Local author Sophfronia Scott is teaming up with North Carolina author Lisa Deam to offer a free online retreat during Lent to help those who may have lost touch with their spirituality during the pandemic. The program, “Pilgrimage of Renewal,” will feature seven Zoom sessions at 8 pm every Wednesday in Lent beginning on February 17, Ash Wednesday.

“The length of the pandemic has taken a physical and mental toll on so many, but there’s been a spiritual toll as well,” said Scott who will draw from the work she did for her book, The Seeker and the Monk: Everyday Conversations with Thomas Merton, coming out March 16. “A lot of people still cannot attend church in person or take Communion. There’s a lot of frustration. I’m sure there are many who are either shaking their fists at God or are quietly feeling very much forsaken. Lent is a good time to reflect and reconnect.”

Scott and Deam modeled the retreat on the concept of pilgrimage in a nod to Deam’s new book, 3000 Miles to Jesus: Pilgrimage as a Way of Life for Spiritual Seekers.

Guided by the wisdom of great spiritual minds such as Merton, Margery Kemp, and Saint Francis of Assisi, the writers will lead participants in the footsteps of pilgrims of old who walked thousands of miles to feel closer to God.

“During a time when we can’t travel much, it’s important to realize that we can still take a journey in our spiritual life,” said Deam. “We can still move forward along the path God has set out for us. We hope retreat participants will come away with a renewed sense of what their spiritual path is, as well as some tools and practices to travel this road.”

In addition to the seven live one-hour Zoom sessions, which will be recorded to view at any time, the retreat also features a downloadable workbook that participants can use to reflect on retreat topics and a private Facebook group where participants can interact with Scott, Deam, and one another. The authors will also send notes of encouragement via email as the group makes the Lenten journey.

Newtown’s Trinity Episcopal Church, where Scott is a member, has chosen the program to be its featured Lenten offering. The Reverend Andrea Wyatt, Trinity’s rector, will join Scott in sharing thoughts for the program’s February 24 session.

“At Trinity Church, we yearn to be together in person; we are also focusing on ‘being church now,’” said Rev Wyatt, who arrived in Newtown in the midst of the pandemic. “Blending ancient spiritual practices with new technology, the people of Trinity are creating new pathways to connect with each other and with God.

“We long to renew our spirits in community. As we approach the reflective season of Lent, it is an honor to be invited to join with authors Lisa Deam and Sophfronia Scott in a Pilgrimage of Renewal: A Lenten Retreat. As we move into the new life that lies ahead, may we seek the mystery of God’s presence, together.”

To register for the retreat, visit eventbrite.com and search for Pilgrimage of Renewal: A Lenten Retreat.