A Circle of Quiet:
The Madeleine L’Engle Writing Retreat
October 2-4, 2026

St. Francis Retreat Center
Dewitt, Michigan
In person & online

It’s our five-year reunion! And this year we’re bringing you the WHOLE PACKAGE. Beyond the usual thoughtful plenaries, L’Engle-inspired prompts, solo writing stretches, cohort discussions, & optional prayer times—plus unlimited access to the recordings afterwards—this year’s in-person registration also includes:

  • 2 nights’ lodging (single-occupancy) at Sarah’s favorite writing getaway, the St. Francis Retreat Center near Lansing, MI.

  • All meals on site, from dinner Friday through breakfast Sunday.

  • FREE pre-retreat option on Friday starting at 1 p.m.—an informal chance to connect, wander, write, or simply be.

  • Access to the Center’s gracious facilities, including library & lounges, plus all-day beverage service in the main dining room.

  • Access to the extensive grounds—95 acres of gardens, wooded trails, vineyard, disc golf course & more.

  • Walking access to Dewitt’s quaint downtown, including coffee shops, boutiques, & nationally-renowned bakery.

  • All within 15 minutes of Michigan’s state capitol, the Capital Region International Airport, & more!

Tentative schedule (ALL TIMES EASTERN & subject to change):

  • Friday, Oct. 2: Informal pre-retreat begins at 1 p.m. (optional); room check-in at 3 p.m.; retreat check-in at 5 p.m.; welcome & dinner at 6 p.m., followed by the opening plenary, cohorts, & optional evening prayer. Bring your own project to work on, or use our curated prompts instead.

  • Saturday, Oct. 3: Breakfast at 8 a.m.; followed by optional morning prayer, brief pep-talk & prompts, solo writing, & lunch. More solo writing follows after lunch, along with cohorts & late afternoon prayer (optional), concluding with dinner. The rest of the evening is all yours!

  • Sunday, Oct. 4: Optional morning prayer; breakfast at 8 a.m.; closing pep talk, giveaways, & other fun; checkout at 11 AM.

Additional notes:

  • All retreat activities, lodging, & meals will take place in the fully accessible, single-story Retreat House—no stairs, elevators, or lifts needed, hooray!

  • Rooms are single occupancy with either an en-suite shared bathroom or dorm-style bathroom down the hall. 

  • A limited number of handicap-accessible rooms with en-suite bathrooms are available while supplies last. Please indicate any special needs when registering. 

  • Mealtimes are pre-set by the Center and will be posted as part of the retreat schedule. The dining area also includes a fridge and microwave if needed (please keep food storage to a minimum and label everything!). 

  • Please let us know of any dietary issues when registering.

  • If you wish to extend your stay by adding solo retreat dates at either end, please call the St. Francis Retreat Center directly to make arrangements: (517) 669-8321. NOTE: Dining service isn't available on off-retreat days, but a fridge and microwave are available in the dining room for solo retreatants. 

Can’t attend in person? Our virtual cohort will run concurrently with the in-person event, as always! And if you can’t make it in real time, the recordings will be made available afterwards to both in-person and virtual registrants.

Questions? Contact LEngleRetreat@gmail.com.

Click here to register
Click here to register