Greetings Friends

GOOD NEWS! A donor has made a matching gift of $50,000 to Community of Peace. We are very grateful. Every dollar you contribute up to $50,000 will be matched dollar for dollar. That doubles the value of your gift. Please consider contributing what you can toward this generous donation. We need your help now in whatever amount you can give. Visit our website at www.communityofpeace.org.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US!! Community of Peace is two years old. People from across the United States, from India, South Korea, England, Canada, and Germany have resided and do reside here. We are becoming an international parable of communion. We thank God for the blessing of so many people from all over the world! We are grateful to you for your ongoing support of the work here as we build a new community of welcome, hospitality, beautiful sung prayer, dialogue, and service. We could not do this without you. To you I offer my heartfelt thanks. Please consider helping us now as we seek to continue this good work.

Community of Peace, www.communityofpeace.org, is inspired by the Taize Community in France. We are transforming our landscape into an oasis of welcoming quietude; a place for restoration and self-discovery where our monastic rhythm of mindful work, sung prayer and communal meals inspire a deep sense of peace that remains with us and deepens over time. We share with you our hopes and dreams in the hope that your imagination will be ignited too and that you will be inspired to dream with us and to offer your support in any way you are able. We need your help to bring these dreams to fruition. Some days it seems like a wild ride; always our days here are beautiful and full of adventure. Will you join us in this faith-venture and help create a Community of Peace in service to the world?

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WHAT’S HAPPENING?

We are current with our mortgage payments! Gearing up for the next payment.
The Community welcomed two permanent residents this year, Barb Miller and Tim Bickel.
We just completed work on our beautiful labyrinth made of 10,111 quartz stones. It is the second largest labyrinth in the state of Virginia.
Our community continues to provide a safe space for those in need both individuals and families.
We have reached out to our neighbors - visiting local churches, local historical society, Richmond Hill Retreat Center, multiple intentional communities near us, and monastic communities like the Benedictine Sisters of VA who have invited us to return for an evening of song and storytelling.
The retreat house has been transformed into private sleep spaces for residents and guests while the main level now has a dining space with a fireplace, a comfortable gathering area and a dedicated space for sung prayer.
We began a permaculture garden this Spring and are harvesting its first fruits.
Several beautiful paths through the forest have been created. More to come.
This past year we collaborated with United Planet, an international organization that places students in cultural exchange programs for one year. We welcomed Changyeon from South Korea for one year. This year we welcome Dennis and Ruben from Germany who are staying with us now, also for one year.
We are listed on two Apps that pair workers with communities, Workaway and Woof. Through Hipcamp, campers sign up to camp in our woods.
We started regular contemplative nature walks every Saturday and hosted several retreats and music programs in addition to our monthly drum circles.
Our cow barn was just given a new floor and additional sleep areas are being prepared on the upper level. This will enable us to house more people and the newly floored barn will be perfect for dancing, singing, poetry reading and wonderful uses we have yet to imagine.

IN THE FUTURE

Pay off our mortgage $1,000,000

Complete a network of paths through the forest with meditation areas $2,000
Build a Chapel $23,000
Complete the work on the cow barn $2,000
Create a small chapel in the forest $4,500
Silent retreat lodge $10,000
Renovate the farm house $25,000
Complete renovations on the retreat house, deck, grounds and pond $15,000
Build additional housing for visitors, retreatants, some long-term community members and families $30,000

We need your help now. Are you able to contribute at this time? Donations are gratefully accepted through our website: www.communityofpeace.org, by direct mail, or:

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Grace and Peace,
Br. Stefan