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Spring 2011
Reflections From the Director
A Newsletter for the Associates of Sorrento Centre
Summer, 2011
A Message from the Executive Director
Dear Friends:
I’m really looking forward to the first week of July. Do you know why? It is because:
I am going to “LEAP” with Phil Colvin and ten 15 & 16 year olds; and because:
I am going to “Picture Nature” with Winnipeg photographer Sarah Crawley; and because:
I am going to “Walk on Holy Ground” with trail blazer Phil McIntyre-Paul; and because:
I am going to “Dance with God” and with story-teller Gertrud Mueller Nelson; and because:
I am going to “Wrestle with Sacred Texts” with help from Rabbi Robert Daum; and because:
I am going to enrol in the “Sorrento Singing School” with the musically gifted Ken Gray.
Chris Lind
How much fun is that!!
We’ll worship and swim, and wrestle and dance, make pictures and friends and LEAP! We have just a few lodge rooms and cabanas left
so if you haven’t made reservations yet, you better get a move on! They’re going quickly!
While you’re here taking any of these courses there are two experiences you shouldn’t miss. One is a tour of the Sorrento Centre farm.
We normally organise tours at 1pm on Thursdays. The 8 acre farm is about 2kms west of the Centre, just off the Trans Canada. You’ll be
sure to enjoy seeing where your fresh and naturally grown lettuce, peppers and potatoes are coming from.
The second delight is our new Art Studio. Located on the ground floor of the Red Barn, it was dry walled during Associates Week,
painted last week and will be plumbed by the end of June. May everyone’s creativity flourish in this special place supported by you and
by the Anglican Foundation!
Yours in faith,
Christopher Lind
Executive Director
P.S. Don’t forget to pass on your $150 gift certificates. They’re designed for people who have never been to Sorrento Centre or who
haven’t been in a long time (5 years or more). That’s a serious amount of money because this is a very serious offer. Sorrento Centre is
the kind of place you need to experience to really appreciate, so don’t keep it a secret- pass it on!
Sorrento Centre
•
Box 99, Sorrento, BC, V0E 2W0
• (250) 675-2421
•
fax: (250) 675-3032
•
e-mail: info@sorrento-centre.bc.ca •
on-line: www.sorrento-centre.bc.ca
Sorrento Centre News
New Policy on Pets at Sorrento Centre
Over the past few years the number of requests from guests who want to bring their pets with them during their time at Sorrento Centre
has been increasing. In the past we have had a strict “no pets on site” policy, and have suggested that guests travelling with pets house
them in one of the local kennels. This has not been popular with many pet owners who are not comfortable with the idea of a kennel. The
Board has heard the cases made by our guests to loosen the policy and has come up with a new system which they think will be agreeable
to everyone.
Pets will now be allowed in the Casita apartments or in RVs or trailers. They will still not be permitted in the lodge buildings, cabanas or tent
sites. As always, with the exception of service animals, pets are not permitted in the kitchen or dining room. Pets must be on a leash or in
a carrier at all times when on Centre property, except while in their owner’s room, RV or trailer. Owners are responsible for the behaviour of
their pets at all times and are financially responsible for any damages caused by their pets. If any animals are deemed to pose a risk to other
guests their owners will be asked to remove them from the site immediately.
Since we have a limited number of pet friendly rooms or sites at the Centre we are asking that people who are travelling with pets inform us
at the time of making their booking. There will be a daily fee of $10 per pet and a limit of two pets per room or site.
We hope that this new policy will help to preserve Sorrento Centre as the safe and welcoming place it has always been and that our spirit of
inclusiveness will be strengthened.
Our New Tractor!
We have a brand new tractor at Sorrento Centre! A big
thank you goes out to everyone who gave of their time and
talent for our Silent Auction as well as to all of those who
bid on the services and items on offer. The money from
the auction, private donations and government grants all
helped put us over the top!
The tractor arrived in late March and has been an invaluable
help to the grounds staff this spring as they readied the
Farm for the new season.
Above: The tractor is delivered. Left to right: Farm
manager Dave Wides, Board member Brian Laver,
Executive Director Chris Lind and Johnathan Houweling
of Avenue Equipment. Below: The tractor in action at
the Farm.
Sorrento
Centre Summer 2011
Sorrento Centre • Box 99, Sorrento, BC, V0E 2W0 • (250) 675-2421 • fax: (250) 675-3032 • e-mail: info@sorrento-centre.bc.ca • on-line: www.sorrento-centre.bc.ca
Sorrento Centre News
Renaming of Nova Vita
2013 will mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of Sorrento
Centre. When we think back to those days, we are reminded that
Sorrento Centre was founded first and foremost as a centre for
lay training. Bishop Jim Cruickshank, who was the first Director of
the Centre, often singles out one lay person in particular, Lance
Richardson, as an example of the volunteer spirit of Sorrento Centre
in the early years and beyond.
