Overview, Vision and History

Overview

The Alcyon Center, on Seal Cove, Mount Desert Island (Maine, USA) is a retreat center grounded in the contemplative tradition. Set on five wooded acres, with nearly 300 feet of cove frontage, are several buildings offering guest rooms and meeting space, as well as nature trails, benches and hammock for relaxing, and a gazebo.

The Center is organized as a Maine nonprofit organization, and co-directors Joan Jordan Grant and Kathryn Booth collaborate with a Circle of Advisors and Board of Directors. The Center is supported by its activities and services, grants and a growing group of companions and supporters. The Center welcomes individuals and groups with an invitation to come share in its life and vision.

The Alcyon Center Vision

The vision for the center comes out of our grounding in prayer and our desire for bold and practical ways to meet the spiritual hunger of our times.

We offer:

  • Hospitality to you who hunger and thirst for a deeper spiritual life.
  • An emerging contemporary conversation about the renewal of spiritual life and culture.
  • A quiet place of beauty for rest and renewal of body, soul, and spirit.
  • A small spiritual community living a daily rhythm ofwork, prayer, study and rest.
  • Study and training in the life and practices of the inner contemplative tradition of prayer.

            Roots and a little history

            Kathryn E. Booth and Joan Jordan Grant are co-founders and directors of The Alcyon Center. As ordained pastors in the United Church of Christ, we offer our combined experience in parish ministry, intentional spiritual community life and hospitality, spiritual direction and formation. (Your Hosts).

            The Center has its roots in three traditions that have been part of our lives: 1) the inner Christian tradition that offers transformative wisdom and training, 2) the monastic Christian tradition of service and hospitality based in study and prayer, alone and together and, 3) ordained ministry as a call to re-form the church as a spiritual community of contemplation and action.