Rachel’s Vineyard Retreats

Abortion has been much in the news again with the introduction in Ireland of new laws to allow abortions in certain circumstances. While campaigns focus on persuading women to continue their pregnancies - what is often not mentioned in these debates is what happens to women who do have abortions. Many experience Post Abortion Trauma and the suffering of women is made worse because it is often a secret grief - even those closest to her may not know a woman has gone through an abortion. Society has told her that abortion is a procedure that will solve a problem and allow her to carry on with life as normal. This means the pain and the sense of loss that many women feel is often not acknowledged and rarely spoken of.

Around 200,000 abortions take place each year in the UK resulting in thousands of women in need of support and healing. Thankfully there are a number of organisations who are offering help to women – and men – who have been affected by an abortion. Among them is a movement called Rachel’s Vineyard. This ministry was founded by Dr Theresa Burke in the USA in 1984. She opened a centre for post abortion healing that offered counselling to women grieving the loss of an aborted child. She adapted this to a weekend retreat format. Word about these powerful retreats spread and people from across the US came to experience the healing process. Now the movement has spread to 25 countries worldwide including the UK.

A Rachel’s Vineyard retreat is a spiritual and emotional healing process. Each retreat is run by a team of trained volunteers that includes a professional counsellor and a priest. In the safety of a loving, non-judgemental group those suffering can find restoration, healing and peace.

"I was very scared and apprehensive about coming to Rachel's Vineyard and having to share my story. It was the best experience of my life....."

"The weekends offer hope to women who may have suffered silently – perhaps for years."

"It was the best weekend of my life. For the first time in 20 years I was able to share my grief, my guilt, my anger. I was able to mourn the loss of my baby. ...."

Dr Theresa Burke urges anyone feeling apprehensive about seeking help to think again: “Rachel’s Vineyard is really a gift. If you could imagine coming on the retreat like coming down on Christmas morning to open a present. There’s a present just sitting there waiting for you to come and open it. So why wouldn’t you come and receive this tremendous gift and blessing that God wants you to have, God wants you to open. And your life will be restored in a way you couldn’t believe possible.”

Through the retreats God’s mercy is encountered and his promises to each one of us of restoration are fulfilled.

“Cease your cries of mourning, wipe the tears from your eyes. The sorrow you have shown shall have its reward says the Lord” Jeremiah 31

More information at: www.rachelsvineyard.org.uk

Dates of Rachel’s Vineyard Retreats in the UK:

11-13 October, Leeds, England

1-3 November, Craig Lodge Family House of Prayer, Scotland

To book a retreat place or speak to someone in confidence call: 0800 0599 879