Lance Richardson left his job with the Department of Highways,
helped build the small Panabode cabin, then helped clear the land
and lay the first logs for what became Nova Vita. Though there
were many Sorrento youth who helped to complete it, Lance’s role
was crucial. Thirty years later, through his foundation, he played
a key role in paying off a mortgage on the same property. No
other person, lay or ordained, has played such a significant role
in giving “new life” to this building and we have not yet properly
acknowledged this gift.
Richardson Lodge
So, it is with thanksgiving to God that the Board of Directors has decided that the cedar log building where so much significant lay education
has occurred, will now be known as the “Richardson Lodge”.
“Retro” Washroom in Spes Bona Now Complete!
The public washroom in Nova Vita was badly in need of renovation, and with the help of a donation from the staff and some hard work by
dedicated Associates volunteers it now has a new lease on life! The old fixtures have been removed and replaced and the wallpaper stripped
down and repapered in a decorative Victorian pattern. Ironically, to give the washroom an old-fashioned feel everything truly old was
jettisoned in favour of brand new fixtures with a “retro” feel. Many thanks to Board member Brian Laver and other volunteers who “made
the old new again!”
Below left is the washroom during its dismantling and below right is the finished product.
Sorrento Centre
•
Box 99, Sorrento, BC, V0E 2W0
• (250) 675-2421
•
fax: (250) 675-3032
•
Sorrentoon-line:
Centre
Summer 2011
www.sorrento-centre.bc.ca
e-mail: info@sorrento-centre.bc.ca •
Sorrento Centre News
New Board Members
We would like to announce the appointment of three new members to the Sorrento Centre Board of Directors. Please join us in welcoming
Jeanette Scott of Powell River, BC, Joanne Neal of Edmonton, AB, and Fred Gailus of Squamish, BC. We give special thanks to outgoing Board
Members Colin Millar, Mark Perrin and Peter Zimmer, who have now completed their six-year terms as board members. They have all given
Sorrento Centre steadfast and conscientious service during their terms.
Sabbatical Centre
A major new initiative at Sorrento Centre this year has been the creation of a sabbatical centre. This will run from September through May
each year and is designed for writers, artists, clergy, academics and other professionals. They will occupy apartments, suites and cabanas
during this period. A special provision of the Centre will allow for graduate
students to come and write their dissertations and theses here.
This year we have been piloting the program. In March we had our first sabbaticant
stay in the Nova Vita suite. Dr. Gail Allan is the Ecumenical and Interfaith Officer for
the United Church of Canada. In May our first graduate student arrived. Victoria
Arrandale is a Junior Fellow at Massey College in the University of Toronto. She is
writing the last chapter of her doctoral dissertation here in Occupational Health,
and staying in a Cabana renovated to serve as our first “Dissertation Cottage”.
The ’‘dissertation cottage” a.k.a Cabana #1
The Sabbatical Centre is a major new initiative. It lays the foundation for a
community of reflective practice in fall, winter and spring. It also “lowers the
drawbridge” to writers, artists, clergy, academics, graduate students and other
professionals who may never have been here before. The Sabbatical Centre
celebrates and supports the practice of Sabbath in a world where we are
constantly asking each other to do more with less.
“Mexican Fiesta” Fundraiser
On Saturday May 7th (a few days late for “Cinco de Mayo”) a group of Sorrento Centre Staff and volunteers led by Darlene Jabour put on a
“Mexican Fiesta” dinner as a fundraiser for a local family whose home in Sorrento recently burned down. The dining room was transformed
into a Mexican cantina and Mexican food was served. The event raised over $1000 for the family. Thanks to everyone who participated in
the fiesta.
Below left, Associate volunteers David and Joy Thompson selling tickets and below right, the dining room transformed.
Sorrento
Centre Summer
• Box 99,2011
Sorrento, BC, V0E 2W0 • (250) 675-2421 • fax: (250) 675-3032 • e-mail: info@sorrento-centre.bc.ca • on-line: www.sorrento-centre.bc.ca
Sorrento
Centre
SYS Leadership Report
By Melissa Green
The Leadership Team for the 2011 summer season is already a month into their time at Sorrento Centre. Melissa Green is back as the Summer
Staff Coordinator, Dakota Tranter returning as the Day Camp Coordinator, and after a year away Cameron Gutjahr is back as the Children and
Youth Program Coordinator! The preparations are under way and we’re all getting excited for the coming summer.
