Fall Community Sweat Weekend

Friday-Sunday, September 15-17, 2023
A Moon Service Weekend at Four Quarters

Sweat Lodge, and sacred fire, being prepped for ceremony.

    For those who wish an opportinity to experience a deeper exposure to the practice and traditions of the Sweat Lodge Ceremony, we are offering a Fall weekend centered around Sweat Lodge.

    This weekend is an invitation to experience the practice of the Sweat Lodge Ceremony, without having to register for a larger Four Quarters Event. We are planning Friday night and Saturday Sweats with time for conversations exploring aspects of Sweat Lodge as Community Ceremony, and some practical learn-by-doing! Chop Wood! Carry Water! Discussions and Closing Ceremony Sunday. The Weekend's activities encompass, Friday evening Misa ceremony, Saturday Moon Service & Church Supper - It’s Obatala’s Birthday!

    While our Sweat Lodge is active at most of the event weekends of the year, there has been a growing call for more immersive opportunities to experience this spiritual tradition. Our Sweat Lodge Teachings provide opprtunities for deeper immersion into the songs, stories, trainings, and lore of Lodge. This weekend is a less intensive version of our Spring Intensive Sweat Lodge Teaching Weekend.

     Come for the day or make it a weekend – come Friday for Misa and Night Sweat, and stay overnight for Saturday Sweat, Church Supper and New Moon Service! Satruday sweat is scheduled for the afternoon, try to arrive before noon.

Introducing the Drum and Naive Songs at Sweat Teaching Weekend 2023.

    If you have been moved by your own experience of Sweat Lodge or curious to learn morre about the process of ceremony, this is for you! If you've been volunteering down at the Lodge and would like to learn more about what we do and why, this is a further opportunity to spend time learning and sharing with our Ceremony Leaders and Sweat crew.

     Ceremonies will begin Friday evening with a welcome Evening Sweat following our regular Firday night Misa ceremony.
     Saturday will be filled with conversations, teachings, songs, the Drum, Sweat Lodge ceremony.
     The weekend integrates with our Moon service and Church Supper. Sunday will feature a Wrap-Up session and Closing Ceremony.

We serve the ceremony and the ceremony serves the people. Please be welcome aroung our fires.
  
Toksha akhe! Mitáquye oyasín!

Kurt Griffith and the Sweat Lodge Team

Weekend Schedule Outline
Subject to change, logistics, weather, and the needs of Ceremony. Roll with it!
The Church is providing Saturday Church Supper as part of the Moon Service. You are responsible for providing your other meals.

Friday, September 15

6:30 P      Setting the Sacred Fire  –  Sweat Camp

7:00 P      Misa Espiritual  –  Church Loft
                 – All are welcome to attend the Misa   

~8:30 P    Evening Welcome Sweat  –  Sweat Lodge

After ~      Social Time by the Fire (Informal)  –  Welcome Fire

Saturday, September 16

11:00 A    Morning Session  –  Sweat Camp
                - Teachings and Conversations, Sweat Lore & Technologies 

1:00 P     Moon Service - Tambor Obatala!  –  Dining Pavilion
It’s Obatala’s Birthday! Celebrants are encouraged to wear white, but it is not required. Modest dress is, however, required.  Traditionally, gifts of fruit or white flowers are brought to the Orisha to celebrate His birthday, and small  monetary gifts are a polite way to  salute the Bataleros as they play. – Find out more here

2:30 P    leads into – Orisha Feast  –  Dining Pavilion

3:30 P    Set Fire for Community Sweat  –  Sweat Camp

4:00 P    Afternoon Session  –  Sweat Camp
              – Teachings and Conversations, Songs, Ceremony Drum…

~5:30 P  Community Sweat Lodge Ceremony  –  Sweat Lodge

8:00 P    Council Fire  –  Welcome Fire*
              – Story telling, Ceremony Drum, Traditions & Myths

Sunday, September 17

10:00 A    Morning Session - Sweat Camp Closing, Q&A  –  Sweat Camp

~12:00 N    Closing Circle / Pipe Ceremony (If appropriate)  –  Welcome Fire

Registration Information

    Members are free, Non-members by donation.
    RSVP is required, please contact our Office.
Call us: 814-784-3080, Email us: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Please contact Kurt Griffith with any questions: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Regular Tent Camping and Lodging Fees apply, Call the Offfice for information
There is no Meal Plan - The Church is providing Saturday Church Supper as part of the Moon Service. You are responsible for providing your other meals.
There is no charge for Ceremony. Donations purely contribute to our material costs.

Learn More about Sweat Lodge at Four Quarters here.   

Sweat stones, ancient revered Grandfathers, await their turn to serve in Ceremony.