcomed—can deepen connection and meaning.
Jill’s approach is shaped by a wide range of roles: mental health advocate, parish minister, hospice chaplain, restorative justice facilitator, and artist. Jill’s personal experience with grief began at 19 with the death of her father, a loss that continues to shape her work. Though her family jokes that she can find the dark side of any topic, Jill believes grief—when befriended—can become the root of joy, strength, and surprising connection.
Kim Critz is the creator of Healing HeArtwork, a workshop series that invites people to explore creativity as a gentle companion through grief and
life’s many transitions. With degrees in art education and the art of teaching, Kim blends the expressive power of art with steady, grounded care. She guides both artists and non-artists through hands-on, reflective experiences that bring calm to the mind and peace to the soul. Her workshops offer a quiet space to pause, breathe, and find clarity in changing seasons.
Having walked through her own deep seasons of loss, Kim now helps others tend to sorrow with presence and compassion. She believes grief, while heavy, can also reveal unexpected light, beauty, and renewal. Kim also serves as Director of Marketing for NorthStar Care Community, including Centrica Care Navigators, where she shares the same compassionate care that once supported her own family, with the communities around her
Pre-register below:
Frequently Asked Questions
GilChrist Retreat Center is located on 67 acres of forest and rolling prairie in rural Three Rivers, Michigan. The property includes private guest cabins, a stone chapel, an outdoor labyrinth, walking paths, a fire circle, and a large gathering building called WindHill. The majority of our retreat will take place in WindHill.
Please note: Cell reception is spotty in the cabins. WiFi is available at WindHill.
For both your experience and the group’s, we ask that all participants commit to attending the full retreat.
All meals will be catered by Of the Land, a farm, venue, and caterer based in Battle Creek. Their food is fresh, seasonal, organic, and delicious! They will work with us to meet any dietary needs you share on your registration form. A snack and beverage station will be available at all times, with tea, coffee, fruit, chocolate, and a variety of sweet, salty, and protein-rich options.
$150.00 is the total amount due to attend this retreat.
GilChrist shares borders with two neighboring retreat centers: The Hermitage Community and St. Gregory’s Abbey. Participants will be staying across all three locations.
We will make all lodging arrangements and notify you of your assignment based on needs expressed in the registration form. Please do not contact the retreat centers directly about lodging.
GilChrist offers 8 one-bedroom and 2 two-bedroom cabins. One cabin has a ramp for easier access. Each cabin includes a kitchenette, full bathroom, a couch or a comfortable chair, and a writing desk. Cabins are arranged around a large meadow, about a 5–7 minute walk from WindHill. Upon arrival, you’ll park in a central lot, and staff will transport you and your belongings to your cabin by golf cart. The same assistance will be available at check-out.
Learn more about GilChrist
The Hermitage lies just northeast of GilChrist. Participants staying here will be housed in a renovated barn building with private rooms, each containing a bed, chair, and writing table. Bathrooms and a hot beverage station are shared. A mowed trail connects the Hermitage to WindHill—a 5-minute walk. Parking is near the building, and you’ll carry your own bags. Stair-free access is available, as is the option to drive to WindHill. The Hermitage will also host other guests during our retreat.
St. Gregory’s Abbey is east of GilChrist. Seasoning Grief participants will stay in a guest house at the entrance of the Abbey property. The house includes five private rooms, each with two bunk beds (one on the ground floor, four up a spiral staircase), a shared kitchen, a living room, a dining area, and two full bathrooms. Parking is nearby, and you’ll carry your own bags. Although a wooded trail connects to GilChrist, signage and upkeep are inconsistent—we recommend driving two miles “around the block” between sites.
No art experience is needed! Our focus is on process, not product. Working with materials like watercolor, colored pencils, and clay engages different parts of the brain and can help access feelings and insights that words alone may not reach. You may surprise yourself with what emerges through creative play.
The retreat begins at 5:30pm Friday and ends at 1:00pm Sunday. We encourage you to arrive at your lodging by 4:30 at the latest so you can get settled before joining the group. Each day includes a balance of full-group sessions, small group conversations, individual reflection time, shared meals, and unscheduled space to rest or explore the grounds.
We’ll gather for three main program blocks (morning, afternoon, and evening), each lasting 2 to 2.5 hours. Programs will begin at 9:00am and conclude by 9:00pm daily
Cancellations made before October 1st will be eligible for a full refund. We are unable to offer refunds for cancellations received after October 1st.
Please contact Jill for a refund.
While the retreat takes place at centers with spiritual roots, the retreat itself is not faith-based. Our approach is grounded in evidence-based psychological practices and theory. That said, we recognize that grieving and healing often touch on spiritual dimensions—connecting us to meaning both within and beyond ourselves. Participants will be gently invited to engage with elements from both Eastern and Western spiritual traditions that support the processing of grief. Everyone is welcome to bring their own faith background—or none at all—into the experience.
All lodging options provide bedding and towels. You should bring:
- Comfortable clothing, including layers to adjust for temperature
- Shoes for walking outdoors
- Raincoat or umbrella
- Personal toiletries and medications
- A journal and pen (though these will also be provided)
- Any personal comfort items (a favorite pillow, book, blanket, etc.)
Staying on site will deepen your experience and connection to the group. That said, we understand that accessibility needs may make commuting the better option. Please reach out to discuss what would work best for you.
Absolutely. We understand that grief work can bring forward strong emotions. We aim to create a space that welcomes your whole experience. You are encouraged to step away when you need to. WindHill has several small spaces for quiet, and facilitators will be available for 1:1 support during unscheduled times if you’d like someone to sit with you.