The Leadership Team has just arrived back from Common Ground 2011, a Canadian
Ecumenical Youth Ministry Forum where the team participated in worship, many
workshops, and much networking with folks who share a passion for youth ministry.
We came back with new and fresh ideas ready to tackle the summer days of
programming!
Our Summer Youth Staff Team has been hired and we are anticipating the arrival
of seventeen young people to join us at Sorrento Centre for the summer. They will
live in community, build amazing friendships, and work hard in Children and Youth
Programming, Housekeeping, Grounds and Maintenance, and the Kitchen. Please
keep the SYS team in your prayers as they prepare to arrive for the summer and then
venture into life at Sorrento Centre.
Our Children and Youth Program this year has us all excited! The program is ready
and we’ve just finished trying out all the crafts and activities in anticipation for your
arrival.
o
Our Infant Program group (ages 0-4) will be exploring God through the many
colours of the rainbow while engaging in activities that use many of our senses.
o
The Children’s Program group (ages 5-13) will be exploring the Superhero
within themselves as they venture into the lives of some of the Superheroes in the
Bible. The week is filled with superpowers, crafts, games, stories, dramas, and lots of
time outside.
Melissa Green, Cameron Gutjahr and Dakota Tranter
o
The Generation Next Program group (ages 14-18) will be asking themselves
the five questions (who, what, where, when, why) in hopes to discover more about God
and their personal relationship with God. This will be done through conversation, hands on activities, team building, and much laughter!
We hope to see you all this summer and share with you in programming, worship, and lots of fun and laughter.
Young Sojourners Weekend
Forty-two young people joined us for the Young Sojourners Weekend,
held just after the Associates’ Spring Work/Study Week. They worked
on a variety of projects on-site and still had time for fun, friendship
and fellowship! Here are some pictures from the weekend.
Sorrento Centre
•
Box 99, Sorrento, BC, V0E 2W0
• (250) 675-2421
•
fax: (250) 675-3032
•
e-mail: info@sorrento-centre.bc.ca •
on-line: www.sorrento-centre.bc.ca
Sorrento Centre Summer 2011
Notes from the Sorrento Farm
By Dave Wides
Summer is once again making its way to Sorrento. Our spring has
been cooler and wetter than average, but we are expecting a hot
summer. The Sorrento Centre Farm is once again filled with a wide
variety of crops in anticipation of the abundance to come.
There has been lots of activity on the farm this spring. We have hosted
youth groups, led farm tours and are gearing up to begin our Sharing
the Abundance Program within the Sorrento community. We have also
created a new sitting area on the farm, hung a new farm gate, planted
willow trees and installed a solar panel to power our electric fence.
Thanks to the addition of our new tractor we have been able to
expand our growing field by about 40 percent this season. This will
allow us to grow more of our traditional garden favorites, but also will
allow us to add some new crops to our field. These include garlic, dry
beans, asparagus, flowers, crops grown specifically for collecting the
seed, rainbow colored corn and rye grain.
We are focused on crop diversity on the Sorrento Centre Farm because
diversity ensures abundance. What I mean by this is that if one crop has a poor year, there are plenty of other crops that will have a good
year. We are not relying too heavily on any single crop on our farm instead we plant many different crops and increase our potential for
abundance.
This year we are growing a wide range of heirloom vegetables on the farm. This includes blue, pink, red and yellow potatoes- orange, pink
and red slicing tomatoes, yellow pear tomatoes and orange cherry tomatoes- a huge range of lettuce types- white, brown, yellow, red and
miniature peppers- purple, yellow and green beans. These are a few of the exciting and colorful crops we can expect this year at Sorrento
Centre.
In addition to our vegetable crops we are expecting plenty
of strawberries this year at Sorrento Centre. Our raspberry
plants are lush and sending up lots of new shoots, which will
provide a wealth of fruit for next year. We have planted a
second row of thornless blackberries and our grapes survived
the winter and are sending out new vines this spring.
As the Sorrento Centre Farm enters its second growing year,
I am excited to share the good news that the farm is poised
to have another year of abundance. Please join us on a farm
tour during your next visit to the Centre and look for the fresh
produce in our dining room.
I want to extend a special thank you to Ray Simpson and the
participants in the Associates’ Spring Work/Study Week who
held a special Rogation prayer service to bless the farm.
Thank you all for your support. I look forward to seeing you
on the farm!
Farmer Dave
Sorrento
Centre Summer
•Summer
Box 99,Spring,
Sorrento,
V0E 2W0 • (250) 675-2421 • fax: (250) 675-3032 • e-mail: info@sorrento-centre.bc.ca • on-line: www.sorrento-centre.bc.ca
Sorrento
Centre
2011
Sorrento
Centre
2011 BC,