The Gathering Place

02/22/2026

Registration Link will open on March 1 for our next Writer's Retreat Spring 2026 - Plan now for what you are able to attend! We hope the entire retreat, but our lives are indeed full. So, please see the time frame specifics below.
And if you live close, there is an adjusted cost for no lodging at Sparrows Nest at the Abbey.
Help send someone to the Writer's Retreat - what a great gift for a writer!

12/03/2025

It's GIVING TUESDAY - That once a year well known opportunity to make charitable tax deductible donations to your church or a deserving nonprofit IRS 501c3, of your choice.

Acres of Hope Ministry at Sparrows Nest at The Abbey in Sparta, Wisconsin is a nonprofit IRS 501c3 tax deductible Community Service Outreach Organization supporting all residents of Monroe County. We are totally donation funded.

We've become quite well known in Monroe County and beyond in the 7 years since we purchased Cistercian Abbey in August 2018 and renamed it Sparrows Nest at The Abbey. As many of you know, Rev. Laurie Graber was Ordained in California in 2012.

We have several community service programs at Sparrows Nest such as TOGETHER WITH VETERANS, ANNUAL VETETANS DAY OPEN HOUSE, SEMI-ANNUAL FAITH FORWARD WRITER'S RETREAT, SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE, QUILTERS RETREATS, WEEKLY BIBLE STUDIES, ANNUAL NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER PROGRAM, LONG-ARM QUILTING, CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER RETREATS, MENNONITE RETREATS AND THE GATHERING PLACE FACILITY. WE ADD NEW PROGRAMS EACH YEAR, AS TIME AND RESOURCES PERMIT.

We hope you will consider making a tax deductible donation to Acres of Hope Ministry and Sparrows Nest this year to help fund and expand our community programs at Sparrows Nest at The Abbey.

Donations of any amount are welcome and very much appreciated.

Checks should be made payable and sent to:

Acres of Hope Ministry Inc.
17304 Havenwood Road
Sparta, Wisconsin 54656

Electronic donations can be sent by:

ZELLE - Payment ID: [email protected]

VENMO - Payment ID:

PayPal - Payment ID:

We will send you a tax deductible receipt so you can claim the charitable tax deduction on your taxes.

Thank you for your consideration to support Acres of Hope Ministry and Sparrows Nest at The Abbey.

Have a Blessed Day ❤️

Tom and Rev. Laurie Graber
19090 Index Avenue
Norwalk, Wisconsin 54648

Cell: (661)406-1721 for Laurie
Email: [email protected]

Cell: (608)387-4681 for Tom
Email: [email protected]

YouTube & Vimeo Videos of Sparrows Nest

https://youtu.be/Dqna4FW4Uzw

Https://vimeo.com/998850713

Website: SparrowsNest-Abbey.com

Retreat & Event CenterFaith-Based Non-Profit Community Outreach Facility

10/18/2025

Sparrows Nest Event and Retreat Center is that place where you can get away and still feel at home! Join us for the Fall 2025 Faith Forward Writer's Retreat. Wherever you are in your writing journey, you'll feel at home here.
Check out this link for all the options for attending including the full retreat, with lodging or without:
https://secure.qgiv.com/for/aohm/event/ffwrfall2025/