Old Time Gospel Music Retreat

If you would like to be added to our mailing list for 2009, click here to email us.
All brochures have been mailed.

Update: September 13, 2009

All housing in the retreat center has been filled. There are 15 retreat spots available for those that are camping (no hookups or electric onsite) or commuting from home or a motel.

Click here to go to the registration form.

What is the Retreat: Inspiration, Reflection, Playing, Singing, Bible Study, Fun, Food, Lodging and Fellowship

It's a full weekend of Music ... mountain & hammered dulcimer, autoharp, guitar, banjo, bass and (what am I forgetting?) all other acoustic instruments will join our voices in a weekend of Old-Time Gospel music.

Just a word about "Old-Time" Gospel music ... The music that you hear during our retreat is old enough (before 1923) to be out of copyright and into the Public Domain area of music. We refer to hymnals copyrighted before 1923 and many songs documented on public domain websites and other sources on the Internet.

Sponsored by: Country Strings...Barb, Steve, Dot, Mary, Joyce and Shari along with our friend, Louise Ziegler and .... YOU !

Where: Golden Eagle Christian Center in Palestine, Ohio
(Located on US 36 along the Ohio/Indiana border just south of Greenville, Ohio and north of Richmond, Indiana)

We are dulcimer people.   The Sunday Morning Gospel Sing is one of the most popular and most meaningful of the activities that take place during a music festival. If you are one of those people who enjoy the traditional Gospel music, seriously consider this unique music weekend/retreat.   During this experience, you will share the joy of combining voices, wit, instruments, and inspiration with fellow dulcimer people to reinforce Old Time Gospel music in your music life.

There will be sharing sessions for a variety of music styles and repertoire including:
Interactive/Response/Motion songs, Singing Graces, Inspirational/Uplifting Songs, Music for all ages including children, and the elderly, Rounds, and finally and perhaps most importantly.. Your suggestions!

Themes like: Songs of the Cross, Traveling with the Lord (This Train), River songs (Shall We Gather at the River) .... the possibilities are endless. Add your ideas on the registration form.

There will be sharing sessions for a variety of instruments and opportunities including: hammered dulcimer, mountain dulcimer, autoharp, harp and others ... playing in a Gospel jam, leading a Gospel Sing, sharing Gospel music with your dulcimer group, old time Gospel music on the Internet and, again, most importantly... Your ideas!!

On Saturday afternoon, we'll gather in the lounge around the piano with Barbara and sing our old favorites.

The Marketplace: For one hour on Saturday afternoon, there will be a chance to buy, sell or swap music and related items.
Bring new or used tapes, cds, books, instruments, etc. and display them on tables in the lower hallway for our shoppers. If
you are selling, plan to stay with your merchandise during this one-hour shopping spree. The special 'Marketplace', for
registered Retreat participants only, will end before dinner.

Special Saturday Evening Retreat Event

9th Annual Community Gospel Sing

On Saturday evening of the retreat, area churches, retirements centers and the general public will be invited to join us
for the 9th annual Old-Time Gospel Music Retreat Gospel Sing/Open Stage giving the Retreat participants the opportunity to share Gospel music with the surrounding community.






Since this Retreat encompasses Old-Time Gospel Music, Bible study, discussions, and singing, the Open Stage participation may include recitations, poetry, stories, skits as well as "the music" all old enough to be in the Public Domain and no longer under copyright.



The Open Stage specials will be intertwined with lots of singing and group participation. Look for the Open Stage sign-up sheet at the Registration Table when you arrive for the Retreat.   After the Community Gospel Sing, we have a reception with our guests and then on to "making a Joyful Noise."

This year, we will once again be offering an Old-Time Gospel Music Retreat t-shirt. If you are interested, be sure to include
your size on the registration form.

Space is limited to 60 participants! Pre-registration is a MUST!
Registration deadline ...... September 25, 2009 or until filled.

Friday

3:00 p.m.
4:00
5:30
7:00
8:00

Registration begins
Early Bird Jam
Dinner
Welcome/Vespers/New music/Chimes
Make a Joyful Noise (jamming)

Saturday

7:30 a.m.
8:00
9:15
12:00 p.m.
1:30
4:00
5:00
5:30
7:00 - 8:30
8:30 - ?

Devotions
Breakfast
Morning Sessions
Lunch
Afternoon Sessions
Sing Praises in the Lounge & The Marketplace
Evening Vespers
Dinner
Community Gospel Sing/Open Stage
Refreshments and Jam (More Joyful Noise)

Sunday

7:30 a.m.
8:00
9:30

Coffee/Donuts/Bagels

SONshine Devotions, Reflections & Gospel Sing
Brunch & Goodbyes 'til next time

*** There will be planned sessions throughout the day, but we also want to make time and space available for those who want to have a true 'retreat' experience. We want you to take home a
refreshed and renewed heart & spirit.

This event is held at the beautifully renovated Golden Eagle Christian Center in Palestine, Ohio, near
the Ohio/Indiana border.

This facility with all new wiring, lighting, plumbing, heating and air-conditioning has 12 bedrooms built to sleep 64 people. The Center is mostly handicapped accessible and offers excellent classroom space, a lovely lounge complete with fireplace and player piano, game room with ping pong and pool, dorm style sleeping with 3 to 6 to a room on sturdy, new bunk beds with new Beauty Rest mattresses. Each room has a set of oak chest-of- drawers, vanity, & large mirror. We will try to put everyone in a lower bunk, but if the space is needed, please indicate on the Registration Form if you would be willing to sleep in an
upper bunk.

Sleeping quarters are separate from classrooms and jamming areas, so
quiet time is not an issue. There are four large restrooms with lots of mirror
space and ten private showers to help give you a fresh start to each day.
Bed linens are provided along with a towel and wash cloths for your
stay if you are staying in the indoor sleeping facility.

Golden Eagle Christian Center will provide all meals for our Retreat in the kitchen/cafeteria. These full course meals are like "grandma's home cooking". You won't find instant cooking here and the large portions will guarantee a full stomach.

Golden Eagle Christian Center is a mostly handicapped - accessible facility.

Camping Option

There are limited camping spaces available at the facility if you prefer to sleep in your own bed, but no hookups are available. However, the Center will be open for showers, restroom use, etc., 24 hours a day. The Center has allowed our Rv-ers to bring pets. They must be on a leash and controlled in consideration of the surrounding neighborhood. At no time are pets to be brought into the Center.

The Retreat price per participant is $15 less if camping on the Center grounds. (2009)

Attention Campers ... Darke County Fairgrounds is located in Greenville about 6 miles from Palestine. Each site has full hookups.

If you are interested in camping at the Fairgrounds, call 937-548-5044 and leave a message
including your name, retreat dates and your phone number.

*Retreat participants camping at the Fairgrounds would register as the commuter package.
**Retreat participants camping in the Center's Parking Lot would register as the full weekend package/camping option.

If you have any questions for us, call Joyce at 937-216-2002 or email: gospelretreat@yahoo.com

Golden Eagle Christian Center
This is an adult-only facility. No one under the age of 18 can be registered. Pets will be permitted on a restricted basis. Look above for the pet restrictions. No smoking. No alcohol.