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This past May 8-14, thirty-plus intergenerational Sorrento Centre Associates from around British Columbia and Alberta gathered for the annual Associates’ Work and Study Week. This is an important week in the life of the Centre as important jobs get done to prepare for the full summer course schedule, and for the hundreds of guests who will enjoy Sorrento during the peak program and hospitality season.

Associates worked within the beauty of the Centre’s property and under the warm BC Interior sun on a multitude of tasks including: painting (fences, benches, doors, decks), gardening, electrical work, pruning trees and vegetation, mending and sewing, cleanup assistance in the kitchen/dining hall, and in various building maintenance jobs around the vast and diverse property.

These work weeks include the morning and evening study sessions in Caritas Conference Room.  This year the sessions were led by the Reverend Emilie Smith, rector of St. Barnabas New Westminster. Her topic was “Mad Love For The World”, exploring how we are each called to Christian action in our homes, hearts, families, churches and around the world. Alongside Emilie in workshop leadership were guest speakers: Patricia Rojas Caro, co-founder of GRUFIDES, a leading national environmental and human rights NGO;  JP Laplante, mining, oil and gas manager for the Tsilhqot’in National Government; Phil McIntyre-Paul , Executive Director, the Shuswap Trail Alliance; Clay Foard, Sorrento Centre Farm and Grounds Manager; Tyrion Miskell, Roasted Bean Distribution Coordinator, Cafe Justicia, Guatemala; and Louis Thomas, Councillor and Elder, the Neskonlith Band.

This week also marked the Reverend Louise Peters’ one year anniversary as Executive Director of Sorrento Centre. All in attendance were grateful for her guidance, leadership, good cheer, encouragement and gratitude throughout the week.

On Friday, May 13, a service of remembrance was held at St. Mary’s Anglican-United church in the town of Sorrento for longtime Centre associate Ruth Zenger. The service was led by St. Mary’s rector, the Rev. Bruce Chalmers. Bruce is married to Louise Peters. An interment in the Centre’s memorial garden followed. Many familiar faces around Sorrento Centre came for the memorial, including Bishop Barbara Andrews, former Executive Director of Sorrento Centre, and currently Bishop of the Anglican Parishes of the Central Interior, and Bishop James Cowan, retired Bishop of British Columbia, and current Sorrento Centre board member.

The liturgies throughout the week were presided over by different leaders. The week wound up with the Sorrento Centre AGM on Saturday, May 14 chaired by the Venerable Andrew Pike.

All Sorrento Centre Associates current, and associates-yet-to-be (becoming an Associate is merely a $20 fee per annum) are encouraged to participate in this wonderful week of healthy work, community, natural beauty and learning in 2017! In the meantime, everyone please have a look at the website and book your time this summer at the place which Primate Fred Hiltz calls “one of the best good news stories of our Anglican Church of Canada!"

Images

  • James Barr (son of Christopher & Liz Barr of St. Laurence, Coquitlam, and great-grandson of Canon Herbert O'Driscoll) helps Jane Dittrich (Christ Church Cathedral) haul beach trail debris to the Centre's composting station 
  • Cameron Gutjahr and Graeme Wanhella (both of St. Mary's Kerrisdale) install new screens on the farmhouse. The farmhouse houses the male component of the Centre's summer youth staff 
  • Associates' Week study session leader, the Rev. Emilie Smith (Rector, St. Barnabas, New Westminster) and guest speaker, Louis Thomas (Councillor and Elder, the Neskonlith Band) speak to the associates during the Friday morning session 
  • Jane Dittrich (Christ Church Cathedral), Erin Barr (St. Laurence, Coquitlam) and Heather Esposito (St. Laurence, Coquitlam) at the Sorrento Centre Farm. (Sorrento Centre's vegetable and fruit farm, 2KM west of the Centre. the farm grows produce for the Centre's dining room, as well as for local charities)
  • Venerable Andrew Pike offers a prayer @ the Associates' tour of the Sorrento Centre farm. On his right is the farm's new department head, Clay Foard. He is also department head of the Centre's grounds; taking over from Dave Wides in March of this year.

PHOTOS By Jane Dittrich

More images on Anglican Conversation: Diocese of New Westminster Facebook pages