Who We Are
Penuel Ridge is a not-for-profit group who have 135 acres of lovely, rolling land, with a lake, meadows, woods, trails, and wildlife. On the land, we’ve built a straw bale chapel (The Well) and a hermitage (The Dorothy Day House). The Main Retreat House serves as a comfortable meeting, dining, and sleeping space, as well as an office and living quarters for the Resident Staff person.
We offer a quiet, hospitable setting to all who need time and space to relax, to be out-of-doors, to pray or play, or to seek guidance and clarity for their life journey. You may sit by the lake, walk the trails, browse the library, or simply “be” in the presence of God.
From the very first we made the following commitments:
We are rooted in the Christian and Jewish faiths, but welcome persons of all traditions, for whom we want to provide a safe and hospitable place. We want to deepen our inward spiritual lives, and at the same time to work for justice and peace.
Our primary tool for this is silence. We offer worship and meditation, rather than workshops or classrooms, for individuals or small groups. We are inclusive as to race, gender, income, age and education.
Because we believe that spirituality cannot be found apart from all of creation, we care for our natural environment, keep our groups small, and listen to the land. Our activities are earth-friendly, compassionate, and simple, welcoming the poor, and caring for this garden.